Motorhome Friendly and Unfriendly Parking Overseas.
Many thanks to the people who have contributed this information.
Cherbourg Ferry Port
We went to Cherbourg in 2006 and on returning home noticed there was a large car park and people spending the night in Cherbourg port. The Cherbourg Terminal web site has further details Here (Thanks to SW for this information, received 23 February 2007).
Cite d'Europe Coquelles
1) All the main car parks have 2.1m. height barriers, and the fuel station is inside the barrier. If you must explore this place you have to follow the signs for 'Parking: Bus' - intended for coaches - and that is mostly pretty full. If you are really low on fuel you can access an Elf station from the eastern exit of the complex, but you have to watch out for quite a small sign beside the road. This information obtained April 1999. (Anon)
2) Can I confirm the bit about Cite d’Europe - 2.1m barriers and use the coach park – exactly what we did earlier this year. For fuel suggest the Auchan (associated with Sainsbury’s) just to the north along with various other booze retailers. (Thanks to IM for providing this information on 9 November 2006).
3) City Europe parking. The bus station is now out of bounds for camping cars but they do open a car park barrier on rough ground near to the bus station at around 09.00 hours. This is usable but you will not be able to drag a loaded trolley across the car park, the ground is too rough. (Thanks to BC for providing this information on 3 August 2007).
4) We have just returned from France and are happy to report that it is possible to park your motorhome at Cite Europe on the carpark. Follow the bus signs to the West (I think) and there is a signed car park for Camping cars. Unfortunately it is also used by cars, but perhaps if more motorhomes use it, they may try to stop this practice. (Thanks to LH for providing this information on 16 April 2008).
St Jean De Monts in the Vendee
There is a council car park just for motorhomes when you enter this small town (it is shown on their town plan), within easy walking distance of shops and beach front (great beach). They charge around £5 per night and you can stay 2 nights. Water and electricity also available to re-charge at a small cost, and waste disposal. When we walked past there were always people there sitting out and enjoying the sun. On 14th July 2006 motorhomes and cars came in towards the sea front from miles around, and parked everywhere (in car parks and at the side of the road). It looked very much as if the motorhomes were set in for the night, as some larger ones even had steddies down. The fireworks were the attraction, and afterwards other activities through the night. We were spending 14 nights on a French site (Des Amiaux - approx 20 minute bike ride up the coast). All around this stretch of coast there are roads and car parks to the beaches which are motorhome friendly, and if you have your bike rack on there are lots of cycle routes along the back roads and dedicated cycle paths through the forest (Thanks to SW for this information, received 23 February 2007).
France Passion
This is an organisation - see the web site Here - that has a lot of farmers and vineyard owners who will allow a campervan for one night on to their premises with no charge. You are considered to be a personal guest. All you have to do is purchase a book each year for 28 euros and that will include a windscreen sticker for the current year, Easter to Easter. The website is in French, English, Italian and German (from memory)
There is also a magazine called Camping-Car who issue a book with 6500 overnight/short-stay locations (called etapes) for 8 euros or so. Mine is the 2005 version and it has 386 pages plus a detachable route map. It is called "Aires de Services Camping-Car" and is available from most newsagents in France. It covers many European countries, ten in all, but guess where it does NOT cover!! The magazine itself also issues updates and pull-out supplements. The one I have here is entitled "460 Aires de Service - Gratuit (FREE)". It also gives the places where you can stay on the autoroutes but I haven't done this.
I believe that some supermarkets allow overnight stays as well but I haven't looked into this and I don't think I would be quite so keen either.
(Thanks to PL for this information, received 10 March 2007).
Santander
We went on the ferry to Santander last Easter and stayed off site on many nights without anyone objecting. Indeed the tourism information staff suggested suitable places for us to stay not on sites. These included ski resort car parks (after the end of season), town centre car parks and picnic sites complete with tables. These were in the region of Rioja,the area around Burgos and in particular in Sierra Demanda.
We have sent e-mails to several tourist offices this year asking for suggestions. The region called Navarra have replied stating it is not allowed to park the motorhome and sleep in it even if there is not a campsite.
(Thanks to HG for this information, received on 18 March 2007).
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Last updated: 16 April 2008