we are planning to take a late tunnel crossing into france when we go in August on a fri eve. Our initial plan was to drive a bit and then get some sleep in our camper before continuing on. Having just read up on Aires that you are supposed to be fully able to cook/use loo etc on board, I'm not sure that that we qualify to use the Aires so now thinking we may need a late arrival campsite/stop. We have no idea how late you can turn up at a campsite / or stop over hotel ?? any ideas ?
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You can stay overnight at Cite d'Europe mall near the tunnel, or you can pull on to the new Motorhome Aire in Calais town, or sleep overnight in a supermarket car park, but take a bucket or a bottle as there will be no toilets there. Or you can drive along the motorway and stay overnight at a service station which will have toilets. Or you can book and ask for a late arrival at the expensive campsites like Gandspette. We once pulled into a car park where the gypsy travellers were. Good luck.
If you've got a bed in the camper you qualify as a vehicle to stay on an Aire.
You don't have to have toilet facilities but presumably you'll need to use the toilet at some point during the night then stopping somewhere with toilet facilities makes more sense.
Although not ideal it may be an option to stop on a motorway Service area, use their toilets and move on early morning.
It depends how late. Most say about 20.00 or later if you email them. Most that have security barriers will lock up at 23.00. Aire De La Baie de Somme is a good one to stop but a bit of a walk to the toilets.
Just email a few sites on your route and ask.
I would second the Aire de la Baie de Somme, about 60 miles south of Calais. The camper/MH section there is fairly quiet, safe, and free. The toilets and showers are in the main building about 100 yds away,as is a small shop.
We generally get a late afternoon crossing, fill up with fuel on arrival and then get to the aire at around 20.00.
cite europe aire is VERY noisy. have you got the 'all the aires' book from vicarious publications. that might prove invaluable !! we've previously used baie de somme without any issues. the etiquette is not to make unnecessary noise, slamming/closing doors etc if you do arrive late, so plan your arrival and what you need to do beforehand, make beds up, use the toilets on the tunnel etc so all you really need to do is park up and sleep.
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Supermkt carpark in a small town on your way. Marquise is ok just off motorway towards Boulogne. There's choice of 3 supermkts there. Park on the edge of the carpark. Fairly public peeing is ok in France so lack of toilets no probs. Just use the grass with camper shielding you from view.
Quote: Originally posted by kingfamily on 26/6/2017
we are planning to take a late tunnel crossing into france when we go in August on a fri eve. Our initial plan was to drive a bit and then get some sleep in our camper before continuing on. Having just read up on Aires that you are supposed to be fully able to cook/use loo etc on board, I'm not sure that that we qualify to use the Aires so now thinking we may need a late arrival campsite/stop. We have no idea how late you can turn up at a campsite / or stop over hotel ?? any ideas ?
How late is late? If we get a crossing that means we'll arrive after around 9pm we always go to one of the motel chains (Hotel B&B or Premiere Classe are good, and Premiere Classe especially offers some good rates if you book in advance).
It's just nice to be able to get a shower and sleep in a clean bed for a night, before setting off for the campsite!
Thanks all for your input, the system hadn't mailed to let me know I had replies this time ! (Forgot to tick box I now see)
We have ended up doing a really late, or in fact early morning crossing, and will arrive in France around 1am, so clearly not going to a campsite then. We'll drive a couple of hours each then pull over somewhere quiet. I note on another post a really useful search to where picnic areas can be found in France and with what facilities.
The boys might get away with peeing in public as suggested, but I'm a little more shy !!!
Just a note about the self check-in facility that some of the motel chains have (where you choose your room via machine outside the motel, pay via credit card etc), we once arrived at gone midnight so used this facility, only to find it had allocated us a room for the following night! In other words, once the date clicks over, the room allocations are for that night, and not for the present time! (Just what we needed - a mess to try and sort out in the early hours of the morning, when we were exhausted and just needed to sleep! We found we couldn't resolve things at that time of night so ended up moving on, sleeping in the car, then having to make more phone calls in the morning to try and get our money back. Not a great start to the hols, and something we won't be doing again!)
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
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: late arrival in france
