Aires - not all created equal (1 Viewer)

[maison]

we have just completed a 4780 mile tour of Spain and France.

We visited some great sites and some not so great, to say the least.

When we returned to France we looked forward to staying on Aires whenever possible.

Last year we visited Aigue Morte, staying on the Aire to the north of the town, right alongside the walls. At 8 euros it was well worth it, as evidenced by the 60 plus m/h using it. Plenty of space for all.

This year we returned to find it almost empty. When we checked, the cost of a 24 hour stay had increased to 23.30 euros!

No wonder it was empty. 23.30 euros for a car park with dump points and water, no electricity.

We had to stay as our friends were already there but, never again.

Between the two m/h we spent over 250 euros on our evening meal in the town, plus restocking wine.

They won’t get it next year!

 

[scotjimland]

we spent over 250 euros on our evening meal in the town, plus restocking wine.

Aigues-Mortes has another aire over the river by the fishing lakes at €11- 13 https://www.campercontact.com/en/fr...99/motorhome-parking-aire-de-camping-car.aspx

meal and wine was your choice..

 

[maison]

Aigues-Mortes has another aire over the river by the fishing lakes at €11- 13 https://www.campercontact.com/en/fr...99/motorhome-parking-aire-de-camping-car.aspx

meal and wine was your choice..

Oh, dear.

Of course the wine and meal were our choice. The point I was making was that local businesses will lose income if such rises become general in the area.

The first para of your post was helpful. The second unnecessary.

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[sueandjohn]

Oh, dear.

Of course the wine and meal were our choice. The point I was making was that local businesses will lose income if such rises become general in the area.

The first para of your post was helpful. The second unnecessary.

Good point very well made

 

[scotjimland]

Oh, dear.

Of course the wine and meal were our choice. The point I was making was that local businesses will lose income if such rises become general in the area.

The first para of your post was helpful. The second unnecessary.

sorry if I was unhelpful.. wasn't intentional

the way I read it you were complaining about the cost of the aire, plus the high cost of food
and wine.. which was your choice..

we spent over 250 euros on our evening meal in the town, plus restocking wine.

obviously I misunderstood what you meant...

 

[scotjimland]

Good point very well made

very useful post

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[maison]

sorry if I was unhelpful.. wasn't intentional

the way I read it you were complaining about the cost of the aire, plus the high cost of food
and wine..



obviously I misunderstood what you meant...

OK!

I did find your info re the other Aire useful.

We can consider the rest a misunderstanding between us.

 

[scotjimland]

OK!

I did find your info re the other Aire useful.

We can consider the rest a misunderstanding between us.

fair enough..

on the topic of aire prices, yes, I think they are going up,and generally high near tourist centres, visitor attractions etc.. for example Brugge aire is now €25 .. the only cheap or free ones tend to be in rural villages where there is little to see or do ..

France used to be a cheap alternative to UK touring .. with cheaper fuel, cheap airs and cheaper food.. not any more .. sites are also expensive now

 

[maison]

fair enough..

on the topic of aire prices, yes, I think they are going up,and generally high near tourist centres, visitor attractions etc.. for example Brugge aire is now €25 .. the only cheap or free ones tend to be in rural villages where there is little to see or do ..

France used to be a cheap alternative to UK touring .. with cheaper fuel, cheap airs and cheaper food.. not any more .. sites are also expensive now

Having just returned from France this afternoon we can safely report that DERV is now practically the same price as in the U.K. two years ago there was about a 20% lower cost in France.

Camp site prices have also increased but, with the preponderance of ACSI sites in France, costs are much lower than in the U.K., (in low season).

On our journey back home from our base in Burgundy we also stayed on a Municipal site in France, large pitches, hard standing, electric (10 amps) and water/waste disposal on each pitch, bar and snack bar together with an on site lake, boules, football and basketball area, for 15 euros a night.

The exception now, rather than the rule.

