Whether you live in France or have traveled there, you might have heard about French Aires. In case you didn’t know, the French people are big motorhome enthusiasts. So, it is no surprise that France possesses perhaps the best motorhome parking services in the world. These motorhome servicing points are known as Aires de Services. These servicing points are located all over France. Here, in this article, we will discuss everything you ever wanted to know about Aires France.

What are Aires France, and why should you care?

First things first, let us explain what are Aires in France exactly? As we mentioned earlier, French people are huge fans of motorhomes. So France has perhaps the best motorhome stopovers. These motorhome stopovers or parking services are known as Aires. Aires are basically public or private parking areas where people can park their campervans or motorhomes. Aires de services are mostly free of cost. But some of them might charge a small fee. You can pay this fee using tokens called Jetons. You can buy Jetons from your local bars or bakeries.

Aires may help motorhome travelers halt in some unique locations overnight and start the next day afresh. And, the most enthralling part is that these unique resting places are not available to ordinary travelers. Only motorhome travelers can get the unique experience.

Where can you avail Aires de Services in France?

As we said earlier, there is a large number of Aires France scattered all over the country. You can usually locate them in the back of some town, or within large parking areas. Sometimes you can find them in car parking areas in shopping malls. At most times, Aires in France are located on the roadsides or recreation grounds. Typically, Aires de Services stay out of a busy road.

Euro-Relais run most of the Aires de Services all over Europe. It is also true in the case of Aires France. Euro-Relais are among the best technology leaders in Europe, and they’re making Aires de Service more convenient. They have made it easier to use the service point machines. Besides Jetons, Euro-Relais enable motorhome travelers to use modern credit cards to pay the service fee. Thus, you get a more fruitful Aires de Service experience.

No matter where you are in Europe, Aires de Service points usually have stands of medium height. You can use these stands to get electricity and water. Sometimes these service points even offer toilet facilities. Now, that is a great addition, isn’t it? However, keep in mind these small service points don’t allow you to park your campervan and stay there for a night. There are areas specifically allotted for that purpose. These areas are more spacious than the former for obvious reasons. Plus, they have overnight parking areas for you to park your large vehicles like motorhomes.

How to find French Aires de Services?

There are so many Aires de Services all over France. Many campervan hiring companies can provide you with guides listing all the Aire service points in France. But, at times, it can get a little tricky to locate them. Why? Because these service points are not always in open areas or have distinct identifiers. So, having a GPS can come in handy in such situations. Also, you can make use of the internet to find Aires de Service points in France. You can easily find Aires or download maps that mark the service points. However, many places might not have good network coverage. Therefore, it would be better if you carry a physical Aires map with you every time. Otherwise, finding such Aire service points might become a troublesome task.

How do the Aires de Services function in France?

In case you didn’t know, Aires de Services in France operate on a first-come, first-served basis. That means you cannot book them before setting off your journey. In peak seasons, these service points have a huge demand and get full very fast. During these times, you would be lucky if you somehow manage to get an empty spot. At other times, you just need to find an empty spot and park your vehicle. That’s it. But make sure that the spot is an approved spot. It is an important aspect to consider as these service points are sometimes located in public parking places.

It’s true most of the time that the larger the Aire, the more chance it is a paid service point. Also, here’s a quick tip. Try to get to the Aire service point mid-morning. It is the time of the day when the travelers from the previous night start leaving. So, if you go there mid-morning, your chance of securing a spot for the night increases to a great extent.

FAQ

What are the Aires in France?

Aires de Services in France are dedicated areas where you can park your campervan or motorhome. These parking spaces are usually free of cost. However, there are many private Aires in France that charge a nominal fee. You can park your vehicle here and stay in nearby unique places overnight.

Are Aires in France safe?

Yes. French Aires are mostly safe. But, there are some stories you can find on the internet about people getting robbed in such Aires. So, you should always be careful and vigilant while staying there. Take the necessary measures to ensure your own safety.

Are French Aires open?

After staying closed for some time because of the COVID-19, French Aires have been reopened. But, you must follow all the necessary COVID-19 protocols if you want to get a spot. And, yes, wearing masks is mandatory. So, make sure you wear one while visiting an Aire.

How many Aires does France have?

France is one of the first country names that come to people’s minds when someone mentions Motorway Aires. And, rightly so, as France has nearly 4000 Aires scattered all over France in an even manner. No matter which French state you visit, you can find at least one such Aire there.

Conclusion

Here, in this article on Aires France, we talked about the famous Aires de Services in France. Now that you know what Aires are, and how to avail them, visit one and make your journey memorable.