Late Arrival to Aires (1 Viewer)

[mack10]

Hi Folks,

Further on from my other thread, I have hired a campervan to travel in Spetember this year to France.

We cannot collect the camper until around 14:00 near Chester. I intended on getting down to Folkstone and taking the tunnel across to France. However, I cannot imagine getting to France until circa 21:00-22:00. Then I wanted to travel a little away from Calais to an Aire (or maybe a campsite) and settle there for the night.

3 questions :

1 - Is this considered a 'No-No' to arrive late on. We won't be making much noise and will be settling down qucikly as we will have our 5 year old daughter with us so she will very likely already be asleep.

2 - Any reccomendations of any?

3 - Do (m)any of the Aires have washing/toilet facilities? We're in a small VW Calafornia so we don't have any washing facilities. Not the end of the world for one night, but just wondered about the rest of the trip.

Many Thanks

 

[vwalan]

mostly not . there are taps and places to tip your toilet waste .some do have public toilets but i think its fair to say very few. wash bowl and bucket with a lid might be for you. most aires are only carparks with a machine to let you have water etc at a pricve . or tokens jeytons bought from town hall or post office etc .

 

[Toffs-G]

We never had a problem arriving late at aires

When we stayed at the Calais aire we arrived about 8pm others revived up until about 11pm as a recall, as mentioned they're pretty much car parks so would suggest not a problem

Hope you have a great time :thumb:

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[mack10]

OK - Thanks for the replies.

Looks like I might have to get a porta potti sorted for the trip if we're going to be staying at the Aires.

Was the Calais Aires noisey? I thought I had read on here that some folks wouldn't stay there as it's a bit noisey and restless.

 

[philk]

Aires

It depends what you call noisy. The noise is the throb of the ferries, which is 24 hours, but to be honest I love it. The other night it was foggy and the fog horns were going all night, NOISY. We often travel down from StHelens after work on a Friday and arrive there late. Get a portapoti, sounds like you will need it.

Phil

 

[DGT]

Hi we always stay at cite europe always quiet. Its overlooked by the police station, it has cameras and you can pop into cite europe in the morning to use toilets.Have a good trip. Dave
ps its right next to euro tunnel

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[Toffs-G]

Noise never bothered us as Phil says throb from ferries but we didn't find it disturbed us have sated therea couple of times

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

Hi I have been on aires on my own and in the morning the place was nearly full, you will need a portaloo as some of the French toilets leave a lot to be desired "two brick's"to stand on . We alway's look for disabled toilet's or Mcdonald's but a lot of them do not open early.

 

[Heyupluv]

Hi Folks,

Further on from my other thread, I have hired a campervan to travel in Spetember this year to France.

We cannot collect the camper until around 14:00 near Chester. I intended on getting down to Folkstone and taking the tunnel across to France. However, I cannot imagine getting to France until circa 21:00-22:00. Then I wanted to travel a little away from Calais to an Aire (or maybe a campsite) and settle there for the night.

3 questions :

1 - Is this considered a 'No-No' to arrive late on. We won't be making much noise and will be settling down qucikly as we will have our 5 year old daughter with us so she will very likely already be asleep.

2 - Any reccomendations of any?

3 - Do (m)any of the Aires have washing/toilet facilities? We're in a small VW Calafornia so we don't have any washing facilities. Not the end of the world for one night, but just wondered about the rest of the trip.

Many Thanks

Hi Mac10
Arriving on Aires late at night will not be a problem (as long as you are not revving the engine and shouting as other campers will most likely asleep)

As others have said basic facilities, most have (not all) Water point,empty point for toilet and waste water, some will have electric, some may have toilets

Yes I would advise your own toilet because, A for convenience and B a lot of the French Toilets are !!!oh: to say the least basic and not always clean,

Check with your Popup camper hire company some have a small porta pottie under the sink??

I would think UNLESS you are experienced campers, used to confined spaces. like small tents..three people in a popup can be a bit tight.cooking eating sleeping and going to the loo...
What I am trying to say campsites would be the best option for you...BUT a lot more expensive!!!
I don't know what your budget is, is it limited or unlimited....
Just to hire a Popup camper will not be cheap...then the diesel and the Ferry, and the campsites..
But I don't think Aires is the best option for you, and if this is your first time in a popup,

Just do an Aire every other or every two days then back into a campsite with all facilities showers toilets showers washing machines...you do not say how many days or weeks you are coming over....
I would suggest get your self a ACSI card /book this means the price will be set, so you know what you will be paying for a pitch with minimal electric you will have to pay a little extra for your daughter....but these are the prices....12 euros.....14 euros...16 euros + extra for your daughter....

