UK habitation doors in Europe how do you park?

[Adriafan]

I find things much more relaxed in Europe and haven't had any problems whichever way round I park either on sites or Aires. Made a few friends and had a laugh on most sites.

 

[John H]

We use the awning to keep the fridge shaded

Fine on campsites but not really on aires or on wildcamps.

 

[John H]

We only use aires and wild locations and never have a problem. We do not use the tightly packed aires except when transiting

On most aires you are not permitted to put out awnings and on wildcamps we like to be prepared to move on, if necessary, quickly. In Spain you are allowed to park up anywhere that there isn't a specific ban but not to indulge in what they call "camping behavior". That very much excludes awnings.

 

[John H]

John, how many times have we heard this, you can't put out awnings, chairs and tables etc!
Has anybody told the French, Germans etc!
I think not!

There are aires and aires, some you can and some you can't
I am very sure you know this!

Incidentally also the Spanish
Even on the small Badajoz aire, two Spanish vans door to door, and both with awnings FULLY extended!
I must say, I would not have done it there!

I'm sorry but it is attitudes like that which cause more and more areas to be off-limits to us. When local authorities go out of their way to provide us - free of charge - with a space to stay the night then I think we owe it to them to obey their quite reasonable rules. I don't care that other people might be breaking the rules.

 

[John H]

John, get real, you very well know there are aires where you can't and aires where you can and you have not mentioned pay aires where you can!
Please don't preach to me, I have possibly much more experience than you!
I admit Spain is more difficult, but guess what, I don't do Mediterranean Spain where the hordes are!
Where I go, I say again, there is no problem.

Most aires I have used have limiting regulations - whether they are free or paying. Not only that, but there is nothing more annoying than turning up at an aire and finding that some idiot has put an awning out in the only available space - this has happened to us more than once. I have no idea whether you have more experience than me - nor do I care. What I do care about is the number of previously available spots that are no longer available and when you look into it it is because people couldn't be bothered to behave sensibly and keep to the rules. I too avoid the motorhome cities on the costas - I am talking about the ordinary aires in small towns and villages.

You might be interested in this Using Aires | Vicarious Media

 

[John H]

John, I can assure you, not that I need to or care, but I always act in consideration to me neighbours and contribute to the locality where I overnight.
I do not take the p!ss, I will use an awning if I feel it is OK, if I don't, I would not do so.
I exclusively use aires, and I have talked to people when I think they are taking up too much room. I tend to blend in and do as the locals do.
This has worked for me for years and years!
Never ever had a complaint or dirty look yet!

ps, I don't need Vicarious guide to tell me what I can and can't do.
I do as the locals do!

Part of the consideration for others is obeying the rules and, as the link I provided suggested, the rules do not include putting out awnings on aires. This is the law in both France and Spain. If you choose to ignore those rules because others are also doing so then that is your decision. I prefer not to upset the people who are providing a free service for me to use.

 

[John H]

John, when I am a guest in any Country, I take my lead from the Citizens of the given Country, and not a silly rule book!
You say again Free! many aires are pay aires and permit awnings!
That is all I have to say!

Silly rule book? That silly rule book just happens to be the law in France and Spain. A law that applies to most paying aires too. I have witnessed a French Mayor turning off a van that couldn't be bothered to obey the rules and I have seen Spanish police turning off a van - the latter on Caceres and the van was Spanish, so the locals don't always know best.

 

[John H]

OK John, You do it your way and I will do it the way Johny Foreigner does and in his own Country.
I am sure he knows best!
You conveniently, seem to disregard the pay aires where it is quite acceptable.

I have repeatedly referred to paying aires - where the law applies in the same way as for free ones!

I refer you to my example above - the locals do not always know best.

 

[John H]

So are you saying that on a private pay aires, the law prohibits awnings

No - I specifically referred to SOME paying aires. Most aires are provided by the local authority and so come under the law - paying or not. In addition to those, there are private camper areas, some of which have similar rules but others are governed by different rules.

 

[John H]

Like i said two pages ago, there are aires and aires, some you can and some you can't

And like I said at the beginning, MOST aires - free or paying - are subject to the law.

 

[shortcircuit]

We were in an aires at Angoulins and next door was French and had awning out. Along came local Plod and remonstrated with them. They simply lifted the legs of the awning and slipped them into small brackets on the side of the MH, so they were now at an angle and off the ground. Mr Plod had done his duty and left quite happy. I subsequently fitted the brackets to my MH just in case.

That same area was invaded by hundreds of travelling people who just took over fields and commandeered water supplies etc. Mr Plod was no where to be seen.

 

[John H]

But Have you noticed that particular in France there is a private Company opening aire after aire, some from old village aires and some old municipal camp sites.
They are getting everywhere and guess what? Awnings are acceptable.
Have you been to Gruissan (France) a very large aire, probably 200 vans or more and most have awnings out!
I think we will just have to agree to disagree, I will continue to do as I have always done, which is the same as the Countrymen of the given Country I am in.
Works for me.

A few more examples
Silves (Portugal)
Parque de Gale (Portugal)
Foz de Alerhio (Portugal)
Figuera (Portugal)
Castenaundry (France)
Moissac (France)

Plus all the pay aire's (stelplatz)up the Mossel (Germany)

I can think of many more where most vans will have the awnings out

I have stayed at the Gruissan aire - many years ago. I don't like large aires of that sort. However, I have looked it up and it is listed as a "stationment" which means you are not officially allowed to do anything but park. It may well be that hundreds of people are ignoring the rules but that is not, on my opinion, a good thing. If there is a change in Mayor and the next one is not a motorhome enthusiast then he has the perfect excuse to get rid of the facility.


I too can list many aires and wildcamps where people have had awning out - that does not mean it is legal. You break the law if you wish. That is not my concern. I will continue to obey the rules and hope that there are more like me than like you.


In the past week I have stayed on one paying aire - Merida - where awnings were not allowed (and none had awnings out) and will be using another one tomorrow in Bilbao, where awnings are not allowed. It may well be that some have awnings out but I hope not.

 

[John H]

We all know that Spain is more difficult and mostly no awnings, chairs or tables!
After three pages, just because I said I use my awning to shade my fridge.
Better to agree to disagree!

The law is very similar in France. Better that people are aware of the law before they decide whether or not to obey it.

 

[John H]

I was just imagining 200 vans at Gruissan, all with awnings out, sitting in the shade and one van, possibly yours sitting boiling in the mid day sun, or sitting inside!
Quite comical really!

Well, since this all started off because I said that I usually park my van so that the fridge is in the shade and since the habitation door is on the same side of the van, I would be sitting in shade too - but probably not anywhere I would be surrounded by 200 other vans, irrespective of whether they were law abiding or not

 

[John H]

Not quite John, You did say that, and I said I use my awning for shade, you said it was OK for camp sites, I said I wild and use aires.
It started because I said I use my awning for fridge shade.
Anyway, we really don't want four pages of this crap do we!
Oops it has just flipped into the fourth page!
Thats all from me!

And where do you stand on the chicken and egg argument? For goodness sake...…………………………….

 

[jann]

I prefer to reverse into a space to make it easier to get out if other vehicles park up after us.Try not to park door to door,if unavoidable then we pull the blinds halfway up.