Paid Aires killing the old road

[chaser]

I believe they are all at a rally at the Stade protesting about Motorhomes parked up for free in their village.

Expect a knock on the door from the Mayor very shortly.

You are very close to the truth, they are all in there with a group thing on and all sat at tables and some dancing.

 

[spitfire]

Just been a walk round town, big place but not a thing open and I mean nothing.

It’s Sunday !

 

[chaser]

It’s Sunday !

Yeah I know that, but useually a bar somewhere.

 

[keithchesterfield2]

You are very close to the truth, they are all in there with a group thing on and all sat at tables and some dancing.

Be afraid, be very afraid.....

That's the ritual they employ when about to strike out.

 

[spitfire]

Yeah I know that, but useually a bar somewhere.

Lol not everywhere :-(

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[jumartoo]

We don't mind paying any price for something we feel is worth it!

We are happily paying €5 to park tonight at an Aire next to the Gendarmerie at Cabannes, before we cross the Pyrenees tomorrow.

We could have driven higher and parked for free, but why? We can afford to pay for a secure spot and pay something into the local economy.

Tomorrow may be a free parking area somewhere in Spain.

We don't find it a challenge to try to FL all the time.

Each to their own.

 

[Northernraider]

This free aire on the portugal/Spain border is deserted

 

[keithchesterfield2]

This free aire on the portugal/Spain border is deserted

Just don't run over the town cat ......(picture 3)

 

[Northernraider]

Just don't run over the town cat ......(picture 3)

Should have gone to Specsavers that's my dug

 

[keithchesterfield2]

Should have gone to Specsavers that's my dug

I do apologise - I actually went to Vision Express ......

?

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[Allanm]

I spend three months each year in the south west of France, and I can assure you it costs me more for basic food than it does in England, and to quite honest most of British food tbar veg is of a better quality, well in my opinion and experience.

Southwest France is expensive, like living near London, that’s perhaps why the food is more expensive.
We live in France and have many friends who do too and none of them share your opinion, but of course, they are not you and you obviously find things different in your 3 months here

But hey, we didn’t move here to penny pinch, just for a better lifestyle.

 

[Allanm]

Choosing between a piece of tarmac in a paying aire at 12 Euro and a municipal with a choice of spacious grass pitches, EHU, and full facilities at 14 Euro seems a no-brainer. Long live municipal campsites! Otherwise where will the ordinary French tenters and caravanners spend their hols.

The disappearing free aires seem to be one consequence of Macron's policy of cutting funding for local Communes. The Maires have to make difficult decisions to cut expenditure. An ex-Rothschilds banker who is on the side of global big business shouldn't be running France at all. He's in the wrong country.

We live in a small village with 350 inhabitants. We pay a Tax Fonciere and Tax Habitation, both of which together are about half what we paid in Council Tax in the UK.
Our Marie has just had funding to refurbish one of our roads. It has been resurfaced, flower beds all along its 1 km stretch, new led lighting, new parking places, new crossings and new pavements
All funded by Mr Macrons government

No one over 70 pays the two taxes, healthcare for them is free. They even get Flu Jabs free by visiting nurses.
Mr Macron has put forward plans to abolish habitation tax for everyone and fund communes from government coffers.
Our Marie has no problems with funding as you suggest.
with regard to rural aires, most were joint funded by communes, central government businesses and the EU.
communes take some of the money from paid aires but get assistance with upkeep.

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB

Hi Lenny,

We are heading there in the next few days. Can you recommend an Aires please.

Have a look at my thread "Lenny's on the road to Portugal" top link in my signature.

 

[Khizzie]

Southwest France is expensive, like living near London, that’s perhaps why the food is more expensive.
We live in France and have many friends who do too and none of them share your opinion, but of course, they are not you and you obviously find things different in your 3 months here

But hey, we didn’t move here to penny pinch, just for a better lifestyle.

Just to clarify that's three months every year.. I don't penny pinch and I love my home in France with great French people., but it does not stop me from comparing cost of living. OK?

 

[Antony1969]

Can't see what the problem is ... We are on an aire outside Marseille , two minute walk to a fantastic surfer beach with electric €12 which is about £10 ... £10 I believe is about the price back home for 20 fags these days

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[MR. FUSION]

On my current trip I have been on a few free aires (on one tonight) but they are privately owned. Municipal ones seem to be less and less favorable these days with tales of the one we considered in Sedan for example of kids throwing stones from the fort onto motorhome roofs (camper contact). I am happy to pay the man for a safer environment, as that is how it seems to be these days. When we did our trip of europe in 2016 we quickly learned aires on municipal parks were bad news, as a happy park during the day often turns into a dangerous ghetto at night.....

 

[Sucoz]

Most of our favourite aires in France were free, we rarely found paying for an aire equated to better or safer parking. In fact many paying aires - some that I have seen recommended on here ( not this thread) resemble refugee camps in my view. Our experience is that free aires are sometimes out of the way places that can be hidden gems that are glad to attract visitors. However, we never got to grips with aires in Spain, would like to hear other peoples views.

