Planning to go to France with a motorhome or campervan? Need to keep in free or low-cost in a single day stopovers as a substitute of pricey campsites? Then Aires is likely to be for you! For those who’re questioning what’s a French Aire, right here’s the whole lot you have to learn about tips on how to discover low-cost or free in a single day stopovers as you journey– with out reserving something prematurely.
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Discover France by motorhome utilizing French Aires
We love touring France in our motorhome. It’s a gorgeous nation and having the ability to discover in our personal automobile permits us to discover as many chateaux, vineyards and seashores as we like!
We hardly ever have a route or itinerary deliberate out other than the tunnel or ferry, so having the ability to discover French aires as we go is ideal for us- it provides us the flexibleness to cease in an space for some time or drive someplace totally different if it takes our fancy.
However HOW will we do that? How will we journey to a different nation with out reserving any in a single day motorhome parking stopovers prematurely? Reply- we use an exquisite system known as French Aires.
Confused already? No thought what I’m speaking about? Don’t worry- we didn’t know aires existed till we purchased our first camper, so that you’re not alone! On this publish, I’m going to share all about tips on how to discover, use and luxuriate in French aires together with your motorhome or campervan- and open up a complete new world of freedom for you.
NOTE: it is a massive, in-depth information. If you wish to obtain it for FREE, click on right here
What’s an aire in France?
There are literally a number of sorts of ‘aire’ in France.
Aire de service which means
An ‘aire de service’ is an ‘space of service’ or a service space, usually discovered on French motorways and sometimes have waste amenities and accepted parking bays for motorhomes.
They’re the identical as a service station within the UK and supply gas, bathrooms, eating places, a store and so forth and so forth. You possibly can typically purchase refillable fuel from an aire de service too, though not all the time. There’ll typically be a merchandising machine for warm drinks and typically a microwave for public use too.
In an aire de service, you’ll typically discover motorhome disposal factors, the place you may pay a few euro to empty your waste tank and bathroom, and refill with recent water. It’s not all the time clear if the water is appropriate for consuming or not; if unsure, don’t put it in your recent water tank or use chemical compounds like this to make it protected for consuming.
In a single day Tenting Automotive parking French motorway
Are you able to keep in a single day in an ‘aire de service’ on a French motorway? Sure, typically it’s allowed. They typically have particular motorhome parking areas and there shall be an allowed time you’re allowed to remain for. This shall be displayed clearly on an indication someplace close by. If unsure, ask.
Simply keep in mind, it’s a motorway service station, so it’s not the nicest of locations to cease. Lorries will come and go in any respect hours too, so we solely use these once we’re determined.
To confuse you even additional, different sorts of aire (that are those you’re in all probability on the lookout for) are additionally sometimes called ‘aires de service’… so once you’re on the lookout for good locations to cease, search for any which aren’t proper on a motorway- extra on this later!
Aire de repos
‘Aire de repos’ are additionally discovered on the sides of roads, and once more are accepted relaxation stops. You’ll typically discover campers and lorries parked up in these however there are hardly ever any amenities, apart from a few picnic tables.
Once more, you may keep in these aires in a single day, typically as much as 24 hours if you want, however once more, lorries will make noise all night time and also you’re fairly uncovered. We’ve stayed in these a few occasions when actually drained, nevertheless it’s positively not our most popular choice.
There are additionally aires de jeu (playgrounds), aire de loisirs (rec space) and several other others. We all know, it will get complicated. We attempt to discover the aires BEFORE worrying concerning the signs- extra on how to try this beneath!
French aires- Tenting automobile park in France
These are the kind of aire in France you’re in all probability on the lookout for. These are accepted motorhome (or tenting automobile) parking areas that are offered ALL OVER France, typically very near villages and cities.
They’re usually a carpark or massive gravel space, the place motorhomes are allowed to park in a single day, and even for a number of nights. Some are correctly marked out into bays, others are a free-for-all and you’ll park wherever and nonetheless you want!
Usually, these are run by the native council and are designed to encourage folks to go to the world. They’re almost all the time effectively saved and welcoming, with indicators in French and sometimes English. If the indicators aren’t in English, the data shall be displayed in a means that’s pretty simple to know.
