Weekend fuel in France

Auchan

Hello,

I know the one in Dunkurque is 24/7 and accepts UK cards, not sure about the others.

Trev

I filled up on the M20 last sunday and pleased I did. The garage on the left as you leave the tunnel was closed.

There were some open as we went into Belgium, but far and few between, most were closed.

Prices were about €1.03 per litre

We were on the 11:50 shuttle

chrisboyo said:

We are crossing via the chunnel at 1.30pm Sunday 31 May
I was thinking to stop at Auchen in Calais to fuel up before going to
Le Touquet aire for our 1st night
Does anyone know if this plan is ok, with regard to french sunday opening hrs
Happy Daze
Chrisboyo

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It's only about 50 miles from to Le Touquet.
Just make sure you have comfortably more than 50 miles worth of fuel in your tank and forget the worry of whether you can fill up on Sunday in Calais.
(You can also fill up at the Auchan just off J31 on the N24 where you can also empty your loo if needed.)

Failing that go to the first autoroute sevice area with fuel and put in a few litres to keep you going until you can fill up and shop on Monday.

Most French 24/7 garages and supermarkets do NOT take UK cards..after hours!!!!!
Make sure you have enough to last at least till Monday and even then some are still closed.

Don't know how widespread but the farmers here in Normandy are 'revolting' again and are currently blockading large supermarkets.
I gather they are protesting at the price of milk.

Ray.

Sunday 31st is Pentecost so Monday 1st is also a holiday.

We are crossing over late on Sunday evening so will be well stocked up before leaving UK!

You have been warned!

(About the holiday - not about us going!)

do I gather from this thread that it is difficult to buy diesel in france on a sunday?

chris

Yes it can be. Most garages are shut or operate unmanned and many do not accept UK chip and pin altho some do. Even on autoroutes some fuel services are unmanned

In some tourist areas, supermarket stations are manned on sun morning.

In desperation, we have offered cash to a Frenchman for him to use his card and offered a small tip. It worked on both occasions.

the lesson is fill up regularly during the working day

alan

raynipper said:

Most French 24/7 garages and supermarkets do NOT take UK cards..after hours!!!!!
Make sure you have enough to last at least till Monday and even then some are still closed.

Ray.

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From my experience the opposite is true and that most garages and supermarkets do take UK cards after hours or during the day at the unmanned ones at the smaller supermarkets.

chrisboyo said:

We are crossing via the chunnel at 1.30pm Sunday 31 May
I was thinking to stop at Auchen in Calais to fuel up before going to
Le Touquet aire for our 1st night
Does anyone know if this plan is ok, with regard to french sunday opening hrs
Happy Daze
Chrisboyo

Click to expand...

To answer the original question, although the Calais Auchan store itself will be closed, the fuel station accepts UK cards 24hrs a day. It also has a handy motorhome service point and is usually the cheapest fuel in the area. A very convenient stop off point before or after your ferry :wink: .

Look >Here<

pete

raynipper said:

Most French 24/7 garages and supermarkets do NOT take UK cards..after hours!!!!!
Make sure you have enough to last at least till Monday and even then some are still closed.

Click to expand...

I agree, there are many supermarket garages that still only take Carte Bleu in the 24 hour lanes.