Campingcarparks
- Thread starter chaser
- Start date
If it’s where I want to be and no free parking around then I don’t mind paying around €10 for a good camperstop…
They may not be everybody’s choice but we like them. Well, most of them anyway.
Granted they vary from glorified car parks to beautiful forest sites and ex Municipal sites but for €12 or so we find them good.
Electric hook-up, (usually just 6amps), and good, well designed bornes with fresh water and toilet disposal clearly separated and easy drive over grey waste.
We also use “free” Aires and ACSI camp sites choosing whatever is nearest to our chosen overnight place.
Municipalities no longer seem to want the responsibility of keeping up the “free” Aires so we would rather CCP take them over than lose them altogether.
A few pics of some we have stayed on.
Granted they vary from glorified car parks to beautiful forest sites and ex Municipal sites but for €12 or so we find them good.
Electric hook-up, (usually just 6amps), and good, well designed bornes with fresh water and toilet disposal clearly separated and easy drive over grey waste.
We also use “free” Aires and ACSI camp sites choosing whatever is nearest to our chosen overnight place.
Municipalities no longer seem to want the responsibility of keeping up the “free” Aires so we would rather CCP take them over than lose them altogether.
A few pics of some we have stayed on.
I’m hoping to try a few on the way back from Spain, did try the one at Chateau Renault on the way down but it’s not suitable for a Winter stopover. It is an old campsite so every pitch was grass and no way could you use them as too wet. Stayed the night but parked on the road as did two others.
- Dec 31, 2010
- 3,009
- 7,207
- Funster No
- 14,797
- MH
- Frankia Platin i7900
- Exp
- Since 2010
Non of them look very busy is that's because you have to pay
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
No, they can get busy. We usually travel in May/June, September/October or during the winter months. ie out of season.Non of them look very busy is that's because you have to pay
Having said that we have seen motorhomes drive up, look at the pay barrier, and drive away. Usually French, but some Brits too.
This CCP Aire was a February visit.
- Dec 31, 2010
- 3,009
- 7,207
- Funster No
- 14,797
- MH
- Frankia Platin i7900
- Exp
- Since 2010
We stopped at this one on the way down in December.
Aire de camping-car de Beaumont Saint-cyr
Aire de camping-car de Beaumont Saint-cyr · 9 Rue de la Bourdillière, 86130 Beaumont Saint-Cyr, France
★★★★☆ · Caravan Park
- Nov 24, 2008
- 873
- 2,183
- Funster No
- 5,008
- MH
- C Class
- Exp
- Since july 2009 And Still Going Strong
We used half a dozen crossing France over a couple of weeks early January. Top the account up on the app and just swipe it at the Barrier as you go in and out. Even though it was cold all had water available and durable waste points and drive overs. I think our worst one which needed more work to smarten it up was at Millou. I’m happy to pay around €10-12 for the convenience. We’ve also used free ones.
If you meant Millau we agree. It was one of the few that we didn’t stay on.
We pulled in, visited the town, serviced the motorhome, including EHU to top up the battery, and then left. We were billed about €5 for the privilege. Cheaper than we can park our car locally.
cliffanger
LIFE MEMBER
We stayed in a couple in September - both good quality pitches - so as others have said we’re happy to pay, rather than lose them altogether.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
We stayed on one at Moustier St Mairie near Vernon Gorge in September. Just a gravel car park really, but great location,would defo return if nearby
denisejoe
LIFE MEMBER
We used quite a few last September mainly because we had topped up with quite a bit as we were hoping to travel during the winter 21 but didn't make it over to France then. We always use aires but are happy to pay rather than losing the facilities completely.
OP
OP
Yes I have been on here and criticized these things for taking away the free Aires and I still think in time we shall regret it as when they get a monopoly the prices will sure as hell rise to the same level as campsites but for the time I have left in motorhomeing I shall probably be useing them again .
If they rise to the price of campsites which provide swimming pools, bars, restaurants and games facilities they will surely go out of business.
We need a of mix of facilities, full amenity sites, CCP type and free Aires.
- Apr 30, 2018
- 2,320
- 6,075
- Funster No
- 53,655
- MH
- Adria Matrix 670DC
- Exp
- Motorhoming since 2018.
We've used quite a few over the last few years, at C£10 per night including 6a ehu considor them good value. Whilst they stay at these prices will continue to do so.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
- Feb 14, 2021
- 4,518
- 10,289
- Funster No
- 79,219
- MH
- Burstner Lyseo 727G
- Exp
- 3 years 30,000 miles UK and Europe.. Campsites and off Grid.
This is a rather supurb camping car park. Only accessible at low tide. Facilities are dated but for the location and price 
We stayed in 3 or 4 last summer. Often they are old camp sites and sometimes the showers etc were still operational. I seem to remember paying a small extra fee to be able to book in advance so we knew if we were going to get in. There always seemed to be room in the South of France, but from Normandy to Calais it was more touch-and-go.
