AIRES in France
Hello all,
I have tried to do a search as I am sure this must have been a previous topic but nothing has come up.
I am looking at the use of Aires on the way down to the Dordogne in May and wondered if anyone had any suggestions?
Also, from the Tunnel on the way down to Versailles? We should get to France about 17.00 local time so about an hour's drive would be ideal, failing that I will just go to Gandspette.
Thirdly, (I know, I am so demanding 😜) has anyone ever stayed at the Cite Europe or Calais Aires prior to coming home? Anyone get any suggestions around the tunnel area for an Aire for early departure?
Thank you, very new at this and doing it alone for a little while until I knock some sense into him 🤗
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as a more regular crosser from Poole, im not that familiar with aries in the region you're asking about.
you also dont say if you've booked a site in the Dordogne or ypu will be staying on aires...
either way, have a look at www.campingcar-infos.com (its in french, im afraid but an android app is available) and ypu can select a region from the map and choose an aire, where you you will get pricing info (of applicable) and some piccys.
good luck.
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Going out I would head for Le Crotoy Aire, it is a very large one on the edge of town so you should not have any problem finding a place. Think the overnight charge is about 6 euros payable via a ticket machine. Another one is Le Touquet. more expensive at about 10 euros
I personally do not like staying too close to Calais or at City Europe. On my last trip back I stayed at the free Wissant Aire or for a Campsite try Camping Erables for about 10 euros
peedee
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If you're taking your motorhome to mainland Europe I'd recommend you download the Campercontact app. It lists details of and includes reviews on thousands of Aires, Stellplatz and Sostas. The Citi Europe aire gets some reasonable reviews and we hope to use it next week. I'll let you know what I think of it later.
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have a look on informative information for European travellers it's on the same section as this just scroll down till you find the title as I don't know how to post links there is some info about Aires
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I have always been happy using Autoroute Aires. Choose one with 24 hour services and you will find dedicated caravan/Motorhome areas and, often, camping car service points.
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We used the new Aire de Camping-car at Calais when we returned from Spain 2 weeks ago. It's a bit isolated at the moment but it looks like a new campsite is under construction next door, which appears to include a new bar cafe building. The aire itself has good size parking bays and lots of manoeuvring room plus good service points.
I would also second peedee's suggestion of the MH aire at Le Crotoy next to a quaint seaside resort. We have also used the Aire de Service on the A16 autoroute at Baie de Somme a number of times.
I use Campercontact (see Calais link above) to find suitable nightstops - it's an invaluable website.
Happy touring !
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when I did France back in 2010 my now Ex bought a book about Aires which we used can't remember where he got it but it was from the internet ,he gave it away when he sold our camper when he went off with another woman
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we use plenty of aires, for stops on a long journey or for direct access to a particular place we wish to visit, generally en route to the next stop or destination.
as InaD says, these will almost exclusively be in towns/villages, well away from the hurly burly of the Motorway.
i generally dont feel 'unsafe' anywhere we stop....if i did, we'd move on.. but i certainly wouldnt feel quite as relaxed on a mway services, in the uk or anywhere else.....why, when there are so many other pretty places to stop and have a quiet mooch about....
Groovy, the book you were thinking about might well be All The Aires (France) from Vicarious Books...
we have this (north and south) but am happy to use www.campingcar-infos.com as it seems to have just about every one of the nr 8000 aires there, rather than the cut down versions provided by campercontact or All The Aires.
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We used autoroute aires after dashing to Dover after work and getting a late ferry, arriving in France generally after midnight. Also we had a caravan whereas most Aires are for motorhomes. If you have more time then there are better options but the autoroute stop is ideal if you are hurrying to a particular destination.
Nowadays we treat the journey as part of the "holiday" and seek out attractive or interesting places to stop over. Despite now having a Motorhome we are yet to use an aire but maybe this year.
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Re the new Calais aire. We stayed overnight there last Sunday (Easter Sunday). There were about 30 motorhomes on the site. It's easy to find and the service facilities are good. At 10 euros a night its perfect if it suits your needs for a stop over. The adjacent caravan park appears to be coming on well and there looks as though there will be toilets and facilities for eating too. It was one of the quietest aires we've stayed on and CCTV cameras on site. Definitely worth a re-visit.
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