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Finding Aires :: Aires France :: Aires Benelux & Scandinavia :: Aires Spain & Portugal :: Aires Mountains :: Why call them Aires :: Using Aires :: Service Points :: Parking :: Service Point Construction ::

The open roads of Europe meander through different cultures and landscapes. A campervan road trip allows you travel where you want, when you want, and to stay for free believe it or not. France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Benelux and Scandinavia all have forms of motorhome stopovers. These motorhome stopovers, known as Aires, are car parks and farms that allow campervans to stop overnight for free. The term campervan or motorhome also refers to Dormobiles, Winnebagos, American RVs, and motorcaravans.

Motorhome stopovers exist across Europe as a way of attracting tourism to places where no other tourism exists, or where motorhomes turn up anyway and are in need of somewhere to go. There are terms and conditions for the use of motorhome Aires as the campervan must actually be a campervan, not just a van with a mattress in the back, and must be 'self sufficient'. Camping is strictly prohibited, which means no tables and chairs outside and absolutely no tents.

How do you find Aires?

The best way to find the motorhome stopovers is to use a guidebook.

The All the Aires guidebooks cover 14 countries in four guides: All the Aires France, All the Aires Spain & Portugal, All the Aires Benelux & Scandinavia and All the Aires Mountains. The All the Aires guides are written entirely in English, the motorhome Aires have been inspected and photographed with GPS co-ordinates taken onsite, and Aires suitable for large motorhomes and RVs have been identified.

All the Aires France. This groundbreaking guide to the French motorhome Aires de Service is now in its third edition. Written entirely in English, it shows you everything you need to know about how to use Aires, and what you can expect. There are concise directions that explain where they are located. GPS coordinates were taken onsite, so are 100% accurate. Every entry has a photo carefully chosen to show you as much as possible. 2100 Aires were inspected and photographed in the second half of 2010 for this edition, making this the most comprehensive, accurate and up to date information available about the French Aires.

All the Aires Benelux and Scandinavia. This is another unique motorhome Aires guide from Vicarious Books as no other aires publication covers all of these countries in one guide. 175 Scandinavian motorhome Aires (in Norway, Sweden and Finland) and 111 Aires in Benelux (The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) have been inspected and photographed in 2009, making this the most up-to-date, comprehensive and accurate guide of its kind.

All the Aires Spain and Portugal. As it says in the title this Aires guide has all the motorhome Aires in Spain and Portugal. Not only the campervan Aires, but also all the LPG outlets in Spain and a good selection of auto gas stations in Portugal. Vicarious Books published All the Aires Spain and Portugal in 2009 and it was reprinted with ammendments in 2010. The guide is due to be republished in the autumn of 2011. All the Aires Spain and Portugal is unique as there is no other guide the motorhome stopovers in any other language.

All the Aires Mountains. This unique guide covers the Spanish and French Pyrenees, including Andorra, the Alps including Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland, sections of Bavaria in Germany, Sicily, Tenerife, the Sierra Nevada in Spain, and LPG stations in all countries. Whether you want a winter skiing holiday or a summer walking holiday, this guide has the Aires and campsites you need.

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Why call them Aires?

There are several names you may have heard of, Aire, Bourne, Stellplatze, Aree de Sosta, stopover or camperstop. The name Aires comes from the French 'Aire de Service Camping Car', their term for motorhome stopovers. British motorhomers and press refer to them as 'Aires', which technically just means 'area' in French. Therefore people have been confused with other signs using the word 'Aire' as it is commonly used on signs for motorway services and rest areas, children's play areas and activity areas to name a few. Although motorhome stop overs are referred to as Aires, you are very unlikely to see a sign for a motorhome Aire using the word Aire, usually they use a motorhome symbol instead.

Motorhome stopovers are not confined to France and every country that has motorhome Aires has its own name for them. In Germany there are at least 3,000 motorhome stopovers called Stellplatze. In Italy the over 1500 motorhome Aires are called Aree de Sosta. There are also two generic words that refer to these motorhome service areas. In the UK they are known as motorhome stopovers, in Europe they can be referred to as Camper Stops. So whether you stay on a Aire, Stellplatze, Area de Sosta, stopover or camperstop it is all the same thing. What they are not is Wild Camping or Free Camping areas.

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Using Aires

Aires symbolise the freedom of motorhoming. You are welcomed into local communities, where you can stay overnight at unique locations only available to motorhome travellers. These are a luxury not a right, so park your campervan sympathetically to your neighbours and use the service point and facilities responsibly and always abide by the RESPECT rules:

Respect the Environment
Elect to use uncrowded Aires
Shop Locally
Park responsibly
Exercise courteous behaviour
Communicate with others
Totally abide by these rules

Responsible use of campervan Aires is vital so that local Mayors keep them open; use them, but don't abuse them. Municipal motorhome Aires are paid for by the local community, so repay this service by spending freely in the local shops, restaurants or garages. Rules vary slightly from country to country but predominantly only motorhomes can use the motorhome stopovers. The law only permits 'Self Contained' motorhomes to be parked responsibly and their users to cook and sleep within them. A self-contained motorhome needs to have a toilet, water container for both fresh and waste water attached to or inside the vehicle, and you must be able to cook and sleep inside the vehicle. The law does not allow for camping, for example winding out awnings and putting out tables and chairs, or erecting a tent. If you want to camp, use a campsite.

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