First time driving in France in a Motorhome | Staying in an aire | 12 day road trip

If you are thinking of driving over to France for your summer holidays this year and have looked at aires (as a much cheaper way of staying overnight compared to campsites) then this video will show you the aire at Le Crotoy.
The first part in this series of 8 videos will show you are 12-14 day itinerary to explore the Loire Valley and the Normandy Coast. Visits will include Chartres, Amboise, Saumur, Honfleur and Saint Valery Sur Somme. Stopping on a range of aires, municipal campsites and ACSI campsites (where you get massive discounts on camping). Visiting many attractions including astles and seaside towns on the north coast.

[@raystewart6524]

I take it you use the N routes and D routes through France and not the Peage.. The Motorway aires you showed stopped there en route..not overnight..but stopped and had lunch break there..and set off again

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Hi Ray. I use all. I’ve just got back from Bordeaux in June and used the péage to get down there as I am limited for time with only 2 weeks annual leave. This trip was my first time visiting France last year and chose to use the N routes to see a bit of France rather than see the motorways (although some of the N roads are dual carriageway). It’s a beautiful drive down to Chartres. If I don’t want to use the péage I switch my satnav to avoid tolls 👍

[@thedisabledtraveller001]

planning on going to France soon, what APP do you use to find the AIRES please

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

I normally use Searchforsites and Park4Night. Enjoy and happy travels 👍❤️🇫🇷

[@liz-ou4sv]

So glad o found you, awesome blog lots of info. Nearly 30yrs since our last camper, we are waiting for delivery of our Pilot G740fc ( November 🥴), so frustrating has our life clock is ticking. We’d thought 1st year uk getting accustomed to the new van then France, you’ve taken a lot of the fears away, thank you.😊

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

How exciting that you will be getting a new van, Liz ❤️ Probably a good idea to get to know it locally first (I did that with Elaine as I had previously been a caravanner but the MH is slightly different). I’m addicted to France (currently in Bordeaux but I’ll put those videos out after my Scotland trip ones are finished). It’s always good to have a few nerves because then you aren’t complacent but just a short France trip is worth it 👍 We are always struggling to fit in what we want around our 2 weeks annual leave. Let me know how it goes!

[@TheSlawsAdventures]

Lots of great info here for motorhomers new to driving in France! There is an aire in the dunes at Le Crotoy too. Great if you’ve got dogs. Looking forward to catching up on the rest of the trip 🚍☀️

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Awww thank you very much. This was my 4th vlog and I was still very nervous of recording. We did see the 2nd aire on our return journey from the Loire as we stayed on an ACSI campsite (Les Aubepines) north of the town and biked in. I do love Le Crotoy and the seafood platters from the local fish stalls are out of this world!

[@sallybiddick]

Oh Im so glad I stumbled across your video ( thankyou youtube suggestions!!). Lovely video, now subscribed for more adventures. Ive wanted to visit Chartres ever since reading a lovely book called The Cleaner of Chartres- looks even better than I imagined.

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Welcome to the crazy club Sally 🤣 Chartres is still up there with one of my favourite places too. I want to go back and see the light show at the cathedral- Chartres en lumieres ❤️ Happy travels and thank you for watching 👍

[@colinnewmarch1106]

We are just back from the Loire, Brissac Quince, Montreuil Bellay, ,Loches, Saumur, Sable sur Sarthe and Mayenne , just great, avoided the peages, Loches was our favourite

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Now there looks some good places to add to my list for next time! We did visit Montreuil Bellay on our way back from the West Coast back in June! I would love to avoid the paege all the time but my trips are limited to 2 weeks around annual leave at work!

[@SimonMonchatre]

Chartres is a stunning town - I use to live there when I was younger before moving back to Sunderland. I always try to visit when ever I go back to France . Chartres en Lumieres is spectacular 👌

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Oh yes, I’ve heard about Lumières. It’s definitely a place I’ll go back to as it was the first time I’d parked the van on the street so I was a bit anxious to get back. Although I also love Sunderland too. Me and my daughter stopped on the rally at Herington and walked up to the monument at night. Seaburn is fab too 👍

[@gatersontour]

Great info we are looking towards Calais area for an aire. Look forward to watching more of your French trip. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Thanks both. My dad always stops at an aire at Wissant or we stayed at Gravelines on the Belgium border (have a look at my final Belgium vlog from my trip at New Year) 👍

[@gatersontour]

@menopausalmotorhomer oh I saw Wissant on park4night so may try there as our daughter will be travelling down that way. Thank you 😊

[@kieranking8657]

A lovely video, I've been motorhoming in France for many years and love it, your video gives that sense of adventure that inspired me many years ago, enjoy I know I do.

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Thank you Kieran ❤️ I still get like that everytime I cross the channel. In fact, probably everytime I go anywhere 🤣 I can decide which part of France to visit next time?

[@MrMrs_H_on_tour]

Great vlog, a couple of lovely looking places. Bryan and Dawn Mr&Mrs_H_on_tour

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Thank you Brian and Dawn. Glad you enjoyed it. It really was a wonderful trip!

[@motorhomebettyboopstravels]

Very nice vlog dear thank you...😊👍

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Thank you so much 😊 This was the 3rd time I had ever done a vlog as I'm trying to catch up on my trips from last year!

[@meltonrobbo]

what a great video Jo. Thank you.

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Thank you Robert Paul. Hopefully it gives you an idea of what to expect from a French aire - although you will get to see quite a few over my next few vlogs and they are all very different. The next episode was released last November and shows you a free aire in a small village called Marboue. That is on the Chateau de Chambord vlog!

[@dankett5953]

Nice work

[@menopausalmotorhomer]

Thank you Dan. Hope it gives you some idea of what to expect over in France!