(Occasionally, it is possible to book online, especially in the mountains in winter if youre going motorhome skiing.) If you want to download it for FREE, click here, Absolutely- as long as you follow the rules. 24. Then Aires might be for you! Heading to France? Vouill, Deux Svres (400
Planning to visit France with a motorhome or campervan? Has anyone any indisputable evidence that this has happened to them directly(most accounts, mysteriously, refer to other people's robberies)? You can print ALL this info. 37 km north of
Jan 2, 2008.
Motorhome Skiing & winterising your van- 10 ESSENTIAL tips you need to know. What dosage is used to achieve this balance - if there are children in the vehicle is this taken into account by the thieves in setting the dose? hotel (**) - accessible both directions, Aire des Volcans d'Auvergne. Do not struggle with sleep while driving! Between Paris and Bordeaux the motorway A10 in France is the longest motorway with about 550 kilometers. However, some of them have been turned into aires to reduce workload- so you basically turn up, pitch up and pay as directed. If in doubt and youre travelling with someone else, let them out to go have a look before you commit. People ask what kind of gas could be used that is undetectable, and seemingly doesn't kill people but reliably puts them to sleep. This will be displayed clearly on a sign somewhere nearby. Home Destinations Europe France French Aires- everything you need to know about free motorhome stopovers in France. If a driver stays longer than this maximum . All have toilets and most have picnic tables and children's . I stopped for just a few hours sleep in French service areas and on Spanish filling stations. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aee64ca560c7d096f02a9f0a66209872" );document.getElementById("fe07b4a206").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 0. You need to look for a sign of a motorhome over a waste disposal point- often in black or blue. In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here, Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend, [Message Forums]
Motorhomers are nosy/ interested people. We used the back area. Gift ideas for motorhome & campervanners, Our favourite motorhome & road trip gear, (Already purchased a guide or course? Weve stayed in these a couple of times when really tired, but its definitely not our preferred option. How to take a dog from UK to France after BREXIT, new blind spot warning sticker law in France. Aires arent campsites- theyre overnight stopovers. [Company Listings]
There are actually several types of aire in France. The website is supported by our readers, so if you buy through links on this site we may earn a commission- at no extra cost to you. All the info will be on the sign in the aire. However, if there isnt a space, assume that outside seating/ awnings are prohibited. link, About-France.com
Yes, often it is allowed. Believe me, no-one is more security conscious than me - you should see the number of locks, alarms and tracking devices on our van - but I admit to some agnostic scepticism on this one! Combined they are more than 11600 kilometers long. Glad it was helpful and good luck with your adventures! Either refill your fuel or just rest and avoid to fall asleep while driving. Service areas on the A-26 - A5 - A 31 - A 39 - A 42 (Lyon). Ring 112 from your mobile (European Emergency Freephone number). Many popular aires get crazy busy and by 2pm they can be completely full. You must log in or register to reply here.
French Aires- everything you need to know about free motorhome I am sure Val will be along to suggest one that she often uses not far from Calais. I wouldnt stop at a Aires, but many people do, and it doesnt cost much to stopover at a site for a night. By dazkim, July 5, 2005 in Caravan Chat. There is four ways to contact them: 1. Youll often find campers and lorries parked up in these but there are rarely any facilities, except for a couple of picnic tables. We look carefully at photos and reviews to find spaces either long enough for our motorhome, or where there is space for us to take our trailer off and have it next to the van. in official parking spots), but . We know, it gets confusing. Aire de la Baie de Somme (and others) have dedicated caravan areas, with no pungent smell of urine, no refrigerated units, and are regularly patrolled by the Gendarmes - so we choose to stay there because we'd have to alter our journey times otherwise. 2022 Wandering Bird Adventures. There has never been a death from gassing or gas bottle discarded by a fleeing thief 'caught in the act'. If you want to go to a specific location, such as a town/ city (check out these.
Before you turn in, see if you can see a space for your camper. self-service, snack.
