Mike88 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Has anyone got a copy and if so how good is it? Is it useful for Spain and Portugal? A link to the 2012 version is below although I would buy the 2013 version which is available soon: http://www.camperstop.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FRANKP60 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I have 2012 copy ,16 pages set out in regions for Portugal with average of 10 Stops per page ,some free and some are camp sites.20 pages for Spain again set out in regions with same average,some free and some camp sites.Also has Italy,Austria,Switzerland along with loads of Germany ,France,etc etc.We used it in France although lots of same sites as France aires book. Heavy volume.Worth having especially as it was a present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Just a thought, but there are now several very good website guides that, for free, provide the same if not more information....and get updated regularly. I do wonder how long these printed, cost-a-lot, not up-datable through the year, guides will continue to sell in the face of the internet quicker, more up to date and obviously much cheaper alternatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilmac Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 BGD - 2012-12-05 10:39 AM I do wonder how long these printed, cost-a-lot, not up-datable through the year, guides will continue to sell in the face of the internet quicker, more up to date and obviously much cheaper alternatives. Quite a while yet I think. Although there are many websites (free or subscription) that provide potentially better information there will always be room for a book in the glovebox ready to flick through at any time. Even the websites that provide stopovers via a download or USB stick still need the computer turning on to be able to use the info. Something like an Ipad is the nearest convenience to a physical book but it will be quite a while yet before everyone uses them or some other technical equivalent or ever :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 We have a 2008 copy of the same book in Dutch which we swapped with a Dutch couple in 2010 for an equally old 'All the Aires France' book and we found it very handy in Germany, although less handy in France as it did not seem to be quite as good a coverage and less easy to use than the Vicarious publication. But then the Vicarious book is in my view the best guide available to French Aires, if a little pricey - unless you get a freebie for reporting in with new Aires and photos - many thanks Vicarious!! We had the original Vicarious Books of Iberian Aires and it was not bad for a first attempt but although I have not seen it I understand that the current one is much improved? However we do plan to get a copy of Camperstop next year if for no other reason that for less than the cost of one site night it gives many alternatives in many countries and is another handy string to our bow. On line is all very well but you can't always get online or want to switch a computer on whereas a book you can pick up with ease and thumb through and annotate at any time so call us old fashioned if you like but we still prefer the written guide! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted December 5, 2012 Author Share Posted December 5, 2012 Thanks. I have the Aires and campsites on my sat nav and laptop from the campingcar-infos site and that is an excellent resource. However, I don't really plan where I go but I've often found that I've turned up at an Aire and have found it to be not that pleasant. Also I use ACSI but many of these sites, although good, are not always that well placed and the Camperstop book in 2013 apparently also gives distance of Aires and campsites to nearby towns meaning that you don't end up in the middle of nowhere. I thought a book would be easier or at least helpful as an aid for some mild pre-planning but also as a reference when on the move. My wife can look at possible places while I drive and that is the kind of thing that is easier with hard copy. Anyway thanks to an earlier post from Frank (thanks) I have ordered a copy despite the £25 cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 BGD - 2012-12-05 9:39 AM Just a thought, but there are now several very good website guides that, for free, provide the same if not more information....and get updated regularly. I do wonder how long these printed, cost-a-lot, not up-datable through the year, guides will continue to sell in the face of the internet quicker, more up to date and obviously much cheaper alternatives. Horses for courses again Bruce. Most of us still don't have the kind of internet access which allows us to consult the Web while we're on the move. So while websites are good for planning (even up to the night before) they're not much help when you decide on the spur of the moment to stay "here" rather than go on to "there" as planned. The SatNav can help you LOCATE an Aire or Site at that point, but can't tell you anything about it, so a printed book (in the hands of the ever-competent OH!) is still a great asset. Important to ensure it's as up-to-date as poss though - when we did Central Europe in '09 we found the Caravan Club book next to useless, as it listed numerous places no longer open, while the BordAtlas scored every time. As for French Aires, stands to reason that a French book, published by one of their mags and bought when you get there, is likely to be more "current" than an English-language one bought online long before you leave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 For Portugal this site should receive more coverage Here is a site that provides downloads for POI's and a printable database for those that like hard copy. Personally I tend to rely upon my listings of POI's on the GPS seeking an aire (or camp-site) near to where we are, there are so many that if the nearest in NBG it wont take too much effort to find somewhere suitable to overnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly58 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 WE have used Vicarious Books Aires books Vol 1 /2 /3 . Vol 4 is out shortly which we have ordered with the 2013 ASCI Guide. For Germany we have the Bordatlas . As Tony has stated not all of us have the use of Wi-Fi when we need it , so we check our next route and look up the Aires enroute jotting down the numbers we then look each one up in turn and cross off the one's we do not feel suitable and then make up a short list if none are what we want we then refer to the ASCI guide . We never usually have a fixed agender we just amble along and take it as we find it for us thats the fun in motorhoming . We know some people who would not use Aires even if they were paid to do so and have to book sites for every stage of their journey it may work for them , but certainly not for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Mike88 - 2012-12-04 11:03 PMHas anyone got a copy and if so how good is it? Is it useful for Spain and Portugal? A link to the 2012 version is below although I would buy the 2013 version which is available soon:http://www.camperstop.co.uk/ We have one and several other Vic Book publications, we find it very useful, someone has said that there are a lot better options on line, well there probably are if you can get on line whilst travelling, Personally I don't bother as my books and sat nav get me around, horses for courses I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 there is a camper stop sat nag download available somewhere,....but from memory dont think it included Spain/Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 JudgeMental - 2012-12-05 6:07 PMthere is a camper stop sat nag download available somewhere,....but from memory dont think it included Spain/Portugal For Portugal:- http://www.campingcarportugal.com for Spain:- http://www.areasac.es/v_portal/apartados/pl_paises_3columnas.asp?te=4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 many thanks Roger! ;-) I have last years vicarious books spain/portugal guide if you can call it a book! it is very thin and half the truck stops (not my idea of a fun stop over anyway) carry a warning not to stay there!.. without these I guess it would be approx 20 pages long *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brit_Stops Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Hi Mike, You might also be interested in Espana Discovery, which lists free stopovers at vineyards and farms around Spain (not Portugal, though). http://www.espana-discovery.es/en/welcome It's published in the spring, but not sure exactly when. Nico is travelling around Spain recruiting the hosts himself, and has hundreds of sites listed. It runs along the same lines as France Passion and Brit Stops so there's no fee at any of the sites (which may not have facilities such as waste dumping or fresh water fill up, etc.) and no obligation to purchase from the hosts, but of course they hope their lovely produce will tempt you to part with your money! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJP Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Well we plunge and bought the 2013 English version and had it sent out to Spain. We tried a stop at Peniscola CLOSED Went to a stop in Taragoza, coordinates wrong and it was also a very noisey truck stop, no mention in book. We tried a stop in Haro only to be told no camping here, use the campsite around the corner. We were stood in the leisure centre buliding with the manager and it was the same building as in the picture. We went to another stop in Haro, moved on by the police, you can't stay here it is a religious plot. Showed the officer the picture in the book, still a no and escorted off the land. Went to a stop overlooking Bilbao, closed. Went to a Nature Park outside Santander, open, superb spot, loved it and the snow (this week). So 4 out of 5 closed, no mention of opening/closing period in the book. 1 with wrong/no information. 1 good one, so cost of 1 nights "FREE" camperstop was almost £30.00 We will see how we get on with it in Germany in the summer. Anyone else had a similar problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Not good..if unreliable info def not good!. mine on the way *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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