In France have you noticed local attitudes are aggressive. When you park up if not on an aire

[PeterCarole29]

As title says really
Even parked up during the day or late afternoon

 

[funflair]

Sounds like you came across a local who hates Campers, not normal in France I wouldn't worry about it.

Or maybe a local who likes campers enough to chip in for a community aire but then gets a tad irritated when people don’t want to use it, we can’t have it all ways

 

[Ianbenny]

I had a house in Brittany - Great place and good neighbours in a little hamlet. They like the British although there will be a minority who dont.
But, went to Normandy for a holiday after we sold the house - completely different and I certainly felt a bit of hostility.

 

[yodeli]

But instead of paying to go into the aire we parked in the large parking area before and next to the aire no signage at all saying no parking

There is no reason at all why you should have gone on the Aire if you didn't want to. Legally ... unless a sign says something different, you are perfectly entitled to PARK (if you want to stay for the night, then just look dead! ) wherever you find room that suits you and as long as you are not in the way for other road users. Keep in mind to always be careful with the cycle lane!!!
Now, sometimes in big towns parking might be taken in charge by a private society . Therefore, the usual rules might differ. So best is to check if you want to feel at ease.

For example : you can ask google " Règles de stationnement à Rambouillet département 78"

Stationnement - Ville de Rambouillet

La ville de Rambouillet a adopté un plan de stationnement visant à faciliter l’accès aux commerces, favoriser le stationnement des résidents et fluidifier la circulation, tout en maintenant un juste équilibre de la place de la voiture au sein de la ville.

www.rambouillet.fr

I know that with my MoHo Max , I can park on a normal place of parking as long as I fit in without using more than 1 place.

 

[Funnymunny]

In over 20 years traveling all over France we have only found people too willing to go out of their way to help even having a whole row of vans shift over a foot at a time to make room for us to get in at Fouras.
The only hassle we have ever had was in Germany the day the EU referendum was announced, the Germans were quite happy about it saying they wish they could do the same but one Dutch lady who had been very chatty the previous few days got quite nasty with us and tried to get a few others to go against us but she was just ignored.

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[Baggydave]

Nope.
We are in Brittany at the moment & nothing but friendly faces & helpfulness as always. France is the home of le camping car!
Uk could learn a lesson or two in that respect but I won’t hold my breath!

 

[Hymer22]

In France now loving the people can’t do enough for us

 

[Scotch mist]

Always had a good reception in France , BUT to get a great reception

I tell them I’m not English

I’m Scottish

 

[Tombola]

Always had a good reception in France , BUT to get a great reception

I tell them I’m not English

I’m Scottish

Funny that...I felt i'd have to say the same when I used to go to Scotland...as I'm English.

Got sick of hearing it...So I don't bother with Scotland any more... France is much better.

 

[Barclaybasher]

Last year I arrived at the CCP site in Millau, couldn't reach the sensor with my card (single crewed RHD).
A French man took my card to enter
Finally found a place to park opposite 2 British vans - really tight parking - the Brits were sat round a table between their vans. I started to manoeuvre my 7.5m van into a very tight space.
The Brits ignored me even when I got close to them. A French camper, concerned that I might damage my van on the tree next to the space guided me in
The Brits did nothing
An A class Rapido and a C class Burstner spent the evening watching TV outside....
Bankers!!
I have the pic of them with reg numbers - I hope they're not members......

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[scotzsue]

Oh come on pick on someone else. I was born nearly 70 years ago so you must be ancient
For the record I'm not at all entitled or excessively demanding etc and wish 'they' hadn't picked my lovely name

Karen, traditionally meaning pure

sorry but have a niece and have to say she is a right Karen and 'Karen'
Have known some lovely ones bit same with any name, there were 6/7 Sues where I worked most of us were lovely. Never had a happy party when i left (well n ot that i know of

 

[Widge]

In over 20 years traveling all over France we have only found people too willing to go out of their way to help even having a whole row of vans shift over a foot at a time to make room for us to get in at Fouras.
The only hassle we have ever had was in Germany the day the EU referendum was announced, the Germans were quite happy about it saying they wish they could do the same but one Dutch lady who had been very chatty the previous few days got quite nasty with us and tried to get a few others to go against us but she was just ignored.

The day of the brexit vote, our french neighbours made a point of coming to see us, and made it quite clear that we would always be welcome.

 

[TDub49]

There is no reason at all why you should have gone on the Aire if you didn't want to. Legally ... unless a sign says something different, you are perfectly entitled to PARK (if you want to stay for the night, then just look dead! ) wherever you find room that suits you and as long as you are not in the way for other road users. Keep in mind to always be careful with the cycle lane!!!
Now, sometimes in big towns parking might be taken in charge by a private society . Therefore, the usual rules might differ. So best is to check if you want to feel at ease.

