Which motorway services should be avoided?
Hello all,
We've been told, in passing, a couple of times not to stop at motorway service stations, unless we want to find our caravan has been stolen. We drive long distances and stop along the way, always a bit nervously!
So, what I'm really asking is which service stations should be avoided? Does anyone know? Meanwhile, we'll continue taking it in turns to head off for the loo and a cuppa, so that one of us stays with the car and caravan. But that does double our stopping
time, so it would be great to be able to go at the same!!
Thank you!
Comments
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I would never, ever leave the unit unattended on any service area. Why not use your own facilities? It's what we do.
see this thread
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Have to agree with TW the parking areas for caravans are usually some distance from the actual services.
And the expert caravan remover doesn't need long, never leave it unattended.
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I would agree with TW
A mod will probably close this thread shortly.
Not because you agreed with me, surely?
We never left the car/cvan unattended and the same with the MH. It also saves time to use your own facilities and make your own coffee from the flask you filled with hot water at breakfast time.
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OH goes off for a walk to stretch his legs, get a paper, go to the loo. I stay with the van, use on board loo and make a cuppa and sandwich, all done by the time OH comes back. 15 minutes to eat and drink and we are on our way, don't park near the lorry
bit it usually stinks of wee
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Well, I have had caravans for over 50 years and have stopped and left them unattended at motorway services here in the UK, in most countries in Western Europe too, and at supermarkets and shopping malls as well - with never a problem in all that time -
and for the first 40 years we never even had a hitchlock. We go shopping together and we go for lunch together. I just don't understand some people's fearfulness. Sorry.0 -
Not fearful, ET, simply being sensible. We all know these things happen and don't want to be victims.
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Well, I have had caravans for over 50 years and have stopped and left them unattended at motorway services here in the UK, in most countries in Western Europe too, and at supermarkets and shopping malls as well - with never a problem in all that time - and for the first 40 years we never even had a hitchlock. We go shopping together and we go for lunch together. I just don't understand some people's fearfulness. Sorry.
We do exactly the same. I can't believe the paranoia that exists over parking at motorway services. These tightwads that admit to not spending anything at services are probably the same ones that are always moaning about lack of provision, for caravans, at said service areas.
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I don't see it as paranoia, just being prudent. We would not leave the car either, if it is obviously jammed packed full of nickable goodies, as it used to be when we went on holiday without a van. A caravan just says it more so, and particularly when they are parked amongst HGV's are very vulnerable. As to tightwads. Well for those with kids, motorway services can cost a fortune, a fortune they would probably rather spend on holiday. However this, does not apply to us we like the ones with M&S. They do nice salads and sandwiches, much nicer than some of the other offerings available. We also occasionally buy our evening meal. So we are hardly not contributing to using the facilities.
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RRM
I don't think people should be called tightwads because they don't leave their hard earned cars and caravans/M homes unattended.
I always stop for a break when legs need a stretch or its coffee time. Always spend money in Costa or M S at services.
The cost at services is higher than normal,I think we all have to accept that.
But my main concern is having twice been burgled at home, I do not wish to go through the trauma of replacing all my personal possessions and car or caravan,just for the sake of one of us staying with the vehicles.
Insured or not.
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I agree. Call me a tightwad if you want, but I will never pay the ridiculous prices charged by service areas in order to sit in some noisy, scruffy building.
We often use the caravan toilet and never leave the car/caravan unattended. We usually take a flask and something to eat with us on longer journeys.
Incidentally, the service station operators don't provide parking facilities out of the goodness of their hearts.....they are required to do so as a condition of their license to operate there. If anything, most of them are not even providing what they are
supposed to provide, in terms of caravans.In answer to the op....the above comments about not leaving the car/caravan applies to all service areas.
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Perhaps the motorways should have a "loo only" 'services de repose' if they want motorists/caravanners to take a break as the services are often some distance apart and frequently full.
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The cost at services is higher than normal,I think we all have to accept that.
Actually M &S aren't bad. Anything on offer is the same price as in their other shops, as they don't change the packaging. So 3 for £6 are still £6. Single items are a few pence to 15 pence more expensive. However, unless you are buying a lot it works out
no more expensive than the M&S in town, as there I have to pay parking and it is the only shop I am going to.0 -
RRM, where did the allegation of being tightwads come from. That was an unnecessary comment in my view. You have made a giant leap from security to cost as we were talking about not leaving units unattended which isn't the same thing as spending money. One of us has often spent money in a service area while the other remained in the van but these days we prefer not to set foot in the often dirty and scruffy buildings. We are all entitled to hold our views without receiving insults.
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Ww have never left our outfit unattended nor do we buy anything from the overpriced shops, which (M&S apart) are usually terrible quality. We always stock up with travel goodies at our local supermarket the day before. We also have a 12V cool box in the car whicg keeps the Prosecco at a suitable drinking temperature. My late father in law had one of those wicker baskets with matching plates, cups, and matching blanket... all held in place. We just use plastic cups and paper plates.
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Plastic cups and paper plates! Oh dear.
I think all the comments after mine reinforce what I said.
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Plastic cups and paper plates! Oh dear.
I think all the comments after mine reinforce what I said.
The only thing that's been reinforced, RRM, is your desire to snipe at others and drag the thread off topic.
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Am i missing the obvious ? I thought the op was asking which service areas to avoid location wise and not asking for guidance as to what to do when at the services.
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We try to avoid services as there's frequently very limited parking for us but generally we tend to pick something up to eat and a coffee and sit in the van. Someone has to stay with the dogs anyway so we don't tend to leave the van for that reason.
I don't take flasks, food or paper plates
I cant recommend any services especially. They all do the trick
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Plastic cups and paper plates! Oh dear.
I think all the comments after mine reinforce what I said.
We take "throw away" cuttlery and plates for our travelling days, washing up is so much easier when all you have to do is find a bin
Not very environmentally friendly
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Plastic cups and paper plates! Oh dear.
I think all the comments after mine reinforce what I said.
We take "throw away" cuttlery and plates for our travelling days, washing up is so much easier when all you have to do is find a bin
Not very environmentally friendly
...Why not its all biodegradable
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We avoid motorway services like the plague, which is probably what you would catch around some of them! Dirty, expensive, often unsafe having to walk through traffic roaring around.
With one exception. The new services at Gloucester are definitely better than most. Even has a small dedicated parking area for vans and motorhomes, and a good on lead dog walk. Still very expensive though.
We learned years and years ago to break our journey with a period away from all motorway driving, using some decent A type roads as links. You can often find some absolute gems of a stop, clean, quieter, somewhere to stretch legs, get some fresh air, walk
dogs. This approach suits us, but might not suit others I appreciate. It has found us some lovely places to visit enroute as well. Houses, country parks, arboretums, castles, we have done them all with van on back, or in MH.
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