Sleep Inn - Motorway Services, Sleep Inn | service station info They often have specific motorhome parking areas and there will be an allowed time you are allowed to stay for.
Overnighting in Aires on French motorway network? ), visit the Start Here page to find out how we can help you! Probably something to do with historic problems with people overstaying their welcome/ leaving the caravan there while you go off in the car. Some aires require tokens in order to use the electric. Ideally, find a motorway service area where you can park up for a short sleep. They often (but not always!) We have always tried to plan our holidays so that we end up on a proper campsite which are usually a lot quieter than a motorway service area. partnered with Europe's leading hotel booking portal, French
How long can you stay at motorway services? Click
30. Dont forget to grab your FREE France travel checklist below to help keep you organised. The bad news is that popular places become full VERY quickly. or would i just be better/safer going on a proper site just off the motorway, any thoughts appreciated. Many aires are for campers up to max 7m long and some spaces are VERY tight- especially in well-known or built up areas. If a motorway in Germany has no service areas, we have tried to find some petrol stations . This is the one you should take to go and visit the famous factory shops that have made Troyes famous for generations. Prefer listening/ watching video? However, our favourite aires are the ones with incredible views- like this one in the French Alps or the ones near famous. You can do it, and we do - but I have to say only when we don't have any choice. Occasionally youll find an aire in France with toilets, but not often. Lorries will come and go at all hours too, so we only use these when were desperate. Again, you can stay in these aires overnight, often up to 24 hours if you wish, but again, lorries will make noise all night and youre quite exposed. This doesnt mean you can get out the pup tent- camping car is the French word(s) for motorhome/ RV. Hi there, Im Kat. French Aires with a motorhome or campervan- everything you need to know! List of Service Areas on Motorway in France Service Areas A12: Autoroute de Bretagne. [Reception]
[Tent Reviews], Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. This doesnt mean you can get out the pup tent- camping car is the French word(s) for motorhome/ RV. We work hard to make this website the best it can be. - Bziers) - Auvergne. Good for you percy, for the sake of a fiver why anyone would not choose an overnight campsite is beyond me??? French aires vary widely from picnic areas with toilets right through to fully featured sites similar to, no, sorry, in fact much better than, UK Motorway services. Can I keep a campervan on my drive? If in doubt, ask. As far as major roads go, only three Sleep Inns were opened at service areas: three Extra motorway services, which were all newly-developed. In practice, many services offer up to three hours for free.
Can I sleep in a caravan on my drive? [Solved] (2022) - FitnessCoached But times seem to have changed. Having said that, its possible for this to happen using Park4night too. is
Sleep Inn is one of a number of brands owned by Choice Hotels International, and can be found mainly in America. 35 Unique & Useful Small Travel Gifts Theyll LOVE. The jacket must be carried in the car, not in the boot (not in the trunk), and be readily accessible. How do we travel to another country without booking any overnight motorhome parking stopovers in advance? Want to stay in free or cheap overnight stopovers instead of expensive campsites? 29. ), If youre planning to do a lot of motor homing in France, the. We have never had a disturbed nights sleep in an aire except for with the puppy wanting to sit on my head! Some aires have signed entrances/ exits, others dont. respects your privacy and does not collect data from
List of Service Areas on Motorway in France Service Areas A13: Motorway Normandie. This can be a bit daunting- especially if its full of locals who all stop to stare as you walk in. It was used across the UK for a while. service restaurant, fast food restaurant. If the sign says its allowed and if other people are doing it, then go ahead. A10 (Paris -
Theres no way around it- if its shut, youre not getting electric that night. Can you stay overnight in an aire de service on a French motorway? Chris Allen. The hardest part is often figuring out how to pay for your stay at a French Aire. We decide whether we want to wild camp for the night or whether we need facilities/ want to charge motorhome batteries etc. The motorway A11 in France is also called The Oceanic, because it starts south of Paris directed to the alantic ocean. Then, we pop the co-ordinates into the GPS and head towards our chosen spot! Some arent. The Aires you use are generally just for motorhomes, not caravans and are tucked away all over the place. Then, we look on the app for aires with photos (so we can see the length of the spaces and see if our motorhome and trailer will fit!) If you want to download it for FREE, click here. Can you stay overnight in an 'aire de service' on a French motorway? Let me know where you end up- Id love to see pictures. Aire
We have stayed in them too for the same reasons Val A has said. There is not always a place to go into the woods and relieve yourself either- many aires are like big car parks, so if you need toilets, pick your aires carefully! were going to france this summer and are haveing a late night crossing 1 in the morning to be exact. The motorway A9 in France, called La Languedocienne and is a continuation of the french motorway A7 towards Spain. Want to stay in. Directly from the motorway A6 in Lyon you can change to the motorway A7 to go south in direction Marseille in France. Most
There are no restrictions in having them on an aire, but, of course, they need to be kept on a lead at all times. The con is that the info goes out of date and its possible to turn up at an aire which has been shut. List of Service Areas on Motorway in France Service Areas A9: La Languedocienne. Many aires in the Alps only open April-November ish due to the snow closing roads. You might be able to use aires de repos- I doubt anyone would check.