For example : you can ask google " Règles de stationnement à Rambouillet département 78"

Stationnement - Ville de Rambouillet

La ville de Rambouillet a adopté un plan de stationnement visant à faciliter l’accès aux commerces, favoriser le stationnement des résidents et fluidifier la circulation, tout en maintenant un juste équilibre de la place de la voiture au sein de la ville.

www.rambouillet.fr

I know that with my MoHo Max , I can park on a normal place of parking as long as I fit in without using more than 1 place.

No doubt you're right but having realised that the locals (or some of them at least) might be a bit sensitive to motorhome parking, parking outside the air rather than either moving on or stumping up the paltry €9 for the night could be seen by some as "prendre la pisse" (as I am sure they don't say in France . . .)

 

[yodeli]

No doubt you're right but having realised that the locals (or some of them at least) might be a bit sensitive to motorhome parking, parking outside the air rather than either moving on or stumping up the paltry €9 for the night could be seen by some as "prendre la pisse" (as I am sure they don't say in France . . .)

You're right , we don't say this. I have no example right now to give you, I need to have it in a full sentence to find the right expression, different ones could be used.
As for the 9 euros a night, I tend to think that it's not the price of it, it's just the way you prefer to spend it. I would choose the free parking and take a drink at the bar. It will make the bar work as well, and will be more satisfying for me. While may be someone else will choose to pay 9 euros the night on the aire, feel safe, and helping the "aires" job, but won't go out to have a drink. Some will do both, some none... that's another choice. Choosing a motorhomer life style doesn't mean (again, only my personal way to see it, don't take me wrong no criticism here!) that we have all the same kind of money. I will probably see month after month what's best for my purse, and my well being... I have to get some experience on the matter!!

 

[cyberyacht]

Perhaps the OP could change his aftershave and eat more garlic to better blend in.

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[PeterCarole29]

Funny that...I felt i'd have to say the same when I used to go to Scotland...as I'm English.

Got sick of hearing it...So I don't bother with Scotland any more... France is much better.

I must admit last yr we went to Scotland just got over the border and had a flat tyre I thought here we go Someone English on holiday the price will go up
But no very nice company tyre fitters cheaper than the garage I have use for 20yrs

 

[Northernraider]

The French,,aggressive???

Pffft if they had been we wouldn't have had to liberate them


















I'll get my coat.



I like the French, as long as they park at least 20 feet away


As for parking outside the aire I guarantee there's many French motorhomes that will also do it . As long as you're not sneaking in to use the facilities I see nothing wrong with it.

I've parked outside many a campsite in my time , using a business should be a choice , you shouldn't be forced.
That's the biggest reason the UK has so many restrictions and why other countries like spain, Portugal, Greece only enforce restrictions when the campsites are open.

But you get asshole locals in every country. ...

 

[Ingwe]

We had a little episode with an irate fellow camper who was convinced, despite us pointing put to him the diagram on the aire’s map showing we were correctly parked, that he was right. He got all hot and bothered threatening to call the police.
Rather than take further issue with him, we moved to another space and forgot about him. But that was one person. So wouldn’t generalise about all French.
In fact, almost all of our dealings with French people have been friendly.

 

[KennyW]

Just back from 3 weeks in France and no issues, to be honest they were very polite and helpful.

 

[KevinTuplin]

On arrival at the aire in Saint - Lò I found it to be full with a car parked in one of the MH bays. A French MH owner told me to park in the street and wait a few minutes as the car belonged to someone in the nearby college who should be leaving very soon. I had a bit of banter with the French whilst waiting and when the car owner arrived I headed back to my van. As I got into my MH a French van sped past me and shot into the area of the now vacant bay and I was very surprised by the reaction of the people I had been speaking with. They blocked the bay and made the queue jumper back out and then got me parked for the night. A good few corks were pulled that night and I still keep in contact with some of that crowd.

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[varaizian]

You're right , we don't say this. I have no example right now to give you, I need to have it in a full sentence to find the right expression, different ones could be used.
As for the 9 euros a night, I tend to think that it's not the price of it, it's just the way you prefer to spend it. I would choose the free parking and take a drink at the bar. It will make the bar work as well, and will be more satisfying for me. While may be someone else will choose to pay 9 euros the night on the aire, feel safe, and helping the "aires" job, but won't go out to have a drink. Some will do both, some none... that's another choice. Choosing a motorhomer life style doesn't mean (again, only my personal way to see it, don't take me wrong no criticism here!) that we have all the same kind of money. I will probably see month after month what's best for my purse, and my well being... I have to get some experience on the matter!!

"Se faire chier" or something like that?

 

[yodeli]

"Se faire chier"

Actually , I would have put it in a negative way. Staying outside instead of doing something he doesn't want to do (9eur and go on the aire) just to "obey" someone who has no right to tell him off... Il (ne) se fait pas chier, or , il (ne) se prend pas la tête, or il en a rien à foutre or Il en a rien à taper!