Do any of you guys know if there is a time limit on how long you can stop at motorway services in France/Switzerland? We are travelling to Interlaken with the caravan in a few weeks time and doubtless we will need to stop for meals and naps. We will have two drivers so they can take the driving in turns and won't need to stop for long sleeps. We have travelled in this way across Europe many times before. i.e. one driver sleeping while the other drives, then every couple of hours or so changing drivers. However, we will need some rest breaks and we wondered if there is a limit to how long you can stop free of charge similar to the 2 hour limit that is generally in force on British motorways. If there is, do you have to buy a car park ticket, and where would you get it from?
------------- Val and Co.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
There is no charge on any of the motorway services in France, and there are plenty of rest areas and stopping places. Don't know about Switzerland, though, sorry.
When we stop at the French services in the morning we often see people either still asleep in their cars or caravans with the curtains drawn so there cant be any time limit and no one has mentioned charges on here when they are recommending Aires to stay on overnight. I think you will be ok to stay as long as you want.
hi- If you stay overnight on Frence motorway aires, theres a very good good chance that you will be robbed, or worse, believe me I know, come off and find a quiet spot in a village, much safer.
------------- kiev
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
There are no parking charges on French motorways. If you are using the toll motorways you will however find a "time limit" on the ticket. This is printed on the ticket and will be either 24 or 48 hours. The French expect people to use the motorway services, including staying overnight if you wish.
Kiev - You sound to have had a bad experience. Can you tell us the Aire which was affected? We are told the worst ones are the ones near the coast because of the refugees - did you find this to be true?
hi pennine plodder, yes we know we are told not to stay overnight on Frence airs, and in the past every thing used to be o.k, but tiredness, can make you change your mind, in our case it was a coastal airs, the catalan village to be exact on the A9 from France into Spain, surrounded by HGV and protroled by motorway security it still happened, only lost a bit of money, but I would not even stop there again even for fuel, a foreign registration plate is all thats needed for the low life to see , you might as well have a illuminated sign above your unit saying ROB ME. Thinking that you have members of your party who can look after themselves is not enough these days with knives and guns even. In my opinion no european motorway is safe from these gangs, and thats exactly what they are, operating all along the motorway systems, as already stated use them but come off for a far safer nights sleep either in a village or campsite.
------------- kiev
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Hi Musician,
You making for Jungfraublick again? We'll be there from the 23rd July.
As stated, there is no charge in France or Switzerland for an overnight stay. We did spend a night on a Belgian service station. The following morning, all the Belgian Registered cars/caravans had parking tickets on, the foriegn registered ones didn't. We should be staying at a service/rest area in the Strasborg/Nancy area ovenight. although we shall be leaving Calais a few hours earlier than normal so may be further on this year.
Yes we are going to Junfraublick again, and we shall be there from 27th July, so it's quite possible we may meet again! It would be very nice to see you. We are going to be there for 19 nights this time, there were so many things we just didn't have time to do last year, so we are going to take advantage of the chance of a longer holiday than usual. (our married son and his wife and two little boys are going to Australia for 3 weeks to visit our daughter in law's family so my husband doesn't need to be around to look after kiddies while the parents are at work, which is his unpaid normal job since he retired from teaching!!!. Natalie is from Melbourne and they are going to do a lot of relative visiting, but they are also renting a motorhome and doing some tourist type holiday things as well. They hope to visit the Australian Alps so I will let all you guys know what they found this experience to be like in case any of you fancy such a long haul trip in the Australian winter! I just don't envy them a 22 hour plane journey with a one year old and a five year old in tow!)
Which service/rest area in the Nancy/Strasbourg area do you use by the way, as that is the way we shall be driving also, so it might be handy to know this as well!
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: Stopping en route in Europe