I should also mention that at the first one we stayed at I had a problem with the automated entry barrier - probably due to my own idiocy! A kind old French bloke came over and spoke to the company's helpline number; they very quickly had an English-speaking person on the line who sorted me out.
I think they are good value; I wish we had such a network in Britain.
Jeremy
I should also mention that at the first one we stayed at I had a problem with the automated entry barrier - probably due to my own idiocy! A kind old French bloke came over and spoke to the company's helpline number; they very quickly had an English-speaking person on the line who sorted me out.
I think they are good value; I wish we had such a network in Britain.
Jeremy
Anyone had a problem topping up campercar park card in last couple of weeks, mine come up with an error message in french?
You can toggle the language using the flag icon on the top bar in the website or use Google Translate copy and paste.
Think they’re great. Had to call customer services due to a lost card and they couldn’t do enough. You can get your chairs out, plenty of space between pitches, clean and tidy and they tend to be in good locations.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
I always top up online l am very wary of doing it on the machine.
Lenny HB
LIFE MEMBER
- Oct 18, 2007
- 58,717
- 182,676
- Funster No
- 658
- MH
- Carthago Compactline
- Exp
- Since 2008 & many years tugging
I only seem to find the crapy ones so I try to avoid them.If it’s where I want to be and no free parking around then I don’t mind paying around €10 for a good camperstop…
I object to paying €10 for a crapy car park with EHU that I don't want.
I might like a decent one if I ever find one but would rather have the option of paying less without EHU.
We normally do it on-line but last summer I miscalculated my balance and had to use a machine. It was very straightforward and didn’t appear to carry any more risk than using a card machine in any shop.
OP
OP
We only pay the right money when exiting the camp, no money on the card.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Same here.
OP
OP
You know very well that I am dead against these things for the harm they are going to cause to the old time free Aires and I am sure it will cause new no parking in towns and villages for motorhomes and you will be directed to these things BUT having used quite a few of these last year ,as you know from my tour thread, I can well see the attraction of them to new campers who have not seen the old way and in fact the old ones, like myself who are not going to be here when the s... hits the fan and they are going to put up their prices to campsite levels and you won't have any choice as they have bought up all the Aires.
But as they are now they are good value, I can see that, all services for a tenner on a secure park, can't really fault it.
So for what time I have left I'm afraid it's
going to be , I'm alright jack, and will continue using them.
I know this makes me a turncoat of sorts, and I dread what it will come to in a couple of years but like everyone else, take it while you can and pay dear later.
And btw we are not going to stop these things they are to far advanced now.
I will use them if they are in the place I want to be. I travel to see nice places, and not to see nice aires.
Campingcarparks can only have the aires/sites, that the towns/villages want to sell/not run them selves. So they often won’t be in the best areas, and most successful tourist places. Because if they were the town/village would run them, and earn from it.
Part of this problem is that too many people take out from the aire system without putting money, of any decent amount, into the town/village. They think that buying a baguette and two beers is enough payment for a free overnight stop, with services. It’s not, and aires need money to look after them.
Campingcarparks can only have the aires/sites, that the towns/villages want to sell/not run them selves. So they often won’t be in the best areas, and most successful tourist places. Because if they were the town/village would run them, and earn from it.
Part of this problem is that too many people take out from the aire system without putting money, of any decent amount, into the town/village. They think that buying a baguette and two beers is enough payment for a free overnight stop, with services. It’s not, and aires need money to look after them.
- Oct 18, 2021
- 2,612
- 7,905
- Funster No
- 84,940
- MH
- Adria Compact SC
- Exp
- Camping since 1954, MoHo 2022
Another way of looking at it is if CCP didn’t take over the running of some aires would they still be there to use? Given the financial hit that some rural local authorities would have taken in recent years with Covid, downturn in the economy, rural depopulation etc., can the local communities actually continue to run them in some instances? It must be difficult to justify spending your constituent’s money on providing the facilities if they can see little return for the community and/or are already under financial pressure themselves.
I can see why local communities are selling up to CCP. Instead of having to resource/staff their local Aires a company will do it all for them and probably pay rent for the privilege. The town will still get the same or maybe even more visitors.
I’ve used a few and found them all ok. I would like to think when I used Aires I was supporting the local Community and the money went direct to them but I think more and more CCP’s are on the cards!
I’ve used a few and found them all ok. I would like to think when I used Aires I was supporting the local Community and the money went direct to them but I think more and more CCP’s are on the cards!
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Join us or log in to post a reply.
To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun
Join MotorhomeFun
Join us, it quick and easy!
Log in
Already a member? Log in here.