|
 Topic: Overnight stops on the French aires
|
Page: 1 2
  |
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
25/8/2022 at 8:51am
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 12/1/2019 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 1262
| Site Reviews Total: | 3 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
It’s 1350 miles. What time do you aim to set off from Calais? How many miles a day do you plan to drive? Which route are you taking? And is this for now or for mid winter?
Post last edited on 25/08/2022 08:55:59
|
25/8/2022 at 1:04pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 2541
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 6 |
|
IMHO you are missing a few tricks there!
Do the sums, think you will find your fuel bill, stop over costs, road tolls etc, through France balance out similar to Spanish ferry costs, if not more expensive!
France is really not a country to be rushed through, it's got too much to offer to see it only as a means to an end! Plan the journey to ENJOY France as part of your adventure! Don't think you will be speeding through France either, speed limit enforcement is very strict these days and penalties harsh.
8 Hours driving immediately after a Dover-Calais crossing is a VERY LONG day travelling when you add the UK travelling/crossing time to it! Think a stopover nearer Calais would be far more enjoyable and relaxing. Towing a caravan is slightly harder work than driving a solo car, you really have to keep your spacial awareness levels much higher due to your limited visibility, and because it's a much slower, less nimble lumbering beast than a solo car, you have to do a LOT of careful anticipating of future manoeuvres. All the more so and compounded by driving on wrong side of the road, your view of the traffic when exiting slip roads onto main carriageway will be appalling with the caravan on the back!
I've done the Spanish ferry route a couple of times (with car, but not towing caravan), to get to the mountains of Northern Spain, and we found it a very relaxing mini cruise which is not to be dismissed as 'just a ferry crossing'.
If you think you can get to Portugal and back without having to reverse your caravan, good luck! We've never managed to get a 100 miles or so into France without having to reverse a trailer a couple of times at various stop offs! And lost count of how many times I've had to back up my caravan in UK on a journey! Think you would be wise to hone your skills a little before rushing off, probably REALLY worth investing in one of the club towing tuition courses to learn the skills NECESSARY to tow, there's quite a lot more to it than just being able to reverse!
Think you maybe should read the comments on French Aires/Service stations about overnight stopping on them too!
Plenty of potential there to turn what should be a very enjoyable trip into an expensive worry fest, or worse! It's the sort of road trip that should have countless enjoyable experiences, but I sense you risk skipping a lot of those with a dash to the end target only approach. It's just my opinion based on my values and experience, what suits you is for you to decide.
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
25/8/2022 at 2:36pm
Location: EAST SUSSEX
Outfit: Outwell Vermont plus others.
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/11/2005 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 679
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 7 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
This might help explain what DaveS1 alluded to with respect to different cars and what they can tow/speeds.
https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Practical/Transport/Make-sense-of-Towing-a-caravan-legally-in-France
I haven't ever driven towing but I think only you can decide how many hours a day you feel you would be able to drive. Suggesting 300 miles on a motorway suggests 5-6 hours driving (based on an ave of 50-60mph) which would be less than I'd feel able to do in a day with breaks. You may well feel the same hence your request for a stop about 8 hours in.
If you look for aires that have restaurants they often have HGV parking areas which would allow you to drive in/out but there might not be any availability. It's also not an infallible way to decide. Sorry.
You haven't given a route to allow people to give advice - the motorways you're aiming for might be helpful.
https://about-france.com/motorway-services.htm
https://www.wandering-bird.com/french-aires/
-------------
pork
Remember a good wife always helps her husband with the dishes.
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
01/9/2022 at 8:57pm
Location: Bucks
Outfit: Sun Living S70SC
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 28/7/2015 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 272
| Site Reviews Total: | 4 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 5 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I reckon if you did as you plan, ie that drive in one go, 8 hours and then repeat for the remainder of the trip it will take you about 3 days to get over it.
|
02/9/2022 at 5:07pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Chausson S697
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 27/7/2016 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 442
| Site Reviews Total: | 63 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 14 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 15 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 10 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 1 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 15 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 18 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 22 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 30 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 7 |
|
We've done 6hr trips in the motorhome in France, and the same towing a caravan and I have to say even using tolls it's a slog - this year we did the former just to escape the oppressive heat in the Loire and get to the Normandy coast so it was worth it, but I would still avoid at all costs otherwise. We also did Swiss border to just outside Boulogne, not towing, in a Merc and a fiesta sport which took just over 8 hours plus a couple of short stops - never again ! It's meant to be enjoyable and a holiday ! I'd rather stay at cheaper campsites and try and get as good a deal on the tunnel (Tesco points perhaps) as possible if budget is a concern.
-------------
Seeking luxury in unexpected places
|
03/9/2022 at 8:42am
Location: South Northamptonshi
Outfit: Delta-Freelander
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 31/8/2015 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1213
| Site Reviews Total: | 51 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 29 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 18 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 4 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 16 |
|
We regularly tow for 6 hours (occasionally 8), but swap drivers every 2 hours, with a short break. It works for us.
-------------
Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
03/9/2022 at 2:13pm
Location: Southport
Outfit: Mondeo Titanium Swift Challenger 580
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/7/2006 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 638
| Site Reviews Total: | 4 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I find driving in France very relaxing and will do a 9 or 10 hour drive no problem, being an ex HGV driver I'm used to it and would do a 9 hour drive daily when I was working
|
|
via mobile 25/8/2022 at 2:10pm
