overnight stays in france are aires safe?
hi all, I,m still planning a trip to blanes via Calais in motorhome. first time driving to spain for us , thanks to all for previous advice, arriving Calais around 2 a.m. thinking of heading via Rouen and avoiding paris, therefore thinking of having a sleep break around 4 in the morning, does anyone recommend where I may do this, I hear the aires can be a little unsafe? are they ok, or are there any campsites that would tolerate such an early morning visit, any recomendations or advice would be welcome
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Are aires safe Yes in the main but would never use one on a motorway or in fact close to one. And don't know of any campsite would let you in at that time and if they did I for one would not use it. We also avoid Paris and go to from Spain via Rouen. Why are you going at the time you state ?. Traveling all the way to Spain sounds a bit silly to go across the Channel so early in the morning its a long drive if you have the time take it and relax make the journey part of the fun.
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I've stayed on a number on the motorways of France and never had a problem. The one at the Baie de Somme, it has a separate area away from the main car parks and is patrolled during the night. I wouldn't park close to some cities but with a little commonsense you should be OK
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I have posted elsewhere saying that we used motorway Aires year after year with our caravan plus two children and never saw or heard of any problems. Larger Aires are geared up for Motorhome and caravan overnight parking with marked bays and, in some cases, Motorhome service points.
My rules are to go for 24 hour services on toll motorways and use well lit areas. Also we always tried to avoid aires close to junctions with major towns. Frankly, I have seen many Aires in towns that seem very insecure compared with a toll motorway which is less accessible for Saturday night revellers.
When I was working we used to get a late night ferry from Dover and stop about an hour from Calais on the A26. Nowadays we have time to travel in leisurely fashion and don't use any aires but I can see the advantage for anybody who is working and wishes to maximise time away.
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thanks all for the advice so far, yes we both work, I work night shifts, so plan travelleing when my other half finishes her day job, to make most of our spare time, and also fares are a bit cheaper getting ferry overnight. hence hoping for a sleep break couple hours after landing at Calais, then after a few more hours drive, stopping off overnight in france, then a few more hours drive next day to destination blanes. So not too much of a rush I guess, I have the Michelin aires map, and the toll service station option sounds a reasonable idea, although will try and avoid too many tolls if I can. I,ve got a couple more weeks to fine tune the journey plan , so all advice is very welcome ,
kind regards ray
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If you're going via Rouen, the services at Bai de la Somme near Abbeville should fit the bill. We've stayed on it many times (the last time was in August) and have always felt completely secure. It is geared up for over nighters, including showers for (I think) 2 Euros
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....but the aires system is not about parking on a motorway service station....its about providing safe overnighting in towns, villages and cities for visitors in MHs where getting thrm in would otherwise be an issue...
France, and other continental countries, have seen the commercial value to local businesses from those who visit their country in MHs.
So, aires are safe, sometimes empty but at other times busy with like minded visitors.
Are Mway service station 'aires' safe....possibly (as used by Hitch, but he was a caravanner then and these were the only ones he was allowed on) but you wouldnt get me (or many other aries users) parking there when there are thousands of lovely quiet town aires to use, often for free....
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To see the proper Aires get the Vicarious Books guide to "All the Aires France"
These are NOT motorway service stations but stopovers usually provide by villages who need people to stop over and just spend a few € in the local boulangerie ( or bar)
OK They are open to all without security fences but the attitude (away from major cities, motorways etc) is very peaceful and friendly - in 6 years of motor homing the only incident of break ins we have seen was on a campsite in Spain.
We frequently see doddery 70+ year old's parking up in £100k plus vans obviously with "Loads a money" but without any fears of being robbed.
The comments in the Aires guide will give warning where the people using the site felt uncomfortable
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