German aires in winter

[decofanatic]

We are thinking of touring the German Christmas markets this year.

When in France we usually stop at aires in or near small towns but services can be tricky in winter.

Does anyone have any experience of the stellplatze (aires) in Germany during winter? Are they open and do they turn the water off?

 

[Beachbum]

I can only give you concrete info: on one stellplatz in Germany, which is for the Hamburg area. This stellplatz is in Kaltenkirchen. How to get there:- Drive along the A7 towards Flensburg/Denmark. Take the exit for Kaltenkirchen. Once you have taken the slip road for Kaltenkirchen, turn left at the lights, then turn right at the next set of lights. Follow the road under the bridge and a few hundred metres on your left hand side turn into the stellplatz. It is sign posted. To be sure, you will be directly opposite the Thermal baths. There is no plug in or water. They have waste bins on site. Camping here is FREE. They have an area for waste, fresh water and emptying out, about 150 metres from the site. How to get there:- Come out of the stellplatz, turn right, then take the first left, go about 100 metres and on your right hand side is everything you need. If you go into the reception entrance of the Thermal baths, you can obtain chips for 2€ for slopping out and fresh water. I hope this helps.

 

[Belgian]

We are thinking of touring the German Christmas markets this year.

When in France we usually stop at aires in or near small towns but services can be tricky in winter.

Does anyone have any experience of the stellplatze (aires) in Germany during winter? Are they open and do they turn the water off?

Mostly all 'Stellplätze" are open in winter. Generally water is only turned off by very severe frost and this only in the Harz, Black Forest and Alpes regions. You can allways have water in petrolstations in those conditions.

 

[geoffthefridgeman]

Stelplat in Germany

Just to add my bit.
We are off to the Christmas markets in two weeks time,this will be our third visit. We generally visit Aachen first(as it is the first major market off the motorway system and the nearest to the channel ports) a wonderful Stelplatz 14euros a night with hook up and a wonderful heated shower block.And only a 30 minute walk into the market. Then we tend to vary our next place year on year, this year our plans are Cologne then onto Oberhausen(the market is indoors) then back to Brugge(they all have parking places within walking distance from the markets).
All the stelplatz parking places can be found in the book Reise Mobil International Boardatlas ISBN No 3-928803-31-X we purchased ours from a motorhome dealer in Germany(written in german,but you soon get the hang of it).
But you can also buy an aires de service book from France as they list some of the stelplatz stopovers in them.
They are also listed in the Camperstop Europe book which you can purchase from Motorhome &amp caravan books, guides and maps, Go Motorhoming Europe, All the Aires, Camperstop Europe, France Passion, campsite guides, full-timing the facts, Aires and stopovers guides it does have a small description in English.
I hope this helps
Regards
Geoffthefridgeman

 

[decofanatic]

Thanks, Geoffthefridgeman.

This is more or less what we thought of doing, except that we didn't know about Oberhausen.

Just one thing, though it might not affect you as it does us with an early 2001 motorhome, Cologne has a Low Emission Zone like London. Don't know whether the local stellplatze are in it or not.

Maybe we'll bump into you over there.

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[Braunston]

Hi, This link may help

Cologne City Low Emission Zone - Stadt Köln

Braunston

Thanks, Geoffthefridgeman.

This is more or less what we thought of doing, except that we didn't know about Oberhausen.

Just one thing, though it might not affect you as it does us with an early 2001 motorhome, Cologne has a Low Emission Zone like London. Don't know whether the local stellplatze are in it or not.

Maybe we'll bump into you over there.