Are French AIRES SAFE? OVERNIGHT Travelling North

[@surchin4serenity474]

We have toured Europe for many years in our motorhome and have been told by other travellers and the police that motorway Aires are notorious for crime. On our 1st trip into France we met a couple who had their motorhome broken into whilst they slept overnight in a motorway Aire. The motorway Aires, or stopovers, are great, as you described, and we use them frequently, but not for sleeping. Motorhome Aires are something completely different, we've overnighted in hundreds all over Europe and, although they do vary, in general they are safe. Try disconnecting the power to the ATC for 2 minutes, sometimes that will reset them.

[@jimfarmer3828]

You're right when you say It's an adventure. We've towed many thousands of miles both in the UK and abroad. When crossing the channel we have a general idea of where we want to visit but only book the 1st and last night. Then we follow our noses in the general direction drive for 2 hours or so. Stop and have lunch, walk the dogs and use the ACSI guide to find a site within another 2 hour or so drive. Don't do stress on holiday (I'm retired now so don't do stress at all!) The journey is part of the holiday and there is no pressure to get to a particular site. We just avoid high season across the channel. That said, in the UK, post covid, I now book every night well in advance. Your Vlogs are very good. Keep up the good work and enjoy you break.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching Jim, I appreciate the comments 👍🏻We’ve just signed up for ACSI as I’m retiring in about 18 months 🤟🏼

[@jimfarmer3828]

@@CaravanVlogger But you're just a boy! Retirement is for us silver haired types;)😁

[@rogerwileman9965]

We have stayed on aires many times and always felt safe

[@davidmcinnes9180]

Toured France for more than forty years towing using Aires for stop-overs and never experienced any issues. Have spoken with many others who use Aires and never come across anyone who has experienced any problems.

[@paulefc1971]

Safest aires to stop at are those at the toll booths, only time we have stayed at one was last year, overnight ferry from Dover to Calais arrived in France about 3am, then drove till it started getting light, pulled in between two lorries and all was fine. Not tried it but some people recommend putting a dogs water bowl outside the caravan door, quite clever I thought!!! Thinking of trying Spain next year, Plymouth - Santander return then cross country to Tarragona area, think its only something like 450 miles to get across Spain although the ferry is obviously more expensive

[@lesbrewster2375]

Your right about the cost of caravan parts, I stood up to quick and banged my head on the kitchen window and snapped the corner off £560 supply and fit,good old Bailey . Great vlog. Interested to see which way you went around Rouen in your next journey

[@HelenandDave]

Enjoying the France Vlogs, wasn’t going to comment until the dreaded caravan bin subject came up. We’ve broke 2 of them so far, because you can only actually get two empty drinks cans and a crisp packet in them before they’re full. So now we store doggy poo bags, lead and chewies in it. Purchased a separate bin which we keep outside the door on a bungee chord tied to the step. You’re right, you need a mortgage to buy a new one! Cheers Dave & Helen 👍

[@caravanstuff2827]

I throw ours away in the first month because it attracted fly's and midges to the entry door!!.😡💕🇬🇧🇺🇦

[@CaravanEscapades101]

Another Great Vlog Graham, we take the same view as you on Motorway AIRE's just be sensible, we did stop in one before and it didn't feel right so just moved on. There are some amazing ones out there and vary incredibly, The one in Millau is worth a stop if you are traveling that way. I don't really know why we have kept the bin on the door, the only thing I use it for is keeping the Motor Mover remote in. We did have an issue on one site running the Fridge and the AC, not enough Amps for both, so switched the Fridge to Gas and all good. If you only just got round that roundabout with the caravan and GLE, I would have stood no chance with the GLS. I would have probably towed it to the Roundabout and unhitched motor moved it around and then hitched back up. lol. Thanks for sharing,

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Re that roundabout, that's exactly what we did when we arrived, I took one look and though "no way" so unhitched and turned using mover. On the way out though I thought I'd try and just did it..

[@CaravanEscapades101]

Glad the Air CON worked after the initial problems, I know what you mean about the fear of turning it on and not working again. I have to say ours worked faultlessly. I was surprised about the amount of water / condensation it produced outside the caravan, we had almost a steady stream running off the roof all the time it was in use.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Yes, we had a constant puddle at the front, it does eject a lot of water!

