Family-friendly 'Aires roadside stops from Calais

LeedsMumOf4
LeedsMumOf4 Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited June 2017 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Is there a guide to the roadside stops at all? eg ones with play areas, or with the 'scenic' symbol?

Travelling from Calais to Portugal and back in 6 weeks (Rouen, Le Mans, Tours, Bourdeaux, Santander, Gijon, Vigo), and previously we have found nice stops where the dog could run around and the scenery was lovely; we could kick a football about for a bit, or where there was a good playground for the 5 year old and we had a nice picnic amongst woodland..

Once we had a break at an awful place which was so covered in dog pooh we couldn't find anywhere to sit. Then we drove past the next one which was beside a river and looked great - which is why a bit of planning might come in handy!

Any recommendations welcome, thanks.

 

Comments

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2017 #2

    I understand the problem; Aires vary enormously in quality. I thought that I had seen a guide somewhere but don't recall.

    If you are actually on the road, look for the picnic symbol (table/bench and a tree) as the Aire is signposted. Sometimes this can be up to 20 km ahead. You will find that the toll autoroutes have far more frequent and better Aires than the free sections.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #3

    yes, there are many 'picnic areas' along the major routes...these put our 'laybys' to utter shame, where you might get 6" of room from the passing lorries....frown

    the french rest areas usually take you many, many metres away from the main road and provide several separate areas to park and 'rest'.

    these arent 'aires' as in aire-de-campingcar where only motorhomes are allowed to stay and (in many cases) overnight.

    however, a good 'aires' book (vicarious books) will have the motorway services listed (caravans allowed) but these are generally not for overnighting.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #4

    Planning a month in advance where and when a five year old will call out in the middle of a long journey "I need a wee, NOW" is either ambitious or futile. Forty years on my navigator makes the same sort of urgent despairing cry. We stop where we can, and when we have to. It's never planned. 

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
    500 Comments
    edited June 2017 #5

    Have a look at this site - www.pique-nique.info - click on the Department you're in, or going to, and select from the wish list on the left of the page.

    Hope this helps.

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2017 #6

    What a useful website, not come across it before.  Thanks for posting the link.

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