Most aires in France may have a store/ bar/ cafe inside simple strolling distance. Strolling to get recent French bread within the morning is one among our favorite issues about motorhoming round France.
What amenities do aires in France have?
They typically (however not all the time!) have amenities corresponding to:
- emptying waste water (usually a drive-over grill)- can typically be used totally free
- Empty bathroom
- refill with recent water. Ingesting water is ‘eau potable’ in French
Usually this comes at an extra cost and you will have change to make use of these facilities- we feature a pot within the motorhome and put all our spare Euros in there for moments identical to this!
Some aires have restrictions on what you may empty into them, particularly in the event that they’re on the fosse system. This implies it’s a must to watch out which chemical you employ in your bathroom and gray waste. We use a product known as Solbio natural bathroom fluid, which is pure and doesn’t comprise dangerous chemical compounds. It’s additionally protected to be disposed of in septic tanks or fosse, which means now we have extra choices to eliminate our bathroom responsibly.
Water is often 1€ for 50 litres or one thing related.
Do aires in France have loos or bathrooms?
Sometimes you’ll discover an aire in France with bathrooms, however not typically. Most aires anticipate you to be self-contained. After all, there shall be bathrooms within the close by village or city, however hardly ever on the aire itself.
There may be not all the time a spot to enter the woods and ‘relieve your self’ either- many aires are like massive automobile parks, so should you want bathrooms, choose your aires fastidiously!
Electrical connectors
Some aires in France have electrical factors you may hook up with, others don’t and you have to be self-sufficient in the course of your keep. A lot of the aires we’ve utilized in France use the identical electrical connectors as we use within the UK.
Some aires require tokens with a view to use the electrical. Usually, these have to be bought from an accepted location (just like the native bar!), which is okay… until you arrive when that location is closed.
There’s no means round it- if it’s shut, you’re not getting electrical that night time. For those who’re determined, search for an aire which doesn’t want tokens, however ideally you’ll need your motorhome to have the ability to survive an evening (or two!) with out the necessity for electrical.
Discover ways to arrange your motorhome for off-grid parking (wild tenting) right here.
How lengthy are you able to keep at a French Aire?
That will depend on the Aire and is set by the native council. Many are 24 hours max, however some help you keep for 3/4 days if you want. All the data shall be on the signal within the aire.
Tenting Automotive park France
You’ll sometimes see an Aire known as a ‘tenting automobile park’. This doesn’t imply you will get out the pup tent- tenting automobile is the French phrase(s) for motorhome/ RV.
Tenting automobile park is a community of privately owned aires (most was council run) which have now been taken over. The perfect factor about Tenting carparks is you may typically guide an area in advance- which makes utilizing aires a lot much less daunting!
Heading to France? You is likely to be fascinated by these associated posts:
How do you discover French Aires?
Ah- right here’s the magic of travelling and not using a plan. There are a few methods to search out aires in France, particularly as you’re travelling. We by no means have them deliberate in advance- we all the time discover them en-route.
Are you able to guide Aires prematurely?
No- or at the least very very hardly ever. (Sometimes, it’s potential to guide on-line, particularly within the mountains in winter should you’re going motorhome snowboarding.) The entire level of aires is flexibility and freedom.
The excellent news is that its first come, first served. The dangerous information is that standard locations grow to be full VERY shortly. So don’t wait too late to start out discovering someplace to cease, in case your first alternative is full and you have to discover someplace else to go.
NOTE: There’s a new France winter tyre law- learn extra right here
Watch the video explaining about French Aires
Want listening/ watching video? I share our suggestions, plus some photographs/ movies of aires in France we’ve stayed in with our motorhome.
We hope you discovered the video helpful. For those who did, we’d find it irresistible if you adopted us on Youtube. New movies with suggestions for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe are launched weekly.
Aires tenting automobile France apps
We typically use the app park4night.com to search out aires or accepted in a single day motorhome locations. We determine whether or not we need to wild camp for the night time or whether or not we want amenities/ need to cost motorhome batteries and so forth.
If we need to cost/ empty bathrooms or discover someplace to park for a couple of days so we are able to trip our bikes, we head for a French Aire.