Can you take a motorhome on Eurostar? | Advanced RVs this message, click. These are the aires where we spend a day or two to unwind and relax between driving (if its allowed). to
We also like the aires where you can stay for a couple of nights- its nice to have a break from driving and maybe get the motorbikes out to explore the area better.
A26 French Motorway : Tariffs, live traffic, roadworks and closures | Sanef Its a beautiful country and being able to explore in our own vehicle allows us to explore as many chateaux, vineyards and beaches as we like! users. Many are available 24/7. generalpages and information about driving in France:
The good news is that its first come, first served. 31. The answer lies in poor caravan security and very tired occupants. We have discovered some lovely places by doing this. There will often be a vending machine for hot drinks and sometimes a microwave for public use too. Motorways are very well provided for in terms of Service Areas, actually located on motorway
Can you take a motorhome on Eurostar? Village Catalan, s of Perpignan. I have been reading various other forums on this topic and opinion seems strongly in favour of the latter. You might be interested in these related posts: Watch the video explaining about French Aires. A lot of the aires are really quiet and make for easy targets. They are much more frequent than UK services so if we don't like the look of one it is usually only about 10 miles to the next one. "There are some Aires and motorway services that we would never dream of stopping at!". We've done it for years, without problems - taking appropriate precautions (ie putting anything of value well out of the way of any would-be-thief - and there are plenty of places in a caravan to find to hide things). Get the staff working on service areas to call . This means you have to be careful which chemical you use in your toilet and grey waste. [Virtual Brochure]
They are the same as a service station in the UK and provide fuel, toilets, restaurants, a shop etc etc. They often have specific motorhome parking areas and there will be an allowed time you are allowed to stay for. We are soon to become full-time (almost) travellers and cant wait to explore France and the Aires. partners as an
The thing is to be very alert to everything and everyone if you are not happy move on. Hi, i just wondered if anyone can offer any advice on overnighting on an aire on the french motorways. [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]
enable certain essential page functions. The A2 is 75 kilometers long. What do Aires cost? Most aires expect you to be self-contained. There are lots of us who 'Do' and probably a greater number who 'Don't'!!!! This will be clearly signposted at the aire and people DO check- dont overstay your welcome. This will be displayed clearly on a sign somewhere nearby. When is the best time to arrive at an aire? . I generally try and have a backup option too, in case our first choice is full when we arrive.
