Mad or desperate?

Attila the Hen

Attila the Hen

Joined
Aug 3, 2015
Posts
100
Likes collected
117
Location
Shropshire
Funster No
37,458
MH
PVC
Exp
3 years campervan, many as a tugger
Ok, so we couldn't get away last summer 'cos of lockdown, then I caught Covid, was hospitalised etc etc & 3 months later I'm still on the slow road to recovery. Two days ago I fell & broke my nose & needed stitches to put my lip back together again - right fed up & bored with constant crocheting!... Then I thought I used to love research when I was at Uni so why not use this lockdown to plan a trip for next year (fingers crossed!) The idea is plan out short trips, max 200km a day or so, staying in villages rather than towns (preferably staying on small campsites like the French municipal sites) and avoiding autoroutes etc. We'll have about 6 weeks to do it in, was thinking maybe head for Italy, possibly in May - need to work out a route where the alpine passes would be open, but we can get out of Italy before it gets too hot!
Yes, I know I'm asking a lot, but I figured I could waste my time doing jigsaws or something so why not? So, how about it? where would you recommend we go?
 
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Attila the Hen said:
Ok, so we couldn't get away last summer 'cos of lockdown, then I caught Covid, was hospitalised etc etc & 3 months later I'm still on the slow road to recovery. Two days ago I fell & broke my nose & needed stitches to put my lip back together again - right fed up & bored with constant crocheting!... Then I thought I used to love research when I was at Uni so why not use this lockdown to plan a trip for next year (fingers crossed!) The idea is plan out short trips, 100km a day or so, staying in villages rather than towns (preferably staying on small campsites like the French municipal sites) and avoiding autoroutes etc. We'll have about 6 weeks to do it in, was thinking maybe head for Italy, possibly in May - need to work out a route where the alpine passes would be open, but we can get out of Italy before it gets too hot!
Yes, I know I'm asking a lot, but I figured I could waste my time doing jigsaws or something so why not? So, how about it? where would you recommend we go?
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Have you not considered Aires, stop anywhere you like , no need to look for sites.
 
chaser said:
Have you not considered Aires, stop anywhere you like , no need to look for sites.
Click to expand...
I agree. We drive to Greece every year and never stay on a site. Occasionally in France when it’s more convenient we’ve used a camping car park but 99% of the time we stop at aires, sostas, park4night places etc.
Mind you, we usually only stay for one night at a time. If you’re planning to stay for longer in each place then sites might be better for you.
 
Last time we were in France it was blooming hot & we didn’t fancy parking on an expanse of concrete
/ glorified car park -We were probably unlucky with the aires we tried though, & would be very happy to reconsider !
 
Attila the Hen said:
Ok, so we couldn't get away last summer 'cos of lockdown, then I caught Covid, was hospitalised etc etc & 3 months later I'm still on the slow road to recovery. Two days ago I fell & broke my nose & needed stitches to put my lip back together again - right fed up & bored with constant crocheting!... Then I thought I used to love research when I was at Uni so why not use this lockdown to plan a trip for next year (fingers crossed!) The idea is plan out short trips, max 200km a day or so, staying in villages rather than towns (preferably staying on small campsites like the French municipal sites) and avoiding autoroutes etc. We'll have about 6 weeks to do it in, was thinking maybe head for Italy, possibly in May - need to work out a route where the alpine passes would be open, but we can get out of Italy before it gets too hot!
Yes, I know I'm asking a lot, but I figured I could waste my time doing jigsaws or something so why not? So, how about it? where would you recommend we go?
Click to expand...
Hi with your luck I think I would stay at home he!he!

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Offagain said:
I agree. We drive to Greece every year and never stay on a site. Occasionally in France when it’s more convenient we’ve used a camping car park but 99% of the time we stop at aires, sostas, park4night places etc.
Mind you, we usually only stay for one night at a time. If you’re planning to stay for longer in each place then sites might be better for you.
Click to expand...
In our 10 (ish) years motorhoming I think we stayed at probably 2 campsites in France and 1 in Ireland. All the rest were aires, some were so, so, but some were absolutely beautiful and most were good to very good. I think one would miss out by rejecting them.

