As I am booked on the Sea France ferry that docks at Calais at 23.00 Hrs, can anyone suggest somewhere to stop with the caravan other than the now notorious Aires.
Steve W
Steve W
Calais (Late Arrival )
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You can stay 'on the dock' at Calais. Just as you leave the port, once you've been through the 'Douane' and 'Passport Control' booths (likely not to be manned at that time) head out and at the first roundabout go back on yourself (almost) and you'll see the caravans and motorhomes parked up. (It's on your left as you're leaving the port area). Haven't yet heard about anything having problems there, but we're on the one hour later ferry on Friday and still intend to sleep where we usually do - without worrying about being robbed. No one could find any valuables in our van without taking it apart and we certainly won't be carrying a fortune in Euros or leave our wallets, handbags and phone on the table!
Camping La Bien Assise is at Guines which is about 6 miles from the port as the crow flies. In reality it takes about 15-20 mins. This is a Castels site and does not have an overnight barrier as it is geared for overnight stops. It is in the caravan club overseas book or you could find it at www.camping-bien-assise.fr. The book does ask that you contact reception if you anticipate arriving after 10pm, and you may have to wait for someone to come out, but the staff are very helpful and show you to your pitch. There is a decent Champion supermarket at the other end of the village (follow A26 signs) which opens at 8-30am next morning and also has a petrol garage.
Its a bit noisey but otherwise its ok.You can stay 'on the dock' at Calais. Just as you leave the port, once you've been through the 'Douane' and 'Passport Control' booths (likely not to be manned at that time) head out and at the first roundabout go back on yourself (almost) and you'll see the caravans and motorhomes parked up. (It's on your left as you're leaving the port area). Haven't yet heard about anything having problems there, but we're on the one hour later ferry on Friday and still intend to sleep where we usually do - without worrying about being robbed. No one could find any valuables in our van without taking it apart and we certainly won't be carrying a fortune in Euros or leave our wallets, handbags and phone on the table!
Stopped at many a service area and aire in France and have never found them "notorious" nor have my folks or any of our friends.
It is very sad to see the scare stories being perpetuated on this web site. Good van security and a little care and a road side stop is no problem.
In recent years we've seen people creeping about in the shadows at Calais and even dropping from lorries around the docks more than once. Give me an Aire any time rather than camp on or close to any French docks.
It is very sad to see the scare stories being perpetuated on this web site. Good van security and a little care and a road side stop is no problem.
In recent years we've seen people creeping about in the shadows at Calais and even dropping from lorries around the docks more than once. Give me an Aire any time rather than camp on or close to any French docks.
The dock area at Calais is not dark and unprotected - it's just like a campsite, or parking area - with rows of caravans and motorhomes waiting for ferries in, or ferries out, and absolutely safe - with showers and toilets, patrols and security. However, just like Jazman we've been sleeping on French aires for 25 years with no problem - and ALWAYS catch a late-night ferry and put our heads down on an aire somewhere about an hour or couple of hours from the port. No doubt people are robbed, sometimes, but there are spurious claims (and some of them have been originated by the 'gas alarm' industry trying to find a market for it's products). There are probably some insurance scams too - we're convinced our neighbours were involved in one, once, when they were reported by a caravan magazine to have been 'gassed' just outside Bordeaux. They denied that it had happened when they returned home!
Like previously said, there are so many places in a van to tuck away your valuables, and no sneak thief is going to find our money, passports, or anything else of value. One tip read somewhere else was to leave a wallet with a few euro coins, and a stack of 'expired' credit cards or business cards prominently somewhere - and hide the real thing well away from prying hands!
Like previously said, there are so many places in a van to tuck away your valuables, and no sneak thief is going to find our money, passports, or anything else of value. One tip read somewhere else was to leave a wallet with a few euro coins, and a stack of 'expired' credit cards or business cards prominently somewhere - and hide the real thing well away from prying hands!
I agree Valarie, although the risks are much lower than some would have us think on Aires and Services in France I don't think I would take the chance staying on one overnight, but we know many who have done without mishap. However, we have also met caravanners and witnessed the damage on to their caravan door when somebody tried to break in to their van whilst on an overnight service area in France.
If for nothing else, there is the risk that if something did happen it would ruin our trip and many would say "I told you so".
We are fortunate enough to not be constrained by time so we use campsites even for an overnight stop enroute. Also, as the only driver I think its important to have an undisturbed nights sleep and noisy Docksides/Aires/Services are rarely quiet places.
nb: I posted the bit about carrying an old wallet with some expired cards and a small amount of cash. Picked this tip up from a guy I met last year. Thought it was sound advise.
