Gravelines Aire
Gravelines Aire

Aire Gravelines Aire

Overview Discussion
One of the easiest places to get to if your arriving on the ferry to Dunkirk, Have stopped many times on the rue du port and believe it has now been extended and now takes in the area at the rear of the original parking. The last few years i have used the free aire just outside the centre at Rives de l'aa as i have only been staying overnight . No services on the aires but if you head to the police station all services are at the rear.
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and Rives de l'aa , great stop if your ferry is a late one and you just want to get your head down for the night.
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We have tried 3 times to find this aire and failed miserably :ROFLMAO:
 
We've stayed at Gravelines (Rue du Port) several times, but not since reports from others, of having bikes carried on rear bike racks either tampered with, or stolen. :( Fortunately, we no longer run that risk, as the bikes are in the MH garage now.

Jock. :)
 
We’ve used the Rue de Port lots of times, don’t have bikes on the back and never had any problems, but, the Rives de l'aa did have a report of youngsters in cars asking for drinks at one time again we never had a problem with it, very useful Aires!

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Now, what can I say I haven't said dozens of times on here :doh: :giggle: the very first stop we ever made in France in a van, can't think of a time when it hasn't been our first stop two or three times a year ever since.
Love it:sun: when we hit the pmu in the centre of town about two minutes away , our holiday has begun, only problem it's also our last stop before the tunnel home, so we again have to hit the pmu to drown our sorrows.
We have been that many times now, the lady behind the bar almost understands me:giggle:
In fact we like it that much that last year we went for a week and stayed there the whole time (y)
Anything you want to know just ask.
Btw the new restaurant on site is not cheap but the food is excellent.
 
What's a pmu, for us newbies?
 
acropolis22 said:
What's a pmu, for us newbies?
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I know this is a gravelines thread, but just a small deviation, pmu are in every village and town, useually the cheapest bar and cafe, useually as well they are like a betting shop with horse racing on a big TV, and sell lottery tickets and cigarettes.

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Wonderful little place to use as a stopover or even for a few days. The Christmas Market is quite rustic but good so not too commercialised and combined with a trip up the road to Brugges.

We alternate first/last night between here or Wissant and did have bikes on the back previously with no problems but no have a garage for them.

Cant wait to get back and try the Steak restaurant at the end of the road.
 
orridge said:
Wonderful little place to use as a stopover or even for a few days. The Christmas Market is quite rustic but good so not too commercialised and combined with a trip up the road to Brugges.

We alternate first/last night between here or Wissant and did have bikes on the back previously with no problems but no have a garage for them.

Cant wait to get back and try the Steak restaurant at the end of the road.
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Yeah, forgot the Christmas market (y) We went one year doing a tour of Xmas markets, when we got there gravelines hadn't opened so set off around the useual places with markets, pretty much all the same tat, but when we got back to gravelines, theirs had opened and it was like a real old time affair, all local people got stalls and that, far better the ones we had traveled miles to.
 
I was really impressed with the Gravelines Xmas market. If youre doing a Xmas run of the markets I would thoroughly recommend it. Great for the grandkids
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And found another one of Gravelines aire
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We always use Gravelines if heading in that direction from Calais. On our way back home last March we actually diverted there as everywhere else in the area appeared to be shut down. Never failed to get a spot there and, yes, it has been extended onto the grass area but I'm not sure what that would be like in very wet weather.

Funny how that item about stolen bikes keeps popping up. I actually spoke to the gent involved at the time and a; his bikes weren't stolen, just attempted; and b; he wasn't actually parked on the official aire when it happened.

We stayed there on one occasion and a Belgian parked on the grass left all his equipment, bikes and everything, out overnight with no problems..........

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TerryL said:
Funny how that item about stolen bikes keeps popping up. I actually spoke to the gent involved at the time and a; his bikes weren't stolen, just attempted; and b; he wasn't actually parked on the official aire when it happened.

We stayed there on one occasion and a Belgian parked on the grass left all his equipment, bikes and everything, out overnight with no problems..........
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Sorry Terry, and to suavecarve too. I'm not here to poo poo Gravelines, but there have been many threads/posts on the subject of criminal activity going on there. Those who posted can't all be wrong, surely?

<Broken link removed>

Regards,

Jock. :)
 
Used it probably 4-5 times. Really liked it. Easy to get to, good shops bars, bakery’s and felt safe there. Will definitely go back.
 
O
JockandRita said:
Sorry Terry, and to suavecarve too. I'm not here to poo poo Gravelines, but there have been many threads/posts on the subject of criminal activity going on there. Those who posted can't all be wrong, surely?

<Broken link removed>

Regards,

Jock. :)
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Only had a quick shifty but they appear to me to be the same story which has regurgitated and I went back to 2018.
There was an issue and in here https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...ers-in-france-for-tunnel.224475/#post-4017650 we had one person repeating that he had read park4night reviews.

It looks like old news to me, but people need to be aware

I am unaware of any funsters who have had their bikes stolen nor any that have been gassed !

Cheers
 
suavecarve said:
Only had a quick shifty but they appear to me to be the same story which has regurgitated and I went back to 2018.
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I observed two references from Aug 2020, one from Aug 2018, and one from Sept 2016.

suavecarve said:
I am unaware of any funsters who have had their bikes stolen nor any that have been gassed !
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Just referring to my link alone, there are 5 x cases where Funsters have had bikes tampered with or stolen, or Funsters who know of others who have had bikes tampered with or stolen.

suavecarve said:
but people need to be aware
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Agreed. (y)

Regards,

Jock. :)
 
Not been over the water for about 4 years now , however before that we were regulars on the Gravelines aire , first night arriving in France ( our ferry or train was always the night time silly o " clock ) and also last night when departing . Never had any trouble or bother and a couple of times we were the only ones there ( winter visits ) . Rest of the year was always busy and bustling , it was then like a meeting of the league of nations .

