JohnP Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Are the aires at Berck Sur Mer still open. If so which one do you prefer. Which others do you recommend within 60 miles of Calais. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickt Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 After doing a google for this aire ,there are a lot of negative views, not a nice place, crime ect. I have stayed at LeCrotoy and Saint Valery sur Somme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Tardinghen, a private farm aire, cost 5 euros, or the very convenient Aire on the toll section of the A16 at Baie De Somme set well back from the motorway and a dedicated area just for Motorhomes, we use it frequently free of charge with fresh water and dump point. http://www.baiedesomme.fr/en/aire-autoroutiere-de-la-baie-de-somme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
multiplamum Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Berck is horrible. Don't know anything about the Aires but if they are anything like the town then stay away. The aire at St Valery sure Somme is very nice and close to a pretty resort. One word of warning though - the exit barrier is very tricky and if you don't park in exactly the right place then chaos ensues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertandjean Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Have not been to Breck for a long time but according to sites like camping-car infos, indicate are open. Main complaint seems to be regarding cost of aire which is around 8 €/night. Ones we have stayed on fairly recently west of Calais include: Le Portel, handy for beach etc also bus to Boulogne. Does get full quickly, limited hook ups, around 5€/night Le Touquet, one by estuary, again can be very busy, but good restaurants etc in town. Now think 15€/night, no hook up. Equihen Place, nice setting on cliff top, but some on web complain of smell from nearby sewage works, we never noticed it. Aire has recently been upgraded, barrier entry, marked pitches and not sure but maybe more hook ups. Think now 7€/night. Le Treport .Well set out pitches with hook ups, level walk to pleasant seaside town. Always enjoy our stay here. Round about 12€/night. Dieppe Near port and level walk to town, well worth visit. This aire closed now for major refurbishment, so do check before going. When does reopen will have marked pitches, hook ups, barrier entry etc with charge of 12€/night. Looking forward to visiting after it reopens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 We stopped very briefly at Equihen Plage one year, trust me if you didn't smell the small sewage plant you must have had the wind in the opposite direction, and It wouldn't be my definition of a pleasant setting, it was actually a free aire at the time, but even if they had have paid me I wouldn't have stopped, tried to have lunch there, but gave up through gagging , and if this was someones first experience of an aire I doubt they'd bother with any others, mind you I think most of the aires around this part of France are dire, and Le Touquet is probably one of the most motorhome unfriendly spots around, apart from the provision of the now ( extortionate ) Aire which is a fair old hike from the town, one can give up on any idea of parking nearer the town just for a look round, never seen so many no motorhome parking signs anywhere else Anyway here's a picture of said Aire, in case the OP has it on his short list, and the sewage treatment plant arrowed above the motorhomes parked, perhaps they thought the smell was someones sog system, or they are not too fussy ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertandjean Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Joe, have stayed on aire at equin plage a couple of times and no smell apparent, it must depend on wind direction. Never known this aire to be free. What used to happen was vanners would arrive late, leave early to avoid person collecting payment. New barrier system should stop this and is being used more and more across France, rightly in our opinion. Regarding le Touquet then yes walk from estuary, or hippadrome aire to town is fairly long but in summer there is a free bus service from road down from estuary aire to beach and town centre. As long as towns make provision for motorhomes to stay then have no objection to them restricting parking in other parts of town. True cost of Aires in le Touquet is towards top end but most we now use are around 10€/night, although for this more often than not have hook up, which is not case as yet at Touquet. If looking for a free aire in this area then could try Stella Plage. No sevices with parking on roadside on campsite entry road. Stayed one night one August when arrived at Le Touquet very late and was full. Stella seemed very popular with French vanners with families but not for us and would not recommend but it is free! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Aire Baie De Somme has a reputation for break ins..Like all motorway stops best avoided 8-) "There were warning sings from the local police advising vigilance, as there had been a number of thefts from leisure vehicles parked overnight even though they contained people sleeping. The local police 24/7 contact telephone was given, together with the advice not to stop the night. For this reason I parked in the noisier bays near the main building and fuel station and I did notice quite a frequent police presence. There was no one parked overnight in the remote caravan / motorhome parking bays." http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/overseas-parks-touring/36082-overnight-stop-end-july-orange-or-nimes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Pay 10e a night for an aire? I would sooner stay in a municipal camp site, and be able to put my chairs out, and have toilet facilities i expect the French to be charging for more aires, to get foreign money, to help the poor economy, and the locals to wild camp elsewhere ! PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 JudgeMental - 2015-04-30 9:27 AM Aire Baie De Somme has a reputation for break ins..Like all motorway stops best avoided 8-) "There were warning sings from the local police advising vigilance, as there had been a number of thefts from leisure vehicles parked overnight even though they contained people sleeping. The local police 24/7 contact telephone was