Guide To Aires In France
Do you know a motorway Aire from an Aire de Camping Car? Have you heard of Aires, but don’t know much about them? Maybe you’ve just come across this French system of motorhome parking and want to know more. Our guide to Aires in France comes from 20 years using Aires all across France, so let’s begin.
1. What is an Aire? Guide to Aires in France.
An Aire is basically parking for self-contained motorhomes, where you can legally park overnight at a designated area. It’s full term is actually Aire de Camping Cars – French for Motorhome area.
Aires were introduced through the government and local authorities in France, recognising the economic contribution motorhome owners bring to an area.
2. Why the need for Aires? Guide to Aires in France
In France, there’s a recognisable difference between caravan and motorhome travel. Caravans for example, have portable water containers, legs to lower before stepping inside and a car towing it between locations. The caravan is taken off the car and set up prior to use, and the car is then the means of transport.
However, a motorhome with combination of vehicle and accommodation in one, provides all facilities on board. A motorhome brings views from an elevated driving position, ease of use and flexibility to move frequently from one location to the next. They have on board water tanks and cooking and sanitary facilities inside, so a motorhome brings a different type of travel to a caravan.
France recognises these differences, realising motorhomes generally move on every day or two. A motorhome needs parking, emptying and re-filling areas and easy access to amenities, attractions and tourist sights. However, it doesn’t need all facilities of a caravan site.
The Aire system bridges the gap between the needs of motorhomes and caravans, providing convenient places for motorhomes to park overnight, usually with a service and dump area to re-fill and empty responsibly.
It’s also good for the business, as motorhome tourism brings extra revenue to shops, restaurants and attractions.
3. What’s The Difference Between Motorway Aires and Designated Motorhome Aires?
There’s often a misunderstanding that Aires on motorways are motorhome Aires. However, this isn’t exactly correct. That’s because Motorway Aires are just areas to park and rest on the motorway for any vehicle. So, as a rule, we never stop overnight on motorway Aires.
Motorway Aires are generally noisy, they can be very busy and often unsafe for overnight stops. These are where any vehicle can stop for a rest, toilet break and sometimes have fuel, shops and a restaurant. In other words they are not dissimilar to motorway services in the UK.
4. Why don’t we stay overnight on Motorway Aires?
Simply because we don’t feel safe doing so. Usually, just a short drive from a motorway can lead to a pleasant town or village and designated motorhome Aire.
5. What’s the full Name for Motorhome Aires?
Although the British call motorhome areas “Aires”, the full name in France is Aire de Camping Cars. Of course, Camping Cars is the French word for Motorhome.
6. How Many Aires are there in France?
There are literally thousands of motorhome Aires in France.
7. Where are Motorhome Aires Located? Guide to Aires in France.
Motorhome Aires can be found in a whole variety of locations across France.
8. Are Aires situated in Scenic Locations?
Sometimes but not always. Each Aire is different. Although many have beautiful settings, some are just located for convenience.
9. Where are Motorhome Aires Located? Guide to Aires in France
Motorhome Aires in France can be found in various locations.
These can be practical parking areas to make it easier for visiting towns or maybe close to nature, for example beside a pretty canal or lake. They can be at ski resorts or the beach, even at tourist attractions, such as a Chateau or other historic monument.
There is no specific setting, each location is different.
10. How Long Can You Stay at an Aire?
The length of stay varies at each location.
If an Aire is private then you can generally stay longer, but if it’s a public Aire provided by the local authority then it’s usually between 24 and 72 hours.
The Mayor of the town states the rules and length of stay and a sign will display details.
11. What Facilities Are There?
There may be no facilities, just parking.
Sometimes a public toilet is nearby but it’s not often. Occasionally a low-amp electric point may be available for a quick charge from one bollard.
Aires are generally just a place to park up and not somewhere to embark on a full blown camping trip.
Aires don’t often come with toilets and showers, so motorhomes and campervans should be self-contained where occupants use their on board facilities.
12. Do you get a spacious pitch?
Aires rarely have a pitch, they generally just have a parking space. Some Aires are like a car park, with marked bays, others maybe free-style.
Parking maybe next to another motorhome and I mean literally enough room to open your habitation door. Other’s may be more spacious, each is different and depends how busy it is.
There are some Aires which have a more spacious feel, particularly some private Aires such as old Municipal Campsites, now operated by Camping-Car Park . These offer a basic caravan-site type set up for motorhomes.
13. What do you park on? Guide to Aires in France
This maybe marked tarmac bays, gravel, grass, sand or dust, basically anything is possible.
14. Is there somewhere to empty and fill?
Yes, generally an Aire also has an area within it or close by where you can drive over a waste grid in the ground to empty the waste water, as well as filling up the fresh water and emptying the loo.
These service points come in different styles. Some are free, others you pay for or are included in the price for the night.
Sometimes the Aire is just a parking area without any service point. Also, there can be a service area without a parking area – this is known an Aire de Service de Camping Cars.
15. Are Motorhome Aires Free to use?
In recent years, more Aires have barriers with payment machines, but some Aires are still free, especially those in less popular areas.
In addition, some Aires have the local Gendarmerie collect the fee, but this is unusual nowadays.
There are different methods to pay, along with various set ups, although some Aires are free to use.
16. How much are Aires? Guide To Aires in France
You can expect to pay anything from 6 Euro up to 20 Euro per night. The more expensive Aires being in desirable locations, especially near the coast.
Some Aires are free to use.
17. Can you put table and chairs out?
If you follow the rule book, if there’s a table and chairs out, then it’s camping behaviour.
However, in some locations, French motorhomes will have out tables, chairs and an awning, but don’t expect this to be the norm.
If we have these out, we’ll put them away before leaving the van or overnight out of respect.
A campsite should be used for those wanting more than a parking area.
18. Can you Book?
Normally you can’t book an Aire. However, the company Camping-Car Park offers a service to book in advance at Aires they operate. To do this you buy their privilege pass first.
All other Aires are usually first come, first served. This suits us, because if we don’t like the look of it we’ll drive on.
19. How do you find Aires in France?
There are several phone Apps that you can download to find Aires throughout France. There’s also books and motorhome parking signs at locations. We also have these built into our Garmin Sat Nav.
Top Apps For Motorhome Stopovers
20. How Many Motorhomes Fit on an Aire?
There maybe just a few spaces or anything upwards of 50 or 60, each is different.
21. Are Aires Suitable For Children?
Although we have seen children on Aires, it maybe more practical and enjoyable to stay on a campsite. An Aire is mostly very basic without facilities or a safe space for children to play.
There can be lots of traffic movement of big vehicles in an often small area too.