Aires for Caravaners
Hi,
I've been reading some of the posts about Aires and the Camping Car Parks Network and was wondering if there is an equivilent network of places for Caravaners, rather than Motorhomers?
We are planning to drive down through France this Summer, with a final destination somewhere on the Med coast of Spain. I'm planning the route right now and wondering about stop-overs on the way down. We have a Lunar Clubman caravan, so would we be able to use the Aires, or the Camping Car Parks Network for stop-overs?
Also has anyone stayed at the 'La Torre del Sol' site near Tarragona on the Med coast? What are your impressions of it, if you have.
Regards,
Jonathan R. Portwood.
Caravanner from Nottingham.
Comments
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Hi Jonathan, You can use the Aires on French motorways free of charge. Some are better than others, but some are risky and some are noisy.
But off the motorway Aires in towns and villages are almost always signed for motorhomes only. Out of season some caravanners break the rules and use them, but in summer there will probably be no room for a car/ Caravan outfit, nor a friendly welcome from Motorhome drivers. As campsites across France are plentiful and cheap most caravanners use them for overnight stops.
I hope someone else knows of your chosen site in Spain, but in the meantime there are dozens of on line reviews for you to look at.
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I agree with eurotraveller but point out that it is not recommended to stay on AutoRoute Aires especially those near major urban areas and on non toll routes.
I have not stayed at Torre del Sol but I have stayed on the very good site next door, >Playa de Montgri< and wandered into Torre del Sol for a look. It was some time ago but I was not that impressed. It is a two tiered site with all the facilities on the top tier. The bottom tier is next to a good beach and pitches are level and shaded by palms which were a little too low for my vehicle at the time I visited. I also didn't like the trudge from the lower tier up to the facilities on the top tier. I did not check the quality of the facilities. Both sites have a railway running close by. Montgri screen it well and we never found it is that noisy.
peedee
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Thank You Eurotraveller and Peedee for your responses.
I was a little shocked at the prices for high season at Playa de Montgri, I think we might have to re-think our destination if those prices are indicative for the area!
Eurotraveller, do you have to book sites in advance when travelling. We will be going from July 27th for about 3 weeks in all. I was planning to book sites through the Caravan Club service for the whole trip, but is that really necessery? This tirip is to a whole new area of France that I've never been to before. Our last European trip was going over to Southern Germany, where we have friends, so was a shorter trip.
Do you have any tips on how to find campsites in France, other than those linked to the Caravan Club's overseas network?
Thanks again for all your comments.
Jonathan R. Portwood.
Caravaner from Nottingham.
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Mid to end July will be very hot in Tarragona and yes I would advise on booking at that time of year. If its just a nice beach and the sea you are after then I would suggest that you don't need to go that far south into Spain.
We used to go to the Bay of Roses when our children were younger and it was always around 36c in July and August, also very expensive as well.
Have you thought about the West coast of France, there are lots of lovely beach areas there and not so far to drive.
As to how to find sites I would normally suggest ACSI discount but that wouldn't be of any use to you at that time of year. However you could look at the Acsi main site which will list thousands of sites across Europe. The C&MC will also give you access to lots of sites but be warned you will pay more for them through the club than if you go to the site direct.
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Jonathan, The Club's Touring France guide lists 3000 French campsites - you can order it on line on here, or by a phone call to Club HQ in the morning. Or if you want the full 9000 sites you can buy the French Guide Officiel from Vicarious Books in Folkestone. But people who are more up to date than I am can tell you how use apps which list sites and how to down load everything. But I stick to lists in book form.
Overnight sites along the main trunk routes are admittedly busy in the peak summer season - the secret is to stop early in the day .Yes, we sometimes get caught out and find a popular site full - it has happened to us at Beaune and at Dijon, but that has been very rare. We ourselves still criss cross France without booking, but on a first trip south you may well prefer the security of a reservation or at least a phone call to a campsite in advance - and that certainly applies if you aim to arrive somewhere late in the day. And beachfront sites everywhere definitely need reservations in mid summer.
Good luck
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Hi Jonty,
If you want to look at electronic guides give the ACSI website a visit and you could also try the Camping Links site here.
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I was a little shocked at the prices for high season at Playa de Montgri, I think we might have to re-think our destination if those prices are indicative for the area!
That is the main reason I have not been back for a long time and of course now we are both retired we do not have to travel in peak season. ET gives sound advice but if you can try and defer you trip until after about 15/17 August prices drop round about then and like TG I agree it is not necessary to go that far south for the sun. My favourite on the Costa Brava, a lovely area, is >EL Defin Verde< but for a cheaper site have a look at >Camping Amphora<.
peedee
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wholeheartedly agree with TG, July that far south can be blooming hot..