 

[keithchesterfield2]

You just can't generalise on Aires - there are some very good free ones and very bad free Aires,

This free one on top of a volcano (almost) with about a dozen other MH on site dotted about is as quiet as could possibly be and we've seen one of the best sunsets you're ever likely to see.

You can't predict whether any site suits you before arriving but often you're pleased you went there - whether you pay for the privilege or not.

And we're pleased we visited this one.

 

[barsteward]

Yeah that's great mate take my hat of to you but theres a all full lot out there that shop at supermarkets and don't spend a penny in the local area

So would you suggest that everyone living a budget for instance a state pension is an FLT and as such should sit at home and wait for thier maker to knock on the door? Fraid not mate

 

[Lenny HB]

So would you suggest that everyone living a budget for instance a state pension is an FLT and as such should sit at home and wait for thier maker to knock on the door? Fraid not mate

As I've said many times we may have a nice van, that came out of our savings. Using it comes out of our pensions.

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[keithchesterfield2]

As I've said many times we may have a nice van, that came out of our savings. Using it comes out of our pensions.

Most of ours comes out of our children's inheritance......

Just saying.

 

[Northernraider]

As I've said many times we may have a nice van, that came out of our savings. Using it comes out of our pensions.

I ain't got a pension and the way things are going currently by the time I'm old enough to retire the pot will be empty despite me paying for the current ones

And if people keep encouraging campsites etc to charge stupid fees by paying for them then they will only get more expensive.

This new way of charging for a unit and then charging per person is simply a scam to charge more.

The van can't go itself, and the people can't go without the unit.

Even the ferries include the driver with a vehicle.

So while some think flt are ruining it for others , personally I feel those with too much disposable income willing to pay £30 for a small square of grass are the ones ruining it.


Same reason the vw scene got ruined by yuppies buying £50k split screen campers they never built and know sod all about and making them unaffordable for the very people they were designed for in the first place.


So if no-one uses the expensive aires they will get the message eventually.

Instead use the free ones , make a point of leaving good feed back on them and help them thrive.

 

[Potty]

Free aire, pay for water and electricity. Restaurants and shops a few miles away. Close to Conques, a Beau Village. Not all free aires are just car parks.

 

[jumartoo]

Free Aires used in the last few days.

 

[chaser]

I ain't got a pension and the way things are going currently by the time I'm old enough to retire the pot will be empty despite me paying for the current ones

And if people keep encouraging campsites etc to charge stupid fees by paying for them then they will only get more expensive.

This new way of charging for a unit and then charging per person is simply a scam to charge more.

The van can't go itself, and the people can't go without the unit.

Even the ferries include the driver with a vehicle.

So while some think flt are ruining it for others , personally I feel those with too much disposable income willing to pay £30 for a small square of grass are the ones ruining it.


Same reason the vw scene got ruined by yuppies buying £50k split screen campers they never built and know sod all about and making them unaffordable for the very people they were designed for in the first place.


So if no-one uses the expensive aires they will get the message eventually.

Instead use the free ones , make a point of leaving good feed back on them and help them thrive.

Couldn't have put it better myself.
Being old is often decried on here as being miserable, maybe so, but it also means that you have seen a lot of things happen and believe me once something gets charged for is not the price it's going to stay at, look at ordinary parking charges and fines in England just for one.
Charging for Aires means less are going to use them so the price will rise to make up the difference.
If you want to pay, we have paid for a few on this trip and even been on a site for three days , that's not a problem but it is the thin end of the wedge.

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[Allanm]

............ but it does not stop me from comparing cost of living. OK?

No, nor me....

 

[Bobby dazzler]

So would you suggest that everyone living a budget for instance a state pension is an FLT and as such should sit at home and wait for thier maker to knock on the door? Fraid not mate

Sorry I can't remember saying people on a pension where flt mate. But if people want to go on 3 or 4 month holidays and not pay because of limited incomes then that's up to them not my idea of a holiday watching every penny. But each to there own

 

[chaser]

Sorry I can't remember saying people on a pension where flt mate. But if people want to go on 3 or 4 month holidays and not pay because of limited incomes then that's up to them not my idea of a holiday watching every penny. But each to there own

No, but if that's the only way you can do it that's what it has to be, some people are very lucky in life others are not.

 

[spitfire]

So would you suggest that everyone living a budget for instance a state pension is an FLT and as such should sit at home and wait for thier maker to knock on the door? Fraid not mate

Not at all . Think you are overthinking the comments . As I said in a previous post we all cut our cloth according to our income especially in retirement . If the means you can only afford 3 weeks and not 3 months then that is the way it is . We can’t expect people to not charge or lower charges to subsidise our holidays .

 

[Bobby dazzler]

No, but if that's the only way you can do it that's what it has to be, some people are very lucky in life others are not.

Yeah that's true I am a fair way from retirement and I don't think there will be a pension ect by the time I get there. But that's my tough xxxx. So I have a old one that I use for holidays and weekends now. But once I can't afford it anymore that will be it for me.

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