Good shops in the town , not just the ones in the town square a couple of minutes walk from the Aire . We used the bars at the town square and were always made very welcome. Also the chippie there was good , as well as a pizza van that parked up on the town square . Couple of good restaurants in the small streets leading off the town square .

On one visit our fuel filter decided to leak , we went in to the Renault garage next to the aire , they fixed the filter there and then in about 20 -30 minutes and the owner refused point blank to take any payment for their time ..... Better half visited a local patisserie and purchased a box of cakes for the garage staff as a gesture payment . The owner and his staff were genuinely delighted by that .

One downside for us was the level of motorhomers who just simply blanked the aire payant machine and never contributed the 3 or 6 euro fee , dependant on the time of the year. That was despite , at that time , getting free wifi via the , I think , marina office,

As said above ,we"ve not been there for about 4 years , so no idea what the aire is like now. However when eventually we get back to France we definitely will return to Gravelines.
 
JockandRita
Just taken another look and youre right, a member did have their bike stolen in 2018.

For anyone wishing to take a look at these threads in order to form their own opinion and risk assess to the search button and put in "Gravelines bike" then you can see the threads and determine your own judgement.

I ll be using the place again, some might not. It looks to me that there was a spate of thefts, and the reports have been repeated. Offenders hopefully caught, lets hope they dont have younger siblings

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tomm said:
Not been over the water for about 4 years now , however before that we were regulars on the Gravelines aire , first night arriving in France ( our ferry or train was always the night time silly o " clock ) and also last night when departing . Never had any trouble or bother and a couple of times we were the only ones there ( winter visits ) . Rest of the year was always busy and bustling , it was then like a meeting of the league of nations .

Good shops in the town , not just the ones in the town square a couple of minutes walk from the Aire . We used the bars at the town square and were always made very welcome. Also the chippie there was good , as well as a pizza van that parked up on the town square . Couple of good restaurants in the small streets leading off the town square .

On one visit our fuel filter decided to leak , we went in to the Renault garage next to the aire , they fixed the filter there and then in about 20 -30 minutes and the owner refused point blank to take any payment for their time ..... Better half visited a local patisserie and purchased a box of cakes for the garage staff as a gesture payment . The owner and his staff were genuinely delighted by that .

One downside for us was the level of motorhomers who just simply blanked the aire payant machine and never contributed the 3 or 6 euro fee , dependant on the time of the year. That was despite , at that time , getting free wifi via the , I think , marina office,

As said above ,we"ve not been there for about 4 years , so no idea what the aire is like now. However when eventually we get back to France we definitely will return to Gravelines.
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We have noticed the not paying as well, loads just go to the machine and pretend it's not working or that they don't understand it( French are far the worst)
We have never not payed even though we weren't sure wether we were stopping all night or not.
Just love the feeling that this is the start of our next adventure and would willingly pay more, which in fact we do in the bars and restaurants, and the Friday market.
 
tomm said:
Not been over the water for about 4 years now , however before that we were regulars on the Gravelines aire , first night arriving in France ( our ferry or train was always the night time silly o " clock ) and also last night when departing . Never had any trouble or bother and a couple of times we were the only ones there ( winter visits ) . Rest of the year was always busy and bustling , it was then like a meeting of the league of nations .

Good shops in the town , not just the ones in the town square a couple of minutes walk from the Aire . We used the bars at the town square and were always made very welcome. Also the chippie there was good , as well as a pizza van that parked up on the town square . Couple of good restaurants in the small streets leading off the town square .

On one visit our fuel filter decided to leak , we went in to the Renault garage next to the aire , they fixed the filter there and then in about 20 -30 minutes and the owner refused point blank to take any payment for their time ..... Better half visited a local patisserie and purchased a box of cakes for the garage staff as a gesture payment . The owner and his staff were genuinely delighted by that .

One downside for us was the level of motorhomers who just simply blanked the aire payant machine and never contributed the 3 or 6 euro fee , dependant on the time of the year. That was despite , at that time , getting free wifi via the , I think , marina office,

As said above ,we"ve not been there for about 4 years , so no idea what the aire is like now. However when eventually we get back to France we definitely will return to Gravelines.
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You really should go back. The restaurant is very good. Just across the road. Great food, great prices, lovely staff.
It's called leclusier.

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suavecarve said:
JockandRita
Just taken another look and youre right, a member did have their bike stolen in 2018.

For anyone wishing to take a look at these threads in order to form their own opinion and risk assess to the search button and put in "Gravelines bike" then you can see the threads and determine your own judgement.

I ll be using the place again, some might not. It looks to me that there was a spate of thefts, and the reports have been repeated. Offenders hopefully caught, lets hope they dont have younger siblings

View attachment 477436
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We always get the impression that it is other vans that have done any pinching rather than any locals, vans coming and going in the night gives them the opportunity.
 
I was one who had an attempted theft of bikes. A noise disurbed me and I opened the door in my nightwear (don’t ask) to hear footsteps beating a rapid retreat. the cover had been largely unfastened and removed but I had used multiple locks and that had put the thief off. The locks have now been joined by the Strikeback alarm loop.

Up to this point Graveline had been our go-to stop-off both to and from the Tunnel. As mentioned it was convenient with handy bars, shopping and the town itself was of some interest. Circumstances have limited our travelling for a couple of years so we haven’t been back but the lack of theft reports seem to suggest it’s no more of a problem than anywhere else.
 
We've stayed here a few times and we enjoyed the Christmas Market. We ate at a hotel in the main square one evening and had a lovely meal. Never had any problems while there.

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