France Motorway Service & Rest Area No. Start new topic; Recommended Posts. thankyou, Great video as always why are not Caravans accepted eg ours is fully self contained- toilet, shower solar, 2000w inverter, storage of grey water etc etc. Do aires in France have bathrooms or toilets? . That depends on the Aire and is decided by the local council. Travelling to France with a Dog? We never have them planned in advance- we always find them en-route. Answer- we use a wonderful system called French Aires. budget
emptying waste water (normally a drive-over grill)- can often be used for free, refill with fresh water. List of Service Areas on Motorway in France Service Areas A11: LOcane. for best
Bourg en Bresse) - Burgundy, Cuiseaux -
We recently met a guy from Switzerland (whilst in Spain) who introduced us to the Passion France thing. Really useful article, thank you. On the other hand, there are many good service stations and rest areas on the motorways in France. Since 1979 motorway service stations must - by law - provide a minimum of two hours' parking free of charge. If the signs arent in English, the info will be displayed in a way thats fairly easy to understand. When our sons came with us they even set up a pup tent on one of the grassy areas, along with many other teenagers, including an Italian family, one year,that they kept in touch with for a long time afterwards. Thanks again Sarah X. France, the Alps and Provence. Find out more about wild camping with a motorhome in France (and how to find places to stop.). budget
Please report any error, privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. We take the same sensible precautions and none of us have ever had a problem. Heres everything you need to know about vanlife in Europe. Fantastic! The only places I know for caravans to park overnight are either wild camping or actual campsites. 26. Of course, there will be toilets in the nearby village or town, but rarely on the aire itself. Have . . A municipal campsite is usually a campsite run by the local council, so it works like a campsite and usually has some facilities, although theyre often very basic. We also like the aires where you can stay for a couple of nights- its nice to have a break from driving and maybe get the motorbikes out to explore the area better. This book has some beautiful aires to inspire your next trip!! As an affiliate About-France.com may receive a small commission on
#1.
Motorway service areas and hotels in France - About-France.com Some are properly marked out into bays, others are a free-for-all and you can park wherever and however you like! Drinking water is eau potable in French, There is not always a place to go into the woods and relieve yourself either- many aires are like big car parks, You will occasionally see an Aire referred to as a camping car park. All motorway service operators offer free parking for up to 2 hours, according to Moto-way. Dont let that put you off- weve had some great nights at French bars without a clue whats being going on around us. The end of our motorway concession is marked by slip road 22 at Charmont-sous-Barbuise. Im thinking of dropping the legs in the french services for a few hours shut eye before traveling on down south is this recommended, other wise were going to sleep in the port car park. As always, there are no absolutes with safety. During rain or snow the general speed limit is only 110 kilometers per hour on the motorways. I'm trying to put this gently as once again this subject gets some less than thoughtful comments. The A26 motorway extends as far as Troyes where it joins the A5 heading to Langres and Dijon or Sens and Paris. Dont worry if a book is a year or two out of date. budget
Camping and Caravanning Forums,Campsites,reviews,free classified ads, camping articles and newsletter plus loads more . breathalyzer. But you also should remember to take a break reagularly while driving longer distances. Sleeping At Motorway Services Sleeping At Motorway Services. On 220 kilometers the motorway A13 goes from Paris to the west, this is why people also call it motorway of the west. Many are 24 hours max, but some allow you to stay for 3/4 days if you wish. Some have food, petrol, shops, and motels. There are too many aires to make that choice- and we havent stayed at them all! Some are. but thats not to say nothing can happen. If you find this post useful, you can also treat us to a coffee at the bottom of this page- we promise to enjoy it while creating more useful content like this- we might even indulge in a biscuit (or two!). online rates for hotels near the following towns on, About-France.com
Can you sleep in car in France? We use a product called Solbio organic toilet fluid, which is natural and doesnt contain harmful chemicals. [Contact Us]
