Avoiding paying at La Mailleraye

[DavidG58]

we are at La Mailleray first time we have had to pay , this tine last year the barrier was being fitted but wasn’t finished

Paid the princely sum of 5.5 euros today, slightly disappointed that water is still a chargeable borne with tokens still from local shops that are closed longer than they are open

But still a lovely spot and the cheap vet makes it even better for us, 15 Euro plus large worming tablet and you can bring your own but we forgot, so 30.40 Euro today

Back to thread title, when the barrier went in a lot of posts were put in to stop driving round, but they stop about 10’ short of the river and leave an opportunity that some have obviously taken, possibly just cars but too close to the edge for me

We are the only ones here tonight but still watching to see if anyone braves it that close to disaster to save 5 euros

 

[peterc10]

David, is the bit in front of the river where evreybody usually parks too wet for you?

 

[DavidG58]

David, is the bit in front of the river where evreybody usually parks too wet for you?

In the first photo is a French MH oarkedcover three places, one of which we normally use as at this time of year you would be brave to use the grass

However he has gone and we have moved to pitch 14 which has slight hard standing so for the first time ever we are parked on the river side

 

[scotjimland]

freeloaders strike again ..

nice aire, we have used it regularly for years, both going and coming back.. it used to be very quiet.. seems to always be busy when we go now..

haven't tried the vet yet..

Sep 2006

 

[FIDGET]

Hi David, I mostly use St Nicolas de Bliquetuit aire on the way out on our travels west & La Mailleraye aire on the way back for vet's .
Agree I don't think I would risk that sort of cheap skate entrance to save 5.5euro's , I know ,I try to economize as much as possible , but that seems a bit ridiculous & dangerous (what if he'd got stuck in on the grass )

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[DavidG58]

Hi David, I mostly use St Nicolas de Bliquetuit aire on the way out on our travels west & La Mailleraye aire on the way back for vet's .
Agree I don't think I would risk that sort of cheap skate entrance to save 5.5euro's , I know ,I try to economize as much as possible , but that seems a bit ridiculous & dangerous (what if he'd got stuck in on the grass )

A couple appear by the marks to have been stuck, but so much better to be stuck than tipping over the edge into the Seine

Edit - spotted the signs for St Nichols on way in think we will have a look at the aire in the way out

 

[Clarky]

You cheapskate @DavidG58.
The correct fee is €6 for two people. €5 + 50c per person for tourist tax.

The aire at St Nicholas is free and so is often full. There are only 5-6 places if I remember correctly and no services or dump. It is noisier than La Mailleraye as the sound of traffic across the river can be quite loud. Also no boulangerie for those lovely breakfast croissants.
Since the barrier was installed La Mailleraye is much quieter, even on summer weekends. The French don't like paying if they can help it.
For €6 (or €5.50 if your name is David) it is an absolute bargain when you consider the location.

Richard.

 

[Koppersbeat]

Last September was awful weather there so after the vet appointment I moved on to St Nicolas for a bit of shelter and peace.The Aire is free but facilities were broken.Lovely view across the Seine.I am the blue Wildax.
I love the restaurant at La Mailleraye by the Aire.

 

[Jagtazman]

How many places are on this one? Just wondering if likely to be full end of August.

 

[FIDGET]

How many places are on this one? Just wondering if likely to be full end of August.

about 7or 8 places at St Nicolas aire
about 34 at La Mailleraye

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[Clarky]

How many places are on this one? Just wondering if likely to be full end of August.

La Mailleraye has about 34 pitches, all marked out with plenty of space between.
It is popular but since the barrier was installed there always seems to be space. Just arrive fairly early, as always in popular places.

Haha! @FIDGET got there before me.

Richard.

 

[DavidG58]

You cheapskate @DavidG58.
The correct fee is €6 for two people. €5 + 50c per person for tourist tax.



Richard.

If it needs technical input or worse a card payment, I leave it totally to Bev, but she did say when retreating from leaning outside the sliding window at -2C that she thinks she might have only paid for one person but couldn’t see how to pay for 2

Next time I will drive round the posts and save paying anything

 

[funflair]

That the beauty of RWD David, you can drive around without getting stuck

Martin

 

[tomm]

@DavidG58 Isnt one of the buildings in your pics ,the local Gendarmerie ? The fare dodgers taking more of a chance than they think by skirting round the barrier poles , in full view of the police office.

 

[Manic]

The last few times we’ve used the St.Nicholas aire, about 7/8 places but the French park near the slip way and near the houses.
We use the vet and then drive back to St.Nicholas, which is only about 10 minute drive.

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[Anthea M]

La Mailleraye has about 34 pitches, all marked out with plenty of space between.
It is popular but since the barrier was installed there always seems to be space. Just arrive fairly early, as always in popular places.

