How safe are Aires and info
Discussion
I want to use the Aires in France and Belgium in mid June but have been told that they are not the safest places. I will be towing a race car behind my Motor home so it will be a long set up approx 14 metres long. I cant lock the race car as it is a convertible so would be hoping it would be left alone whilst we are asleep. We have been told we can't fill van at the HGV pumps at petrol stations , is that true as we are a bit long for the car pumps and it would be easier at the HGV pumps.
What experience do people have of them ? Mrs 77 wants to know if they have Thetford emptying facility's. Any info gratefully received.
What experience do people have of them ? Mrs 77 wants to know if they have Thetford emptying facility's. Any info gratefully received.
Been using Aires in France for over 25 year never had any problems . Used them when I brought my XK140 and Etype back to France but they are both FHC .You may have problems finding a space in the summer months with a large rig if parking up late in the day.
As to HGV pumps fuel flow rate is very high can be a problem if your tank is a slow filler.
As to HGV pumps fuel flow rate is very high can be a problem if your tank is a slow filler.
Your rig is no longer than mine (Audi A6 + twin wheel caravan) and I don't have any problems filling up at normal pumps.
Can you not get a cover to put over your race car? Might make you feel a bit happier at night and will also protect it from any stones, etc. thrown up whilst towing.
Can you not get a cover to put over your race car? Might make you feel a bit happier at night and will also protect it from any stones, etc. thrown up whilst towing.
77racing said:
Am I right in thinking the Aires are sign posted side of the motorways etc via a White shield with black writing and the distant in meters to exit for them underneath ?
The sign is normally a picture of a motorhome with a drain symbol underneath. It's not recommended to use motorway aires either, lots of stories of robbery etc. Take a the exit off the motorway network and find a local village, they often have them. You will normally find electricity, free water and grey and black waste facilities, some or all of those will be payable.This book is useful - https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Aires-France-Motorhom...
We had no problems at any of the Aires we overnighted at over the summer.
As above, wouldn't stay at Aires on the motorway but I downloaded the "Stellplätze" app onto the iPhone. It's predominantly a dutch-built app but it covers most of the EU and gives Details and directions to thousands of Aires in France and although only some of the Reviews are in English (or German which I can understand), the scoring System is very good and we found some crackers over the summer.
A lot of the municipal Aires have a small bollard-type Service Point for fresh water (sometimes around 1-2EUR for c. 100L), and electric hookup which can be 1EUR or so for an hour and a black waste area for toilets and are generally set next to a grey waste disposal point too. An example of which, below:
Motorhoming in France is easy peasy.
As above, wouldn't stay at Aires on the motorway but I downloaded the "Stellplätze" app onto the iPhone. It's predominantly a dutch-built app but it covers most of the EU and gives Details and directions to thousands of Aires in France and although only some of the Reviews are in English (or German which I can understand), the scoring System is very good and we found some crackers over the summer.
A lot of the municipal Aires have a small bollard-type Service Point for fresh water (sometimes around 1-2EUR for c. 100L), and electric hookup which can be 1EUR or so for an hour and a black waste area for toilets and are generally set next to a grey waste disposal point too. An example of which, below:
Motorhoming in France is easy peasy.
Ive been vanning across France for years and never had an issue, however I have driven out of Aires that I dont feel safe in and gone to the next one. If it looks ok, it will be ok. Usually look for other vanners from the UK or Holland in the same one. Some are bigger than others, some are better facilitied than others.
Petrol stations again can be a bit of an issue during silly season with big queues - my rig can take up/block up a couple of pumps but is what it is. If there is somewhere I can pull forward before queuing to pay I will, if not people behind will just have to wait!
I probably wouldnt stop at many of them around the calais area or the Lyon areas......
Enjoy the journey - some of the best towing Ive done is on French Autoroutes.
Oh - and as a tip get yourself a SANIF tag - great when you pull upto the toll booth and the barrier just flies up - saves leaning over to pay or scrambling around looking for the credit card after ensuring you dont pull up too close with the trailor to the MASSSSSIVE curbs....
Petrol stations again can be a bit of an issue during silly season with big queues - my rig can take up/block up a couple of pumps but is what it is. If there is somewhere I can pull forward before queuing to pay I will, if not people behind will just have to wait!
I probably wouldnt stop at many of them around the calais area or the Lyon areas......
Enjoy the journey - some of the best towing Ive done is on French Autoroutes.
Oh - and as a tip get yourself a SANIF tag - great when you pull upto the toll booth and the barrier just flies up - saves leaning over to pay or scrambling around looking for the credit card after ensuring you dont pull up too close with the trailor to the MASSSSSIVE curbs....
There is a confusion between the aires off the motorways and aires that are in towns and villages. It is nt recommended (as has been said) to stop in the motorway aires due to issues mentioned.
Regarding the other ones the best advice I was given was if it didn't feel right or if you didn't feel safe when you got to one, then move to another.
We have stayed in a few and like others, have had god experiences.
Regarding the other ones the best advice I was given was if it didn't feel right or if you didn't feel safe when you got to one, then move to another.
We have stayed in a few and like others, have had god experiences.
Chopper, thanks for the link to all the Aires, looks a very interesting and informative book but I see it's updated in March. Do you reckon it's worth waiting for the new edition or buy an "old" one. Planning on Holland and Belgium in Spring then France in Summer so guess I'll buy them all.
Just to clarify, "aire" just means "area". So on the motorway Aire de Service is just a service area; in towns and villages, Aire du Camping-Car is a motorhome parking area.
Usually the town or village name has the motorhome symbol underneath it if there's one there, and then you should find signposts to it.
Usually the town or village name has the motorhome symbol underneath it if there's one there, and then you should find signposts to it.
I stay at motorway aires on Le Mans and Spa trips, the service station ones rather than the lay-bys, there's normally several other motorhomes and caravans parked up. Any internet forum discussion on the subject always has people warning against it, but they always seem to be basing it in reports / stories rather than personal experience. I'm not towing a valuable car on a trailer though...
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