So great to be back in France!

[Gaston aires]

Aires are what they are. Some are empty and all the space is for you. Some are full and cramped usually in cities like Burgos at El CID weekend, you won’t get away until Monday morning but great fun.
My favourite aire in France is Compregnac overlooking Peyre and the Millau bridge west side. Stunning.

 

[Sapper520]

Nothing whatsoever to do with saving money!
We have stayed on some lovely aires, some free some paid for, simply because they have been where we want to be.
We rarely stay anywhere for more than a few days.View attachment 533378
Here's another awful aire...

Grass needs a cut.

 

[Gaston aires]

Is there an app or a website that lists Aires?

Search for sites, the paid version. Simply brilliant. I’m told camper contact is similar but you only need one.
Phil

 

[Gaston aires]

Nothing whatsoever to do with saving money!
We have stayed on some lovely aires, some free some paid for, simply because they have been where we want to be.
We rarely stay anywhere for more than a few days.View attachment 533378
Here's another awful aire...

I agree that this touring nomadic style suits me, you, and many others but not all motorhomers as is obvious in this post. I just think is sad that they are missing out on this style of travel.
If I thought the other way I would probably buy a caravan.
Shame this innocent post has all become a bit vitriolic.
Phil

 

[Jim]

a fair few threads I’ve been reading recently have become very hostile,

Can you point them out to me, Ive missed them. Thanks

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[Sapper520]

Can yoiu point them out to me, Ive missed them. Thanks

This one for starter Jim, the Cambelt one…….

Another where someone did a bit of a character assassination on me in the Asda canopy one…..

Not making a complaint Jim, I’ve got thick skin. I was just passing an observation. If I’m out of order I do apologise.

 

[Just smiffy]

Very interesting to see the response to my original post and the polar opposites of members opinions.
I agree that the picture does show a line of us all together but this was a beautiful location for an overnight stop on the way to our campsite for the next week in the Vendée.
We love the French aires with the opportunity to meet and chat with so many different nationalities, yes some are more spacious than others and we love the convenience of not having to book in advance and the freedom they offer.

And that’s the point some motohomers miss, the English attitude of my pitch my land and fence it off with wind breaks and never talk to the neighbours

Aires are a great place to socialise and get some good tips on where the next good Aire is and of course picking up the local language

enjoy your travels..

 

[Jim]

This one for starter Jim, the Cambelt one…….

Another where someone did a bit of a character assassination on me in the Asda canopy one…..

Not making a complaint Jim, I’ve got thick skin. I was just passing an observation. If I’m out of order I do apologise.

OK so your idea of Hostile is different to mine. All I see here is some people like aires some dont. No hostility at all.

Not seen the Asda one, I will go and look for it. if someone has been rude to you, or you see it elsewhere, please report the post.

 

[scholesman]

Each to their own, we generally use ACSI and the odd Aire if we need to. Currently down in Fouras on Le Cadoret around £14 a night at the current exchange rate, pool , bar, snack bar / restaurant, 10 minutes walk into town, 15 minute walk to a Super U, beaches / sunsets to die for....whats not to like?

 

[Sapper520]

OK so your idea of Hostile is different to mine. All I see here is some people like aires some dont. No hostility at all.

Not seen the Asda one, I will go and look for it. if someone has been rude to you, or you see it elsewhere, please report the post.

Thanks Jim, I’ll just go onto a reading brief for a while.

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[Jim]

Thanks Jim, I’ll just go onto a reading brief for a while.

A reporting brief would be better. If someone gets personal then report it. If nothing happens afterward, then feel free to mention it

 

[Lenny HB]

My idea of hell. Never really understood the 'pay fortune for motorhome and scrimp on hols by staying in Aires as cheaply as possible' mindset. Campsites are really reasonable in France, especially using ACSI card. Swimming pools, beaches, quiet sites, cycling sites, something for all. Leaving your gear out as the security is so good is a bonus. We use motorway Aires to get our head down for a few hours on the way down south and the odd aire if we're visiting a town or village for the night. Otherwise, saving money has no place on our family hols, it's a time to enjoy. Different if you're full-time.

We have a nice van but we prefer Aires don't like campsites, find Aires much more friendly and more chance of there being an Aire where we want to be. Also when we go Feb/March/ Sept/Oct/Nov most sites are closed anyway.
As for your comment about saving money doesn't come into it, I doubt that you are living off a pension & you don't go away for 120 to 150 nights a year.

 

[Gaston aires]

Each to their own, I'm at our static van about an hour away from the OP. Weather's superb, supermarkets are brim full of food and the bars have all their beers available.

Some of the views expressed on this post are just unnecessary. I get as much enjoyment from taking my MoHo to a New Forest car park 3.5 miles from home as I do when I've driven it 500 miles or more.

Quite right. Sometimes sit in it on the drive for some quiet time. And Ixworth house and estate is only a mile away but in a different world. We often picnic there and invite family to join us, they love it.
Phil

 

[Tonks]

Personally it strikes me as odd to own a motorhome and never get more than 200 miles from home.