Then, we glance on the app for aires with photographs (so we are able to see the size of the areas and see if our motorhome and trailer will match!) and we have a look at the critiques. If there are many detrimental critiques, we preserve on the lookout for one other place.
Finally, we discover someplace we just like the look/ really feel of. I typically attempt to have a backup choice too, in case our first alternative is full once we arrive.
Then, we pop the co-ordinates into the GPS and head in direction of our chosen spot!
Different apps/ web sites we use to search out aires in France are:
- Campercontact (web site only- you have to pay for the app, though the app does work offline, so it’s helpful!)
All of the Aires guidebook
There are professionals and cons of the ‘All of the aires’ guidebook. The largest professional is that you just don’t want entry to the web with a view to discover someplace to remain. That is VERY helpful once you’re within the Alps and may’t get a sign.
The con is that the data goes old-fashioned and it’s potential to show up at an aire which has been shut. Having mentioned that, it’s potential for this to occur utilizing Park4night too.
For those who’re planning on doing a variety of motor homing in France, the All of the Aires guidebook positively definitely worth the funding/ house within the camper.
Don’t fear if a guide is a 12 months or two old-fashioned. A lot of the aires don’t change fairly often. Having mentioned that, we all the time choose to search out French Aires on-line in order that we are able to learn latest critiques and be taught any updates (corresponding to closing for upkeep or shutting down.)
Are aires in France open all 12 months?
Some are. Some aren’t. You should examine fastidiously once you’re on the lookout for an aire to remain at. Many aires within the Alps solely open April-November ish as a result of snow closing roads.
What to do on arrival at an aire in France
Typically discovering the aire could be a problem. You should search for an indication of a motorhome over a waste disposal point- typically in black or blue.
- Once you arrive, drive slowly and get your bearings. Some aires have signed entrances/ exits, others don’t.
- Earlier than you flip in, see should you can see an area on your camper. These locations are sometimes very troublesome to show round in. If unsure and also you’re travelling with another person, allow them to out to go take a look earlier than you commit.
- Count on everybody to cease and watch. Motorhomers are nosy/ folks. Don’t be intimidated.
- Choose your spot and park up.
- The very first thing to do, earlier than you set the kettle on, is to go learn the indicators and pay something due. Learn how lengthy you may keep and what the principles are. Test this in opposition to the data from park4night or a book- guidelines change and the principles on the signal are essentially the most up-to-date.
When is the most effective time to reach at an aire?
If you wish to go to a selected location, corresponding to a city/ metropolis (try these prime 10 cities to go to in France), then I like to recommend arriving by lunchtime, earlier than everybody else turns up- particularly in case you are travelling throughout July/ August (peak summer season months in France). Many standard aires get loopy busy and by 2pm they are often utterly full.
Free in a single day parking for motorhomes? What do Aires value?
Some are completely free, until you make use of the amenities. Some value a few Euros and others value as a lot as 15€, which I feel is the utmost we’ve paid thus far. We are inclined to keep away from cities, however I imagine aires near standard places value extra and are far more crowded.
Tips on how to use French Aires- what are the principles?
- Aires are first come, first served. They can’t be booked or reserved prematurely.
- There shall be a time restrict you’re allowed to remain for, notably if the aire is free. This shall be clearly signposted on the aire and folks DO check- don’t overstay your welcome.
- Some aires have areas subsequent to them to help you put out an awning and out of doors chairs. If the signal says it’s allowed and if different persons are doing it, then go forward. Nevertheless, if there isn’t an area, assume that outdoors seating/ awnings are prohibited. Aires aren’t campsites- they’re in a single day stopovers.
- Don’t take up one other motorhome parking place together with your gear- that’s not allowed.
- If in case you have a trailer, be very cautious which aires you choose. We glance fastidiously at photographs and critiques to search out areas both lengthy sufficient for our motorhome, or the place there’s house for us to take our trailer off and have it subsequent to the van. Many aires are for campers as much as max 7m lengthy and a few areas are VERY tight- particularly in well-known or constructed up areas.
- Don’t play loud music or be too rowdy- these are quiet locations for folks to take pleasure in their travels.