Haha! @FIDGET got there before me.

View attachment 215637

Richard.

Wow we saw some big boats but nothing as big as that and they do move quickly down the river!!

 

[scotjimland]

 

[peterc10]

We had to use the St Nicholas Aire when we turned up last spring to find a jumble sale and fair had taken over most of La Mailleraye and the Aire was closed. We found St Nicholas very tight to get into and with little space between the bays. The Bourne was out of commission and had been, we were told, for a long time. So no water or dump. It all looked a bit neglected really. Also nothing around there in the way of shops restaurants etc. We much prefer La Mailleraye and are happy to pay the 5 or 6 Euros to stay there.

BTW @DavidG58 we bought our jetton for the water from the bar at the cross roads in the middle of town, which seemed to be open long hours.

 

[Koppersbeat]

The reason I moved up to St Nicolas was that all the hard standings at La Mailleraye were taken, even next to the sewage farm,and the grass pitches were literally waterlogged.I felt a lot safer at St Nicolas on the tarmac there along with a German couple and a French van.

 

[scotjimland]

The Bourne was out of commission and had been, we were told, for a long time. So no water or dump. It all looked a bit neglected really.

and the reason why..

quote from Campercontact .. French review

The sani station will not be restored. Since it is restored already 2x and according to municipality staff through the motor home is broken open to avoid paying €2.

https://www.campercontact.com/en/fr...t/95/motorhome-parking-parking.aspx?fromsso=1

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[Larby]

I've not seen such big cruise ships as above , mainly barges, although this one is quite big.

 

[Clarky]

Next time I will drive round the posts and save paying anything

Glug, glug!!!

Richard.

 

[Larby]

NOT ONLY BIG, BUT SOMETIMES CLOSE

 

[Larby]

we are at La Mailleray first time we have had to pay , this tine last year the barrier was being fitted but wasn’t finished

Back to thread title, when the barrier went in a lot of posts were put in to stop driving round, but they stop about 10’ short of the river and leave an opportunity that some have obviously taken, possibly just cars but too close to the edge for me


View attachment 215604

Looks like a post or 2 have been removed, my picture taken Sept.2017

 

[peterc10]

Looks like a post or 2 have been removed, my picture taken Sept.2017

View attachment 215661

10 in both your picture and David's, so I suspect they are all still there

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[tony_g]

Personally, I think it is rather pathetic to save a few euros by sneaking in and out of aires. We should be grateful that there is so much municipal provision in France. No wonder there are now so many either closing or going over to more expensive 'commercial aires' because the local Commune has given up the fight. We should remember how shitty and pathetic the average council is in the UK and pay to support the French system, instead of rejoicing in getting one over the French (btw, I acknowledge the locals are not averse to cheating the system, either and regularly fill their water tanks from the toilet rinse!)

 

[DavidG58]

David, is the bit in front of the river where evreybody usually parks too wet for you?

That the beauty of RWD David, you can drive around without getting stuck

Martin

Spotted this morning confirmation of why we park on the hardstanding at this time of year. Although we were fine in pitch 14

Looks like even twin rear wheel drive wasn’t enough for one adventurous Parker

It looks like a tractor was involved in removing at least one of them

It did seem very firm today possibly simply frozen but considering it was under water three weeks ago it has recovered well

 

[DavidG58]

Personally, I think it is rather pathetic to save a few euros by sneaking in and out of aires. We should be grateful that there is so much municipal provision in France. No wonder there are now so many either closing or going over to more expensive 'commercial aires' because the local Commune has given up the fight. We should remember how shitty and pathetic the average council is in the UK and pay to support the French system, instead of rejoicing in getting one over the French (btw, I acknowledge the locals are not averse to cheating the system, either and regularly fill their water tanks from the toilet rinse!)

My post did not suggest people should and didn’t say I would, I was simply posting evidence that someone does, could even be church goers or sewage operatives

It does remind me though that when the Millau bridge opened the services just on the north side of the bridge serve both directions and were pre toll if travelling north

The French soon found out and were driving over a quite high kerb and muddy area to cross to the southbound area of the services and return south without paying

Either higher kerbs have now been fitted or the novelty wore off, we have not been over since ourselves to check

 

[tony_g]

My post did not suggest people should and didn’t say I would, I was simply posting evidence that someone does, could even be church goers or sewage operatives

It does remind me though that when the Millau bridge opened the services just on the north side of the bridge serve both directions and were pre toll if travelling north

The French soon found out and were driving over a quite high kerb and muddy area to cross to the southbound area of the services and return south without paying

Either higher kerbs have now been fitted or the novelty wore off, we have not been over since ourselves to check

Sorry, I didn't think what I said was suggesting you personally condoned the behaviour, just criticising the fact that some people bite the hand that feeds them and then we all lose out in the long run.