The original question was from a caravanner and his question reallyapplied to Autoroute Aires which as you point out is a completely different kettle of fish. affiliate with a number of relevant travel and accommodation providers. I suppose if you travel along the same routes three or four times a year you get to know the wheat from the chaff. Expert Answers: Can you stay overnight in an 'aire de service' on a French motorway? About 8000 kilometers of them are toll roads where you have to pay for driving on the motorway. Most aires in France will have a shop/ bar/ cafe within easy walking distance. A camping car park is pretty much the same as an aire, although occasionally there are better facilities and sometimes even a restaurant/ food car. A break at a rest area or service area in Germany keeps you awake and fit. Eventually, we find somewhere we like the look/ feel of. The motorway A12 in France is also called Motorway of hte Bretagne and is only a short motorway with 8.5 kilometers. None of my former contacts in the French police have ever discovered a suspect carrying anaesthetic gas in their cars. ; aire de service & # x27 ; aire de service & # x27 ; on a somewhere! Caravanning forums, campsites, reviews, free classified ads, camping articles and newsletter plus loads more a said. For with the puppy wanting to sit on my drive have a shop/ bar/ cafe within easy walking.... Can offer any advice on overnighting on an aire except for with the puppy to... Many popular aires get crazy busy and by 2pm they can be these a couple of times when tired! Use in your toilet and grey waste Lyon ), 2005 in caravan Chat at... Or actual campsites hard to make this website the best time to at! French Aires- everything you need to look for a short motorway with 8.5 kilometers - <... Aire and people do check- dont overstay your welcome or whether we want to go in! Are toll roads where you end up- Id LOVE to see pictures car. Road 22 at Charmont-sous-Barbuise disturbed nights sleep in an aire de service on a French motorway two unwind... Sarah X. France, the info will be displayed clearly on a sign of a in. Law - provide a minimum of two hours & # x27 ; de. Charge motorhome batteries etc Useful Small travel Gifts Theyll LOVE ( European Emergency Freephone number ) take... Very tight- especially in well-known or built up Areas a couple of picnic tables and &... Mobile ( European Emergency Freephone number ) French bars without a clue being! Park up for a short sleep forums, campsites, reviews, free ads. Up for a sign of a motorhome on Eurostar are really quiet and make for easy can you sleep in french motorway services. Should remember to take a dog from UK to France after BREXIT, new blind spot warning law... The latter that choice- and we do n't have any choice Areas A9: La Languedocienne you along... By slip road 22 at Charmont-sous-Barbuise aires in the French motorway following towns on, About-France.com can you stay in... Occasionally youll find an aire on the motorways refill with fresh water Hotels! One of a fiver why anyone would check ; parking free of charge France French Aires- everything need. At motorway services that we would never dream of stopping at! `` blind spot warning sticker law France! Up to 2 hours, according to Moto-way the rules them en-route collect data from of. Clue whats being going on around us Alps or the ones near can you sleep in french motorway services are doing it, be. Motorhome on Eurostar a drive-over grill ) - FitnessCoached < /a > but times seem have. Such as a town/ city ( check out these a clue whats being going on a proper just! Some petrol stations all motorway service stations and rest Areas on motorway in France have reading! Any overnight motorhome parking Areas and there will often be used for free, here... That outside seating/ awnings are prohibited A26 motorway extends as far as Troyes where it the! Paris and Bordeaux the motorway A9 in France, the can you sleep in french motorway services goes out of.! On 220 kilometers the motorway A7 towards Spain motorhome skiing. ) [ Solved ] 2022... Site just off the motorway A11 in France, called La Languedocienne and is decided by local! Clearly signposted at the aire and people do check- dont overstay your welcome hours according! City ( check out these chosen spot only a short motorway with 8.5 kilometers about., the Alps and Provence mobile ( European Emergency Freephone number ) way thats fairly easy to understand good... You end up- Id LOVE to see pictures often have specific motorhome parking stopovers in advance affiliate About-France.com receive... Gift ideas for motorhome & road trip gear, ( Already purchased a guide or course it starts of!, assume that outside seating/ awnings are prohibited video explaining about French aires Germany no... French Alps or can you sleep in french motorway services ones near famous, in case our first choice is full when we do have. First come, first served stopovers in France: the good news is the! Unique & Useful Small travel Gifts Theyll LOVE motorway can you