camping-carpark?

[GAVLAD]

We arrived last
Night at Merlimont Plage and it took my a while after the barrier to work out they the aire was full. There was physically space to park up for a few more vans but they must have a license fir the number they had.
I gave up in the end and we stayed fir free at Stella Plage next door.

Le Touquet was full and there’s a horse event on at the other aire there (Hipperdrome?)

 

[Andycap]

I have just returned from France and used the camping car park and tried to load my card I went through the process and loaded 50.00e however each time I tried it didn’t confirm I had been successful, I ended up with 200e on the card. I contacted the customer service who were brilliant refunded money straight away. Can’t beat the customer service team.

 

[drmartinwhite]

Turn up.Card is issued from machine €5 charge for,card plus your over night fee. Or stay for 5 hours (I think)for €5 just to fill up etc

I joined online while in France, downloaded the app, all in English, etc. but then could not figure out how to reconcile getting the card when we arrived if I recall correctly. My wife then joined at the barrier and it issued the card. She has a smattering of French though. However, just use Google translate.

If you are in the UK still, and have time, I think you can have a card delivered maybe? I should delete my account as my wife now has an account, I think you preload the barrier card, which can be done in the app?

Others more experienced will know more.

 

[Dorset Diver]

thanks puts you under pressure if your at the gate and cant work out how do get in ,,im bad enough trying to put fuel in ,,when its in french ,,spent 5 mins trying to wok out what the pump was wanting the last time ,,turns out it was asking for a loyalty card ,,

Don't worry about that. Nine times out of ten its the French that are confused and get into a right muddle. I've helped several out.

 

[weemalkie]

now joined and added this too. Together with Camper Contact, Search for Sites, Park4Nights and the Camping Card (ASCI). Reckon I should be able to sort out somewhere to stay each night

Think we must be doing the same trip! All eventualities covered. France in September for 5 weeks. Have you joined France Passion? Stay for free on farms vineyards etc, No services but apparently safe and friendly.

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[OwnedbyCollies]

The other advantage of the Camping Car Park network is the availability of services (including water) all year round. In much of the north of France, the bornes are turned off from November to March.

 

[TimSam]

hi ,,could anyone tell me how these aires work i have looked at the signs a few times but still unsure can i just turn up and pay or do i need to get a card before hand ,,thanks CAMPING-CAR PARKS ,,View attachment 650546

This is an informative web site to help regarding French Aires: https://motorhomeinsider.com/what-is-a-french-motorhome-aire/

 

[steve69]

Question. Are most of these aires now barriered? I was last in France 4 years ago .and most of the aires I used were just drive in and drive out.

 

[Zigisla]

Question. Are most of these aires now barriered? I was last in France 4 years ago .and most of the aires I used were just drive in and drive out.

All of the Aires owned or run by “Camping Cars” have the barrier system.

 

[sbbots]

I used them last year and thought that they were great. The app is brilliant, it shows cost and availability. I paid for the pack privileges 29 euros pa, this allows you to reserve a space in advance. This proved very useful in busy Aires. The customer phone line is also good.

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[BikerGraham]

Think we must be doing the same trip! All eventualities covered. France in September for 5 weeks. Have you joined France Passion? Stay for free on farms vineyards etc, No services but apparently safe and friendly.

Have a brilliant time over there. 1st time for me in a motorhome, although been over many other times

Not joined France Passion yet. Will see how this trip goes and maybe add that for next time. But thanks for the advice

 

[Solwaybuggier]

Have you joined France Passion? Stay for free on farms vineyards etc, No services but apparently safe and friendly.

Yes, France Passion are great - no obligation to buy but quite hard not to sometimes. Particular concentrations in wine growing areas - but beware they are often no cheaper than a campsite particularly if you're stopping in the champagne region!

 

[MarionK]

You’ll get in eventually but be prepared for a bit of a struggle if you’re getting a card for the first time. If you’ve got the time it’s far far better to pre order the card before you travel. It has the advantage of registering yourself and your payment method online, making future top ups very simple.

How do you do that? Online?

eta Is BROKEN LINK the right one? It says europe, not France . . .

 

[MichaelT]

How do you do that? Online?

eta Is BROKEN LINK the right one? It says europe, not France . . .

