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Hi All

I've heard a few people mention using hotels as a stopover.  Is this a viable option if you are towing? Do they have caravan parking and if so is it secure?  We are travelling to France for the first time this year and need a stopover near Dunkerque.

Thanks, Caroline

Hi

They're all different. Many hotels used as stopovers do have large car parks, and so there is usually room for "an outfit". Again, security varies in the same way as it would here. Chances are, if the hotel you choose is near a motorway rather than a town centre, it will be ok on both fronts.

In terms of car park space and security, the French options are really no different to the Premier Travel Inn / Ibis / comfort Inn type hotels over here.

TT.

Cheers for that information.  I think the risk perhaps outweighs the benefits - campsite it is then.

Caroline

This is a useful site for finding  caravan parks just off the autoroute

Carol

Val that's really interesting to know.  Did you book in advance, if so was it via the internet or by phone.  We are sailing to Dunkerque and travelling to the Loire - have you, by any chance, experience of hotels on this route?

Thanks, Caroline

Caroline

Did you see my post tonight about a lovely bed and breakfast near Alencon?

Caroline - just read your original post again - I see you want somewhere near Dunkerque, which means the recommendation for Alencon (allengenealogy) is not appropriate.   There's a site I'd recommend (campsite) - Chateau du Gandspette which is about 20 mins from Dunkerque - and is used to overnight stops.  They used to do B and B in the Chateau but I don't know if they still do.  There are loads of other postings on here about Gandspette - but haven't seen anyone mention the B and B option so not sure if it still applies. 

Depending on the date you're arriving it might be worth booking either a hotel, or a campsite if you're at all worried about not finding somewhere.  We're always early or late season, so it generally isn't a problem - and we don't have young childen, nor do we mind sleeping overnight in an aire, if we don't find anywhere else.

We have stayed at the Aire des Deux Caps, between Calais and Boulogne on the autoroute, and this has facilities for caravanners, including hook-ups on a coin meter, water points, and shower facilities.

I find that the French Gites sites are great...they are normally out in the country in Farmhouses...so no problem for parking....and these are normally remote so no other people around to tamper with your trailer/caravan car etc...

http://www.gites-de-france.com/fr/gites_ruraux

Simon

Thanks for all the very good info.  I think we are now leaning towards a campsite as our overnight and Grandspette does seem to fit the bill, and has been recommended a few times on this site.  We'll just have to cut down on the amount of equipment (junk!) we seem to lug around with us so that we can actually get in the caravan to sleep. 

Caroline