safe to rest overnight on french motorway stops? Forums

Seeker

The only experience we have of anything untoward was parking overnight on an open car-park behind a fuel station and social club in Serbia (couldn't find the campsite - which had probably closed a few years ago during the troubles).

We were just getting ready to settle down for sleep (lights still on) when there were drunken voices outside and a banging on the door. We ignored them and off they went - probably just trying to be friendly???

Harry

Wanderwagon3

'Morning All

A friend of ours used to be a Gendarme on the Autoroute Motorcycle Patrols .( Now transfered to being a Policeman.)

His STRONG advice. Do not even STOP,not even for fuel, on the Aires south of Aix where they bifurcate A9 and A7!He worked this area for some years.( If interested in frightening details contact by PM)

We have not used any péage ARoutes for many many years.

If I did use them and had to overnight I would consult the Guides and maps and pull off the AR to a suitable Aire or campsite.

IF was forced to stop on an Auto route Aire we would take turns to sleep and have lights on in forward"cabin" with doors locked and blinds and screens open just enough to show movement and park under lights.

HTH

Ken.........with Wanderwagon3

markbarfield

We were following the route south as you described last winter in out Hymer 594 and stopped late at the services south of Lyon for a sleep. Around 2 am I heard the passenger door open (I had meant to oil that hinge but never got round to it!) I jumped out of bed and found the door slightly open. Nothing missing as all valuable stuff safely at the back of the overcab bed behind me even satnav and face off from stereo. I had the deadlocks fitted to the cab doors on return to the UK. We have used these stopovers for quite a few years and usually park near the main area where it is busy. This time I foolishly went for a quiet corner and as if to prove the advise to be correct this happened. Wherever possible we go for a site municipal if possible, but sometimes we just want to travel late (on quieter roads) and pull over for a few hours sleep. I would still do it but be very careful of where and make sure your van is well secured (we have also had bikes tampered with).

OverDrive · Last edited by OverDrive on Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:42 pm; edited 3 times in total

Just read this thread for the first time.

We have been travelling back and forth to Italy for last 13 years where my wifes family has a house. We have always used French Service areas to overnight on the motorways, usually stopping in the early hours of the morning - we only stop near petrol stations in sight of the cashiers, under lights. Only once have we encountered a situation of an attempted break in whilst we were in the van.

Having stopped at about 4 in the morning near Dijon, drawn the curtains etc - barely closed my eyes when the drivers door knob started to rattle - I drew the curtains and came face to face with a guy - who promptly ran off! The door lock was badly damaged with a screw driver and had to be locked from the inside for the rest of the holiday. Needless to say did not sleep much for rest of night! This was a VW T4.

In May 2005 (night of General Election) the same van was taken off the drive of our house driven to some local woods and burnt to a crisp!! (see below) Sad

The only other occurrence was one year we went to see the tower in Pisa and left my VW T25 in a carpark and we came back to find the sliding door lock had been tampered with.

I was interested to read about the webbing strap being cut between the front doors as I usually secure ours this way. Has anyone a good way of securing a sliding door from the inside? I have given this a lot of thought on the Duetto this year, but still not come up with a solution!

Any thoughts on wiring invertor to door handles????

Thanks

David

tigger

I have no axe to grind either way, I am of the opinion that 99% of the sories are myths or a re-constitution passed on 100 fold on information sources such as these excellent forums.

Having said that, I also think that anyone worried enough to post for information to ease their mind, should consider not using these places & ruining their holiday. Whatever information is to be gained, it will never dispell the thought that crossed your mind when you decided to post.

Trying to sleep whilst worrying about every noise & movement outside is not a good start or end what I hope will be an enjoyable trip.

Bon voyage

Mark

Steptoe

driving slightly off topic, or out of the country Wink

about a couple of years ago I spent a few days in Holland, and a few nights in the motorway service areas.

To this day I have no idea whether this overnighting was illegal or unsafe, but I remember noting at the time that no other caravans or motorhomes followed our example, we only had lorries for company ( if there were no lorries I didn't stop Shocked

)

the only unnerving experience was a very desperate lady looking for cash by any means Cool

for her next fix; I used her ( figuratively Laughing

) to illustrate to the grandchildren their probable fate were they to dabble in drugs...

BERTHA

Have any of you had a break in where you have had those HeoSafe Bolts on the cab doors.

I have them fitted and seem sturdy but I am no car thief so not sure whether they really do work or not.

I went for these instead of the strap although more visible I felt for quick get away it would get in the way and also has many have said here the straps could be cut

I just hope the HeoSafe are up to the job???

teemyob

Hello all,

And to the main poster of this Post.

We recently travelled fo the first time in our motorhome to Spain through France. I was a bit aprehensive as I had heard many tales of just what you state and attempted to stay overnight away from the main Routes.

However, these were our overnight rests.

1 FRANCE N West of Calais The Two points Rest - Overnight in an Autoroute Air (Remember if you stay on a Peage Section the Robbers Stand a much Better chance of getting Caught) - NO PROBLEMS.

2 SPAIN Due to a very unfriendly welcome at Javea Camping ( Turned Away by the Security Guard) we drove away from the Main A7 route and wildcamped with a group of Morroc/Tunis/Italians on A7 West. - NO PROBLEMS, despite all night Kazbharr

Route Home

1 SPAIN Just North of Madird in very well lit Motorway Service Area, few dodgy French about but Parked facing Service Station Window. Chose it because you did not have to pay first and you could enter shop 24 Hours. Woke up next day surrounded by 2 Spanish MH's. - NO PROBLEMS

2 FRANCE Pulled Up on N10 where all the Truckers were in there droves and whos's to say some of these arn't robbers?!. And thought MMM ! Pointy n dodgy. So we drove 9kM to Civray a small local town and parked facing the local hotel/Poilce Municpial. Must say at 10pm you could here a pin drop so peaceful. Felt so much safer. NO PROBLEMS. The only exceptione being I picked Market day Eve so by 6:30am the place was alive with market traders thundering about.

I would say like most people on here, go by your own insticnct and judgement. If you pull up at a service area miles away from the old Genedarm, you have to pay in-advance for fuel (sure sign of a problem area) and there is some odd looking person begging for change on the forecout move on. The best advice I ever took of here regarding this was "It is not as daunting as you think". If I was alone Id have worried less to be honest but as I was with my wife and three daughters I was a tad more worried. Not least because once asleep Im asleep but what about them!?.

So

Avoid Major Rest Areas
Try to join other Motorhomers, they will be on their gaurd too.
Look For off Autoroute Aires.
Sleepy Village Town Squares are Good - Be Prepared for early rush hours though
Secure your van as best as poss - Alarm, Deadlocks etc
Have a bit of Gaul sometimes, example being if you see a motorhome in a driveway park somewhere on his road, outside a police or fire station large hotel carpark etc.

I also bought a france passion pass but was too late at night when we came to rest.

teemyob

Hello all again,

Just been thinking!

All this talk of robberies on the French, Spanish and German Plains etc.

I notice having read all the responses, has anyone had any trouble in Northern Europe?. I had not seen Norway (okay there are only a million or so of em) mentioned for example. Weather aside and now the new crossing from Denmark is open maybe we should all seek the northern lights as opposed to southern sun!

What about the Uk? Anyone had any problems?. Odd thing really where we used to live 1/4 mile away we had problems every other week. Here we had an old bike nicked in 12 years.

I like the bit about the wiplash though, even more to the point I wonder how many people who have have claimed for it have actually admitted never having had it in the first place! Now we wonder why our kids can't get Insurance for less than a grand for an old banger. Down to all the dodgy claimers !? YES

Trev