What is the general etiquette for cooking outside at aires and camping car park type locations

[JHuwJ]

Our reason to get a 240v Bluetti type power pack is that we don’t like cooking inside our campervan. We generally set up a table outside and use a hob and Remoska and prepare the food.

We generally visit France, Spain and Portugal.

Is it generally acceptable to cook and prepare food outside when ‘wild’ camping in aires etc.

 

[Langtoftlad]

No if you follow the rules
Yes if you are French or German

 

[funflair]

I would say "yes" primarily as that is what we do other than the induction hob just slides out of the side locker so no setting up a table etc.

 

[olley]

Depends on the aire, on some you have plenty of room on others you can hardly open the door.

 

[Landy Andy]

Do it whenever I wish. Exactly like the locals.

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

 

[gus-lopez]

Not allowed on Aires.

 

[Growly bear]

We're off to Normandy on Thursday (8.30am from poole), and was wondering the same. Has anyone ever been asked not to?

 

[Figaro]

If it's just a car park Aire then no, you'll be taking up space preventing others parking
If it has marked spaces as many do and this allows sufficient space then yes

 

[funflair]

I decided to have a look and see what the CampingCar Parks web site says, you can view the regulations for each site on the app but they are all in French.

Re tables and chairs it says,

Can I set up a table and chairs?​

Whether you can set up a table and chairs depends on the regulations of the stopover area:

• If the area follows "parking" regulations: Setting up outdoor furniture (table, chairs, awning, etc.) is not allowed to maintain the primary parking function.
• If the area follows "camping" regulations: You are generally allowed to set up outdoor furniture, as long as it does not exceed your pitch and remains respectful of other users. However, we recommend checking the local regulations displayed on-site or on the app.

Re BBQ's and general cooking it says,

Can I use a barbecue?​

Gas and charcoal barbecues are prohibited on all stopover areas. Electric barbecues and planchas are also not allowed.

 

[Littlewheels]

Sadly, we are in a nobody tells what to do era.

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

 

[Littlewheels]

Oh, l’ve got another one, do as l say not what l do

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Vive le difference.
Mike.

 

[starquake]

Despite the above rules on gas bbq's I'd say most of the German and French vans ignore it, and have their gas BBQ on at most aires (where space allows) with marked spaces. The only place we didn't see outside BBQ'ing this summer was in the aires where you are literally unable to open the door easily due to the close spaces.

If there is room, and you see others using it, yes, cooking outside is normal. And just follow what the Europeans do, as we brits are a minority.

I would note this lack of regard for the rules extended to beaches and other places. The French don't seem to follow any of the posted rules. Once we realised this, if we saw others BBQ'ing we did too.

 

[manners]

We've been touring around Europe for years and can't remember having seen anyone cooking outside on aires stellplatz or wild camping spots in any countries with one exception, Spain, for some reason we've noticed outside cooking quite a bit, mainly on gas rings not so much barbeque's.

 

[Imala615]

seen a lot on the campingcarpark sites but most of their sites have plenty of room and as said do as the french do and ignore any rules.
Calais campingcarpark site newly marked out 100+ spaces and plenty room for sitting out or BBQing

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

 

[Landy Andy]

Where are these “rules” for Aires?

 

[Lenny HB]

Where are these “rules” for Aires?

Often posted at the site entrance or by the pay machine.

 

[Lenny HB]

Although illegal generally accepted in France & Germany but in Spain very much frowned upon & can get you moved on.

 

[Landy Andy]

Often posted at the site entrance or by the pay machine.

Exactly. And whilst some say no cooking, others don’t mention it at all. So it is allowed.

I’m not going to light a charcoal barbecue under someone else’s window whilst parked on a tarmac carpark aire, with half a meter between units. But when I’m at an aire such as Milleray-sur-Seine where I get a big chunk of grass in my allotted area I will cook or eat outside.

 

[tony_g]

We've been touring around Europe for years and can't remember having seen anyone cooking outside on aires stellplatz or wild camping spots in any countries with one exception, Spain, for some reason we've noticed outside cooking quite a bit, mainly on gas rings not so much barbeque's.

Curious. Can't think of a country we've been in where we didn't see outside cooking, from little Camping Gaz single burners, through all types of BBQ to a full dedicated camp kitchen trailer!

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

 

[jongood]

In my experience its fairly normal to be allowed on CCP or similar but not ok on municipal aires.

Charcoal bbqs are banned in many places and any alternatives need to be off the ground.

 

[jumar]

No camping behaviour is generally posted on Spanish Camperstops, this is to comply with Local or Regional regulations....if chairs etc are taken out then that's camping, as for using naked flame cooking appliances not only is this a tad risky, but you could be in of contravention of local laws normally in force during summer time...
I had reason to step in to extinguish a faulty camping stove fire in the next unit to us a few years ago...the occupants has little idea, but the daughters screaming alerted me enough to have a look.

 

[Landy Andy]

No camping behaviour is generally posted on Spanish Camperstops, this is to comply with Local or Regional regulations....if chairs etc are taken out then that's camping, as for using naked flame cooking appliances not only is this a tad risky, but you could be in of contravention of local laws normally in force during summer time...
I had reason to step in to extinguish a faulty camping stove fire in the next unit to us a few years ago...the occupants has little idea, but the daughters screaming alerted me enough to have a look.

Do you do all your cooking inside the van?

 

[manners]

Curious. Can't think of a country we've been in where we didn't see outside cooking, from little Camping Gaz single burners, through all types of BBQ to a full dedicated camp kitchen trailer!

Three weeks into this trip in Normandy at the moment not seen any, one aire even had a purpose built barbecue but nobody used it.

 

[jumar]

Do you do all your cooking inside the van?

99% of the time on induction hob or Air fryer...generally quick cooked stuff...on Private locations which we have paid to be there we use the same appliances but outside...
I've got power sockets in the garage for the air fryer if I want to be discreet...

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

 

[gus-lopez]

Do you do all your cooking inside the van?

Yes.
Where we live many areas that had fixed barbecues have had them all removed due to the fire risks. Even smoking is not allowed in the country side my spanish neighbour told me.

 

[Landy Andy]

Yes.
Where we live many areas that had fixed barbecues have had them all removed due to the fire risks. Even smoking is not allowed in the country side my spanish neighbour told me.

I’m not about BBQs. Just cooking. I don’t want to be at 40 degrees c, and then start cooking inside.

 

[manners]

I’m not about BBQs. Just cooking. I don’t want to be at 40 degrees c, and then start cooking inside.

Anything above 25 degrees and we're on salads, saves gas as well

 

[jumar]

I’m not about BBQs. Just cooking. I don’t want to be at 40 degrees c, and then start cooking inside.

Well theres another lesson to be learnt, I wouldn't be in the motorhome in 40° c, the van would be in a shady location...or in a region of Spain that is cooler, like here...26th July only 22°c Galicia...300 metres from a beach..We rarely experience,40°c but if we did we have an air-conditioned apartment in Murcia...but prefer van travels..

 

[jongood]

Well theres another lesson to be learnt, I wouldn't be in the motorhome in 40° c, the van would be in a shady location...or in a region of Spain that is cooler, like here...26th July only 22°c Galicia...300 metres from a beach..We rarely experience,40°c but if we did we have an air-conditioned apartment in Murcia...but prefer van travels..

We re in cantabria right now and its very pleasant

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