We regularly stopped at this Aire :

Aire autoroutiére de l'autoroute A16 la Baie de Somme

If you google this and look at images you will see that inspite of being off the motorway it is a lovely Aire with lots of discrete parking
There is a short but extremely pleasant canal walk and carp as big as 'whales' enormous!

It is also close to the Somme if you want to visit.

Last time we visited we parked next to an Eriba being towed by a Belingo.

I have also heard it is best to avoid motorways and as a general rule this is probably good advice.

The exception might be if you see other caravan/motorhome ?

Happy travelling Ian

We have stayed at the Baie de la somme a few times, there are regular police patrols for safety and just an hour from eurotunnel so easy morning drive

Bryn

This was me

P1120916.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Were you driving a Berlingo ?

Ian

Well thank you all so far for the useful info. Just one last question. I hear that it's dangerous to stay over night on the Aires on motorways? any comments anyone? Of course we would not unhitch. We would only unhitch at a campsite.
Thank you again.

Thank you again. All campsites I Google are closed in Dec. Hence the questions re Aires. Is there a good Web site for campsites showing winter openings in France?
First time used a forum. I'm so impressed:-D

A couple of websites to look at

http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/france/

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/county.asp?region=France

We've overnighted in a few motorway aires. Even parked in the lorry area when the caravan area was full. Never had any problems, I think Tony (Frantone)'s advice is good, avoid aires near to large conurbations, aires on peage motorways are better. Some of the aires, Baie de Somme for example, have good toilet and shower facilities as well as the usual cafe/shop. Some are little more than laybys, I would be worried about those, pick one with lots of other caravans/motorhomes.

There are a few sites open in December in the ACSI guide, depends if they are where you want to be.

We camped one night at a small service area in the Bay T2 camper and I was a bit concerned initially as there were no other camper vehicle of any sort and we were knackered, but it was fine.
One we drove away from with the Puck was on a canal side. It was a muni site steeply sloping from the road side across a nice open grass site to a thick belt of canal side trees and there all creepily alone was an ancient scruffy caravan with and a cooking fire behind it. We scarpered.

We wondered where you'd gone......we'd just put the extra sausages in the frying pan :-)

Well, I asked the peeps at eriba-passion over here and the concensus seems to be that it's ok unless there's specifically a sign saying "camping cars seulement". Apparently the worst thing you're going to get are some very snooty looks from those camper van owners who think they're very superior beings.

Where are you at the moment, or rather where are you looking to camp? Perhaps we can help you find an open campsite.

Someone else on the French forum has said that it's in car parks that you're not allowed to put the legs down:set out your table and chairs/the sunshade. Bryn, did you get to your Mairie? I haven't had time yet.

Our Mairie seemed confused by the "legs down" as she pointed out most of the camping cars have "legs down" when parked and she didnt seem to think it was a problem and had not heard of anyone being told to move on or arrested !!!! but would ask the gendarmerie, now that could be anytime ???