[@CaravanEscapades101]

@@CaravanVlogger Part of our site the pitches where on terraces and while walking around I could see on the roof of one German caravan a massive puddle of water even in that heat, it they sure kicked out a lot of water. I wonder if I can collect it, add some juice Freeze it and sell it as Ice Lollies on the site 🤣

[@marcrufus5814]

Your fridge could be due to volt drop on the site. I could bore you to death explaining that but I’ll save you. Basically if the cable isn’t big enough to the pitch for how far away you are you won’t get enough volts to make stuff work properly when everyone else has a load on the same supply. 👍

[@swdman1234]

Understand what you mean about the bin. We have one on our Bailey and the first thing I did was take it off and put the screws back with caps matching the colour of the door. Reason being we have dogs and it is the perfect height for them to either help themselves to the content or to knock it off as they pile out for a walk!

[@Wstghntnfk]

US caravanner here (we call it RVing or camping) I'm simply fascinated at how different the UK caravans are when compared to US models.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Hi, thanks for watching. For practical reasons we need things a bit smaller. Being a smaller country with narrower roads etc.

[@CaravanningwiththeMrs]

Those aires generally look good, I presume not all are caravan friendly? Looking forward to your next vlog as we hope to bite our French Caravanning cherry next year to Normandy-ish.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Yes, I’d say they’re all caravan friendly. Sometimes difficulty to find the spaces, but they’re there..

[@mikedeasey8767]

Hi Graham, seems like you both had a good holiday, we have been in Scotland for 2 month, Purchased a Protec towing cover and noticed faint marks on windows 150mm each side of zipper, we put strips of cling film down windows, works perfect, keep safe 👍

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Caravanning is all about finding the best solution. Good thinking with the cover issue 👍

[@andypeat8154]

Interesting to see the route you took , we find going through Limoges quicker , and tried them all over the years

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. One year we went over the Massif Central/ Millau Bridge and we both suffered from altitude sickness 🙄So, we avoid what is probably the most straightforward route…

[@andypeat8154]

Makes sense , we do everything to avoid Paris

[@rhinogooner]

You mention the expense of spares, well I broke the little plastic catch which holds the fridge door slightly open when van not in use. First looked on eBay and £15 thought not paying that wedged a tea towel to stop it closing. Discovered son in law has a 3D printer and he made me two so I have a spare. By the way they are about £23 now. Result 👍🏻

[@paoloallen]

Hiya... was it as hot as here?? Been very very warm lol.... even I had to give up and lie in the shade for a while lol... cheers Paolo and Roger aka 'The Camp Caravanners'

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. I don’t think it was quite as hot, but we’re only talking a few degrees. I’m a bit paranoid about getting burnt, I hate that feeling 😩So was in the shade most of the time on really hot days

[@jakespeed6515]

Thinking of getting into Caravan, and after seeing your clip of St Greta 😉 I will now have to subscribe, will you be doing another cost of France for one month again?

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. I did consider doing the cost of the France trip this year. However, I’m aware things are tough ATM for many so decided against it. Prices for just about everything were all up a bit. Some things like Ferry and diesel were quite a bit more..

[@jakespeed6515]

@@CaravanVlogger ok, but still would be great to have an update, in your last one it was coming in at £4K in the grand scheme of things and package holidays being pretty expensive now for a family of 4 might be worth a look. Still up in the Air about a Caravan or a Motorhome/XL Campervan but thinking Caravan for space.

[@CaravanVlogger]

With regards to caravan or motorhome. I did this vlog, ok it’s a little tongue in cheek, but we have owned a motorhome and I give some helpful comparisons.. Buying A Motorhome? Watch This First 😳 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYbIeWeVZ6hsgKs

[@retro423]

Lovely site Camping Neuville, why were you not happy? there's a big sign on the gate that you can't miss saying ring the bell and someone will come down, as I say you can't miss it, I see you did the British thing and went wandering aimlessly around the site, the height barrier is for the river car park, it's quite obvious if you can see 8o)

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. I wouldn't say I was unhappy, just some sites I'd only visit once. I do understand what a height barrier is haha, I wasn't trying to drive through it. It might have looked like I was though. Yes, I did see the sign on the gate silly, it was the signs further up the road that I missed.... The funny thing is, as I mentioned, the Sat Nav was correct, so if I'd have listened to it I'd have been fine. We all make mistakes. Also, there were too many British there too, all wandering around aimlessly. I can see that on any British site.....In Britain

[@benf3607]

We had issues with our fridge - damn French 10amp supply and not 16amp like U.K. also no toilet roll in French campsite toilets !!!