given, together with the advice not to stop the night. For this reason I parked in the noisier bays near the main building and fuel station and I did notice quite a frequent police presence. There was no one parked overnight in the remote caravan / motorhome parking bays." http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/overseas-parks-touring/36082-overnight-stop-end-july-orange-or-nimes Posted on a forum from a single individual 5 years and three months ago, :-S people can please themselves all I can say is we've stopped there many times without issue, and in the company of others, and it's always been far from deserted. As far as a frequent Police presence is concerned that's the last thing folk want, much better for the low lifes to have free reign. ;-) P.S the post immediately below the one quoted states, so use your own judgement. We've slept there many times now, and never had a problem - but I do know other people are very cautious about staying overnight. We've not heard of any problems at Baie de la Somme And I'd suggest anyone who has not had first hand knowledge of a suggested stopover, rather than trawling the internet to find someone who has, and five years ago at that, is not best placed to give advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I actually stopped there on way down to Spain as it is convenient, based on convenience and what Frank had previously said, not again...... We were related some stories then about the police stopping people staying overnight. 5 vans were done recently that is what I was told, dog saved person who related the story. I just looked around online quickly to find some evidence and posted first I found...By all means carry on, do what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 JudgeMental - 2015-04-30 9:27 AM Aire Baie De Somme has a reputation for break ins..Like all motorway stops best avoided 8-) Well, thanks for the advice but having stayed there many times and overnighted on other picnic aires without the slightest problem, I'll carry on doing the same. I have never seen a warning sign but have seen regular checks by the police. But what always puzzles me is why thieves wishing to rob motorhomes would travel up a motorway to do it? Why not just rob motorhomes on town aires where, having done the deed they can disappear into the surrounding streets? On motorways there are cameras and toll records proving they've been there, it makes no sense. If anyone is of a nervous disposition they should stay on sites that are well protected because the chances of being robbed on the hundreds of motorhome aires is just the same as on motorway picnic aires. I suspect that the people issuing these warnings and scare stories have never actually stayed on motorway picnic aires, if they had they'd know that they are as safe as many other places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 robertandjean - 2015-04-30 9:12 AM Never known this aire to be free. What used to happen was vanners would arrive late, leave early to avoid person collecting payment. Never! I'm shocked! Next thing people will be saying that not using campsites is all about money. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 PJay - 2015-04-30 9:38 AM Pay 10e a night for an aire? I would sooner stay in a municipal camp site, and be able to put my chairs out, and have toilet facilities PJay But wouldn't you miss being able to open the window and chat to your neighbour who's only three feet away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 http://s358.photobucket.com/user/vindiboy1/library/WILD%20CAMPING%201 Wild camping for the non believers hee hee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I've stayed at the Baie de Somme Aire at least 20 times with absolutely no problem. It's convenient and free. I've even spoken to people who holiday there as it is apparently great for cycling. Not my ideal way to spend a holiday but we are all different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan MMM Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Thread moderated. Feel free to offer conflicting opinions but please leave personal comments out of it. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 vindiboy - 2015-04-30 11:24 AM http://s358.photobucket.com/user/vindiboy1/library/WILD%20CAMPING%201 Wild camping for the non believers hee hee. Wild? The first picture of that aire (and a few others) looks very cosy. ;-) I wild camp when the circumstances are right, I also like some aires but many are (for me) only good for an overnight stop. I've had some lovely ones though and the one by the river at St Antonin Noble Val for example is one where we stayed three days, but only because it was quiet and we had the end slot. If it was busy and there'd been a 'van four feet on either side of us we'd have moved onto the campsite down the road. If we decide that we'd like to stay somewhere for a few day I also like certain types of sites as you get a large pitch and there's no scrabbling around trying to find water or a suitable place to wild camp and I enjoy meeting all the other people nearby. But what I am not is an proselytiser for one kind of camping over another. I can understand why people don't want to pay for sites, I can understand why people may enjoy wild camping even if they can afford sites, I can understand the attraction of many aires, but I can't understand how people can put up with a great many of them, which are crowded slums. In this case cost, or lack of it, must be the only attraction. My wish though would be that you and others try to understand why so many people prefer sites. Yes, we have self-contained mobile homes but we like space, we like to stay somewhere nice for longer periods and walk and cycle or motorbike around the area, rather than moving on and driving every day. So I suppose my message is, we all like different methods of camping and we shouldn't be constantly feigning bewilderment because others are different from ourselves. But haven't you noticed that you seldom get people starting threads telling us about a nice campsite that they've just found? But we do seem to get a number of threads by those pushing aires and wanting to convince us how wonderful they are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Had Enough - 2015-04-30 1:00 PM But haven't you noticed that you seldom get people starting threads telling us about a nice campsite that they've just found? Probably because people who have never stayed there, liken them to Dale Farm ;-) .