If for nothing else, there is the risk that if something did happen it would ruin our trip and many would say "I told you so".
We are fortunate enough to not be constrained by time so we use campsites even for an overnight stop enroute. Also, as the only driver I think its important to have an undisturbed nights sleep and noisy Docksides/Aires/Services are rarely quiet places.
nb: I posted the bit about carrying an old wallet with some expired cards and a small amount of cash. Picked this tip up from a guy I met last year. Thought it was sound advise.
Jazman......I think many of the stories we hear may be nothing more than embelishments of the truth.
However, there is evidence to suggest thefts do occur on Aires and Services so I think you are wrong to dismiss any genuine advise "not to stay" on aires or sevices as nothing more than scare stories that are perpetrated by people on this website. Safety must always be the prime objective surely!
However, there is evidence to suggest thefts do occur on Aires and Services so I think you are wrong to dismiss any genuine advise "not to stay" on aires or sevices as nothing more than scare stories that are perpetrated by people on this website. Safety must always be the prime objective surely!
Make your own choice but also be aware that dock areas have a tradition of being rough areas and notorious for all sorts of crime.
Valerie is correct in that Calais docks are well lit and well patrolled, but we have still seen people hiding under the raised roadways, scurrying between parked vehicles in the "secure" areas in the early hours as well as three emerging from under a covered truck and running from the truck driver and others.
My father retired from over 50 years in the Haulage business with trucks travelling to the far corners of Europe and beyond at times. In thousands of trips he never had one report of crime but knows of plenty of "Stories" and a "few" genuine thefts. On the other hand he had his UK office and yard broken in to and robbed numerous times and also had vehicles and fuel stolen here. Also a lot of problems happen around ports and docks the world over!
Valerie is correct in that Calais docks are well lit and well patrolled, but we have still seen people hiding under the raised roadways, scurrying between parked vehicles in the "secure" areas in the early hours as well as three emerging from under a covered truck and running from the truck driver and others.
My father retired from over 50 years in the Haulage business with trucks travelling to the far corners of Europe and beyond at times. In thousands of trips he never had one report of crime but knows of plenty of "Stories" and a "few" genuine thefts. On the other hand he had his UK office and yard broken in to and robbed numerous times and also had vehicles and fuel stolen here. Also a lot of problems happen around ports and docks the world over!
Jazzman. I used the word notorious advisedly, because French motorway Aires have become exactly that. Thanks mainly to scaremongering in the press and on this and other websites.
You can find my oppinion on this matter expressed in the other long running thread on this site, where I stand accused of being illogical because I refuse to accept these persistent stories without being shown any substantive proof. I like you have never had a problem whilst travelling in france. Ijust wish I could say the same about travelling in my own country.
Steve W
You can find my oppinion on this matter expressed in the other long running thread on this site, where I stand accused of being illogical because I refuse to accept these persistent stories without being shown any substantive proof. I like you have never had a problem whilst travelling in france. Ijust wish I could say the same about travelling in my own country.
Steve W
We sailed Dover Calais at Easter and fellow caravanners in front of us in the ferry lanes at Dover had missed the ferry by over 5 hours and their 1st ever French site.
First time abroad and paranoid that they would have to drive through the night or they would be robbed as they'd seen stories on caravanning internet sites.
My wife and mother explained our regular routines and the family followed us and camped at a stop and had a good nights sleep along with about a dozen other caravans and a hand full of motorhomes.
I did not mean to upset you Steve, but we find these stories rather annoying.
The couple and their kids had been caught in a motorway hold up and then had a puncture and did not realise that their car jack would not lift their caravan! The young mum was petrified that some sort of Dick Turpin characters lay in wait at avery French stop.
I would rather a caravanner get sleep with his family rather than try driving through the night to avoid the fantom thieves of Aires.
First time abroad and paranoid that they would have to drive through the night or they would be robbed as they'd seen stories on caravanning internet sites.
My wife and mother explained our regular routines and the family followed us and camped at a stop and had a good nights sleep along with about a dozen other caravans and a hand full of motorhomes.
I did not mean to upset you Steve, but we find these stories rather annoying.
The couple and their kids had been caught in a motorway hold up and then had a puncture and did not realise that their car jack would not lift their caravan! The young mum was petrified that some sort of Dick Turpin characters lay in wait at avery French stop.
I would rather a caravanner get sleep with his family rather than try driving through the night to avoid the fantom thieves of Aires.
I agree 100%, some people must take pleasure in trying to spoil other peoples holidays with these wildly exaggerated stories.
Steve W
Steve W
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