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. We’ve only encountered the dreaded no toilet paper once. Fortunately we knew in advance 🚽😀

[@WanderingWilkos]

Can I ask, when staying at an aire overnight, do you sleep in the car or the van… if you sleep in the van do you do anything special around security?

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. We sleep in the van but just on the front bench seats. Security wise we put the hitch lock on, and stay dressed. We only stay for a few hours mainly, although we have stayed the whole night. I don’t really sleep well and keep waking up to look through the window 🙄 It’s not great, but as we were travelling through the night a site wasn’t possible.

[@ZanyZoomers]

So i thought you couldn’t use the Airre’s with a caravan? I’m doing France in a few months and would be really good if we can in our caravan.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Confusingly there are two types of Aires. The type we use are the rest areas off the tolls roads, similar to our service stations, but sometimes without a petrol station, shop etc. The other type are in towns and you're right, they are for Motorhomes, sometimes called Aire de Service.

[@markhooper5824]

You are a good driver mate. Wish I had your confidence.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Just a matter of practise I’ve been towing for about 700 years 🙄

[@brianlloyd4796]

The title to this episode was one I was going to ask!

[@pjallitt]

brabantia do a 10L bin that is a good replacement, it’s black in colour but it’s around £3,000 cheaper than the swift one 😂

[@CaravanVlogger]

Haha. I better check my insurance, if I claim for a bin they might write it off 😂

[@paulhargreaves2143]

Great video, we must have the same sense of humour.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Haha, I pity you 😂

[@HitchUpAndTow]

Getting lost is half the fun😆

[@grahamfromstoke2915]

Hi Graham, will you be doing a price comparison of the total cost of trip compared to 2019?

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. I did think about it, but am a bit concerned some people are finding it financially difficult and maybe having to sell their caravan. I don’t want to do a vlog where we’re spending thousands on a holiday. What I will say is that it’s noticeable that fuel, food, sites and ferry are more expensive. Some are doubled…

[@grahamfromstoke2915]

@@CaravanVlogger Thanks for the reply, very thoughtful of you to think of people struggling. Keep up the good work👍

[@PabloTBrave]

@@CaravanVlogger things have doubled in France how odd we are told the crisis is only in UK , like airports been rubbish in UK and the German ones are fine

[@mikewhite8056]

Did you change to a Bailey in last few frames?

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Oh was that me saying “quality pastie vlogging” ? Yeah I’m not sure why I added it, I must have stumbled across it 😁

[@hannibal4970]

I've never fancied France cause everyone wants to leave and get to England so I've always been put off. Looks great though.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. A mate of mine won’t go to France as he says he doesn’t like the French. All of them? 😂It’s a lovely place, as it the UK. But the weather is better 👍🏻

[@CaravanEscapades101]

Just out of interest what MPG did you get over the whole trip with the GLE ?

[@CaravanVlogger]

On the way down it was 21.7mpg average over 916 miles. didn't make a not on the way back.. How about you?

[@CaravanEscapades101]

@@CaravanVlogger It was about the same as you on the Way down, although over the alps it did drop to 14mpg, on the way back i could only get it to 20mpg. Over the whole holiday with the trip down and back a bit of driving around down there without the van on the back (I recon about 200 miles), I averaged 19.4mpg over 2374 miles.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Quite similar then. Have you had yours chipped?

[@CaravanEscapades101]

@@CaravanVlogger Yes, I have, it has done wonders for the tourqe nit that it was bad anyway.

