Arriving in France late Sunday evening - anything open?

[tribalmango]

We are arriving at Montpellier airport at 9pm tomorrow, collecting a car and driving about an hour (west) to our rental, which is quite rural.

I am struggling to find somewhere we'll be able to pick up essentials for Sunday evening, Monday morning before we can get to a supermarket.

It looks like we might need to head into the city to find a convenience store.

Does anyone know?

Hmm Sunday evening does tend to be very shut in France. You might do better heading out early Monday am? Bring a loo roll in your luggage…

In similar circumstances we just made do till the morning. You’re arriving late enough not to need much I’d have thought? You could always get basics at the airport after security if you wanted something to drink before bed I’d have thought. Plus the loo roll and soap!

I don’t know Montpellier but I would assume you won’t find anything (other than a bar) open. Eat at airport and plan an early visit to a boulangerie and supermarket early Monday.

What essentials do you need that late?
Can't you just make do til Monday morning like most people would?

Ask the rental hosts whether any essentials will be provided - there might be a few toilet rolls and some soap.
As everyone else said, you'll need to pack whatever you'll need before morning that won't be provided, and go out in the morning - boulangerie for breakfast things and then a supermarket shop.

Thanks all.
The rental will have soap and loo roll, I'm not worried about that.
I am also not worried about me (though I do tend to function better after a cup of tea in the morning).
I have my 2 sons (15 and 25). Flight leaves UK 6pm and we land 9pm local time. They will want some food (especially the 15 yo!).

Sure we can manage, but we're on holiday and it would be nice to arrive, pick up some bits, drive to where we're staying and have a drink and snack before going to bed and have a cup of coffee in the morning.

Maybe try get something to eat at the airport and grab some to bring with you for the hollow legs in your family!. Have a nice holiday.

Available food service at Montpellier Airport | Aéroport Montpellier Méditerranée (montpellier-airport.com)

You could look see if there are any large petrol stations on your route. They will have a shop.
Bring some tea bags, juice boxes, biscuits in your baggage

Your plane may be delayed plus picking up the car may be a faff. I'd get as much as you can carry from the airport in the UK and/or look for a McDonald's near Montpellier (needs must sometimes).

It doesn't look like any of those are open. Most of them are on the departures side and even then are not open so late.
They do point to the nearest services, so that will probably be our best shot.

You'll have to eat at the airport (whether departure or arrival airport) and bring snacks or buy en route. Take some tea and coffee with you in case there isn't any provided (I'd be surprised if there was no coffee in the rental but you never know).

It is an awkward flight time - I guess it was unavoidable.

I think this will probably be our best shot - just to get some milk etc.

Alternatively, ask the rental owners to leave some cheese, cold meats etc in the fridge. Or even pasta and jar of sauce. Offer to pay. In fact, maybe just squeeze that into your luggage if you can.

Take teabags, loo roll, carton of uht milk and snacks in your suitcase. We often take a bag of pasta, a jar of sauce and a bar of chocolate if we will arrive late. What else would you need?

Yeah, we'll eat before we fly and I'll get the boys to carry what they might want for later.
There will be tea and coffee in the AirBnB but not milk or anything fresh.

I would much rather this flight time than the early ones. We'll be fine, it's not a crisis or anything, I just asked incase anyone had secret knowledge.

It's the fun of travelling innit!

I don't really want to use up our valuable luggage space on food.

They are not there, though I imagine they have a local contact nearby.
I try and limit contact with AirBnB hosts to important things not "my teenager is hungry"

If it's only milk you need, I'd just ask if some could be left for you. There's often a bottle of water and wine left. But we've also been to some really stingy (is that how you spell it?) rental accommodation where there was nothing left at all.

Come on people, the answer is staring us in the face: it's McDo, or bust. If you can bear it OP. That's what they're here for.

Sure we can manage, but we're on holiday and it would be nice to arrive, pick up some bits, drive to where we're staying and have a drink and snack before going to bed and have a cup of coffee in the morning.

it would be nice, but it’s not France! Especially in August when a lot of French working people…..go on holiday, so quite a few small business like bakers and , yes, cafes go on holiday. You need to be aware that even outside the holiday season a lot of smaller shops close on Monday. I would find out where the nearest hyper is and plan on an early visit.

I would find out where the nearest hyper is and plan on an early visit.

Yes, we will do that.
It's easy to get caught out when you're used to being able to get a pint of milk pretty much any time of day!

We always buy a pint of fresh milk at the airport (airside, UK), which stays fresh for a cuppa when we arrive. I've also taken emergency pot noodles in the past, for these types of scenarios.

Unfortunately you're unlikely to change the culture of an entire nation so taking up a bit of luggage space seems the next best option.

Will you not be buying anything while you're away to take back? You could use that space.

I'm not suggesting a nation changes it culture, I am asking if anyone knows if it's possible to buy any food/drink at a certain time of day.

I have received some useful replies.

I’d take milk with you, even if you buy it in duty free and just have it in a carrier bag. I’m not 100% sure you’ll find fresh milk in a service station.