Motorway service opening hours

[qska]

Hi,

We'll be coming back from Nantes to the UK via the Chunnel.

The problem is, it will be a Sunday 8pm crossing.

I'm starting to panic about places to stop over for lunch, that's kiddy friendly.

Our experiences of "we'll just find a place to eat along the way" were a bit st on most our French holidays.

So.

Are the French major services open 24/7 and with restaurants? Is there a list of them I can get to plan the stops in advance?

I'm not even trying any towns on a Sunday, I know it will be dead.

Any precautions? Like cash only instead of expecting to use our cards?

Thanks guys

[Simes205]

Are you going via Rennes, Caen up to Calais?

Plenty of service stations many with restaurants on that route although in 25 years of driving to see my folks I've never stopped and eaten at them!
Sandwiches bought from the boulongerie always seem to suffice.
Cards are accepted.

I think via Michelin shows service stations.
There are at least 5 inbetween Calais and Caen.
Onwards to Rennes not so many but there are 'village etap' which basically means take a little detour to our village and use their local services.

We're doing Calais to Arcachon on Tuesday, picnicking at service stations.

[qska]

Looks like Rouen, Le Mans ans Angers.

Thanks. I'll check out via Michelin.

[Rushjob]

8pm crossing will be no problem, usually services here serve food till about 2200, after which it's just coffee machines at some with others having access to the chillers etc for sandwiches sweets crisps etc.

[qska]

Rushjob said:

8pm crossing will be no problem, usually services here serve food till about 2200, after which it's just coffee machines at some with others having access to the chillers etc for sandwiches sweets crisps etc.

That's good to know.

But where do I find the list of all services?

The http://www.autoroutes.fr/ doesn't help - or maybe I can't use the internet :-)

I'd expect some list of motorways, junctions and some details on what's there.

I'm trying to compile a journey plan - drive from here to there, stop for 1hr, have lunch, then go there - type of thing.

[Simes205]

Go via Rennes, it's free from Caen onward on the A84.

http://www.viamichelin.com/

Edited by Simes205 on Monday 18th July 06:54

[Rushjob]

qska said:

That's good to know.

But where do I find the list of all services?

The http://www.autoroutes.fr/ doesn't help - or maybe I can't use the internet :-)

I'd expect some list of motorways, junctions and some details on what's there.

I'm trying to compile a journey plan - drive from here to there, stop for 1hr, have lunch, then go there - type of thing.

On the autoroutes, you'll find Aire's or rest areas with toilets and picnic facilities roughly 20 to 30 Km's apart with fuel and food services appx every 60km.

As you approach each service area there are usually signs just before the exit from the autoroute telling you how far the next one is and whether it's just a rest stop or food / fuel etc.

I've never bothered planning for these as such as they are so frequent you're never more than about 30 mins from the next food stop.

HTH

[Fatt McMissile]

Bear in mind that many french stops are not much more than a service station with a coffee machine and a microwave. I can recommend these guys: http://www.leoresto.fr/nous-trouver
I had a decent meal in the one just south of Le Mans on Sunday, the problem for you is it's only 1hr 30 minutes up the road from Nantes and there's no others on your route.

Here's a map of the stations south of Rouen that might be more helpful: http://www.alis-sa.com/fr/services/services.php

North of Abbeyville on the A16, this looks promising: http://www.archebaiedesomme.com/contact.php

They're likely to be very busy so if I were you I would drive while all the French folk are eating and stop at about 1.45 when the food sales slacken off.
What Simes is saying is that there are no autoroute charges on the Nantes - Rennes - Caen section of the route, whereas on the way you're proposing you'll start paying tolls as soon as you leave the Nantes périphérique. You'll save about 30 euros going via Caen.
Steve

[Le Vette]

We travel to the Uk quite often, from the Mayenne area. Without doubt the aire at the Baie de Somme is the best stopping place when it's open, but it is only about 80 miles from Calais. A bit nearer to Caen is the aire Bosc-Mesnil which is also good. I can't comment on the aires south/west of Laval....

[Puggit]

There's a Maccy Ds just off the A28/A11 junction where the road goes in to Le Mans.

Avoid Alencon services for food. Restaurant hours are random and food is rank. Great baby change though. Nothing else worth mentioning until you're north of Rouen.

[qska]

Rushjob said:

I've never bothered planning for these as such as they are so frequent you're never more than about 30 mins from the next food stop.

HTH

The amount of times we're driving in France (or through Belgium for that matter) with everyone hungry, and me shouting out loud "feed me and take my money" is endless

Particularily with young kids and a mother in law in the car. France on a Sunday....

I also found this:
http://www.avia-france.fr/en/find-a-gas-station/#

Thanks for the tips, I will be adding them shortly to the Google starred places.

[qska]

Fatt McMissile said:

They're likely to be very busy so if I were you I would drive while all the French folk are eating and stop at about 1.45 when the food sales slacken off.
What Simes is saying is that there are no autoroute charges on the Nantes - Rennes - Caen section of the route, whereas on the way you're proposing you'll start paying tolls as soon as you leave the Nantes périphérique. You'll save about 30 euros going via Caen.
Steve

Ah yes - true. And it's only about 30 minutes longer, so we'll probably go via Rennes.