[@jmhale5874]

Loving the vlogs. Love your animated maps. How do you do them?👍

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. I would be in breach of the guild of vloggers if I told you 😂 Checkout an app called travelboast 🤫

[@jmhale5874]

@@CaravanVlogger Thanks. Works a treat. Keep the vlogs coming!

[@cmacdonald7295]

Hi Aires are great but you just have to use your common sense and be careful. We stayed at one near Reims last year only to get up in the morning to find that somebody had tried to screwdriver out door locks open. Luckily we had a extra Milenco door lock fitted which could lock from the inside. We noticed that both the barrels had been damaged on the Milenco and on the caravan lock. It would not stop me from parking in a Aire again though. We are down in the Black Forest at the moment. We travelled down from Calais through Belgium and into Germany. We are heading back through France as the services stops are nothing compared to an Aire. Disgusting!!!!

[@brianknowles1727]

£50 quid for bin mate, insurance claims to blame,it's just the way things are .

[@brianlloyd4796]

Quality vlog!👍

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching Brian 👍🏻

[@terryevans637]

Great vlogs though . Stay Safe .

[@rogerwileman8399]

We have done your route so easy

[@trevcaravaner6566]

Hi Graham, Love your all your blogs like you we stay on French aires when we go travelling in France we always stay near the wagon’s and have a 12v gas attack alarm and a German Shepherd dog for extra security up to now touch wood we haven’t had any problems. Like you say you cannot always find or get to a campsite at the right time when travelling in France. 😁🥵👍

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching Trev. Yes having a big dog should keep you safe enough 👍🏻

[@garymcafee5995]

Mr. Vlogger you are painting a very good picture of driving in France with a lack of traffic, its great roads, and roadside facilities but of course, you are paying for these in tolls and it's not cheap as you know so they can afford to do all this stuff. I have in the past used Aires on the pay motorway system in France until the last time when we had French youths in a couple of cars throwing bottles at the parked caravans and Crampervans and that had a fuel station and was well lit. That was a few years ago and I don't expect it's any better now. Now you need to be more adventurous and try Germany (Great Beer and nice people) Austria and Italy (Nice food and fabulous people) go a bit earlier get an Acsi Card don't book anywhere apart from the crossing loads of fantastic campsites and Forget France......Its the way forward

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Yes, said countries are in our list. I make no secret they’ll toll roads I go through enough tool booths 🤣Naturally any country has undesirable youths. I think I’m fair, I show traffic in Lyon, show toll booths. Last time I went I did a vlog detailing all the costs 👍🏻

[@juliemichaud8702]

Ahhhh, but if caravan vlogger didn't like the little roundabout at les criques des porteils, he would loathe a lot of the access roads to Italian campsites in the more interesting areas! Those, so far, have been our most challenging and we only have a single axle caravan. Mind you, glad we didn't follow our sat nav's advice when approaching a campsite in the Sierra nevada. Would never have made it.

[@CaravanVlogger]

@@juliemichaud8702 Single axle! That's just too easy :-) Real caravanners have a twin axle. haha

[@Lacebylad]

I think travelling North has got T’head tha nos

[@paulpringle8263]

Hi Graham great video. Shame about the door bin it's plastic for a caravan and it's going to hurt the pocket. We had to replace the water flap cover £36.00 for a piece of over priced plastic taking the p###. Springs to mind. Thanks for sharing

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching Paul. I think I might try to fix it using glue ☹️😩

[@paulpringle8263]

@@CaravanVlogger good idea

[@15isto2]

Wait, you stayed at an Aire and were not gassed by the mythical incapacitating gas that is unknown to medicine 🙂

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Yes we were lucky 😳😂

[@paulefc1971]

Read something on this ages ago, seems many people have either heard stories of it happening or spoke to people it’s happened to, scientific explanation seems to be that you would need a tanker full of gas to fill a caravan with enough of it to render you helpless - especially due to the air vents in the caravan floor - who am I to argue with them

[@timdaniel5395]

@@paulefc1971 .. It's the oldest insurance scam in the book ... and they've always lost 2 iPads, 3 iPhones and 4 grand in cash !!

[@caravanstuff2827]

I think the reason Thay don't have AIRES in the UK is Thay would be full of "DOGGERS" in no time!!🤔😂💕🇬🇧🇺🇦