Camping-Car Park

[Sharon the Cat]

Is this the company that is gradually taking over lots of the municipal sites in Europe?

A couple of years ago we wanted to use one of their sites in Belgium. I think it said there weren't many spaces so we tried to book. We had to download their app and add lots of things we didn't want, all of which meant that the first night was going to cost more than €60, so I just gave up with it.

So, is it worth using them? I'm wary of anything where you have to load it with money up front rather than pay the actual cost.

We are in Europe for 3 weeks after Easter and a 6 week trip in September, so maybe I should be looking at them again. But I would like to know what others think of them first.

 

[TJBi]

I have never used them, though they are becoming more widespread in France. I understand that they are no longer issuing physical cards, so you need their app on a smartphone and a subscription. Not sure what amount they may require up front, but I seem to recall reading forum posts some time ago suggesting that it was possible to obtain refunds of balances.

 

[Sharon the Cat]

I have never used them, though they are becoming more widespread in France. I understand that they are no longer issuing physical cards, so you need their app on a smartphone and a subscription. Not sure what amount they may require up front, but I seem to recall reading forum posts some time ago suggesting that it was possible to obtain refunds of balances.

I'd rather an app than a card, but I'm wary if something you have to put credit on in advance.

 

[alcam]

Is this the company that is gradually taking over lots of the municipal sites in Europe?

A couple of years ago we wanted to use one of their sites in Belgium. I think it said there weren't many spaces so we tried to book. We had to download their app and add lots of things we didn't want, all of which meant that the first night was going to cost more than €60, so I just gave up with it.

So, is it worth using them? I'm wary of anything where you have to load it with money up front rather than pay the actual cost.

We are in Europe for 3 weeks after Easter and a 6 week trip in September, so maybe I should be looking at them again. But I would like to know what others think of them first.

Don't like them but , occasionally, have to use them . Necessary evil to me .
Their Aires are usually pretty good but they seem to get agreements (in France anyway) with the local mayor to ban any other motorhome parking.
I still have the card which , initially, costs £5
Not sure about having to load their account too much

 

[TeamRienza]

You should be able to join online for £5, however when you go to top up they show €80 as a default. Simply alter that to the amount you wish to load.

We head to France later today. My camping car park account has about €0.80 credit on it. When we use one of their sites I simply top up by the amount needed to pay, to the nearest euro before exiting.

I believe they have now done away with cards and use the app only for access and egress. You top up on the app or by phone. The real time availability of pitches is a useful feature.

We have not opted for their privilege pack as I see no need to pre-book, although as more people use the scheme, it may be of use in the future .

Davy

 

[Canalsman]

I have never used their sites.

There are so many other options in France that I can't see the need unless your preference is to always use an aire.

 

[yeoblade]

Just as @TeamRienza says. Keeping a minimum balance till needed. They have a few useful locations where others options aren't available, and full service facilities. Ask @Wooie1958 what he thinks of their refund policy if you load too much dosh on!

 

[number14]

Be careful with the privilege pack add-on which allows booking in advance. It auto renews every year but if you want to cancel you have to write a letter. Yes, on paper and send it by old fashioned snail mail. The letter has to contain specific info as stated in their Ts&Cs.

I cancelled mine this year 'cos we're going to Ireland; the postage wasn't cheap.

 

[Jo001]

the first night was going to cost more than €60

That's because you tried to book. You can only book if you take out the Privilege pack. Otherwise you turn up and pay your €12 or whatever.

I believe they have now done away with cards and use the app only for access and egress

Don't throw away your cards yet! We have just been on the CCP in Sedan, and you need to hold your card to the bollards to turn on the electricity. There's no numbered keypads on these, so you need the card; you can't enter your code.

As others have said, I also find them a necessary evil. I don't like their business model of taking over traditional aires, and I don't like that some people will book in advance; so you can turn up, see half a dozen empty places, but can't get on.

But, as I've mentioned elsewhere, we visit places that we want to visit and if a CCP is what's available in the location, we have used them.

I also have less than €1 on mine (or rather, I should - they haven't deducted what we owe for our time in Sedan yet). We are likely to visit a place in a few days time where the CCP is the only sensible option so if it costs €13 per night, that's what I'll put on.

 

[alcam]

That's because you tried to book. You can only book if you take out the Privilege pack. Otherwise you turn up and pay your €12 or whatever.

Don't throw away your cards yet! We have just been on the CCP in Sedan, and you need to hold your card to the bollards to turn on the electricity. There's no numbered keypads on these, so you need the card; you can't enter your code.

As others have said, I also find them a necessary evil. I don't like their business model of taking over traditional aires, and I don't like that some people will book in advance; so you can turn up, see half a dozen empty places, but can't get on.

But, as I've mentioned elsewhere, we visit places that we want to visit and if a CCP is what's available in the location, we have used them.

