Is it possible to park our van near Ouistreham?

FrenchFields
FrenchFields Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited June 28 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hi all.  We will be returning home from France on the overnight CaenOuistreham/Portsmouth ferry on 25th/26th July.  We are not sailing until 11.30 pm and only travelling from Saumur to Ouistreham, a drive of about 3 hours, so would like to spend the afternoon/early evening exploring the Normandy beaches, if at all possible. But what to do with the vans? (We're going with friends so there'll be two to park).

I know there are motorhome car parks available, but is it possible to park caravans on them? Or does any one have any creative solutions? 

I'd welcome any advice or information.

Thanks

Comments

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 28 #2

    If you don't get any luck with replies perhaps have a look through Google Maps of where you want to be as it should show the larger carparks and you could zoom in on Street View to make sure the access is OK for a towed caravan. You would probably need a screen bigger than a phone?

    David

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 28 #3

    Rather than leave caravans unattended in a car park I would approach the problem in another way.

    Leave Saumur a day early and drive to a campsite near the coast and check in for your last night. But it would need to be a site which has agreed in advance for you to leave caravans there till about 2000 on your final day before you go to the  ferry. That gives you the whole of your last day to explore the coast and the memorials.

    The chance of doing that sounds possible at a small, informal, family owned campsite rather than a big commercial, seafront one . I wonder whether Camping a La Ferme (le chevalier Dany) at Lion sur mer would do it?  Or whether he could suggest somewhere else? How’s your French to negotiate it in advance?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 28 #4

    Alternatively, do as Euro suggests but pay for an extra night at the coastal site and leave around 20:00. It’s a small price to pay for being able to leave your van in the security of a pitch on site.

    I can imagine the reaction of your insurance company if your vans were left unattended in a car park and went missing!

  • FrenchFields
    FrenchFields Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited June 29 #5

    Thanks for all the suggestions, folks.  Booking a site for overnight had gone through my mind as I too was not keen on the thought of leaving the van on a car park! (Yes - I can imagine the reaction of the insurance company)!

    Still not sure what to do - maybe it's a good excuse to fit in an extra visit to France this year! We'll discuss with our friends and make a decision ... eventually.

    Thanks again.

     

  • GVD
    GVD Forum Participant Posts: 175
    edited June 30 #6

    Falaise is a good stop, below William the Conqueror's castle.  

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited July 3 #7

    Why not book one night on a site near the Normandy beaches, and ask if you can leave the van until around 8.00 pm on your last day. There are lots of sites to choose from.  We haven't stayed  on any as we're lucky enough to have a friend who lives in that area.   Many smaller sites will be happy to accommodate you and you can always pay for an extra night if the site is 'stroppy' about it.  If you don't find anywhere then there is a small municipal campsite where our friend lives, and I'm sure that will have space even when the sites nearer the beaches don't have pitches available.

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