Perfectly possible to travel more than 200 miles from home without crossing the channel. Also perfectly possible to enjoy travelling and exploring without crossing the channel, despite what some folk say. We all use our vans in different ways to suit our different needs and likes. I've done 95% of my travelling with my vans in the UK. I've enjoyed my van trips across the water, but they've been exceptions, not the rule.

 

[Molly A]

Watched the sun go down looking across to Noirmoutier this evening. Proper summer weather.
Why can’t we have these facilities in the UK. €5.90 for the night!

Because France understands the value of tourism.

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[Molly A]

We have a nice van but we prefer Aires don't like campsites, find Aires much more friendly and more chance of there being an Aire where we want to be. Also when we go Feb/March/ Sept/Oct/Nov most sites are closed anyway.
As for your comment about saving money doesn't come into it, I doubt that you are living off a pension & you don't go away for 120 to 150 nights a year.

I am living on a pension and find camping municipal at 10 to 15 euros a night with all facilities really good value. We often stay in vinyard owners courtyards for nothing other than buying wine...what a hardship.

 

[Tony50]

We've been here just short of a week so far spent nothing at all on aires (all free) 4.90 euro on two dump and fills. France is motorhome heaven compared to the UK. So civilised.

civilised , can't say I agree , but there again I know quite a bit about the French, everyone to there own ,I certainly like the Spanish better

 

[Peter & Elaine]

we have been in France for 10 days paid for 1 aires €5 run down though Normandy 2 days in Puy du fou
now we are on twin lakes for a few days
france is a fantastic country once south of ruane
my personal veiw on aires is we have stayed on some dumps and some that are better than £30 sites what’s not to like in the middle of beautiful villages towns good restaurants
next stop up the Dordogne to Souillac-sur-Dordogne then probably up loire slowly home
and lots more aires (but no graces)

 

[The Wino]

civilised , can't say I agree , but there again I know quite a bit about the French, everyone to there own ,I certainly like the Spanish better

My SIL lives in France we generally visit her and skiing and often another holiday each year I find the French generally very welcoming.Each to their own but we found northern Spain very difficult with a large dog we won't be going back again while he's around.

 

[Gaston aires]

we have been in France for 10 days paid for 1 aires €5 run down though Normandy 2 days in Puy du fou
now we are on twin lakes for a few days
france is a fantastic country once south of ruane
my personal veiw on aires is we have stayed on some dumps and some that are better than £30 sites what’s not to like in the middle of beautiful villages towns good restaurants
next stop up the Dordogne to Souillac-sur-Dordogne then probably up loire slowly home
and lots more aires (but no graces)

Puy du fou. Frances best kept secret. Can you imagine the Americans marketing it.

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[Itsmcb]

Puy du fou. Frances best kept secret. Can you imagine the Americans marketing it.

I certainly agree, great place

 

[Simon Meadwell]

I find the French more sociable than the Spanish particularly when motorhoming. Just spent four weeks in Spain couldnt engage with any Spanish folk they just weren’t interested. Whether that was because we are from covid island i dont know. But the french always seem interested in you and your Motorhome.

 

[Shrimp]

Pick & choose your Aire, you don’t have to stay on one that is like a car park.
We have stayed on many different ones, mostly ones ‘out of the way’.
We were on one years ago when a policewoman came round and moved us all up closer to get more vans on, Tour de France was coming thru and there were loads of vans wanting to stay. It was only for two nights so wasn’t a problem, watched the bikes and collected some of the freebies!

 

[Flairy]

Nice to see someone getting back to normal . Hope you have a good holiday .

 

[WJACC]

Living in France and spending many nights touring around in our 'camping car' we smile about the 'Brits' and their discussions on aires...

The older generation of French love aires, they're cheap, plentiful, great for a chat, convenient for the shops, restaurants, boulangerie etc. so who cares therefore if 75 % of the time it's a glorified car park, on a slope, near a road. I would expect the majority live quite local (<75kms) and have just decided to pop out for a day or two. Often they'll arrive in the morning and go home just before dusk!!! For the above reasons they rarely use campsites.. That's why they start closing in September to open again in April.

That aside 25% of aires are spacious, well kept, great free facilities and empty!! Why? because it might be a bike ride to the nearest village, or there is a boulangerie but not a supermarket or restaurant.

Having two dogs we never use the first category of aire other than a 2 hour stop sightseeing or using the dump etc, we'll use the second type if we feel we can let the dogs roam a little without them being a nuisance.

From choice and because they are the most numerous we use 'wild camping 'sites. Park4Night highlights '000s of them all over France. Height of the summer it's never busy, you're often the only van. Often in a forest car park, beside a lake, beside the canal or this last week we spent a few nights in the car parks of historical monuments. Nobody bats an eyelid if you don't leave a mess.

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[jumartoo]

I find the French more sociable than the Spanish particularly when motorhoming. Just spent four weeks in Spain couldnt engage with any Spanish folk they just weren’t interested. Whether that was because we are from covid island i dont know. But the french always seem interested in you and your Motorhome.

Strange, because I find totally the opposite. We DO have a Spanish registered motorhome though .