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 pelmetman - 2015-04-30 1:06 PM Had Enough - 2015-04-30 1:00 PM But haven't you noticed that you seldom get people starting threads telling us about a nice campsite that they've just found? Probably because people who have never stayed there, liken them to Dale Farm ;-) .......... Well, to be fair, only when they are. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Had Enough - 2015-04-30 10:39 AM PJay - 2015-04-30 9:38 AM Pay 10e a night for an aire? I would sooner stay in a municipal camp site, and be able to put my chairs out, and have toilet facilities PJay But wouldn't you miss being able to open the window and chat to your neighbour who's only three feet away? Definitely NOT Frank One problem we have found when staying on an aire (Very Infrequently) is being RHD and van door on left, , MUCH too close for comfort. and on one occasion unable to put step down!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Had Enough - 2015-04-30 1:35 PM pelmetman - 2015-04-30 1:06 PM Had Enough - 2015-04-30 1:00 PM But haven't you noticed that you seldom get people starting threads telling us about a nice campsite that they've just found? Probably because people who have never stayed there, liken them to Dale Farm ;-) .......... Well, to be fair, only when they are. ;-) Having never stayed on Dale farm.......... I'll have to bow to your more informed knowledge :D ............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 pelmetman - 2015-04-30 2:36 PM Having never stayed on Dale farm.......... I'll have to bow to your more informed knowledge :D ............. You should try buying a television, there are all sorts of brilliant news programmes on them, which show things such as the Dale Farm rumpus. These programmes are really fascinating and are excellent for improving one's general knowledge. That's why, when I saw the pictures of your site and your encampment I was immediately reminded of what I saw on the TV news about Dale Farm. Hope this helps. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Had Enough - 2015-04-30 2:44 PM pelmetman - 2015-04-30 2:36 PM Having never stayed on Dale farm.......... I'll have to bow to your more informed knowledge :D ............. You should try buying a television, there are all sorts of brilliant news programmes on them, which show things such as the Dale Farm rumpus. These programmes are really fascinating and are excellent for improving one's general knowledge. That's why, when I saw the pictures of your site and your encampment I was immediately reminded of what I saw on the TV news about Dale Farm. Hope this helps. ;-) You may have a point as our Belgium neighbour had a behemoth Hobby caravan, of the type much favored by the travelling community....... and he towed with a commercial vehicle 8-) ...............I wonder if PJay is aware of this? :-S ............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertandjean Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Had Enough - 2015-04-30 1:00 PM vindiboy - 2015-04-30 11:24 AM http://s358.photobucket.com/user/vindiboy1/library/WILD%20CAMPING%201 Wild camping for the non believers hee hee. Wild? The first picture of that aire (and a few others) looks very cosy. ;-) I wild camp when the circumstances are right, I also like some aires but many are (for me) only good for an overnight stop. I've had some lovely ones though and the one by the river at St Antonin Noble Val for example is one where we stayed three days, but only because it was quiet and we had the end slot. If it was busy and there'd been a 'van four feet on either side of us we'd have moved onto the campsite down the road. If we decide that we'd like to stay somewhere for a few day I also like certain types of sites as you get a large pitch and there's no scrabbling around trying to find water or a suitable place to wild camp and I enjoy meeting all the other people nearby. But what I am not is an proselytiser for one kind of camping over another. I can understand why people don't want to pay for sites, I can understand why people may enjoy wild camping even if they can afford sites, I can understand the attraction of many aires, but I can't understand how people can put up with a great many of them, which are crowded slums. In this case cost, or lack of it, must be the only attraction. My wish though would be that you and others try to understand why so many people prefer sites. Yes, we have self-contained mobile homes but we like space, we like to stay somewhere nice for longer periods and walk and cycle or motorbike around the area, rather than moving on and driving every day. So I suppose my message is, we all like different methods of camping and we shouldn't be constantly feigning bewilderment because others are different from ourselves. But haven't you noticed that you seldom get people starting threads telling us about a nice campsite that they've just found? But we do seem to get a number of threads by those pushing aires and wanting to convince us how wonderful they are? Not sure why few threads on favourite camp sites, maybe site users have not the same degree of enthusiasm for their chosen places to stay as us aire users! Why are we such enthusiastic Aires users? We just think that it epitomises what motorhome lifestyle is all about, but understand that others, like yourself Frank, enjoy campsites and facilities and nothing wrong with that. To be fair this thread did start not by someone saying Aires great but asking for ideas regarding Aires in a particular area, which we gave. Yes agree that for a lot cost is often main reason for using Aires, but on most Aires we tend to use cost is little different from camp sites. It is also not always correct to say that staying on Aires means moving every day On this trip, for example, we have stayed for 3, 1, 8and 5 days on respective Aires so far with 3days in prospect where are now. Not alone in this as find French vanners doing the same. But no matter how you use your van main thing is get out and use it and enjoy the Bank Holiday. Weather here in south Brittany now very wet, hope better where you are but still enjoying it and on hard standing, another advantage of Aires!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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