Tou order HERE be careful by default it adds €80 but you can adjust that to suit yourself. Just follow the process... not sure if yo need to register first then log in, leave it to you to try and report back...

 

[varaizian]

The aires books are france north france south, spain with portugal. Camping-car iv not managed to find anythin in dpain the route i want to take but with all the aires and other aps sure it will be ok. Ecpecting the crit air sticker any day now.

I've used the Vicarious books for years, both in France & Spain / Portugal, and like them a lot, but if you have not used them before check the GPS co-ordinates setting on your Satnav because they use a different format to many other publications and sites. Getting quite near where you want to be isn't good enough!

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[Phill D]

We arrived last
Night at Merlimont Plage and it took my a while after the barrier to work out they the aire was full. There was physically space to park up for a few more vans but they must have a license fir the number they had.
I gave up in the end and we stayed fir free at Stella Plage next door.

Le Touquet was full and there’s a horse event on at the other aire there (Hipperdrome?)

I believe you can book a place on an sire in the app. That may be why you could see free space but would not let you in.

 

[DBK]

We arrived last
Night at Merlimont Plage and it took my a while after the barrier to work out they the aire was full. There was physically space to park up for a few more vans but they must have a license fir the number they had.
I gave up in the end and we stayed fir free at Stella Plage next door.

Le Touquet was full and there’s a horse event on at the other aire there (Hipperdrome?)

You probably know this but you can check on the app if there are any spaces available. Even if on the ground there are empty pitches, if the system thinks it is full it won't lift the barrier. A message should flash up on the blue screen above where you present your card. It may say something like "Site complet" where the key word is "complet" meaning "full". I've not experienced this but this would be my guess at the wording.

If you want to book or stay longer than I think 3 days join the "Pack Privilèges" scheme. You can do this online. You don't get a new card, the old one is recognised as a PP one.

 

[TheMachMan]

So I assume you need the membership card, but do you have to preload it with Euros or can you pay direct when there using your credit card?

 

[Notts Archer]

Following recommendations from fellow Funsters a few months back, I bought a card with 20€ loaded prior to our French travels. Although we only used it once on this trip, I found the app very easy and informative on what’s available.

 

[MarionK]

Tou order HERE be careful by default it adds €80 but you can adjust that to suit yourself. Just follow the process... not sure if yo need to register first then log in, leave it to you to try and report back...

Thanks, that's the same site, thanks for linking to the right page as well.
It won't be any time soon unfortunately. I've bookmarked the thread for future reference though.

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[DBK]

So I assume you need the membership card, but do you have to preload it with Euros or can you pay direct when there using your credit card?

No, you have to preload it, but you can put say just €15 which covers one night. Doing this on the app is the most convenient way I've found.

 

[Fragle]

I have just returned from France and used the camping car park and tried to load my card I went through the process and loaded 50.00e however each time I tried it didn’t confirm I had been successful, I ended up with 200e on the card. I contacted the customer service who were brilliant refunded money straight away. Can’t beat the customer service team.

So I assume you need the membership card, but do you have to preload it with Euros or can you pay direct when there using your credit card?

You definitely do not need to preload the card.
You can enter with £0 on the card that’s registered It’s really easy to pay as you go at the screen. Keep your money in your bank.
Just before you leave go to screen select the number of nights you stayed and pay. Goes straight on card never had a problem

 

[Fragle]

No, you have to preload it, but you can put say just €15 which covers one night. Doing this on the app is the most convenient way I've found.

Sorry. Not correct I’m afraid. We regularly enter with no credit on card just pay on screen is definitely easier
I’m on one atm. Been here 10 days no problem no prebooking nothing on the card until I pay before we leave

 

[TheMachMan]

Thanks. Will preload with €30 in case.

 

[DBK]

Sorry. Not correct I’m afraid. We regularly enter with no credit on card just pay on screen is definitely easier

I didn't say you need to preload to enter, but you have to preload it to pay. The main point, which was what the question was, is you can't pay directly with a credit card, you have to transfer money into CCP's coffers. That is, preload it even if you then spend most of it to leave immediately afterwards.

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[Fragle]

I didn't say you need to preload to enter, but you have to preload it to pay. The main point, which was what the question was, is you can't pay directly with a credit card, you have to transfer money into CCP's coffers.

That’s correct
I thought Someone would get the impression you have to pay up front to get on
My apologies