Star55 Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Hi I noticed last year someone posted that apparently the Aire down by the beach was going to be closed and facilities moved to the yacht basin area where parking already exists and I wondered if anyone knew if this had happened. We're quite happy to stay at the larger area but are concerned there are no facilities so you have to go all the way to the Aire to fill & empty. We're in a small motorhome so our tanks are not too large - we're OK for fresh as we carry containers but waste could be an issue. We are not happy with just letting it go on the car park - environmental issues etc but to have to store in containers to take over the next morning is not desirable either. We need to be handy for the Tunnel as we are not early risers so need to be able to almost roll out of bed and onto train! thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Get up earlier and stay at Gravelines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 We stayed at the City d'Europe parking last night (for about the 6th time) along with a handful of vans..nice and quiet, good shopping in centre + plus plenty of choice for a meal and drinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 We were at the Calais aire last November and there was no sign of its being closed in the near future. As the adjacent camp site was closed at this time, there was no one to collect any money and so it was 100% free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawcara Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Strewth, I was just logging on to ask this very question. Intend to go away in March, got a week off and want to visit Brugge and area. Need to catch the boat back and want an aire nearby. A couple of years ago we went to Cite Europe and there were some people wandering about looking into vans,so we left, but all seems ok now Judge? Are there any other suggestions for staying overnight before the ferry, is the port area a possibility at all? Thank you :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gocro Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 There in January, the aires are now free out of season . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Hawcara - 2014-02-23 7:42 PM Strewth, I was just logging on to ask this very question. Intend to go away in March, got a week off and want to visit Brugge and area. Need to catch the boat back and want an aire nearby. A couple of years ago we went to Cite Europe and there were some people wandering about looking into vans,so we left, but all seems ok now Judge? Are there any other suggestions for staying overnight before the ferry, is the port area a possibility at all? Thank you :-D have never had a problem there..by coincidence we were at Brugge aire the night before...Brugge is now very expensive for eating out.the beer is OK but not as good as Germany in our opinion.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 JudgeMental - 2014-02-23 7:58 PM Hawcara - 2014-02-23 7:42 PM Strewth, I was just logging on to ask this very question. Intend to go away in March, got a week off and want to visit Brugge and area. Need to catch the boat back and want an aire nearby. A couple of years ago we went to Cite Europe and there were some people wandering about looking into vans,so we left, but all seems ok now Judge? Are there any other suggestions for staying overnight before the ferry, is the port area a possibility at all? Thank you :-D have never had a problem there..by coincidence we were at Brugge aire the night before...Brugge is now very expensive for eating out.the beer is OK but not as good as Germany in our opinion.... We always found Brugge expensive to eat out- once got charged €1 extra per person for gravy with our meal!!! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star55 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Re going to Gravelines - I have an old Aires book and there doesn't appear to be any facilities there either? I just need somewhere for waste water at Calais or do people just let it run out at the large car park rather than go across town to the Aire? I am quite happy staying there but I have a problem if there is nowhere to empty waste water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gocro Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 NEVER let your waste water out on a car park or on the open road, dispose of thoughtfully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star55 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Quite - hence the question as there are no facilities at the car park so what are vans with small capacity tanks supposed to do? I was just wondering if the authorities were upgrading that area why they had not installed water/drainage. If they have not, then we will have to reconsider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Star55 - 2014-02-23 9:24 PM Re going to Gravelines - I have an old Aires book and there doesn't appear to be any facilities there either? I just need somewhere for waste water at Calais or do people just let it run out at the large car park rather than go across town to the Aire? I am quite happy staying there but I have a problem if there is nowhere to empty waste water.The facilities at Gravelines are just up the road and are signposted. It's a proper disposal point etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 It amazes me how people get very excited about grey water. It's water with a bit of dissolved soap and food particles in it! It's not going to kill anyone! Clearly, you don't dump it on a car park in front of passers-by but carry a bucket, drain your waste into it and tip it down the nearest street drain. My own waste discharges to the side and I can position it over a drain and dump the lot. It's also perfectly acceptable to dump it along hedgerows or into undergrowth. Some CL owners actually encourage this. I alway find it strange that in summer on sites in Europe that are parched people won't feed the plants and bushes by sprinkling their grey water around the roots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keninpalamos Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Had Enough - 2014-02-23 10:26 PM It amazes me how people get very excited about grey water. It's water with a bit of dissolved soap and food particles in it! It's not going to kill anyone! Clearly, you don't dump it on a car park in front of passers-by but carry a bucket, drain your waste into it and tip it down the nearest street drain. My own waste discharges to the side and I can position it over a drain and dump the lot. It's also perfectly acceptable to dump it along hedgerows or into undergrowth. Some CL owners actually encourage this. I alway find it strange that in summer on sites in Europe that are parched people won't feed the plants and bushes by sprinkling their grey water around the roots. Yippie! wise words mate I always thought it was plutonium that came out of M/home waste tanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auditor Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Another purpose built Camping Car service facility, at Calais, is the one at the Auchan supermarket. It is situated, and signed, at the side of their garage, on the opposite side of the road to the supermarket, with easy access. This is a drive over service point, and not for overnight parking, but very convenient to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star55 Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Thanks for letting me know about the facilities at Auchan and at Gravelines, much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ham Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 When we stayed on the yacht Basin in October the guy collecting the fee ,told us that the campsite had closed and the sea front aire would also close some time in 2014, Has they are going to build a conference centre there. He also stated that a new Aire was going to be providing further along the coast and when that was finished the Aire at the yacht basin would end... Apparently they are still trying to get the funding together for this new development... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly58 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 The Auchan filling station at Coquelles ( less than 10 minutes from City Europe ) has a service point if you do not want to pay for water to wash out your toilet cassette just use your grey waste water , Then you can overnight on the motorhome park at City Europe ready for your early morning crossing. As easy as that and fill up with cheap diesel . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambukashot Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Here are few locations around Calaishttp://www.camperstops.co.uk/index.php/en/component/search_gmapfp/1112?Country=-All-&County=-All-&City=-All-&Categorie=-All-&Order=Newest&Word=calais&Modid=162-Search-Map&Itemid=1112 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Just had a look on I-Campingcar and Campingcar infos and both still include the Aire beside the beach with a great view of the Ferries! but if you want some something a little better try MARCK at Latitude : (Nord) 50.95625° Décimaux ou 50° 57' 22'' Longitude : (Est) 1.92837° Décimaux ou 1° 55' 42'' Parking et Service Gratuite and fairly modern facilities. From www.campingcar-infos.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Quote 'Grocro' NEVER let your waste water out on a car park or on the open road, dispose of thoughtfully. How much I agree with you, Its no wonder that Camping carists are treated like travelers if they are encouraged to act like them, Grey water STINKS especially in the summer and the grease , well don't get me going............But I have to assume that others do not have that problem even with their black water *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star55 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Thanks for all the useful info - I was particularly interested to hear about the possible move of the Aire so no wonder they are not doing anything about facilities at the other parking area. That would be a shame as we have been coming for years and do contribute to the economy of Calais by shopping and going out for a meal but if the location is away from amenities, this would not encourage us to stay. We shall await developments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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