Motorway services suitable for caravans
Hi, we are new to caravanning and are planning our trip to Switzerland this year with the van. Is there any information out there for motorway service stations in the UK and Europe about suitability of services for caravans for fuel stops etc. We're getting on ok towing, but being such newbies we don't want to get into trouble and have to be manoeuvring out of something under pressure!
Any advice from experienced club members would be very welcome!
Note from Moderator - Questions should be posted in the Discussion Area not in the Story Section. I have moved this post to European Touring as you are likely to get more information on the European stage of your trip.
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This has ended up in the story section and may not got many reads. You could repost in the discussions section under touring and may get more response.
Somewhere there is a thread with good/bad service stations for caravans. Search facility on here is useless 😲 but I'll see if I can locate it, maybe someone else will know and post a link.
May help if you put your starting point and planned route when you repost cos there may be alternatives to service stations 😉.
By the way hello and welcome.
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Sally, we usually make overnight stops about 4 pm. then go solo to a supermarket for fuel and food for the next day. Supermarket fuel stations can be tricky with a larger caravan on tow. Motorway fuel stations are easily accessible,but expensive. Your choice!
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All continental motorways have frequent and well signposted services. France is probably best and will have dedicated caravan parking areas. Switzerland services in the mountainous areas are trickier due to space limitations but don’t be put off. Generally the UK is worst.
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Hi SallyJ66,
Motorway services on the continent are similar to ours in U.K., but often bigger. But what are you expecting from “services” ? Fuel, toilets, refreshments and short term resting are OK, but sleepovers not recommended on security grounds. For sleepovers, make it a camp site. Manouvering will not be a problem if you take your time and look for signage and directions. Fuel is nearly always the first thing you will see. After that follow the signs to caravan parking or if no “caravan” sign go to HGVs. Then use the facilities.
If you come back on here and let us know more detail about your trip we can be more specific. Ferry or tunnel? You will find plenty of staff to give you directions, not a problem. Route? Sounds like you have decided on toll roads; but which route? How many miles a day do you think you will be comfortable with; are you young and fit or, like most of us on here, old and retired! It makes a difference on the miles you can do, especially in the current climate. Who will be in the car with you? Kids, pets?
Sounds like exciting times, you are going to have lots of fun, enjoy.
BillC
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I agree with all, most motorway service areas in France are more spacious than UK ones which can be very tricky sometimes.
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One thing to bear in mind when using service stations abroad is that most of the countries you are likely to tour in, France, Germany , Benelux etc. do not allow lorries to use the roads on Sundays, unless carrying food, frozen items or fuel supplies. So service stations will be packed with lorries from late Saturday to early Monday and space will be at a premium. If the service station doesn't have great parking then we have had to carry on until the next one so be prepared. On saying that driving on motorways on Sundays is so much more pleasurable.
Good luck with your adventures.
Edit - Whereabouts are you in the UK so we can maybe advise on likely ss's en route to ferries etc.?
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We slept over in the caravan with our two children at motorway Aires for many years. It suited us to leave home when I got back from work, get a Dover crossing around midnight, stop at an Aire about an hour from Calais. You have to make your own decision on that but there isn’t much choice at 2 o’clock in the morning and the kids found it all quite exciting. Personally, I have never heard or read of any security concerns and now that we have a motorhome I would regard some Aires that I have seen close to towns to be less secure than a toll Autoroute.
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Our policy, is to stop for lunch at the first services that we see after 12 noon. In the past we have stopped latter and find the whole of Paris and invited guests have decided to stop for an extended lunch and their is no where to park.
As has been suggested we try and fill up solo, because it is A, easier and B, normally cheaper than paying motorway prices. That said we have filled up with the caravan on the back. You just need to have a bit of common sense and chose a pump that has a straight pull on and off as possible.
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Am not aware of any specific info re suitability of motorway service stations for c’vans but you may be able to check on google maps the pumps area of service stations you anticipate using. In UK c’vans are often directed to a specific area to park up often with lorries. Enjoy your travels.
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