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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 19:11:58 GMT
collective wisdom advice please - if any of you lot can qualify for wisdom of course! it looks increasingly likely that we are going to be able to sneak a month away in Autumn and are probably heading down to Spain and just seeing where we go - thinking of heading into Galicia down to Pontevedra (have a friend there) and then across the middle towards the Med and then back. all leisurely of course. we've never done the ACSI thing - but looking at it, it maybe worthwhile to save a few bob on sites. we'll probably do some wilding as well, but a few sites to catch up on washing etc will help. I can still get hold of a UK one for £13.50 so just wondering if it's worth the dosh. We bought one this year for the first time as we were going to Spain in February for 5 weeks and weren't sure about wilding there. We were also going to the Cote d'Azur in May this year but when we had gone there last May (2013) for the first time in years and were surprised to find that all the wildie spots we had used some years ago during previous visits were now forbidden to MHs on pain of being fined/towed away etc., and the cost of campsites was expensive. As it was, during our two trips over 10 weeks in total, we only used one ACSI site in Spain for 4 nights - Conil De La Frontera and one in France for 4 nights - Paradis Les Issambres - but we've already covered the cost of the book so even if we never use another ACSI site when we go back to mainland Europe in September, it cost us nowt. Admittedly, we've not made such a great saving that others boast of (and which I think is either unrealistic or untrue), but for the amount of money involved, I'd buy it again next year, if only as a form of insurance in case we get stuck. Mind you, some of the aires we found were charging nearly as much as an ACSI site, and often with less or no facilities, and a lot of the free ones had been turned into grotty pikey-camps by long-term French and Dutch MHers - many of whom also washed out their toilets using the drinking water taps (putting the emptying spouts of their loos right over the taps, the dirty fuckers). Frankly, if you can spend a small fortune on Glasto, you can afford a few quid on the ACSI book, even if you don't use it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 19:34:59 GMT
Have to be the tunnel because of doggy (And tesco clubcard freebie!). Our original plan was Dordogne but if we do still go to France it's likely to be Normandy/Brittany instead, we've got a friend near St Malo that we'd like to meet up with too. Some decent FREE aires in Normandy/Brittany that are worth a visit, Kay... Bayeux (with free water/drainage) right in the centre of the town so handy for exploring. Villedieu Les Poelles (48.83717, -1.22543) peaceful, next to river, right in centre of town so handy for exploring Carnac (47.59067, -3.08442), quiet, leafy, on edge of town but right next to the stones Pont Aven (47.85393, -3.74363) quiet, on edge of town but only 200 hundred metres from centre Belle Isle Sur Terre (free water/dump etc)- leafy glade in centre of village. Le Conquet (free water/drainage/wifi) lovely spot right in centre with park behind but quiet and a nice wee toon/harbour to explore Dol De Bretagne - in town centre but quiet (free water/ dump) Most of these are either in 'All the Aires' or 'Le Guide Officiel De Camping-cars' I used all of these this year.
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Post by Kaytutt on Jul 7, 2014 21:03:49 GMT
Thanks Liam, Ive added that to the other info you kindly sent me All I need is time....
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Post by alhod on Jul 7, 2014 22:10:19 GMT
We had ACSI last year and thought it worthwhile as a backup, especially in Northern Spain where we stayed on two great sites. We are fortunate in not having to count the pennies too closely so have ACSI Britstops, France Passion. In France I would definitely recommend the FP - few with any facilities but you get some real good places and meet some nice people as well. And they are all free so only need to use a couple and you've saved the cost of the book.
There is a thread on Fucts where someone had a couple of current ACSI books and cards for sale for a tenner each.
Alan
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Post by fatwelshbuddha on Jul 8, 2014 9:32:15 GMT
the cost wasn't an issue - it was the usefulness of it. on balance I guess it's worth having even if it doesn't get used so it's been ordered.
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Post by valphil on Jul 8, 2014 10:29:48 GMT
We have an ACSI card , saved us a bit last year . we were away 6 weeks and needed to get some washing done so spent 5 days on one . I paid 12 euro's plus a little tax and a mate who was with us had to pay 22 euro's , so I'd say it more than paid for itself . mind you we would only go on the cheapest one's . It was out of season so no entertainment (thank god ) but it did have an indoor pool and not too many people
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