Have a good Holiday and enjoy yourselves

Mel

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[mack10]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for all the informative replies.

The Trip is only for 10 nights in Spetember. Budget is not limited (within reason of course). Last 2/3 nights we will be at EuroDisney, more than likely in a hotel there. Hired the van off a couple who just hire out there own van. For 10 nights, euro insurance/breakdown and two drivers most of the top 5 or 6 on google wanted £1200+ but these guys did it for £900. They were also more flexible on collection drop off times. I can send a link if anyone PMs me, not sure on posting a link on the forum as it might be seen as 'plugging'.

We are seasoned campers, I've been camping 25 years and our daughter since she was born (in fact before). However I take on board the advice and will stay on some campsites I think. Are there any resources for campsites that include smaller, quieter sites? I have stayed on a couple of large sites in France and truthfully, although the facilities are 'second to none', they're not really our cup of tea.

Anyone know of any sites in the Central/North area (above Lyon say, give or take) that are set in decent locations with shower and toilets? I'm doubtful we will spend loads of time on the sites themselves, we'll be off looking for local produce to eat, going walking, canoeing etc.

I'll look into the ASCI card/book too.

:thumb:

 

[Heyupluv]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for all the informative replies.

The Trip is only for 10 nights in Spetember. Budget is not limited (within reason of course). Last 2/3 nights we will be at EuroDisney, more than likely in a hotel there. Hired the van off a couple who just hire out there own van. For 10 nights, euro insurance/breakdown and two drivers most of the top 5 or 6 on google wanted £1200+ but these guys did it for £900. They were also more flexible on collection drop off times. I can send a link if anyone PMs me, not sure on posting a link on the forum as it might be seen as 'plugging'.

We are seasoned campers, I've been camping 25 years and our daughter since she was born (in fact before). However I take on board the advice and will stay on some campsites I think. Are there any resources for campsites that include smaller, quieter sites? I have stayed on a couple of large sites in France and truthfully, although the facilities are 'second to none', they're not really our cup of tea.

Anyone know of any sites in the Central/North area (above Lyon say, give or take) that are set in decent locations with shower and toilets? I'm doubtful we will spend loads of time on the sites themselves, we'll be off looking for local produce to eat, going walking, canoeing etc.

I'll look into the ASCI card/book too.

:thumb:

Thank you for the more up to date info as a seasoned camper.......Have a great time.
I am sure one if not many of the funsters will come back with campsites more to your liking and in the area you require...I know where you are coming from when you say they are not your cup of tea....they are not for us either, that is why we only do aires,
So I can not as do not have the information you require on campsites let alone quieter sites that is less commercial.

Mel

 

[slobadoberbob]

often aires are full

do not forget sometimes the aires are full especially in the North of France.

If you drive out and head West towards Rouen (45 before) jun 9 exit off the A28 there is a mid size town called Neufchatel-n-Bray .. has a great 2 star very nice clean site within walking distance of the town and a massive E Lecec store and McDonalds (open early) we have stayed on this site many times it is in the ACIS book at €12 and has 10 amp electric... I wrote about it in the November MMM disability supplement last year.

I have also stopped in the Leclerc car park on the way South.. nice area and not a million miles from Disney / Paris. Plus you can get all the way tot he site with out using the toll route.. leave the motorway at junction 29 and then take the national routes down to Abbeyville and round the town then re join the motorway when it is then free to exit 9.

Do not use the motor way Aires and be careful in Calais.. ToffsRV had a axle hanger try to get on tot he ferry (only problem was Garry was heading to Paris).. but you must be aware of the safety issue... I would drive in land a bit.. and the site I mention is an easy 1.30 min hop from the tunnel.. but you could hold up in the E,Lecrec car park ... also they have very cheap fuel at thee petrol station which is an easy job even fro RV's.

Doing 15 days at this site again in June.

Bob

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[veevee]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for all the informative replies.

The Trip is only for 10 nights in Spetember. Budget is not limited (within reason of course). Last 2/3 nights we will be at EuroDisney, more than likely in a hotel there. Hired the van off a couple who just hire out there own van. For 10 nights, euro insurance/breakdown and two drivers most of the top 5 or 6 on google wanted £1200+ but these guys did it for £900. They were also more flexible on collection drop off times. I can send a link if anyone PMs me, not sure on posting a link on the forum as it might be seen as 'plugging'.

