I normally drive down non-stop, with breaks and end up sleeping in the car about 2am, which ends up 2hrs south of Calais. I normally just pull in behind a petrol Station on the Autoroute.
However, Aires are a minimum of these http://en.airecampingcar.com/formphotos/e/u050823_20110809170923_50_vig_400_400.jpg
The one in Bedoin, Mont Ventoux, can have a queue as long as 100ms the day after the tour de france if it's been up the Mont Ventoux.
we have just got back from 3 weeks abroad, we always when travelling to pain use the aires in france, we always make sure we are not the only ones there, and usually wake up surrounded by motorhomes, they are clean,have toilets and are Free...Enjoy
If its an overnight stop, just pull up at the ferry terminal and use the car park there, alternatively as mentioned previously the service stations on the autoroutes are ideal, unlike the UK you do not have to pay.
Do not listen to scaremongerers, as long as you use your common sense, everything is all ok.
Another good place is to use car parks of the supermarkets, means you get up and can have fresh bread etc in the morning
We have been converting a panel van to a camper and will be drive sharing so will probably not be kipping in the 24hr Autoroute Service stations but, I would like a list of the autoroute stations with free showers !
Our Cheyenne is 13 years old and doesn't have rear seat belts, will we need to fit some before we go to france, we will have 2 people up front and a rear passenger?
Our Cheyenne is 13 years old and doesn't have rear seat belts, will we need to fit some before we go to france, we will have 2 people up front and a rear passenger?
I have no idea about the safety belts sorry, we did travel out there 11 years ago without them but the law changes so often. Are you a member of Caravan or camping and caravanning club? If so they have helplines with all the info you need. As for Aires we always use them and have spent complete holidays just by using village and town Aires. The vicarious books book is our bible! Gutted I'm not off to France this year now!
DO NOT use the motorway Aires, at least not to sleep at.
Get " All the Aires, France" from Vicarious Books, online.
Most villages/towns have an Aire locally and they are very good, usually a stroll in to get the Croissants and milk!
Have fun the Aires are safe, just be aware of where you are and don't take unnecessary chances.