If Aires don’t allow camping behaviour…

[Heebson]

Hi folks.
We’re a year into motorhoming and have used a mix of sites and off-grid - both aire types and park-ups. All within the UK.

We’re planning to go abroad this year - France in May and Netherlands in August - so I’ve been devouring lots of threads & blogs to get prepped - but one thing kinda puzzles me.

It’s made clear that when staying on Aires that ‘camping behaviour’ is banned - usually described as winding out the awning, getting chairs out or bbq-ing. Fair enough - but what do folks actually do? I’m thinking here that hopefully the weather’s nice, so ok, we cook in the van, but we really would like to sit outside to eat - even with a plate in the lap - or even just have a drink at the end of the day. Being confined to the van doesn’t sound that nice.

So just wondered what the practical reality is. How do people cope or work around it (Not meaning ‘just do it anyway’)?

I know the easy answer is ‘use sites’, but the unplanned nature of leveraging Aires really appeals. Hope this makes sense.

Thnx,
Heeb

 

[3 cabbages]

When staying on most Aires , in UK, Spain, or France you can sit out ,eat out . but no awning !

 

[Just smiffy]

Follow those around you, the French will always do what they want on an aire and if they’re not it will be for a reason…

 

[Brains]

There are 'Aires' and then there are 'Aires' .....

Some are just glorified car parks (no awnings, no BBQ's and max 24 or 48hr stays )

Others are basic campsites, usually on tarmac or cinders, where everyone parks within a 2-3m of the next van. Awnings, if out a bit may be OK, table and chairs around the back may be OK, but BBQ's are usually frowned upon (due to the fire risk).

The idea is to look like you are there for the night, not there for the week.

 

[Northernraider]

I'm an odd one , I've never actually enjoyed eating outside much , flies , wind, audience etc . I enjoy the odd bbq or cooking on an open fire when on a wildspot but if I'm on an aire I'm either out walking places or I'm inside with the blinds shut lol

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Northernraider]

Follow those around you, the French will always do what they want on an aire and if they’re not it will be for a reason…

I've found the French do what they want anywhere but then so do the Germans....and many of the Dutch.

Especially in Spain

 

[Carpmart]

What you should do on an Aire and what you can do are very different, or so our European friends believe, thereby potentially ruining things for those doing what you should be doing!

 

[Lenny HB]

Generally accepted in France you can put the awning out if the legs attach to the van and don't sit on the ground. But in France laws are made to be broken so anything goes.

Spain is different they can be quite strick on Aires and its a no for awnings tables and chairs etc. We only get the tables & chairs out if there is a patch of grass behind the van.

 

[MisterB]

If there's a sign telling you not to do something to then don't do it ! Most Aires that have restrictions will also have somewhere telling you what those restrictions are, usually pictorially.
As for 'general' etiquette, we follow these simple 'tips', wind out awnings are ok so long as they don't take up another pitch (we might put ours out 50% or so). Other awnings are a no no. Cooking and eating outside is fine, but put everything away after you've eaten, other than chairs and side table for your wine etc. When you go to bed put everything away and wind your awning in.
Don't leave rubbish bags outside overnight and ensure your pitch is left clean and tidy when you leave.

 

[jumar]

If the rules are listed up at the entrance to a Camperstop about this, it's generally the rules of the Region ( County) it is there to differentiate between Parking up for a night and Camping...it is enforced in some places and totally ignored in others, mainly by

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sueandjohn]

Unbelievably . Saw someone fire up a charcoal bbq on the dieppe aire last September

 

[Two on Tour]

We toured France twice last year staying on the best part of 30 different aires and I can confirm that any etiquette on aires for the most part no longer exists as it did in the past.
When on aires now we tend to follow what others do with the view that if it's all right for them then what are they going to complain about if they are doing the same.

 

[Reallyretired]

Some aires have a bit of grass or woodland not directly outside your van. Sitting there wouldn't cause a problem, normally only a problem if chairs awnings etc are restricting some one else from being able to park.

 

[Two on Tour]

normally only a problem if chairs awnings etc are restricting some one else from being able to park.

Several aires we pulled up on had MH's that were obviously travelling together and had parked up over 3 bays using the middle bay to spread out and socialise and on others, there were vans turning up on aires as late as 1.30 in the morning and 11pm was commonplace.

 

[Mad dog]

I'd agree that with the comment there are aires & aires...they vary a lot. Some are basically car parks & in that situation nothing in my opinion should be outside of the van. Unfortunately people do & it upsets locals who've complained to councils & then they stop it altogether.

I'm glad to see the CAMPRA group is successfully helping to get a lot more aires & parking in the UK.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MartinandBev]

Quite a few of the inland Aires here in Spain (and experienced on our recent trip in Portugal ) have picnic benches, bins and some grass area provided and therefore you’re free to use that. Some don’t, and here we often see chairs out of the van sat in a car park even there is a nice big sign saying no camping behaviour, chairs, awnings, tables etc etc, and to be fair it’s normally locally registered vans breaking the rules - hey ho !

I suppose at the end of the day you take your chance, however it will only take a few instances before these places get shut down and then where will we all be?

 

[Claire Ambler]

If you are paying to stay then technically it is a site ans as long as you are moderate then it should be ok. In 20 years I have never been told off for having table and chairs outside, but then I wouldn’t try that on a pavement in Spain

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hi folks.
We’re a year into motorhoming and have used a mix of sites and off-grid - both aire types and park-ups. All within the UK.

We’re planning to go abroad this year - France in May and Netherlands in August - so I’ve been devouring lots of threads & blogs to get prepped - but one thing kinda puzzles me.

