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Hello, with a little nervousness I am going to ask for any help in regards to some Aires within about an hours drive of Caen to travel around within 4-5 days. I have tried to search the sites but sure Im probably doing it wrong as I cant find much info.

I am pretty sure that there is a lot of info on here but Im am struggling to know how to find it.

Please dont give me a hard time for asking as I guess its been asked many times before

with thanks

Helen, Andy and the kids

Hi Helen

Not too sure what you are after so comments are based on a guess !!

 "Aires" are merely motorway service areas and are usually about every 20 or 30 miles or so along each motorway.  Most are shown on French road maps.  For example there is the Aire de Giberville on the A13/E46 just east of Caen.

I suspect that if you are staying 4/5 days then it is a camp site you are after.  If so then there will be many both along the coast and inland.  Either search this site using the Camp Site Search facility at the top of the page or buy a camp site guide.  The Camping Club do a good one.

It would be helpful if you update your profile so we can see if you are towing a caravan, camping or not as the case may be.

DaveS1

Hi, sorry yes updating my profile is on my list of to do Jobs!! Yes we have a motorhome and are wanting to travel around for just under a week so different places every night.  Aires sound good from reading about them over last few weeks but just cant seem to find any reviews about them or directions to them! Like I say Im pretty sure the info is out there somewhere Im just not sure how to find it? We arrive via Caen and have 5 days before we arrive at the campsite that we have booked on so its those nights we need to fill.  The campsite we booked is about 10miles north of Caen so not wanting to travel more than about 60-90 mins away from Caen. We have young children too so Im guessing no cliff top Aires!!!

Thanks Again

Helen

There is a book available from Vicarious Books - 'All the Aires....' in various versions for different countries.  I don't know where you might find reviews - but as Tentz says, many towns and villages have an Aire - some are free, others you pay for.  I think if you don't like one don't pay, just move on to the next town or village!

Someone on here posted a thread about Pictures of your favourite site, and another responded by posting a picture of the most lovely Aire, by a river, in a very nice setting.  Perhaps one of the forums especially for motorhomers might be a source of some reviews?

I hope you don't mind some advice though - with young children I'd be more than tempted to find campsites, which offer something for them as well as just a place to park up and stay overnight.  There are municipal sites in many French towns and villages, you don't need to book them, and the kids will then have space to run around and play, probably a children's area, and perhaps even access to the local municipal swimming pool. Having camped/caravanned in France every year since my son was a baby I know what a lovely time kids can have on French campsites.

Hi Val, Thanks for the info.  No dont mind at allany hints/info gratefully received.  We arrive on the 29th March and a lot of the sites we looked at dont open till the 1st April, so we have booked a site that opens on the 2nd.  Its just the days inbetween we need to fill! Just thought that if anybody had any reviews regarding good/bad Aires we could work out which ones sound most children friendly without all the leg work of driving about...lazy I know sorry!

Helen, we were looking at buying a motorhome the year before last and I still have this page bookmarked as telling me everything I wanted to know about Aires http://www.motorhomefacts.com/modules.php?name=Aires.  Hope it's helpful?