Campervan to disneyland Paris and Nurburgring

[chriz1]

Hi,

We're hiring s campervan to drive to Disneyland Paris and Nurburgring in August. Mrs and son 8 yrs old.

Never been by road before, I'm looking for tips on where to stay and if there's anything to visit espically for kids?

I'd be looking at a motorhome site near to Calais for first night any decent ones?

What's are the chances of stopping over in a layby or services ? Or have they limited this like the Uk?!


Then near Disneyland Paris then we be heading to Nurburgring so again anywhere we should stop off and visit and decent places to stay near the ring that's campervan friendly?

I'm sure there's a wealth of knowledge on here

[blue_haddock]

We've never done the campervan thing but you can definitely stay in what the french call "Aires"

Some are just glorified laybys and others are more akin to actually services, lots of places in france also have specfic "aire de camping" which are specific for camper vans to stop, they usually have waste points as well as water facilities.

[Truckosaurus]

blue_haddock said:

We've never done the campervan thing but you can definitely stay in what the french call "Aires"

Indeed. The French are very well setup for camper vans. Most vlllages and towns will have an 'aire' even if it is just a corner of a public car park.

You're not meant to setup anything outside the van in theory (eg. chairs, BBQs etc) and there might be some limits (eg. one night stays only or you have to be gone by a certain time in the morning).

I've seen it suggested that you avoid staying over at the ones on the autoroutes, due to risk of crime (most are miles from civilisation so thieves assume there will be lack of Police response etc).

[chriz1]

Interesting thanks this is just the info I'm after ! I wonder if they're locations are listed anywhere so we can plan

Any other tips ?!

[Truckosaurus]

chriz1 said:

I wonder if they're locations are listed anywhere so we can plan

I suspect they are too numerous to list. There might be some camper forum with recommendations.

If you type 'aire de camping car' on google maps it will highlight any in the region the map is zoomed into.

[21st Century Man]

If you're not wanting to just stop on regular campsites, try this.

https://www.campingcarpark.com/en_GB/

Download the app, you can get a card from the machine at the first site you stop at then top up by machine or through the app.

Most of the sites are sort of midway between a car park and a campsite. Though some can be very much like proper campsites too.

[littlebasher]

I wouldn't be stopping at any aires near the channel ports

Avoid supermarkets that are near them as well.

[ecsrobin]

littlebasher said:

I wouldn't be stopping at any aires near the channel ports

Avoid supermarkets that are near them as well.

This. You’d be better stopping in Folkestone for the night and getting an early tunnel/ferry.

Phantasialand near Cologne is worth a visit with an 8yr old. Disney level of theming and some great rides that would make a world top 10.

Nurburgring camping am Nurburgring for electrical hookup would be my vote. Are you planning to rent a car when there?

[Dan_The_Man]

We had a couple of nights in a camper van at Les 4 Vents which is 20 mins from DLP. A lot of people just camp in the DLP car park as there are facilities but we preferred to get a bit of space. We broke the journey not far from Calais at Vimy Ridge to go underground and see the WW1 tunnels and get some history on board, reckon you could just kip about anywhere if it's quiet but not too close to Calais.

[cptsideways]

Avoid anything near a major route near Calais! I've had an attempted break in a few years ago it's got a lot worse since.

There's a lovely walled town Burgues 59380, France half hour inland from Calais, it's got a lovely Aire by the city gates & a great market midweek.

[chriz1]

Any water parks near Nurburgring or on the way ? We may skip Disneyland this time round and head toward Germany if there's a few parks along the way. Noted Phantasialand

[chriz1]

ecsrobin said:

littlebasher said:

I wouldn't be stopping at any aires near the channel ports

Avoid supermarkets that are near them as well.

This. You’d be better stopping in Folkestone for the night and getting an early tunnel/ferry.

Phantasialand near Cologne is worth a visit with an 8yr old. Disney level of theming and some great rides that would make a world top 10.

Nurburgring camping am Nurburgring for electrical hookup would be my vote. Are you planning to rent a car when there?

Yes looking to

[GreatGranny]

Why miss out DLP?

You're going to have a very disappointed 8 year old

My kids were similar age when we went and loved it.

There are loads of sites close by.
You could just do 2 days.
Stay near Folkstone, early Chunnel next morning and you'll be on the Tower of Terror by mid afternoon

[chriz1]

I may do, he says he's more interested In waterparks now ??

When booking euro tunnel I noticed that its around £80 cheaper each way !
if I put that the camper van is over 8m long... ? Its not its only 5.9m.
Never used euro tunnel before, but will I get away with booking as being over 8m?

[ecsrobin]

I think phantasialand and Europa park trump euro disney if you’re not after the branded stuff. Europa park has rulantica which is a superb water park but quite a way from the ring. Any particular reason on heading for the ring?

[chriz1]

Just that I've never been so wanted to go really

[ecsrobin]

Worth checking here to see if the track is open but I’d say there’s not a lot to keep you occupied around the circuit. The museum is good for an hour or so.

https://www.nuerburgring.de/open-hours#event-inlin...

[21st Century Man]

I was at the ring a couple of weeks ago, apart from going onto the circuit there's not much there on a regular week day or unless there's an event on. I was underwhelmed by the main commerces at Ringwerk and Motorsport centre. Adenau is pleasant enough, but just a normal small town of no particular interest. Nurburg village is nice enough too, but again, not really a destination. You could stick a pin on a map anywhere and find similar. If you're there in daft cars with mates it's awesome though.

[ecsrobin]

21st Century Man said:

I was at the ring a couple of weeks ago, apart from going onto the circuit there's not much there on a regular week day or unless there's an event on. I was underwhelmed by the main commerces at Ringwerk and Motorsport centre. Adenau is pleasant enough, but just a normal small town of no particular interest. Nurburg village is nice enough too, but again, not really a destination. You could stick a pin on a map anywhere and find similar. If you're there in daft cars with mates it's awesome though.

Very much this. The esports bar is good for an hour and the karting but limited opening hours.

7hrs from Calais gets you to europa park which is a 2 day park, 3rd day rulantica, head to Mulhouse for the schlumpf car collection (very large collection) and a train museum. Colmar for a chilled historic town. Up to mannheim for hockenheim which has a small museum and the technik museum Speyer then on to Cologne and phantasialand.

[cooky73]

I use searchforsites.co.uk to find stop overs...