I dont' know how long you'll be driving for to reach Dover but we are getting the 4.40 am ferry from Dover and will have a 10 hour drive to get there. I have booked into Black Horse Farm campsite in Dover, arriving about 4 pm. This will give us time to eat, wash, rest etc before leaving the campsite about 3 am. This means hubby will be rested upon arrival in France and will be able to get a good drive in before we stop before an overnight in France before heading South. An option for you?
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The cost of a room at Formule 1 or Premier Classe would be about £35 and you could probably all get a bit of a rest. As was said previously you check in at a machine and get a room card, you won't see a receptionist so it won't matter how many there are of you and it will be much safer!
I didn't realise the motels didn't have a receptionist 24hrs I thought it was like our travelodges. This journey is modest for us! Last year we did disney, La Rochelle, Quimper in Brittany and then disney again in 2 weeks at least this year we've got 2 1/2 :)
I don't drive as I have a neurological condition that means I am unable to do so. I always do what my husband wants to do as the only driver. He says he'd rather drive when the children are asleep, less fighting and asking for loo stops apparently. I don't sleep while he drives so he has someone awake with him. Its more just him getting a few hours rest an hour or so outside Calais before carrying on to the site we're booked on outside Disney.
We're only 1hr45mins from Dover and its a short journey for us. Hubbie's mum lives in Glasgow, we normally do that journey in a day a few times a year.
The crazy boat time was hubbies suggestion, I wanted to get on the 7am boat as at least he would have some sleep :(
He hasn't actually asked me to book a stop I'm just aware that he may need a break and wanted to make sure I had all the options to throw at him.
Thanks again, Kara xx
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I would not recommend Service stations even the large ones, We drove out to Spain on the 10/07/09 and pulled into a large manned staion with cafe, petrol, and plenty of other campers and caravans about 500 miles from port. I was woken at 4am by the sound of men breaking into our caravan I am 6ft 3 with a loud voice, I shouted and they stopped entering but did not run they seemed to be in a pack of 4, as i went out side two moved away while two stood by our car looking at me and didnt move until I aproached them.
Will not be staying at service stations again even though its our first bad experience it makes you think about the saftey of your family.
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Very sorry to read of your experience, it doesn't matter that it is your first as you say, it spoils things, but I suppose it could have been worse.
It just reinforces my own opinion of staying on these services, it must be really scary to be confronted with these men (for want of a better word). And you were on a large manned one with plenty of others about.
You don't know what they carry with them, knives or whatever, it doesn't bear thinking about. Unfortunately you found out the hard way, but also unfortunately there are still many people who stay on services overnight and as long as that is the case, IMHO these (attempted) break-ins will continue, as these sorts of people know exactly where to go.
Your report is a good indicator of what can happen if you lower your risk assement criteria, and the fact you came away from the situation unscathed is quite something, as once in the confrontation zone, things can soon go fubar, some folk may argue that the worry of risk is exagerated, well going of the stats it is, but if happens to be your turn, then the stats go out of the window, I view it like why bother carrying a spare tyre, I drove to Southern France and back this year, and not a single puncture, so why carry a spare, the only reason is risk, I wonder what would happen if I didn't carry a spare tyre next year?.
A dreadful experience, and scary that the prowlers didn't feel the need to run away but if they travel in gangs of four they probably feel no one would tackle them. I attach a personal alarm to the caravan door. It's the type which makes a very loud noise when the cord is pulled out, which would happen if the door was opened from the outside but I think I'll start keeping one by the bed too.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: service areas France
Good work! Hope you have a great trip. 
