Best app for aires

[Feltwell]

Travelling through France with kids, staying on aires all the time isn't really an option, but they are great for overnight stops en-route - we tend to drive 'till we've had enough then look for the nearest half-decent aire.

Being a luddite I've always done this with the "All the aires" books - but - is there a decent app that will show nearest aires more easily than messing about with the map and books? Park4Night or similar, what do you find works best? Needs to work on iOS (Apple) - thanks!

 

[MichaelT]

Searchforsites.co.uk is by far the best, free on the web or £5.99 if you download the app, can then use offline

 

[Landy Andy]

Searchforsites for us. Drive in a direction then when had enough fire up the app and see what’s nearby.

 

[suavecarve]

We use search4sites but it is becoming increasingly noticable they dont have the amount of aires that are available but campercontact does have a lot more reviews and a lot more aires.
The lack of reviewers and updates of new aires is making me consider camping contact might be my "Go to" source

 

[Landy Andy]

Just tried downloading France in Campercontact failed 5 times so far. Not an ideal start to using the app. Will stick with searchforsites I think.

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[irnbru]

Park4night I find is by far the best outwith U.K. In the U.K. searchforsites is best.

 

[Feltwell]

Thanks all.

 

[mick qc]

yes dont try and get the park4night POI for the garmin at 22 euros, its in french.

 

[busby]

Just tried downloading France in Campercontact failed 5 times so far. Not an ideal start to using the app. Will stick with searchforsites I think.

We mainly use Campercontact and have never had a problem with the app.BUSBY

 

[Landy Andy]

We mainly use Campercontact and have never had a problem with the app.BUSBY

Tried about 5-6 more times. Too bad as wanted it loaded before France, and we now have arrived.

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[Madcaravanner]

WE have navigated Europe using only Search for Sites yes there are gaps but as it's the users that populate the App then it helps the collective

I have been using S4S since before there was an app and it can be used Off Line too so data is not a problem we have tried others along side many have more reviews by people from other countries and you need a translation app to read them so it's easier to use in that respect

This is the Search for Sites Map of my list of the trip we have just undertaken Eurotunnel out and ferry from Santander back

 

[Gaston aires]

Search for sites, the pay version for us. Excellent.
Phil

 

[Stealaway]

Search for sites, the pay version for us. Excellent.
Phil

I've always found search for sites is more useful for pay campsites father than wilding and free Aires

 

[Blaydon]

Hi all, we use SearchforSites - but like all of them, they need to be updated by those who use them. It only take a moment, and keeps the info relevant for the next people coming along. When we have used pubs in the UK, I always ask if they want to be included - usually they do and sometimes you get a drink for your trouble

 

[sarumsteve]

Just spent 8 weeks travelling through France Belgium Germany and Denmark and used all the usual apps and also the campercontact and all the aires books. We usually decide on where we want to stay then use the resources to find the best option and drive there. Find that is an easier way to travel than driving / looking for somewhere to stay when you have had enough of driving.

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[Gaston aires]

I've always found search for sites is more useful for pay campsites father than wilding and free Aires

Not so for us. A mine of information regarding aires etc. The pay version of course.
Phil

 

[gwyntaxi]

Travelling through France with kids, staying on aires all the time isn't really an option, but they are great for overnight stops en-route - we tend to drive 'till we've had enough then look for the nearest half-decent aire.

Being a luddite I've always done this with the "All the aires" books - but - is there a decent app that will show nearest aires more easily than messing about with the map and books? Park4Night or similar, what do you find works best? Needs to work on iOS (Apple) - thanks!

Park 4 night is about best across the water but Searchforsites is also very useful.

 

[gwyntaxi]

Park 4 night is about best across the water but Searchforsites is also very useful.

Camperstop can be very unreliable as the co-ordinates can be hit and miss, and stops are claimed to be inspected annually but are definitely not some stops don't even exist as we found one in Italy that had an hotel on the location for the past 4 YEARS.

 

[Cie]

We’ve only ever travelled in the UK but found Searchforsites was best for us. As a UK Aire ourselves now, I notice most of our guests who have come from Europe have found us with Park4Night, a few Camper Contact or Stell Platz. I suspect that might give an indication of the best apps to find Aires in Europe, given that’s where they’ve come from.

Anyway, back to UK Aires, if you aren’t aware, the CAMpRA Accredited Aires are all listed on Search for Sites and can be found here:

Advanced Search

New ones being certified by Motorhomefun (thanks Jim ), also go straight onto SFS, (but sadly are not easily identifiable until they being CAMpRA Accredited, along CAMpRA does not have a spreadsheet of them on its website)

Please do leave review which ever app you use. It’s so helpful to us as Aires for people to see we are current & open for business and for potential visitors to hear other people’s views and tips about us.
Cecilia (Glenbuchty Stopover Motorhome Aire, Fraserburgh)

 

[Lenny HB]

Always found Camper Contact the most reliable.

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[Feltwell]

That's great, thanks all for your input.

 

[busby]

Camperstop can be very unreliable as the co-ordinates can be hit and miss, and stops are claimed to be inspected annually but are definitely not some stops don't even exist as we found one in Italy that had an hotel on the location for the past 4 YEARS.

Never use coordinates,,I just click on route on the app and Google takes you there...BUSBY.

 

[C’More Fun Finder]

I’m in France and I found that google maps found more sites by just typing Camping or better Camping municipal. If nothing comes up near me then I look at park4night and searchforsites. I stayed for 8€ and even 6€ last week. Just as good as some of the 25€ sites imho. It also seemed to pick up more sites the closer I am to an area but not certain. Happy site hunting

 

[Johnhc]

Always used P4N before going to France in the Spring when I used S4S , they provide very different information and the hint is in the title, P for parking, wild sites etc and S sites such as Aires and campsites it depends on how you want to travel and stay for the night, never had a problem with S4S, there was always somewhere near where we were going and the reviews were all in English unlike P4N. As with all such apps, they need every user to write a review to keep them up to date.

 

[Stealaway]

Park4Night Screen shot of alternatives around Ballivag

Always used P4N before going to France in the Spring when I used S4S , they provide very different information and the hint is in the title, P for parking, wild sites etc and S sites such as Aires and campsites it depends on how you want to travel and stay for the night, never had a problem with S4S, there was always somewhere near where we were going and the reviews were all in English unlike P4N. As with all such apps, they need every user to write a review to keep them up to date.

Park4Night screen shot of locations around where we are tonight at Ballyvaughn --before entering any filters

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[Chuns]

I’m in France and I found that google maps found more sites by just typing Camping or better Camping municipal. If nothing comes up near me then I look at park4night and searchforsites. I stayed for 8€ and even 6€ last week. Just as good as some of the 25€ sites imho. It also seemed to pick up more sites the closer I am to an area but not certain. Happy site hunting

Another useful search term for GooMaps is “Aire de service camping cars”. It has produced some very agreeable results for us.

 

[Bucket]

While in newbie mode I bought 'All the Aires', but it didn't take long to realise a paper book really isn't much use, not least because it's out of date as soon as it's sent off to the printer.
Campercontact was a great improvement and I still subscribe to that (those Dutch know a thing or two about camping). Lately we've found Park4Night useful as well