Driving to Spain with a caravan

[Amelia Davies]

This has bee taken from an official web site which I have tried to post, but the ex pat site will not let me add the web address.

Mugging incidents have occurred at isolated rest areas on some French motorways, usually those without petrol stations and cafeterias. There is also a continuing problem of burglaries taking place during the night whilst travellers have been asleep in their caravans, mobile homes or other vehicles. In a number of these cases, victims had first been rendered unconscious by the thieves using gas. Try to avoid parking in isolated or dark areas of camping grounds or car parks, and consider installing an alarm in your caravan or mobile home. In Calais British registered cars may be targeted by thieves, both while parked and on the move (eg by thieves flagging down drivers for a lift or indicating that the vehicle has a flat tyre).

Lucie blackman trust, read under section crime.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Amelia Davies

This has bee taken from an official web site which I have tried to post, but the ex pat site will not let me add the web address.

Mugging incidents have occurred at isolated rest areas on some French motorways, usually those without petrol stations and cafeterias. There is also a continuing problem of burglaries taking place during the night whilst travellers have been asleep in their caravans, mobile homes or other vehicles. In a number of these cases, victims had first been rendered unconscious by the thieves using gas. Try to avoid parking in isolated or dark areas of camping grounds or car parks, and consider installing an alarm in your caravan or mobile home. In Calais British registered cars may be targeted by thieves, both while parked and on the move (eg by thieves flagging down drivers for a lift or indicating that the vehicle has a flat tyre).

Lucie blackman trust, read under section crime.

For sure I would never park up overnight in one of the picnic areas I wouldn't do that in the UK either or Spain

[Amelia Davies]

I think you are missing the point, I gave some sound advice that even during the day time, people who have stopped on the quiet motorway picnic areas in France, have been robbed. I would rather people be aware that muggings can happen on these sites than say nothing. as I said before it is better to be safe than sorry.

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by Amelia Davies

I think you are missing the point, I gave some sound advice that even during the day time, people who have stopped on the quiet motorway picnic areas in France, have been robbed. I would rather people be aware that muggings can happen on these sites than say nothing. as I said before it is better to be safe than sorry.

No ......... I'm not missing the point at all, I'm just conversing with you .... something that is generally sadly lacking on this site as people haven't actually taken the time to get to know each other.

Its common sense the world over to be aware all the time, wherever you are. Muggings happen everwhere, anytime. You made a good point, to which I was reponding

[Bevdeforges]

We've been all over France in our camper - and during all the seasons. If you stick to the main motorways, you should have very few problems. The tolls are a bit steep (I'm from the US originally) but for overnighting, just pull into a fully equiped "aire" (i.e. one with a petrol station and snack bar or restaurant). It seems to be quite the done thing here to stop overnight on the aires - either in the area marked for caravans, or in the long spaces in the lorry parking.

If you do run into snow or other nasty weather, the motorways are the first to be cleared and are generally in better shape than the back roads.
Cheers,
Bev

[jmhalton]

Hi, well I have done this route several times, but now feel that the ferry to Bilbao or Santander from Uk Port is a better option for the retired. It may be not be any more expensive to ferry if you get the offers from Caravan Club etc. when taking into account the high cost of road tolls.

If you have to travel across France in winter I would suggest that you take note of all the good information given out by the Caravan Club in their various leaflets. Certainly, as a UK plated car traveller you are likely to be a target for the road thieves. It is essential to have good medical and breakdown cover. We recommend not leaving the car without supervision at service stations or supermarkets. We know only too well about this. Spiked tyres are too expensive.

I have towed over Col du Somport into Spain from Pau in 9 inches of road snow at the top when there was none at the start. This with a Swift 530 behind my Landcruiser. It wasn´t really a problem because the car handled it well.

Winter sunshine in Spain is great and we would recommend it. That´s why we now live here.

Best of luck. John