Travelling through France to Spain in November
Hi there. My first post so go gentle!
Nicki and I have booked a site in Estepona in Southern Spain to spend 2/3 months over winter. As poor sailors we don’t want to take the Santander ferry, so we are planning to drive down. We have travelled to France and Spain before so not exactly our first rodeo…
However we are leaving the UK in late November when there are few sites open. We have a caravan not a motorhome so overnighting at French aires isn’t an option.
Has anyone done this trip before who can give advice?
We are looking for sites that are open all year that are near motorways
Thanks in advance
Neil and Nicki Whitmore
Comments
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CampingFrance.com is the official list of all campsites in France. Their website claims 1067 sites are open all year, so whichever way you choose to go you can plan your overnight stops. As Red Kite has said your first step is to decide which route to take - and how far you are willing to drive in a day. I hope it all goes well.
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Check out these earlier posts on the subject :
peedee
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Neil and Nicki, I would just add that just because you think a campsite will be open in winter, or someone tells you a campsite will be open, or even a site guide or an app tells you one will be open - check with the owners at the camp itself. The Motorhome revolution in France has changed everything, and the change is continuing quickly
I have just checked five French campsites for winter stopovers that I myself have recommended in the past - and all those five have given up opening in winter. There are so few people using caravans in France at that time of year now that motorhomes have swept the board there. And they use Aires for overnight stops.
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Here's a link to lists of Sites which may be open all year - France
You will still need to check with each site that they are actually still open on the dates when you're travelling.1 -
Good link Val, but it’s no longer correct.
Straightaway I looked at the link for some of the sites I myself have recommended in the past as all winter sites. But Le Cadoret at Fouras is now closing for four months, Figurotta at Bizanet for two months - and I haven’t time to check the rest.
The French use motorhomes in winter and stop overnight on Aires. Campsites close.
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I understand that less sites are open. Motorhomes are unfortunately leading to the death of campsites as motorhomes all seem to want to stay near a town, on a free Aire. I know, also, how much time Archie (and his team of helpers) used to spend keeping site details as up to date as possible for his website 'Archies Campings'. So the combination of the problem of closing sites and shorter opening dates, and of keeping on-line information updated constantly, will also lead to the death of what was once a useful list!
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In our caravanning days we often stopped overnight on autoroute service areas and never had any problems, however, I understand that not everybody would be happy with that but it could get you out of trouble if you can’t find a site. Best to use one with a proper service area not one of the small Aires with minimal lighting.
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Agree. I wouldn’t stop overnight on the A75 (a popular route South).
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Thank you to all this advice. Going to be a challenge finding sites but we have to talk to each site. It’s quite worrying this swing to motorhomes and the effect it’s having on the caravan way of life.
we have been told its illegal to stay over on aires in a caravan; we have also been told that you can if you use a large are with filling station facilities.
anyone know the facts here?
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I thought the Club had a list of sites that could be used if travelling down to Spain in the winter months? You can stay on the larger Aires on the autoroute but caution is recommended in terms of security. Motorhome Aires usually don't allow caravans. You have a while before you go to research those sites that will be open on the dates you are travelling. Its not impossible as many people do the same. If you use Facebook there are lots of helpful groups where people will offer advice. You could try this one "European Touring Caravan, Campervan and Camping Friends"
David
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Neil and Nicki, You haven’t said where you are starting from or which route you intend, but let me guess it will be via the tunnel.
From there Day 1 to campsite at Bounty Lakes just south of Le Mans. Day 2 to Bordeaux - two campsites usually open. Day3 to campsite at Burgos. Each of those days is about 275 miles travel and as far as I know those campsites will be open - but check please. After Burgos I don’t know the possibilities, but maybe Day 4 to campsite at Caceres for similar distance, and Day5 to Estepona.I hope that helps. But if you start from Portsmouth to St Malo ferry you save a day’s driving and can reach Bordeaux for your first overnight campsite.
Take care
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Oooh this is useful and timely for us. Following the thread for hints and tips. We are hoping to go to Andalucia via LeShuttle in January returning in March, and are coming up against similar issues - lack of French site information for the winter months.
Almost considering abandoning the plan, but not willing to give up yet. Our dog is an added complication which means ferries to Santander/Bilbao are out due to the time and lack of pet facilities. Also as we will need a vet en route home for the tapeworm treatment, and I don’t fancy trying to park the whole outfit in a town centre, we will need a 2 night stopover the right distance/time from Calais…
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Mike, I think you have answers listing available sites already in this thread.
As for vets if you ask at reception at any site you use on your way home the receptionist will advise and probably make an appointment for you.
I hope you have a good trip.
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There is a site near Poitiers that stays open all year, another south of Limoges and then Bordeaux and Larroulet at Urrugne
We travel back up from Spain at the end of November but being a MH we use Aires once into France. We also have done the tunnel a few times but the last 2 years have used the St Malo overnight crossing. It cuts out 2 overnight stops and a lot of miles.
If you use FB there are a lot of groups on there which can be helpful. There are still a goid number of caravans who travel down through France.
The other option is the long ferry to Spain with a dog friendly cabin if you can get one. I don't fancy it myself at that time of year hence the St Malo route.
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Hi, we drove in March with our caravan. Via Poitiers for our 1st night, not a great site but open and on route. Then Camping Larrouleta on the border, which is 5 mins from main road and so nice an area we stayed for 3 nights. It was very busy and I would book ahead, even if only a few days ahead. Then Zaragoza, site was full of Northern Europeans commuting to or back from the Med coast. Which depending on where your heading is 6 hours or more away the next day. We then spent 5 weeks slowly heading to Portugal via Seville. Which has a nice little site on the bus route into town. A large amount of the route was toll free.
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Check out Camping Etangs du marsalin, near Nonancourt just off the Dreux/Chartres route. It's small and basic but open all year. Not really suitable for large outfits. Check it out on Google Earth.
Access from the main road is via country roads, but OK with care and maybe not in the dark (as we did ). Phoned mobile number on Reception door and had a friendly welcome from the lady who came.
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So long as you are coming back within the 5 day window it’s easy to get your tapeworm pill in Spain. Weather will be a bit better for a 2 day stay, and if you are going to Europe on a regular basis you could enquire while in southern Spain about a Spanish pet passport - Spanish vets are quite accommodating.
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I am afraid that the popular Camping Ste. Claire is closed from 15 October to 29 March so like many others it is not available for winter snowbirds
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