Overnight stays in France

Andy and Michelle replied on 04/04/2021 11:23

Andy and Michelle

Posted on 04/04/2021 11:23

We're "hoping" to be able to travel to the south of France later this year in our motorhome. Of course our hopes raise & fade like the tide at the moment! We haven't taken the MH before and would be very grateful for members' advice about overnight stays on the way down. For the first trip we just want the convenience of an overnight stop. We've read that some motorway service stations might be good enough for an overnight but wondered what members thought? Probably want to stop somewhere near Reims or Troyes. Many thanks in advance for any advice.

75 replies

replied on 09/04/2021 10:21

Posted on 09/04/2021 08:47 by

Aires get a bad press on here from people who have never used them. If they are not tarmac hell holes, then they are responsible for the closure of sites.

It's a way of motorhoming life in Europe. Some are very attractive places indeed; some are run by campsite owners (who often come and collect the fee); some are run by a municipality alongside municipal sites; some municipal sites have become Aires. One such springs to mind: a new municipal site was opened and the former, just around the corner from the new one, became an Aire.

Posted on 09/04/2021 10:21

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2 people like this

brue replied on 09/04/2021 10:22

Member

brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 08/04/2021 17:26 by chasncath

We've just cancelled our pitch reservations for our early-summer 6 -week push to the Côte d'Azur. Three weeks in the Cotswolds instead, and a couple of days at Cleethorpes to see the sea! However, we have three overnight stops for your trip which we can recommend. We use the autoroute with a tag for the tolls, and we have supermarket stops for fuel and provisions.

Our stops are as follows:

1. Municipal Camping at Val de Vesle just south of Reims.LINK

2. Next stop is at Beaune and Camping Les Bouleaux. Link

3. Third stop is at Tain L'Hermitage and Camping Les Lucs by the river Link

Posted on 09/04/2021 10:22

The Val de Vesle site is near a friend's house. If the OPs are not in too much of a hurry this is an ideal spot to visit Rheims and the Champagne Trail.

1 person likes this

replied on 09/04/2021 10:56

Posted on 09/04/2021 10:02 by allanandjean

"Just thought i would mention the UK as when talking about UK someone will mention Over There"

Seems all you have done is comment on the behaviour oh MH?

These people must have amazing planning abilities to be able to plot all their illicit stops during their trips.

Posted on 09/04/2021 10:56

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JVB66 replied on 09/04/2021 11:06

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 09/04/2021 10:56 by

As these freeloading, dastardly motorhomers were, apparently, carrying out their nefarious acts when the wardens were off site, it's a wonder how anyone knows. Unless of course one of the posters many advisers "advised" him.

Posted on 09/04/2021 11:06

It just shows it seems , you need to be one of the nefarious ones to be in the know as i am sure those who "wild camp" will be fully aware of

replied on 09/04/2021 11:17

Posted on 09/04/2021 11:06 by JVB66

It just shows it seems , you need to be one of the nefarious ones to be in the know as i am sure those who "wild camp" will be fully aware of

Posted on 09/04/2021 11:17

The user and all related content has been deleted

replied on 09/04/2021 11:21

Posted on 09/04/2021 10:56 by

As these freeloading, dastardly motorhomers were, apparently, carrying out their nefarious acts when the wardens were off site, it's a wonder how anyone knows. Unless of course one of the posters many advisers "advised" him.

Posted on 09/04/2021 11:21

The user and all related content has been deleted

chasncath replied on 09/04/2021 13:45

chasncath

Posted on 09/04/2021 13:45

Like many French aires, this one requires payment by Carte Bancaire to get out!

Andy and Michelle replied on 14/04/2021 14:42

Member

Andy and Michelle

Motorhomer from South Yorkshire

Posted on 14/04/2021 14:42

Many thanks for some very helpful suggestions from members. All we need now is for the borders to safely open!

1 person likes this

eurortraveller replied on 15/04/2021 11:42

Member

eurortraveller

from Cornwall

Posted on 15/04/2021 11:42

Andy/Michelle, If time is on your side and you can take in the mountains on your way south you will find overnight opportunities which are neither campsites nor Aires - just free overnight stopovers for self contained motorhomes. This is the top of the Lautaret Pass just below the amazing Alpine garden.

Gallery

2 people like this

hitchglitch replied on 16/04/2021 13:38

Member

hitchglitch

Motorhomer from Buckinghamshire

Posted on 16/04/2021 13:38

When we were caravanners we used to get a late evening crossing to Calais then stop at a motorway Aire about one hour from Calais. Never had any problems with security but always chose full service aires with good lighting. The whole family always slept like logs and no need for detours off of the route. The only problem these days is lorries parking in the caravan/motorhome areas and taking all the space.

Now retired we always use sites and our first stop is just before Guignicourt, Au bord de l’Aisne, just before Rheims. Excellent site quite close to the autoroute but expensive unless it is still ACSI.

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