- No tents. Ever.
- Don’t park within the servicing space any longer than it’s a must to. Undoubtedly don’t depart your camper unattended right here and block the providers for different folks while you go to the bar!
- Don’t depart any garbage or litter. If there aren’t any bins, take it with you!
Can campervans use aires in France
Completely. Campervans and even transformed vehicles are welcome at aires, so long as it’s a campervan and never a piece automobile. Vans with signage on or ‘stealth campers’ are sometimes not allowed and now we have seen them being requested to maneuver on.
Can caravans use aires in France?
No. Most aires don’t permit caravans. The one locations I do know for caravans to park in a single day are both wild tenting or precise campsites. You would possibly be capable of use aires de repos- I doubt anybody would examine. This is among the greatest professionals when deciding between motorhomes or caravans for us.
Sleeping in French Aires
We sleep nice in French Aires. They’re typically quiet, and motorhome homeowners are inclined to look out for one another. We’ve had full strangers shout at native children who’ve come over to take a look at our motorbikes- warning the youngsters to remain away and never contact. We’ve by no means had a disturbed nights sleep in an aire… apart from with the pet wanting to take a seat on my head! 🙁
Are aires in France protected?
As all the time, there are not any absolutes with security. We’ve by no means had an incident at a French aire (contact wooden!) however that’s to not say nothing can occur.
Put it this manner, some aires now we have an ideal feeling about and fortunately depart our motorhome for a couple of hours whereas we go and trip our motorbikes. These are the aires the place we spend a day or two to unwind and calm down between driving (if it’s allowed).
Others, we don’t depart the van unattended in any respect and transfer on the subsequent morning till we discover someplace higher. You HAVE to belief your gut- should you’re unsure, transfer on.
Tenting automobile information in English at French Aires
Most aires in France have information for tenting vehicles (Motorhomes) in French and English. If not, there shall be indicators making it simple to know what you have to know.
How do you pay for aires in France?
The toughest half is commonly determining tips on how to pay on your keep at a French Aire. Some have parking meters (which regularly solely settle for change- another excuse for the change tub!) however some require you to go to the native bar/ cafe/ store with a view to pay.
This could be a bit daunting- particularly if it’s filled with locals who all cease to stare as you stroll in. Don’t let that put you off- we’ve had some nice nights at French bars and not using a clue what’s being happening round us.
Try to communicate slightly French once you enter- it can heat the locals to you. Say one thing like “J’ai un tenting automobile dans l’aire. Est-ce que je paie ici?”
Count on the proprietor to ask questions like how many individuals (combien des personnes) and what number of nights you need to keep for (combien des nuits?)
Are canine allowed on French Aires?
After all! France loves canine and also you’ll see them in all places. There are not any restrictions in having them on an aire, however they have to be saved on a lead always.
Travelling to France with a Canine? You would possibly discover these posts helpful:
Different Motorhome websites France
There are many locations for motorhomes throughout France. For those who don’t want to use an aire, there are campsites in all places, with amenities corresponding to swimming swimming pools (bliss in the summertime!), retailers, bars or seashores.
There’s additionally a scheme known as France Ardour, which is a set of vineyards, farms and different locations the place they provide free or low-cost in a single day motorhome parking. It’s a bit like BritStops within the UK.
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Motorhome wild tenting in France – is it authorized?
Completely- so long as you observe the principles. Discover out extra about wild tenting with a motorhome in France (and tips on how to discover locations to cease.)
Greatest aires in France
There are too many aires to make that choice- and we haven’t stayed at all of them! Nevertheless, our favorite aires are those with unbelievable views- like this one within the French Alps or those close to well-known historic locations in France– makes sightseeing even simpler!
Significantly- you’d pay a fortune for a lodge room with a view like that!
We additionally just like the aires the place you may keep for a few nights- it’s good to have a break from driving and possibly get the motorbikes out to discover the world higher. This guide has some stunning aires to encourage your subsequent journey:
So, I hope you are actually enthusiastic about attempting out some French aires in your motorhome tour of France! Let me know the place you finish up- I’d like to see photos. Be at liberty so as to add them onto my Fb web page or be a part of our Motorhome Fb group right here.
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