European Travel

Mike5635
Mike5635 Forum Participant Posts: 21
edited April 2017 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

We are thinking of travelling, through France and Germany later this year. I'm concerned about migrant problems in general. As anyone encountered any problems if so are there places to avoid?

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #2

    Try the Overseas section. I think there are threads on the subject there.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #3

    I'm not quite that stupid.tongue-out

    The thread has now been moved.smile

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #4

    Attacks have flared up recently  in London, Paris, Rouen, Nice, Marseille, Brussels, Berlin, Munich, Stockholm and other cities, but these were caused by terrorists living there, not by would be migrants camped at the ports. 

  • Spriddler
    Spriddler Forum Participant Posts: 646
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    edited April 2017 #5

    Places in France to avoid are what appear to be commercial touring/holiday sites but are actually for 'Travellers' - The signs will say something along the lines of:

    Gens de Voyage.

    The only time I have had any close contact with migrants in 30 years of touring was on a commercial site at Saintes (in Charente Maritime) when a people carrier type of vehicle arrived, parked beside my m/h and disgorged about fifteen swarthy occupants aged from maybe 18 months to 90 yrs old. A tarpaulin was strung overhead between trees, baguettes and cheese were fetched from the local shop and they slept outside without any bedding at all.

    Next morning a posse of Gendarmes arrived and took them away in an armoured truck.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2017 #6
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited April 2017 #7

    We use Calais and/or the Eurotunnel, and have never (at either site) witnessed 'problems' with migrants.  We have seen them wandering along the autoroutes, looking very thin and cold, and also seen lots of young hungry-looking men in Calais itself, but they have been calm, quiet, and polite when we have seen or been in interactions with them.

    Don't worry, as Deleted User User says.

  • Landyrover
    Landyrover Forum Participant Posts: 143
    edited April 2017 #8

    When you are returning to the UK, practice good security. Keep your 'van or motorhome locked at all times, especially when waiting for the ferry. Border agency -Passport Control will carry out a search of all units returning to the UK, they look in all the underseat lockers, cupboards, wardrobes toilet compartments etc to ensure that there are no extra passengers.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #9

    It's not like that at Roscoff ! 

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #10

    We go to France, Germany and other countries several times a year and the answer to your question is 'No' to having encountered any problems.  Keep things in perspective and, as already advised, just apply  the same common sense and caution that  you would apply at home.  As in London, Birmingham, Blackburn etc there are areas of Paris, Cologne, Berlin etc that I would not enter especially after dark; but this applies to anywhere.  Many years ago went to Washington (USA) on business and our hotel advised us not to venture into areas just a couple of blocks from the main tourist areas.

  • Spriddler
    Spriddler Forum Participant Posts: 646
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    edited April 2017 #11

    Nor at Dieppe in my experience. Probably made 20 crossings in my m/h in the past 6 years and never been searched. In fact they never even ask me if my gas is turned off which the loaders always ask at Newhaven.

     

    Comeyras said.......

    'Many years ago went to Washington (USA) on business and our hotel advised us not to venture into areas just a couple of blocks from the main tourist areas'.

    When I was working in New York I mentioned to a colleague that I wanted "to see the whores on 7th Avenue " (as lyrics in the Simon and Garfunkel song). He advised me that whenever I went beyond 5th Avenue it was essential to have cash with me for the muggers, which I did, but never saw any mugggers.

  • DJG
    DJG Forum Participant Posts: 277
    edited May 2017 #12

    Yes, stay away from sites used by U.K. migrants looking for a better lifestyle, especially ones in the CC overseas book. We went to Osnabruck to look over our old haunts on the way here to Croatia. My old barracks had been turned over to a migrant camp. Clever these Germans, Brits out, migrants in, good use for all the old BAOR camps!!!

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #13

    But it might be getting stricter in Plymouth?

    Had a meal at The Dock last Thursday and saw Pont Aven arrive. Saw the trickle of vans and  MH coming out and as we went to get in the car noticed a very large group of uniformed guys.Then as we left saw the Border Force mobile x-ray unit set up in the truck departure area with a truck about to pass through.. 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #14

    it was very quiet at Poole back in January, and coming back at end of March Cherbourg had a few guards and we we checked, albeit very briefly....

    never seen a 'migrant' and wouldnt know what one looked like...undecided

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