Costa Brava is probably as far south as you need to travel to get wonderful consistent sunny weather, hot but not overbearing...
coastal sites will be busy, it's holiday time then....so, as above, that ACSI card won't help you....
the Bay of Roses, right round to the lovely little town of L'Escala has many sites with direct access to a long, wide beach.... but no long prom I seem to remember...
if you do decide to stay in the Taragona area, have a look at Sitges, a couple of sites there, one with walking access to the lovely town (long prom, terrific beach, hundreds bars/restaurants) which also has an easy train ride into Barcelona....a must see, IMHO.
cant add anything to the 'aires' part of your post, except to endorse Peedee's comment about not overnighting on motorway Aires....
whatever you choose, have a great time...
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Thanks Everyone for all you great advice and tips. It's very helpful!
Actually the main reason for going to Spain is that our son is doing GCSE Spanish and he really wants to visit Spain! We are not so keen beach goers actually, so would be more than happy to be on a site away from the coast. Also as we've lived in India for 17 years the heat isn't going to be a problem! 40C plus in the summer in Pune, where we were is quite 'normal' so mid to low 30's sounds heavenly.
I will order the club's touring guide for France today, that will be a great help I'm sure.
Again thank you everyone for your great tips and comments.
Jonathan R. Portwood.
Caravanner from Nottingham
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We criss crossed India many times but never got to Pune. But let's talk about Spain. The lazy way to start speaking Spanish is to take the Sunday afternoon ferry from Plymouth to Santander and drive about 30 miles to El Molino de Cabuerniga campsite. The website photos look lovely to me, but it might be a bit quiet for your teenage son. Good wishes.
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If the heat isn't a problem and you're not bothered about beaches that much how about going to the other coast of Spain by that I mean the North West. Beautiful area not as busy as the costas and probably more chance of the real Spain so your son should get plenty of practice in of speaking Spanish.
Drive down through France and cross the Pyrenees just south of Biarritz. Really lovely drive if you have 3 weeks you will love it.
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We have crossed France from North to South and back again many times since 1988. We have always used camp sites and never had difficulty in finding places. Like many we have been tempted to overnight on an Autoroute Aire de Parking but we always resist the temptation. I remember stopping in a disused quarry to camp the night with a school friend in 1964. Just as it was getting dark some drunks turned up from nowhere and started throwing rocks at us and our car. Our lesson was learnt.
Being the age we are we are in the process of switching to a motorhome and looking forward to the simplicity of using aires for our journey North to South and back. We still intend to use sites for when we "arrive" but that is because we know so many lovely sites and enjoy making our little encampment.
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People have their own opinions about Autoroute Aires but all I can say is that we used them for our first stop in France year after year - late ferry crossing after work and crash out in an Aire 1 hour from Calais with caravan and two children. Never a hint of a problem except that sometimes the caravan areas were taken by lorries and we would park in the lorry area (Saturday night is busiest because lorries are banned on Sundays). At 1 o’clock in the morning you don’t have much choice really!
Should you choose to do that my advice is to use the toll section, 24 hour services, away from major conurbations (as mentioned above).
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I can see that those circumstances are different from ours. We never go to Calais and always travel on the Western routs South. Very often we stop at an Aire for lunch and don't see another vehicle of any kind between 12.00 and 3.00. It can be just the same later in the day. It is the opposite of safety of numbers.
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As a caravanner I also use to occasionally overnight on Autoroute Aires but always in the company of accompanying friends also in caravans. I never found it an enjoyable experience due to the over night activity at these locations. They are never very quiet places to spend a night. Now I have a motorhome I seek out alternatives and so far it has been a pleasant experience..
peedee
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Hi Tammygirl,
Thanks for your suggestion. I think we will take up that idea Someone mentioned a site near Santander; El Molino de Cabuérniga, as a great place to stay. I think we will head that way. I'll probably book the 1st night in France, somwwhere near Abbeville and then continue down via Rouen, Le Mans, Tours and Bordeaux and as you suggest over the Pyrenees just south of Bierritz.
Would you suggest taking either one or two stops on the way down, from near Abbeville?
Again thanks for all the advice.
Jonathan.
Caravanner from Nottingham.
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As you have now decided on NW Spain, this may irrelevant now but as a point of interest there is an excellent ACSI site called the 3 Estrellas SW of Barcelona. It is open all year round, has good facilities, if right on the beach and the bus stop for the city centre is close to the main entrance.
Barcelona is a must-see I feel. We are going back next month and will definitely visit the Segrada this time.
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