Wyn
 
Attila the Hen said:
Last time we were in France it was blooming hot & we didn’t fancy parking on an expanse of concrete
/ glorified car park -We were probably unlucky with the aires we tried though, & would be very happy to reconsider !
Click to expand...

Glorified car parks? not if you do your homework,a selection from our autumn trip to France and Germany 👍
108B4F83-AF30-4A8A-8FCF-4BCB046BE9B5.jpeg
4CE9173F-25D6-491D-87DF-0EF4E0136C30.jpeg
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8569DA62-0358-4CF3-A9AE-706C0D1FF80B.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Attila the Hen said:
Ok, so we couldn't get away last summer 'cos of lockdown, then I caught Covid, was hospitalised etc etc & 3 months later I'm still on the slow road to recovery. Two days ago I fell & broke my nose & needed stitches to put my lip back together again - right fed up & bored with constant crocheting!... Then I thought I used to love research when I was at Uni so why not use this lockdown to plan a trip for next year (fingers crossed!) The idea is plan out short trips, max 200km a day or so, staying in villages rather than towns (preferably staying on small campsites like the French municipal sites) and avoiding autoroutes etc. We'll have about 6 weeks to do it in, was thinking maybe head for Italy, possibly in May - need to work out a route where the alpine passes would be open, but we can get out of Italy before it gets too hot!
Yes, I know I'm asking a lot, but I figured I could waste my time doing jigsaws or something so why not? So, how about it? where would you recommend we go?
Click to expand...
It is a great plan. So sorry about your health problems this year. Looking forward to next year is all any of us can do.
You could start by putting points on a map, thise places that you would like to visit - google Mymaps is a possibility this. You could use the app Camper Contact and use reviews on sites to help you decide if you would like it.
Then I would say, don’t book anywhere. There is no need to. So you have your plan but you can be flexible. I totally agree about unshaded carpark aires when it is hot - not for me. But if not hot, then there are many aires which are more central to towns than a campsite. It depends on how you like to get about. It is a mix that does it for us.
Happy planning and best wishes for next year.
 
Riverbankannie said:
It is a great plan. So sorry about your health problems this year. Looking forward to next year is all any of us can do.
You could start by putting points on a map, thise places that you would like to visit - google Mymaps is a possibility this. You could use the app Camper Contact and use reviews on sites to help you decide if you would like it.
Then I would say, don’t book anywhere. There is no need to. So you have your plan but you can be flexible. I totally agree about unshaded carpark aires when it is hot - not for me. But if not hot, then there are many aires which are more central to towns than a campsite. It depends on how you like to get about. It is a mix that does it for us.
Happy planning and best wishes for next year.
Click to expand...
Thank you, that looks great! I would add though that the Via Michelin app is very useful & shows scenic routes as well. You’re right, no booking, & plans are made for breaking - I’m just looking forward to using what little brain I have left & enjoying the dream - we can go anywhere!
 
Attila the Hen said:
Thank you, that looks great! I would add though that the Via Michelin app is very useful & shows scenic routes as well. You’re right, no booking, & plans are made for breaking - I’m just looking forward to using what little brain I have left & enjoying the dream - we can go anywhere!
Click to expand...
Absolutely!
 
Attila the Hen said:
Last time we were in France it was blooming hot & we didn’t fancy parking on an expanse of concrete
/ glorified car park -We were probably unlucky with the aires we tried though, & would be very happy to reconsider !
Click to expand...
I quite agree that some aires are glorified car parks, one of our favourite places is like that...........but then, there are others........

F40D849C-005D-4AAD-9332-B36A9A54D6C8.jpeg
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C0198E47-67DC-4BFF-B369-DFAEE64F8F9A.jpeg
 
Attila the Hen said:
Ok, ok, I take your point the aires look lovely - where are they?
Click to expand...

