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Hi Folks,

any help from experienced French travellers much welcomed. We are heading to Dordogne 31.07 with Car, trailer, roof box, bikes. At the moment none of this is securable.

The family want to do a two night stop outside of Paris, For convenience a hotel with secure parking and train access would be best.

For cost and sense of security a campsite (with car holding most of the gear during the day trip) may be preferred.

Could anyone please help with real life experiences on this as my wee head is all a spin and need to book le tunnel asap.

If you can still get a pitch then Camping International at Maisons Laffitte is good for both security (barriered entrance) and a 10 minute walk to a train, which takes 20 minutes to get into Paris.  (Edited later: I've just checked their on-line booking system and there is a pitch on the dates you want, so if it's interested you then Id book quickly).  You can get a 'Zone 4' day ticket for 10 euros which allows unlimited travel in Paris on the trains, metro, buses,and some boats.  Pitches are a good size, and the facilities have been upgraded since we were last there a few years ago.  We stayed there in early May this year.

There's a small bar and take-away on site, but plenty of cafes/restaurants in Maisons Laffitte itself.  It isn't a 'destination' site, and not somewhere you'd want to stay for long, but absolutely fine for trips into Paris, or to Versailles which is nearby too.  

Access is easy enough if you keep to the western route - we did non-toll all the way, using an old favourite route from Dunkerque, via Abbeville, Poix de Picardie, Grandvilliers, Beauvais, and then headed towards Pontoise, St Germain en Laye, and then Maisons Laffitte. We used to stopover at Maisons Laffitte in the 'distant' past!   However, if you don't mind paying the tolls it's an easy enough route via Abbeville, Amiens, etc.

When you want to head south for the Dordogne, you're on the 'right side' of Paris, and head towards Rambouillet, then either the A10 (toll road) or N10 /N154 non toll towards Vierzon and then the free A20 south.  There are other Parisian campsites but they are mostly to the east of Paris, and then you'd have to traverse Paris in the morning when setting off south.

Val A,

thanks for this steer, certainly sounds like a good option for travel, food etc