Late night stop

[andygilljoe]

We are venturing over to France at the start of May, planning on finishing work then straight down to the ferry or tunnel?
We will probably get into France about 1am and looking for somewhere to over night that we won't get ambushed and not to far from the port.
I would be very grateful for any suggestions and guides to how to do things.

Many thanks

Andy and Gill

 

[Spriddler]

I'd want to stop at least 30 miles from a port.
Camp sites will be closed and you won't be popular turning up on an aire in the early hours.
A well lit supermarket car park or in a town/village square would be my choice.
I wouldn't ever stop overnight at a motorway or main road service station.

In truth I'd either go Newhaven - Dieppe and sleep in a cabin (20% off the ferry fare if the person named on the ticket is over 60 or reg'd disabled) or I'd delay til a daytime crossing.

 

[tribalbrit]

If sailing we used to come off the ferry at Calais go all the way round the first roundabout and go back into the docks where you can park up for the night.
Still on port territory so security about.
Toilet facilities in the building too.

 

[Emmit]

Go down the A16 to Marquise
Turn off at Jnc. 36
Turn right towards Marquise

Follow your nose.
As you approach the town,
on the left is a well set back layby with probably some Hgv's therein.
If that doesn't float your boat, opposite is a Lidl.

If you don't fancy that, at the roundabout follow the Marquise signs and there's an Aldi on the right.

I can't see either of the managers getting uptight about you parking there overnight.

 

[mitzimad]

use park4night or similar

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[Langtoftlad]

Stop on this side, take an early morning ferry/tunnel... arrive refreshed, and in daylight.

 

[sedge]

What we have done more than once in the past is get off the ferry/tunnel, drive to the aire at Bergues, but then park overnight on the first parking once you turn off the main road rather than drive along to the aire itself, to avoid disturbing those already happily asleep. Then got going wherever we want to go, as early as poss next morning.

 

[Stealaway]

There's a ververy

 

[Stealaway]

There's a very secure Aire in Calais for 12€ per night. Search Camper Contact

 

[Manic]

We’re on Berques Aire now, a van arrived sometime next door , never heard anything.
Very wet this morning

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[VXman]

If you don't fancy parking up in a free/openplace then an alternative is campingcarpark. There is one at Merlimont - an hours drive from Calais. Just purchase your card before you go and top it up. When you arrive you can just enter by touching your card at the auto barrier.

CAMPING-CAR PARK - The 1st European network of stopover sites and services areas

CAMPING-CAR PARK is the 1st European network of stopover sites and services areas for parking motorhomes in complete peace of mind, 24 hours a day.

www.campingcarpark.com

 

[Stealaway]

I would be very grateful for any suggestions and guides to how to do things.

Secure Aire in Calais -- 70 62100 Rue d'Asfeld Calais, France

 

[Lenny HB]

You are not supposed to arrive at Aires in residential areas after 10pm or leave before 7am so as not to disturb the local residents.

 

[WESTY66]

We are venturing over to France at the start of May, planning on finishing work then straight down to the ferry or tunnel?
We will probably get into France about 1am and looking for somewhere to over night that we won't get ambushed and not to far from the port.
I would be very grateful for any suggestions and guides to how to do things.

Many thanks

Andy and Gill

We used the aire at Oye Plage, no bother we got off train at 00.55 and headed straight there, had a walk round in the morning, spent a few Bob in the boulangerie, and headed off to Germany!

 

[WESTY66]

You are not supposed to arrive at Aires in residential areas after 10pm or leave before 7am so as not to disturb the local residents.

Which as we’ve said before is great when you’re within an hour of the south coast, when you finish at 5pm then 4.5hrs to tunnel to get on the 11.20, you don’t have much option! Other than that it’s a drive through the night to get on the morning train then drive to your destination but then you’re buggered for rest of day

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[chaser]

Gravelines would be ideal.

 

[Lenny HB]

Which as we’ve said before is great when you’re within an hour of the south coast, when you finish at 5pm then 4.5hrs to tunnel to get on the 11.20, you don’t have much option! Other than that it’s a drive through the night to get on the morning train then drive to your destination but then you’re buggered for rest of day

When you are guest in a country you should obay their laws and requests, you are not going to make any friends by deliberately going against them.

 

[pjay]

If sailing we used to come off the ferry at Calais go all the way round the first roundabout and go back into the docks where you can park up for the night.
Still on port territory so security about.
Toilet facilities in the building too.

It used to be the P2 car park when we last used it a few years ago...

 

[WESTY66]

When you are guest in a country you should obay their laws and requests, you are not going to make any friends by deliberately going against them.

I know you’re right what you’re saying Lenny and we’re covering old ground here but the boulangerie were very friendly accepting our euros which had we caught the morning train we wouldn’t have been there. I’m sure along the coast they know the score and accept this will happen.
You will be pleased to know I’m not upsetting the French next time I go over, it will be the Belgians
Maybe if the Canterbury P&R didn’t shut at 8.30 we could use that as an option

 

[599]

not very neighbourly turning up at daft o -clock or going at daft o-clock best park next to a cemetery you wont get any complaints from them

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[denisejoe]

all this is if anyone can get to ports ?

 

[andygilljoe]

Thanks to everyone who replied, the port car park sounds easiest to us. Few hours kip, some breakfast and then off down the road

 

[WESTY66]

not very neighbourly turning up at daft o -clock or going at daft o-clock best park next to a cemetery you wont get any complaints from them

Where I park it IS next to the cemetery, it’s a big place, pull in, shut engine off, blinds closed and sleep, then off to the boulangerie in the morning

 

[faraway]

I know you’re right what you’re saying Lenny and we’re covering old ground here but the boulangerie were very friendly accepting our euros which had we caught the morning train we wouldn’t have been there. I’m sure along the coast they know the score and accept this will happen.
You will be pleased to know I’m not upsetting the French next time I go over, it will be the Belgians
Maybe if the Canterbury P&R didn’t shut at 8.30 we could use that as an option

The Camping and Caravan Club site at Canterbury, not very far from the New Dover Road Park and Ride, has a late arrivals parking area just inside the main gate on the right. I think there are 3 spaces there.

 

[WESTY66]

The Camping and Caravan Club site at Canterbury, not very far from the New Dover Road Park and Ride, has a late arrivals parking area just inside the main gate on the right. I think there are 3 spaces there.

If it works that would be ideal

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[Nanniemate]

we used to park at Calais harbour never had a problem even when the jungle was open , always loads of vans there

 

[599]

many many years ago we could park at the start of the terminal parking but they stopped it to park busies there & we found it is to cramped parking in the other spot & trying to get out if you have a early morning ferry . the X is where you could park those was happy days around Calais well before the jungle now we use MARCK 8 euros with electric

 

[faraway]

If it works that would be ideal

Extract from the Canterbury club web site

Miscellaneous Information
o Up to 3 units can park in the over night car park to allow early departure for ferry or
tunnel crossings

https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/-/media/Files/Club-Sites/Access-Statements/7050---Canterbury-Access-Statement.pdf?rev=f0ed28a4d32649a38494a4ab96b1a5b1

 

[scousebird]

we used to park at Calais harbour never had a problem even when the jungle was open , always loads of vans there

That's all gone now, Calais front has been completely refurbished and MHs are not allowed to overnight there now, that's why there is a shiny new municipal site & aire a short walk away from the opposite end of the front.

 

[xsparks]

If you're heading south then Montreuil is about an hours drive. It has a car park alongside the aire, so I can't see that annoying anyone if you arrive late. Besides that when they empty the bins early hours they don't worry about noise. Just don't park in the way of them.

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