I also have less than €1 on mine (or rather, I should - they haven't deducted what we owe for our time in Sedan yet). We are likely to visit a place in a few days time where the CCP is the only sensible option so if it costs €13 per night, that's what I'll put on.

Wot she says

 

[britcoms]

I agree with others that the company is taking over many traditional aires but that's my only complaint, if you take into account that power and water etc are included in the price they are fair value. The app could be better but at least you can find out how many spaces are available before committing to travel, although I'm not sure if available spaces include reservations. As to the card I'm happy I have one as using thr app on my phone would be a pain especially if wifi is poor.

 

[Sharon the Cat]

Just as @TeamRienza says. Keeping a minimum balance till needed. They have a few useful locations where others options aren't available, and full service facilities. Ask @Wooie1958 what he thinks of their refund policy if you load too much dosh on!

I remember the Wooie trying to get a refund thread but wasn't sure if it was this company.

 

[Sharon the Cat]

I agree with others that the company is taking over many traditional aires but that's my only complaint, if you take into account that power and water etc are included in the price they are fair value. The app could be better but at least you can find out how many spaces are available before committing to travel, although I'm not sure if available spaces include reservations. As to the card I'm happy I have one as using thr app on my phone would be a pain especially if wifi is poor.

Ah, thank you for the little gem about power being included. Our heat & water are gas only and we have solar for lighting & USB points, so this would only be of benefit for the fridge.

 

[TeamRienza]

Ah, thank you for the little gem about power being included. Our heat & water are gas only and we have solar for lighting & USB points, so this would only be of benefit for the fridge.

Check the site on the app or web page. Most have EHU, a few don't or like Nantes 2 PowerPoints on the service bollard, both inevitably in use.

Davy

 

[Sharon the Cat]

That's because you tried to book. You can only book if you take out the Privilege pack. Otherwise you turn up and pay your €12 or whatever.

Don't throw away your cards yet! We have just been on the CCP in Sedan, and you need to hold your card to the bollards to turn on the electricity. There's no numbered keypads on these, so you need the card; you can't enter your code.

As others have said, I also find them a necessary evil. I don't like their business model of taking over traditional aires, and I don't like that some people will book in advance; so you can turn up, see half a dozen empty places, but can't get on.

But, as I've mentioned elsewhere, we visit places that we want to visit and if a CCP is what's available in the location, we have used them.

I also have less than €1 on mine (or rather, I should - they haven't deducted what we owe for our time in Sedan yet). We are likely to visit a place in a few days time where the CCP is the only sensible option so if it costs €13 per night, that's what I'll put on.

Thanks for the informative reply Jo. If we want to use one, I think I'll get the app and credit it as required.
When I tried before, we wanted to book as it was showing only a couple of spaces in a place we really wanted to stay. Privilege is expensive!

 

[TJBi]

I have never used their sites.

There are so many other options in France that I can't see the need unless your preference is to always use an aire.

I haven't either, but if there was one in a place that I really wanted to visit, it might prove to be the only option.

 

[TJBi]

I agree with others that the company is taking over many traditional aires but that's my only complaint, if you take into account that power and water etc are included in the price they are fair value. The app could be better but at least you can find out how many spaces are available before committing to travel, although I'm not sure if available spaces include reservations. As to the card I'm happy I have one as using thr app on my phone would be a pain especially if wifi is poor.

You will find that a small number of their aires may not provide services. It's rare, but the aire at Pénestin is an example, with Wi-Fi being the only service: https://www.campingcarpark.com/fr_FR/camping-car/bretagne/morbihan/penestin-le-bechet

 

[Bigshug]

You don’t need to pay a lot of money into your account, we have successfully entered a site with nothing on the card, and then paid in enough to cover our stay before leaving. I don’t like the way they are taking on a lot of municipal sites, then stopping overnighting in the town car parks. We have to say the quality of their sites varies, we tend to use the ex municipal sites.

 

[s4x4c]

we have used camping car park 7 times this year in France on our way to Spain and back we downloaded the app, and all worked great all sites were very good all had fresh water grey and black waste dumping. and a couple had showers with hot water app loaded with euros all ready for next trip

 

[Wooie1958]

I remember the Wooie trying to get a refund thread but wasn't sure if it was this company.

Yes it was me that did that thread, i did eventually get the refund but it took several months and paid back to our Caxton FX card.

We used them quite a lot and everything was good, nice hardstandings, EHU, water and toilet disposal, you had to tap the card to get water which stopped others parking up outside and getting it for free, never had a problem until we finished going abroad and wanting our credit back.

We had the " Priveliges Pack " which means you can pre-book a spot on a particular aire and on several occasions we got into aires that others couldn`t becasue they had not booked and even though there was spaces on the aire they were actually booked

The main one we had it for was Bray Dunes which we always used the night before our return ferry to Blighty.