Trip to France

Pudsey Bear said:
I jab is all Barry, and it's not due until we're well into France anyway, I'll do it myself if need be, it's into my tum so it's a big enough target innit.
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Just make sure that you have appropriate paperwork to satisfy French douaniers.
 
Please remember other third country requirements, such as under 10 year old passport, means to support yourself ( bank app or statements etc.
As time goes by the challenge will be a place to register as a base, not always asked for as yet however it most probably will soon. Use a friend to register you at the Marie etc.
It's difficult to adjust after 40 years of free movement in the EU, now being a third country
 
When we did Ireland and more in the south than in the north, almost all the garages did food, good food, some better than others and great for just nipping in to get breakfast to eat in or back at the van.

Is there anything similar in France?

Of course, we will also be using cafes etc but when moving from place to place, I like them as parking is easier and not far to walk for me.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
When we did Ireland and more in the south than in the north, almost all the garages did food, good food, some better than others and great for just nipping in to get breakfast to eat in or back at the van.

Is there anything similar in France?

Of course, we will also be using cafes etc but when moving from place to place, I like them as parking is easier and not far to walk for me.
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I can't say I have ever had food from a garage in France Kev but you will generally find parking in French villages and Towns a lot easier than here and of course that is partly what the Aires are for. Lots of them (not all) are easy walking distances to cafes, bars and shops. Use them, even if you are not spending the night if they are free. Most villages even small ones will have somewhere you can get a bite to eat. Don't forget however that most of rural France shuts down after lunch until about 4pm.
 
This pooped up after an unrelated search and I was curious as to how true it is?

The majority of Rest Areas offer self-service restaurants/cafés, shops, toilets (showers), sometimes free wi-fi and 24-hour petrol station facilities.

I know we will be using Aires but where possible I'll avoid them other than for service as above.
 
For motorways toll or not, it's very true. There will also be rest areas with just loo's. There may even be one or two with no loo's although that would be pretty unusual these day.

Just like UK, some a lovely and some not so lovely.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
This pooped up after an unrelated search and I was curious as to how true it is?

The majority of Rest Areas offer self-service restaurants/cafés, shops, toilets (showers), sometimes free wi-fi and 24-hour petrol station facilities.

I know we will be using Aires but where possible I'll avoid them other than for service as above.
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Don't confuse service station Aires generally found on motorways with the Camping Car Aires generally found in villages and towns. Some say you are best avoiding overnight stays on service station Aires but as there are literally thousands of camping car Aires I've never felt the need to stay on a service station Aire.
 
We have overnighted in French autoroute service areas but its not a particularly pleasant experience if you are a light sleeper especially if there are lot of refrigerated lorries about.
 
When I was a courier I'd try to have a nap in the services, the HGV park was never a good idea, but neither was the carpark with all the idiots doing donuts, plus the chance of getting gassed :) :)
 
Puddles, what Barry says is the way to go, it's what we always do, and young Kev many even have free leccy (in a lot of small villages). In a few days Sue and I are off with a sort of plan but mostly it will be just enjoying 5 weeks in La Belle France. As for getting gassed, don't stick your head under the blanket :oops::eek:
Enjoy the adventure
Peter
 
It takes time I think to sniff out the good Aires. They vary so much. What some will consider a great Aire others will dislike it for various reasons. We always used to laugh at the Vicarious "All the Aires" book in the old days before all the apps. It was our bible but they would identify what they or some visitors claimed was a top or special Aire in Orange. Some of them were awful. For me the main thing I'm looking for is space and peace and quiet. Not always so easy if you pick the obvious choices right in the heart of a town or tourist attraction or right near the coast. In the end I could just tell by looking on Google maps if it would be any good or not simply based on how near it was to anywhere people were likely to want to be or how easy it was to get to. Always have a plan B or C though ready as you never know what to expect when you turn up.
 
We usually do the Braemar games and stay in the town centre, very quiet, stayed there last year in July too
 
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