You can't stop at 'motorhome aires' with a caravan, so can cross those off the list.
And ACSI discount is only available off peak, which will finish soon and the prices will be high season, seldom 19euro per night.
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Yes If you want to pay out for a campsite L’ escale is accessible out of hours. The main site with mobile homes has a barrier but the small touring area is open with no barrier & has ehu & ok showers & toilets. It is just off J34 A16 a few mins from tunnel. Just pay in morning. https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=6353
Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 16/7/2022
The op has a caravan...
Le Bien Assise in Guines can be accessed very late, their leaflet says so, and we've arrived latish, but I'd not want to pay their summer holiday price for a short night. Unless you get a swim in the morning before you leave.
We've just returned from France, having spent our first night - as we often do - at La Bien-Assise. It's a good site, about 15 minutes drive from Eurotunnel (but feels quite rural, and safe).
We arrived there at around 9:45pm and had no problems whatsoever, so with a train arrival time of 8:30 (have you deducted an hour, to account for the time difference?) you'd be there by 9pm so not so late and certainly plenty of time for a meal and a walk around.
Yes, it's expensive in high season, but it will make for a relaxing and easy first night and peace of mind is sometimes worth paying for, especially when the party includes 2 children and a dog.
If you are on the Tunnel, try and be there a bit early, you might get on an earlier train. They are supposed to allow you to travel at the same price within 2 hours of your booked crossing, if there is space. We always aim to be early, and usually get on an earlier crossing.
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Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 17/7/2022
We've just returned from France, having spent our first night - as we often do - at La Bien-Assise. It's a good site, about 15 minutes drive from Eurotunnel (but feels quite rural, and safe).
We arrived there at around 9:45pm and had no problems whatsoever, so with a train arrival time of 8:30 (have you deducted an hour, to account for the time difference?) you'd be there by 9pm so not so late and certainly plenty of time for a meal and a walk around.
Yes, it's expensive in high season, but it will make for a relaxing and easy first night and peace of mind is sometimes worth paying for, especially when the party includes 2 children and a dog.
Travelling TO France, you need to ADD an hour, don't you? Although when the tunnel quotes arrival times, they do it in French time (and English when going to the UK) anyway.
We regularly stop at motorway services in France and Spain whilst en route. My advice is pick a major services and park as close to the main doors as poss (or fuel kiosk), preferably in view of the cameras. We have never had any problems whatsoever. It is common in France to see people pitching tents / sleeping on picnic benches in peak season.
Baie de Somme would be my stop on that night 😉
Quote: Originally posted by billy on 16/7/2022
An aire is a motorway service station. Some do not have service areas fuel pumps etc & they are probably the ones to avoid. Yes they will be packed with trucks on a Saturday night. Often parked in the car & caravan parking areas as well. The place will smell nasty as truck drivers generally cant be bothered to walk to toilet.
Services are not so much unsafe as unpleasant imo & often so crowded you risk getting your caravan clouted.
As I pointed out the simple way is to pull off motorway into a town. The large supermarkets are signposted & have no restrictions on parking. That is the way to get a free nights kip.
HTH.
Post last edited on 16/07/2022 17:07:09
Thanks, I’m not after a free nights kip, I’m just looking for somewhere to stay for part of the journey. Sleeping in a supermarket carpark with 2 small kids and a dog isn’t the answer I’m really looking for..
Hi, The range of options will be impacted by the time of year, time of arrival etc.
There are a wide range of opinions as to the use of anything other than a campsite but your comments here suggest to me that you would be best seeking a campsite rather than any of the other options.
If there are two drivers the rest/changeover stops might work but suggest deciding on your max distance from Calais and then search for a site that will take late arrivals.
Good luck!
------------- Allan
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A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Late arrival
via mobile 16/7/2022 at 8:04pm
