Rip Off French Aires

[Full Member]

I'd hate anyone in the UK to think that life is straightforward, comfortable, low cost and stress-free as I journey southwards through France.
For the past week Ed and I have been staying on free Aires and have thoroughly enjoyed our stays thanks to the communities supporting independent travellers.
Today we arrived at an Aire at Villerest, just south of Roanne on La Loire. This particular stretch of the Loire has been dammed to create a long lake through the lower gorge and the aire has been created overlooking the lake.
It has toilets, wash basins, water, rubbish and recycling bins, grey and black waste disposal and hard standings for motorhomes:



And the downside?
They have the cheek to charge £4.50 all in per night per motorhome for this!
I'm not at all surprised that the place is pretty much empty.
On a positive note they did provide a half decent sunset:



OK, OK.............perhaps we'll stay just one extra night.
And give the nearby restaurant a chance to make amends.

Colin ???

 

[Carrerasax]

That’s good lots of the new commercial ones are €12 with much less facilities.
Enjoy!!! & keep smiling.

 

[toasty]

That's awful! Never mind, come to south Wales, we have plenty of water here too.

 

[The laird]

Life can be cruel ,get Ed to do some you tube cooking videos to make some dosh to help pay for your stay

We love the Loire

 

[TJBi]

I'd hate anyone in the UK to think that life is straightforward, comfortable, low cost and stress-free as I journey southwards through France.
For the past week Ed and I have been staying on free Aires and have thoroughly enjoyed our stays thanks to the communities supporting independent travellers.
Today we arrived at an Aire at Villerest, just south of Roanne on La Loire. This particular stretch of the Loire has been dammed to create a long lake through the lower gorge and the aire has been created overlooking the lake.
It has toilets, wash basins, water, rubbish and recycling bins, grey and black waste disposal and hard standings for motorhomes:

And the downside?
They have the cheek to charge £4.50 all in per night per motorhome for this!
I'm not at all surprised that the place is pretty much empty.
On a positive note they did provide a half decent sunset:



OK, OK.............perhaps we'll stay just one extra night.
And give the nearby restaurant a chance to make amends.

Colin ???

Any signs with details of period when the services are available and perhaps price for different periods?
CCI show services only May-September, which would now appear to be incorrect, and a charge of €8 for the night and €4 for the services.

 

[Carrerasax]

Any signs with details of period when the services are available and perhaps price for different periods?
CCI show services only May-September, which would now appear to be incorrect, and a charge of €8 for the night and €4 for the services.

that sounds more like it in total!!!

 

[RoaminRog]

Viva la France!

 

[Lorraine]

This Aire's is more than worth the money, its on the French/Belgium border Northern France, we have visited twice
Cassette empty, water & electric top up 3.50 euros if required NO CHARGE TO USE THE AIRES AND NOT RESTRICTED TO HOW MANY NIGHTS
Various toilets around the resort, the Aires is the top car park over looking the horse fields and the lake in the distance
Lots to offer extensive walking around woods, lake and the complex, water sports, bike hiring and tracks, horse riding, zip wires and tree adventure
childern's arts and crafts, amphitheater, various shops, restaurants, pubs, swimming indoor and out with sunbeds, extensive parks, fountains, suspension bridge, bird watching and lots more

http://www.valjoly.com/

 

[Full Member]

Any signs with details of period when the services are available and perhaps price for different periods?
CCI show services only May-September, which would now appear to be incorrect, and a charge of €8 for the night and €4 for the services.

Hi. TJBi. The information I posted was from my (~2015) All the Aires book. This morning I sought out the site regulations board for you:



The water tap looks like:



At the rear of the water unit is an unmetered electrical outlet (used by a French couple):



Although the fees are supposedly collected each day between 0830 and 0930, in fact nobody had bothered by the time we left at 1500.
Apologies for getting the cost of this Aire wrong but obviously my book is out of date.
In fact it was free.
There is no barrier at the entrance to the Aire.

Colin ???

 

[TJBi]

Hi. TJBi. The information I posted was from my (~2015) All the Aires book. This morning I sought out the site regulations board for you:



The water tap looks like:



At the rear of the water unit is an unmetered electrical outlet (used by a French couple):



Although the fees are supposedly collected each day between 0830 and 0930, in fact nobody had bothered by the time we left at 1500.
Apologies for getting the cost of this Aire wrong but obviously my book is out of date.
In fact it was free.
There is no barrier at the entrance to the Aire.

Colin ???

Hi Colin,

Thanks for taking the trouble to provide the clarification and additional info.

Tom