We also got the telepage tag fitted, hopefully it'll make it a bit smoother.

[Abbott]

You shuld aslo keep an eye open for Villages Etape

Village étape

In France, a village étape[1] is a village standing or just off a motorway or national dual-carriageway that has been accepted by the "Village étape" Association as meeting the following criteria:
Population under 5000
A range of "basic" shops (butcher, baker, newsagent, grocer)
A range of varied eating places
A classified hotel
A Tourist Information Point or Centre
A shaded parking area
A telephone
A picnic area
Public toilets
A Cash machine

The shopkeepers, hoteliers or restaurant keepers involved in the Village étape movement have all have to sign the Villages étapes quality charter.

They can be easily identifiable by the "Philémon the hedgehog" sticker displayed in their windows

Good alternative to motorway service stations

[PositronicRay]

Abbott said:

You shuld aslo keep an eye open for Villages Etape

Village étape

In France, a village étape[1] is a village standing or just off a motorway or national dual-carriageway that has been accepted by the "Village étape" Association as meeting the following criteria:
Population under 5000
A range of "basic" shops (butcher, baker, newsagent, grocer)
A range of varied eating places
A classified hotel
A Tourist Information Point or Centre
A shaded parking area
A telephone
A picnic area
Public toilets
A Cash machine

The shopkeepers, hoteliers or restaurant keepers involved in the Village étape movement have all have to sign the Villages étapes quality charter.

They can be easily identifiable by the "Philémon the hedgehog" sticker displayed in their windows

Good alternative to motorway service stations

I used to signs for these on the Autoroutes, I always wondered what it ment. Haven't seen the signs for yrs now.

[Simes205]

qska said:

Fatt McMissile said:

They're likely to be very busy so if I were you I would drive while all the French folk are eating and stop at about 1.45 when the food sales slacken off.
What Simes is saying is that there are no autoroute charges on the Nantes - Rennes - Caen section of the route, whereas on the way you're proposing you'll start paying tolls as soon as you leave the Nantes périphérique. You'll save about 30 euros going via Caen.
Steve

Ah yes - true. And it's only about 30 minutes longer, so we'll probably go via Rennes.

We also got the telepage tag fitted, hopefully it'll make it a bit smoother.

The tag is great.
We breezed through all the peages yesterday Calais to St Lo.
Jumped queues with ease.
Driving to Arcachon on Saturday which will be fun.

[Fatt McMissile]

I have a Vinci one; 5 euros p&p + 5 extra for second screen mount, 2 euros charge for any month in which you use it, 10 euros charge if you don't use it for 14 months, plus normal tolls. You need a Fr bank account though.
Particularly useful if on your own in a right hand drive car. Works in Vinci-managed carparks too.
The 30 KM/H lanes are a bit like a chicken run though.....
Steve

[qska]

Just for posterity:
The tag we got was from these people. https://www.saneftolling.co.uk

They set up a British Direct Debit on your account, and have some additional fees, like £6 per year + £5 per month that you use the tag (max £10 per year) or something like that.
I think a £20 deposit as well.

We'll see how it works - our car has the IR/UV protective windscreen (S Max).

[Simes205]

I've got a sanef one as above.
Our E91 doesn't have shielded screen, all works a treat. Also works in Vinci car parks.

[ClaphamGT3]

Rushjob said:

qska said:

That's good to know.

But where do I find the list of all services?

The http://www.autoroutes.fr/ doesn't help - or maybe I can't use the internet :-)

I'd expect some list of motorways, junctions and some details on what's there.

I'm trying to compile a journey plan - drive from here to there, stop for 1hr, have lunch, then go there - type of thing.

On the autoroutes, you'll find Aire's or rest areas with toilets and picnic facilities roughly 20 to 30 Km's apart with fuel and food services appx every 60km.

As you approach each service area there are usually signs just before the exit from the autoroute telling you how far the next one is and whether it's just a rest stop or food / fuel etc.

I've never bothered planning for these as such as they are so frequent you're never more than about 30 mins from the next food stop.

HTH

Completely agree; we do 2/3 trips to the Alps and 4 trips to the dordogne with the children every year and never think twice about where to feed them and us

[Le Vette]

qska said:

Just for posterity:
The tag we got was from these people. https://www.saneftolling.co.uk

They set up a British Direct Debit on your account, and have some additional fees, like £6 per year + £5 per month that you use the tag (max £10 per year) or something like that.
I think a £20 deposit as well.

We'll see how it works - our car has the IR/UV protective windscreen (S Max).

...also for posterity, we got our sanef "blapper" over ten years ago now and it still works fine! We used to use it to bypass all the peage queues en route to Le Mans but we've lived in Normandy for nearly seven years now. We use it whenever we travel back to the UK now and it's as reliable as ever. I guess the battery will die at some point, but it's been a very good buy.