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[scotjimland]

we also stayed on a Municipal site in France, large pitches, hard standing, electric (10 amps) and water/waste disposal on each pitch, bar and snack bar together with an on site lake, boules, football and basketball area, for 15 euros a night.

yes, municipals are indeed GVFM .. we look for them in preference to aires.. simple basic sites, not crammed in like sardines and better security.. last one we were on was at Chateaudun , about 1km from the town, right on the riverside.. good clean facilities, if a little dated .. it's on our 'must go back' list

 

[busby]

Think basicly the hobby we all love has become too popular..probably encouraged by social media.I cannot believe how busy everywhere in Spain and France are this year..and the weather is not at it's best..Think we all need to be travelling elsewhere..ie Romania..Bulgaria..Poland etc..but no good in the winter. BUSBY.

 

[hilldweller]

obviously I misunderstood what you meant...

He got me too. "I object to paying €23 for an aire but I can splash out €250 on a meal" is how is misunderstood it.

It's so easy to misunderstand some posts.

Got to agree, €23 for an aire is taking the p$ss. Or maybe a cunning ploy to reduce the use of it.

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[The Lord Squid]

Until a year ago (when I got my van) I'd have had to pay loads more because we'd have been in an hotel. So it's good value for me.

 

[chaser]

Until a year ago (when I got my van) I'd have had to pay loads more because we'd have been in an hotel. So it's good value for me.

not if you work it out, motorhoming is a dear hobby, in an hotel you have your meals provided, no lugging a heavy motor about, never mind the cost of buying it , taxing it, insureing it, mot, tyres, gas, ,
not knocking motorhomes, as that is what we do , do your own thing when you want , where you want, but cheaper than hotels, no way.

 

[The Lord Squid]

cheaper than hotels, no way.

I said good value, for me. I didn't compare the cost with hotels and, of course, the value of a thing to someone is completely different from the price of it. I don't fly and tend to stay in cities at a cost of less than a fiftteenth what I'd pay in a hotel in, say, Amsterdam, where I went last weekend. I like nice hotels. The van gets better mpg than my oldish high performance petrol car and tyres etc are cheaper for the van. I'm going to the Le Mans Classic soon and it will be good to be camping trackside yet not in a tent (unlike my previous visits). The van has plenty retained value, so, good value for me.

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[nicholsong]

not if you work it out, motorhoming is a dear hobby, in an hotel you have your meals provided, no lugging a heavy motor about, never mind the cost of buying it , taxing it, insureing it, mot, tyres, gas, ,
not knocking motorhomes, as that is what we do , do your own thing when you want , where you want, but cheaper than hotels, no way.

If you are comparing a two week holiday maybe, but 3+ months away?

Well we are flying to Greece for 2 weeks this coming Saturday.

We are taking a ferry to a special island which is not cheap, but just staying in an apartment, meals out and hiring a scooter, will I estimate cost us €2000 - without the €1000 I have set aside for a visit to the jewellers(many good ones there). It is a special birthday!

I used to moor my boat on same island - same as MH, and spend about 25% of that.

Except for night-stops and business trips while working, I have only booked apartments for very a few holidays. Other than that have island-hopped, sailed my own boat and motorhomed.

Going back to hotels v MHs. If you cost it over 2 weeks of course hotels are cheaper, but over say 13 weeks average use I am sure MHs are cheaper - unless you buy a Phoenix new.

Geoff

 

[LesW]

How can anyone compare hotels with a motorhome, two completely different ways of holidaying...

 

[adonisito]

We've been 10 months now in France and Spain, it is fairly easy to find municipals and aires in France well below 13E including EHU. I won't list them here, or you'll all turn up !

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[The Dudess]

We are taking a ferry to a special island which is not cheap

Give us a clue.

 

[nicholsong]

Give us a clue.

I was on a fairly isolated beach on the island and met a lady who had brought a car there from Corfu for friends. I said 'That must be for Zef and Odile'. She was amazed as I was correct. Probably not much f a clue.

The island has only one scheduled bus.

It is the northernmost island of its group.

Those are your starter clues.

Geoff

 

[The Dudess]

I was on a fairly isolated beach on the island and met a lady who had brought a car there from Corfu for friends. I said 'That must be for Zef and Odile'. She was amazed as I was correct. Probably not much f a clue.

The island has only one scheduled bus.

It is the northernmost island of its group.

Those are your starter clues.

Geoff

Skopelos??

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[Just smiffy]

For us it’s getting to one place from another, we see many beautiful places on the journey that you cannot see any other way.....