It’s made clear that when staying on Aires that ‘camping behaviour’ is banned - usually described as winding out the awning, getting chairs out or bbq-ing. Fair enough - but what do folks actually do? I’m thinking here that hopefully the weather’s nice, so ok, we cook in the van, but we really would like to sit outside to eat - even with a plate in the lap - or even just have a drink at the end of the day. Being confined to the van doesn’t sound that nice.

So just wondered what the practical reality is. How do people cope or work around it (Not meaning ‘just do it anyway’)?

I know the easy answer is ‘use sites’, but the unplanned nature of leveraging Aires really appeals. Hope this makes sense.

Thnx,
Heeb

Some Aires do allow camping behaviour.

Cavaliere in the south of France.

 

[Shrimp]

Follow those around you, the French will always do what they want on an aire and if they’re not it will be for a reason…

We follow the French, on an Aire, also some Aires are not suitable for sitting out in-like car parks etc, usually there is a bit of grass or some have marked or even hedged bays.

 

[Northernraider]

If there's a sign telling you not to do something to then don't do it ! Most Aires that have restrictions will also have somewhere telling you what those restrictions are, usually pictorially.
As for 'general' etiquette, we follow these simple 'tips', wind out awnings are ok so long as they don't take up another pitch (we might put ours out 50% or so). Other awnings are a no no. Cooking and eating outside is fine, but put everything away after you've eaten, other than chairs and side table for your wine etc. When you go to bed put everything away and wind your awning in.
Don't leave rubbish bags outside overnight and ensure your pitch is left clean and tidy when you leave.

The problem with signs in general but particularly in Spain is they often don't apply all the time or are just plain stupid.

No dogs on beaches = ignored


No overnight parking = ignored when it suits them.


My view is IF you are going to create a rule and put up a sign it needs to be enforced 24/7 or it leaves room for doubt


I also don't agree with many off them , dogs don't ruin or mess up beaches fir instance . Dirty lazy entitled people ruin and mess up beaches but they get free reign .

I generally avoid campsites and aires 99% of the time as I don't want all the rules or the neighbours ....because we ALL break rules somewhere

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[chaser]

I have never been on an aire where you couldn't have a table and chairs outside.
The french people as a whole, motorhomes or cars or even bikes, will go out at dinnertime just to set up a table and chairs anywhere out of the way, and they have always got a tablecloth.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

You don't have to go abroad to see selfish behaviour exhibited by some motor homers. In Anglsey last summer on a hot day when car parking was at an absolute premium, two motor homes took up 4 spaces by parking in parallel to each other, then winding out their awnings to touch, thus creating a shaded area for them to sit around under on their chairs, and tables. They just ignored, and were belligerent to car drivers imploring them to not be so selfish. Luckily the warden came along and instructed them to take down all the paraphernalia and let other's park.
Mike.

 

[Billylou]

I find I have most freedom on a campsite than anywhere else, the rules tend to be very clear and in my experience the vast majority adhere to them. I can wind out my awning, put our table chairs out, cook/bbq and easily get rid of my waste for example. I also find I can relax more as I’m not looking over my shoulder wondering what might happen next. I particularly like the Camping Car aires that give you all the freedoms you need to enjoy your stay at a fair price.

 

[Littlewheels]

Blimey there a lot of people breaking the rules look at the interest 773 viewing including 453 guests……non subscribers gleaning information on chairs out or in for goodness sake.

 

[Bazzagas]

Follow those around you, the French will always do what they want on an aire and if they’re not it will be for a reason…

I agree...Also HGV drivers seem to do as they want..I have stopped on large Aires in France, where HGV drivers often sit at the back of the lorry with their gas hobs out ,cooking their meals..
Also sitting in groups around a table , playing cards..
No camping behaviour.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Clive Mott]

The, essence of an aire is a stop over for the night. Anything more than that is a bonus. Once upon a time they were free. but as there are now too many of us some have become commercial. Never leave any evidence of your visit and let others be your guide.

 

[ctc]

In France all rules are only for tourists, like one way systems in Italy.

 

[Gaston aires]

There is an app called Camping car park. They have many sites in France at around 13€. We use them when it suits us and find them pretty good stopovers. You can do the chair, table, awning thing, no problem.
A one off small payment gets you into the system and it lasts for life.
Phil

 

[Neil S]

I find I have most freedom on a campsite than anywhere else, the rules tend to be very clear and in my experience the vast majority adhere to them. I can wind out my awning, put our table chairs out, cook/bbq and easily get rid of my waste for example. I also find I can relax more as I’m not looking over my shoulder wondering what might happen next. I particularly like the Camping Car aires that give you all the freedoms you need to enjoy your stay at a fair price.

Another thumbs up for C.C.P we used them extensively when we had the Motorhome , now we’ve reverted back to tugging we can still use the "Camping de Mon" sites in the network that accept caravans as well as Motorhomes in high season and at the same price

 

[jumar]

The problem with signs in general but particularly in Spain is they often don't apply all the time or are just plain stupid.

No dogs on beaches = ignored


No overnight parking = ignored when it suits them.


My view is IF you are going to create a rule and put up a sign it needs to be enforced 24/7 or it leaves room for doubt


I also don't agree with many off them , dogs don't ruin or mess up beaches fir instance . Dirty lazy entitled people ruin and mess up beaches but they get free reign .

I generally avoid campsites and aires 99% of the time as I don't want all the rules or the neighbours ....because we ALL break rules somewhere

The Authorities make the rules...the Law enforcement officers then have the power to apply if deemed necessary...as you know rules banning wilding in Murcia was passed last year...the numbers are overwhelmingly difficult to control, therefore being ignored by those that park and those that are empowered to move them on...