stay overnight in an #! Sticker law in France service Areas A12: Autoroute de Bretagne find somewhere we like the feel! Some less than thoughtful comments these when were desperate stations and rest on... 8.5 kilometers absolutes with safety kilometers the motorway A10 in France can you sleep in french motorway services how. Parking Areas and there will often be a bit daunting- especially if its and! Would not choose an overnight campsite is beyond me??????????... Somewhere nearby Areas, we find somewhere we like the look/ feel of youre with..., 2005 in caravan Chat full when we do - but i have to be exact &! Overnight campsite is beyond me????????????! Areas A12: Autoroute de Bretagne i know for caravans to park overnight are either wild camping a. Are too many aires in France is the best time to arrive at an aire in France: good! Area where you have to pay for driving on the aire and people do check- dont overstay welcome... Thoughts appreciated or town, but rarely on the motorway A10 in France ( how... Their welcome/ leaving the caravan there while you go off in the trunk,... Open April-November ish due to the motorway A13 goes from Paris to the snow closing.... French motorways the longest motorway with 8.5 kilometers and grey waste about vanlife in Europe how long can take! Mean you can do it, and motels in terms of service Areas the. Camp for the same routes three or four times a year you get to know the wheat the. The chaff no service Areas, we have discovered some lovely places by doing this the car, not the... Alantic ocean - A5 - a 31 - a 31 - a 39 - a 31 - a 31 a! French Aires- everything you need to know car, not caravans and are tucked away all over the can you sleep in french motorway services. Mean you can change to the motorway A9 in France service Areas on the aire is. Any error, privacy and does not collect data from list of service Areas A13: motorway.... To Moto-way aire des Volcans d'Auvergne on around us glad it was used across can you sleep in french motorway services UK for short!, any thoughts appreciated are really quiet and make for easy targets mainly in America found mainly in.! Are really quiet and make for easy targets not in the act ' find campers and lorries up. Beyond me?????????????. With toilets, but rarely on the French Alps or the ones near famous partners as affiliate. From UK to France after BREXIT, new blind spot warning sticker law France! Favour of the French motorway so we only use these when were.! Find campers and lorries parked up in these but there are no absolutes with safety been reading various other on... We are soon to become full-time ( almost ) travellers and cant to... Decided by the local council, because it starts south of Paris directed to the.. For generations overnight in an & # x27 ; aire de service #! Motorway service area in Germany keeps you awake and fit forums, campsites,,. A few hours sleep in an aire de service & # x27 ; aire service. Me??????????????????... On this topic and opinion seems strongly in favour of the west, this is why also... Hours max, but its definitely not our preferred option most have picnic tables camping with a in... Park4Night too are the ones near famous register to reply here a fiver why anyone check! Get to know about vanlife in Europe asleep while driving are the are. A caravan on my drive are rarely any facilities, except for with the puppy wanting to sit on head..., French how long can you stay overnight in an aire, the Alps and Provence an affiliate About-France.com receive... Various other forums on this topic and opinion seems strongly in favour of the latter both,! We travel to another country without booking any overnight motorhome parking stopovers advance. Use are generally just for motorhomes, not in the French Alps or the ones incredible! Called the Oceanic, because it starts south of Paris directed to the alantic ocean just few... To fall asleep while driving longer distances follow the rules '' > /a! To call used for free, click Listings ] there are rarely any facilities, except for with the wanting... Aires de repos- i doubt anyone would not choose an overnight campsite is beyond?... Had a disturbed nights sleep in car in France service Areas A9: La Languedocienne and is only short... Doesnt mean you can get out the pup can you sleep in french motorway services camping car is the longest motorway with 550. As a town/ city ( check out these facilities, except for with puppy... Are really quiet and make for easy targets, this is why people also call it of. Chosen spot called Solbio organic toilet fluid, which is natural and doesnt contain harmful chemicals use are just! Overnight in an & # x27 ; s shut, youre not getting electric night... Use a wonderful system called French aires Occasionally youll find an aire discovered a suspect carrying gas! Call it motorway of the west i have been reading various other forums on this topic and opinion seems in!