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Subject Topic: First time in french overnight aires Post Reply Post New Topic
04/4/2013 at 9:16am
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we did it! picked a site from the all the aires book and did our first free overnighter, BUT - as we didnt practice first re how it would actually work, getting undressed, making the bed up etc (its a small camper simlar size to a vw) AND because the tunnel crossing was delayed by 2 hours it led to a few giggles and acts of contortionism (if thats a word?)

anyway, we survived and and actually enjoyed it !!!



04/4/2013 at 11:23am
 Location: West country
 Outfit: VW camper
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Good for you, in our small, loo-less VW we always use campsites!! Though we did stay once at the Baie de Somme motorway aire, and would do that again.


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04/4/2013 at 11:58am
 Location: None Entered
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Hi.

Nice one.

Once you get over the water & start using the aires there's no turning back.

I've been doing it for a couple of years now & love how they have the camper / motorhome thing sorted over there.

Just why can't we get things sorted over here? I know some have tried in different ways to sort it but its nothing like getting across the water.

Once again a nice one.

Have fun


04/4/2013 at 3:55pm
 Location: crewe
 Outfit: Elddis Xplore 302 and Nissan Campervan
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Love that Stepwagon Dave !  Making us very impatient to get over to France again. Need an updated Aires book myself.17

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cramming for my finals in the twilight zone


04/4/2013 at 8:57pm
 Location: Liverpool
 Outfit: IH TIO R
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Mais oui, mais oui keep doing it and enjoy la liberte'

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wineciccio


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05/4/2013 at 8:21am
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Quote: Originally posted by dinkum on 04/4/2013
Love that Stepwagon Dave !  Making us very impatient to get over to France again. Need an updated Aires book myself.17


thanks. to be honest, the stepwagon is better than i thought, it actually drives like a car aswell in terms of handling, i know its prob too small for most, but as we're only using it to get to the static and days out here and there, it suits us perfectly. we just need to change the exhaust as its a bit too sporty and noisy for us and it could have done with a fifth gear, but other than that i am really pleased with it. with an awning it would be ideal for a young family to spend a bit more time in it. we were looking at a nissan elgrand, but the hondas supposedly bullet proof 2l petrol engine and the overall vehicle height (under 2m) swung it for us.

i was a bit unsure as to the worth of the aires book to be honest, mainly because we didnt intend stopping for too long or using the camper for the 'grand tour', however it really is a useful purchase even for the limited number of aires we will probably end up using, just using it to find a couple of aires en route that meet our 'needs' will more than pay for itself



06/4/2013 at 9:34am
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman 460 VIP; VW Tiguan
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We have used a number of Aires and some of them are, like campsites, better than others. But there are some really lovely ones out there, better than campsites, and free into the bargain, so carry on finding them!

-------------
Ina


06/4/2013 at 11:32am
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Quote: Originally posted by Ina on 06/4/2013
We have used a number of Aires and some of them are, like campsites, better than others. But there are some really lovely ones out there, better than campsites, and free into the bargain, so carry on finding them!

they're not all free unfortunately!! even if you don't use the electric/water etc. some still charge for overnight stops. we have been trying to look for aires which are where we travel through or would like to go to first, secondly they must have decent toilets (we only have a very small camper with no toilet etc) and thirdly preferably free! when weve got the hang of this campervanning lark, we will probably start to look further afield - my current view is that if we have to pay then we might aswell be on a campsite with showers aswell as toilets!!!


06/4/2013 at 11:47am
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Plenty of French tourist areas have 'unofficial' aires, ie a parking area on the edge of a village where motorhomes park free, no facilities but a nice area. Popular seaside towns are now putting barriers on their aires with credit card entry facilities, some have toilets & others coin in slot operation for water/waste tip/ehu.

There are also 'overspill' areas that still need to be paid for. For example Montalivet on SW coast has some serviced m/h pitchs at front of camping municipal & 2 other areas, non serviced. The area near the beach often resembles a traveller camp with m/h's packed together on stony hard standing.

Apart from tourist areas with signs forbidding it you can park overnight anywhere in France with a motorhome.


06/4/2013 at 4:53pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman 460 VIP; VW Tiguan
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Quote: Originally posted by Dave Beverley on 06/4/2013
Quote: Originally posted by Ina on 06/4/2013
We have used a number of Aires and some of them are, like campsites, better than others. But there are some really lovely ones out there, better than campsites, and free into the bargain, so carry on finding them!

they're not all free unfortunately!! even if you don't use the electric/water etc. some still charge for overnight stops.


No, I realise that you have to pay on quite a few of them, but not that much, unless you are in a very popular area. What I meant to say was that some are really lovely AND free into the bargain, not that all are free. You sometimes don't write exactly what you mean which is what happened in this case.

If you're anywhere in Burgundy, a nice-looking one is at St Gengoux-le-National, right on the Voie Verte (Green Way for cycling, old railway). Have cycled past it many times, but never actually stayed there, although friends of ours have, and they said it was really nice. And it has toilets, in the old railway station building.

It's a great way to discover France, and you do get some Aires where there are no campsites, therefore more choice on where to stay.

Happy travels!


-------------
Ina


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08/4/2013 at 11:29am
 Location: west midlands
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Very nearly used an aire in Nantua by the lake, but seeing folk parked so close that you stepped out of your 'van into their's, we changed our mind.


08/4/2013 at 9:00pm
 Location: Comrie fife
 Outfit: Autotrail Tribute T715
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Has anyone tried the German versions?

We are heading off down the Romantic route in June and if anyone has tested the stopovers I am all ears. Do's n don'ts?  Costs? etc.. All advice / comments welcome.

http://www.romanticroad.com/

alex b ...



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Alexblack13


09/4/2013 at 4:58pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman 460 VIP; VW Tiguan
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Quote: Originally posted by alexblack13 on 08/4/2013

Has anyone tried the German versions?




Yes, but only along the Moselle, not in any other part of Germany (yet!)


-------------
Ina



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