We have stopped overnight on many motorway aires, without any problems, just be sensible. We usually park near the overnight shop, and never leave any valuables in sight. There is no 2 hour restriction on parking, unlike in the uk. I think you are allowed 24 hours or longer.
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John
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We too have stopped overnight in motorway aires. We tend to stay in the medium sized ones in a toll section, the ones with a garage but no restaurant. What naebother said is correct about the 24 hours on a toll section, after that you pay the full amount for that section, I think, check the rules, may be on the back of the ticket.
Using motorhome aires or supermarket carparks is not an option for us, we have no toilet on the 'van, and often have used the shower in the motorway aires.
We did this crossing last July for an overnight drive to the Pyrenees.
Our first stop was around Tours probably around 1.00am as I was chatting to my son on facebook back in the UK. we weren't towing though.
Use common sense. We had numerous stops on our trip down, always at full service stations and all were busy. Never felt unsafe.
We've used Les Pommiers both arriving in France on the 21.30 ferry and leaving for the UK on the 0800 ferry. As Berriow says, there's no need to book and you can stay hitched up if you go to the area at the top of the site. It is literally 5 minutes from/to the port. Only once did we find it anything near full and that was the weekend of the 14th July (Bastille Day Bank Holiday), but even then there was no problem getting a pitch, although we were very close to neighbours on all sides! Under normal circumstances though, there's plenty of space, and even when busy it quietened down quickly at night.
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It is possible to stop overnight at aires de service (motorway services areas) in France while towing a caravan. Whilst many folk on here would argue that this dangerous because of the danger of robbery we and MANY others have been doing this for years and we continue to do so when it is convenient to our plans. Although our kids are now "grown and flown" we did do this when we had up to 3 of them still travelling with us.
Over the last 21 years of summer Continental caravanning we have overnighted at motorway aires in France, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia. The advantage of overnighting at aires when travelling a long way is that one can drive until one is tired and then stop at the next convenient aire. This means that it possible to travel much further as one does not need to factor in finding a suitable campsite convenient to the motorway and arriving before their closing time.
As well as not needing to leave the motorway to look for a convenient night halt campsite, there is no need to unhook. It’s really just a matter of legs down and straight to bed. In the morning legs up and straight back on the motorway. If we think we might being doing this we travel with a LITTLE water in the onboard tank and the toilet “charged” with a LITTLE fluid and a LITTLE water in the flush tank, the bed made-up ready and the caravan floor space clear.
I am well aware of the security concerns periodically expressed by some but we have NEVER had any problems overnighting at aires. We’re not stupid and do not ignore possible dangers. In fact by nature I'm certainly not reckless but rather over-cautious. We only choose aires where there are others overnighting, too. When we ready to stop we pull into the next aire for a look. If it is deserted or “dodgy” in any we just drive through and carry one knowing that there will be another aire in a few Kilometres.
Just to be on the safe side when overnighting in aires we keep important/valuable items well hidden and/or in bed with us. We, also, have a "cheapo" alarm from Lidl on the door. When set this alarm "shrieks" VERY loudly when the c'van door is opened. Sadly we know longer have the added deterrent of Max our border collie as he died a few years back.
I'm glad someone has posted about staying overnight on the services because I was finding it difficult to find a campsite with our caravan where I wanted to stay the night. I shall now be staying on one, I just suppose its common sense where you stay. I am heading down to Frejus and wanted to stay just below Lyon so we didn't have to tackle Lyon in the early morning like last year. It took a while to drive through. I do have a 5 year old so I hope we'll be ok on the services. its the first time abroad with our caravan, we have upgraded from a tent.
------------- keep on caravanning, life is too short
I have to agree with Tim above. We have overnighted in many Motorway service areas with no problems at all. Many have free showers.
We always stay in the Service areas with the Petrol stations and always park up next to to others caravanning or Motorhoming or failing that next to or near the Lorries.
We have found some realy nice Service areas. that we would have been happy to spend more than one night in.
------------- Birth of the Universe?
Once upon a time there was nothing. Which exploded
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Tbf, its not hard to find an overnight campsite if you have confidence just to go off the motorway into a town & find one. Often if you stop in the parking area as you come through toll booth area you will find town info board & campsites are usually well signposted all the way in.
You can'y really generalise about service areas, some are better than others. Those on tourist routes can be packed daytimes & night times. When I stop with caravan daytimes I always park on run in before fuel pumps, that way you know you only have a short walk to the building.
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Topic: Overnight parking
