I have just discovered that a Municipal Site at Vatan in France I was planning to use on Thursday night is now part of this group. Does anyone know if it is possible to get the card/pass from the machine on entry - - the website is not clear on that.
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Yes, you buy a membership card called Pass Etapes from the machine when you arrive. That lets you in. Then you have to load that card with enough money to pay for your stay - as you need that on the card to pay at the machine when you leave.
Order by phone app or website and card is POSTED to you (your home address I assume!) within 7 working days within France or 14 working days outside of France.
The card appears to be essential to gain access/for services! Looks like you can top up the card credit at the barrier (as well as app and web), but no card - no access!
Quote: Originally posted by badger54 on 30/4/2024
I have just discovered that a Municipal Site at Vatan in France I was planning to use on Thursday night is now part of this group. Does anyone know if it is possible to get the card/pass from the machine on entry - - the website is not clear on that.
We first came across Camping CarParks at Saumur two years ago (2022), when we wanted to use the aire having just been turned away from the campsite (as our then MH was too big for any spaces they had left).
The aire would have been cheaper per night than the site at the ACSI rate but first we had to buy the card, this was dispensed at the entry machine, it cost €5. We paid €18 in total for the card and the aire fee, we paid this on entry, the card is needed on exit. If you overstay what you paid on entry you'll have to pay some more to leave (which seems fair enough to me).
Once you've bought the card you just pay the standard 24hr fee for the aire.
You could take a punt at getting the card on entry, I see no reason why it should have changed but you never know. Maybe a good idea to have a backup.
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We are currently travelling in France and used several of the sites. Not been disappointed in any of them really - some are very good. Generally there are no facilities other than EHU, water fill up tap and waste dumping. So need your own Porta Potti. We are travelling in a VW California.
Currently we are at Brioux sur Boutonne a great little site and with toilets and hot showers - basic but very clean.
We are heading north tomorrow to Port Louis
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Thanks for those replies, it is a bit of a mystery at Vatan as it seems the municipal is right next to the aire de camping car and it is not clear whether one or both are now part of Camping Card. I guess I will find out when we get there. I`m chomping at the bit to get on that ferry on Thursday morning - - had a knee replaced 8 weeks ago and have been going stir-crazy!
Quote: Originally posted by TartanBilly on 30/4/2024
Camping Car Park reviews for Vatan are good. Also has toilets and showers. 48 pitches. €14 a night
If there are 48 pitches it seems they have the municipal and the aire.
Quite a lot of Camping Car Parks have taken over ex Municipal Aires.
Used several of the sites - all good value. But stay clear of Port Louis ( Prairie) - it’s unkept with rubbish lying about. No grass but knee high weeds and mud in pitches. We stayed all of ten minutes and moved on
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by TartanBilly on 01/5/2024
Quite a lot of Camping Car Parks have taken over ex Municipal Aires.
Used several of the sites - all good value. But stay clear of Port Louis ( Prairie) - it’s unkept with rubbish lying about. No grass but knee high weeds and mud in pitches. We stayed all of ten minutes and moved on
Just as plenty of municipal campsites have ended up as private ones, some of them have become aires instead. A lot of the municipal aires now seem to be run by private companies too, it's a sign of the times.
We were looking to use Aire de la Côte Rouge at Port Louis, any experience of that one?
Vatan is the old municipal site taken over by CCP
We stayed there last summer for 3 nights
There are plenty of spacious pitches and because it’s a Camping Mon site it has two
Shower blocks which are of an acceptable standard
Most of the pitches have their own water tap and grey waste water drain
Quote: Originally posted by TartanBilly on 01/5/2024
Quite a lot of Camping Car Parks have taken over ex Municipal Aires.
Used several of the sites - all good value. But stay clear of Port Louis ( Prairie) - it’s unkept with rubbish lying about. No grass but knee high weeds and mud in pitches. We stayed all of ten minutes and moved on
Just as plenty of municipal campsites have ended up as private ones, some of them have become aires instead. A lot of the municipal aires now seem to be run by private companies too, it's a sign of the times.
We were looking to use Aire de la Côte Rouge at Port Louis, any experience of that one?
Yes - we stayed a night there after being unable to get into a spaces at Prairie despite the app saying there were 3 available.
It ‘s a nice spot alongside the beach, although quite a walk or cycle from the port and its shops/restaurants. Some of the spaces are quite tight - we squeezed into a corner , and managed to get our long electric cable to the hook up pillar. There’s a nice green with picnic tables behind and more open space to the side.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Camping Car Parks
via mobile 30/4/2024 at 7:36pm