I use a combination of Search for sites,Camperstop and Park 4 Night,our 4 week trip cost about €25 for aires/stelleplatz,water and a bit of electric👍

Wald im Allgau. DE
Cham DE
Schonwald im Schwarzwald. DE
Arc et Senans. F
Forcalquier. F

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Also have a look at vineyard Aires mostly free with facilities, no pressure to buy and good fun wine tasting.
Camper contact and search for sites
IMG-20181020-WA0021.jpg


Marquis de Vauban Castle
Route des Cônes, 33390 Blaye, France
+33 5 57 42 80 37
maps.app.goo.gl

Marquis de Vauban Castle · Rte des Cônes, 33390 Blaye, France

★★★★★ · Winery
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
 
LesW said:
They're everywhere.. start here, https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/webapp.php or https://www.campercontact.com/en

There are other resources but these two are very good.
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Thank you for the ideas - I use searchforsites a lot, but up till now have bypassed the aires, mainly cos we used to need a hook up at night for the chief driver’s controlled pressure air pump, though the new one does run on 12v. There is the trusty remoska to consider though as our van has no oven. Looks like I had better start my researches looking for alternatives to the remoska that run on gas!
 
Attila the Hen said:
Thank you for the ideas - I use searchforsites a lot, but up till now have bypassed the aires, mainly cos we used to need a hook up at night for the chief driver’s controlled pressure air pump, though the new one does run on 12v. There is the trusty remoska to consider though as our van has no oven. Looks like I had better start my researches looking for alternatives to the remoska that run on gas!
Click to expand...

Domestic management just uses Aldis' best cast aluminium saucepans/frying pan 🙂

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Nirvanauk said:
Just to clarify as I've never stopped on one, are you allowed to put table, chairs and awning out on an aires?
Thanks.
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Those photos I put on are all aires, so judge for yourself.
In principal you aren’t supposed to have anything outside the vehicle but 'when in Rome France' just follow the locals.
In most locations, if there’s space, nobody will complain. However, if the space is tight don’t try and take over someone else’s spot with tables, awnings etc. you won’t be popular.
We spend several months in France (in normal years) and use aires almost exclusively. To date we’ve never been told to remove tables or chairs.
Remember, if you go to France the French attitude to most rules ( not motoring rules though) is that they are advisory.

Richard.
 
sedge said:
That one at the Marquis de Vauban chateau would be absolutely ideal - look how close to a large hospital complex it is!! :giggle:
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Be nice, or I’ll have to post a photo! Not for the faint hearted!
 
Most municipal campsites are pretty cheap. We stayed at Martel this year for example and it was about 11 euros with electric, toilets, showers etc. We need to get out fridge fixed so it works in gas (no time for that this year by the time we could get the van from storage lockdown!) Previously we have only used aires in Honfleur and Bruges but would like to try some more. It would be good to know locations of some really nice ones for newbies to Aires perhaps.
 
Lizi said:
Most municipal campsites are pretty cheap. We stayed at Martel this year for example and it was about 11 euros with electric, toilets, showers etc. We need to get out fridge fixed so it works in gas (no time for that this year by the time we could get the van from storage lockdown!) Previously we have only used aires in Honfleur and Bruges but would like to try some more. It would be good to know locations of some really nice ones for newbies to Aires perhaps.
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Agreed! We’ve mostly used municipal sites in small towns & villages in the past & they’ve been great. Recently many of them have been taken over by private companies though, or turned into aires - hence our willingness to give aires a go now. Fortunately I’ve got loads of time to do my research & pick out the good ‘uns!
 
Lizi said:
Most municipal campsites are pretty cheap. We stayed at Martel this year for example and it was about 11 euros with electric, toilets, showers etc. We need to get out fridge fixed so it works in gas (no time for that this year by the time we could get the van from storage lockdown!) Previously we have only used aires in Honfleur and Bruges but would like to try some more. It would be good to know locations of some really nice ones for newbies to Aires perhaps.
Click to expand...
Have a look at the links in my signature. ⬇
Haven't been adding any recently but most of the aires haven’t changed.

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