We are seasoned campers, I've been camping 25 years and our daughter since she was born (in fact before). However I take on board the advice and will stay on some campsites I think. Are there any resources for campsites that include smaller, quieter sites? I have stayed on a couple of large sites in France and truthfully, although the facilities are 'second to none', they're not really our cup of tea.

Anyone know of any sites in the Central/North area (above Lyon say, give or take) that are set in decent locations with shower and toilets? I'm doubtful we will spend loads of time on the sites themselves, we'll be off looking for local produce to eat, going walking, canoeing etc.

I'll look into the ASCI card/book too.

:thumb:

We live part of the year in central France, there are a couple of sites we could say take a look at.

03160 Bourbon L'Archembault in/on the edge of a mediaeval small town with an interesting part wrecked castle. There are many nature things to do in the immediate area too, large forests, big rivers and rolling countryside, plus another ancient small town and abbey nearby as this arera was the original power base for the Bourbon kings.

Second is the the departmental town 03000 Moulins on the banks of the Allier. Here you can canoe from next to the camp site for an hour to a day(s), it's a gentle river in the summer.
The campsite is on one bank of the river with the town on the opposite one, but there are other large towns that are more attractive. Both Bourbon and Moulins are not tourist attractions although there is a spa and a casino in Bourbon, both are populated by almost exclusively French people.

Just a couple of suggestions that are not on any obvious tourist itinery that may appeal.

 

[spitfire]

Late arrival on aires

I fully agree with all the above posts. Most aires have no loos etc and in a small van can be a problem. It is because the aires are designed for motorhomes who are fully self sufficient ie own loo and shower. I ahve seen some small vans on aires but in te main they are larger units.

If you want to use sites check out the municipal sites as they are very reasonable cost wise and normally have the best positions !!

 

[mack10]

Right, Glad I have had some great responses from forum members.

I think we'll just stop at the Aires if we are in transit and we'll aim to stop on camp sites the majority of the time.

@veevee - Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into those two sites and I might post back up to confirm I have the correct ones if there are a few :thumb:

Any further suggestions similar to these are greatly appreciated. Without them we would have just ended up getting a campsite guide book and taking the chance.

Cheers
Mack

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[mack10]

do not forget sometimes the aires are full especially in the North of France.

If you drive out and head West towards Rouen (45 before) jun 9 exit off the A28 there is a mid size town called Neufchatel-n-Bray .. has a great 2 star very nice clean site within walking distance of the town and a massive E Lecec store and McDonalds (open early) we have stayed on this site many times it is in the ACIS book at €12 and has 10 amp electric... I wrote about it in the November MMM disability supplement last year.

I have also stopped in the Leclerc car park on the way South.. nice area and not a million miles from Disney / Paris. Plus you can get all the way tot he site with out using the toll route.. leave the motorway at junction 29 and then take the national routes down to Abbeyville and round the town then re join the motorway when it is then free to exit 9.

Do not use the motor way Aires and be careful in Calais.. ToffsRV had a axle hanger try to get on tot he ferry (only problem was Garry was heading to Paris).. but you must be aware of the safety issue... I would drive in land a bit.. and the site I mention is an easy 1.30 min hop from the tunnel.. but you could hold up in the E,Lecrec car park ... also they have very cheap fuel at thee petrol station which is an easy job even fro RV's.

Doing 15 days at this site again in June.

Bob

@Bob - Thanks. Is this the campsite you mentioned. It would be handy to get onto a site, but I think I'll have to make contatct and see what time it is acceptable to turn up. Don't think we're going to get off the Tunnel until about 20:30. Might always try your alternative suggestion and stay at the supermarket capark. We'll be away in the morning and we'll be calling in for supplies.

Is it generally met with acceptance staying in supermarket car parks as long as you leave no trace and park out the way?

:thumb:

 

[magicsurfbus]

Aires get fuller quicker at weekends, for obvious reasons.

Re Calais - the Aire next to the ferry port fills up fairly quickly by the evening, but there's a second quieter one by the Bassin Ouest marina a little way back towards the town centre on the right.

Failing that, I'm led to believe overnighting is tolerated in the motorhome car park at Cite Europe, and there's also an Aire by the marina at Gravelines about 25 minutes' drive in the direction of Dunkerque.