Habay---Aston what have they done?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS EURO DRIVING FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Before I start I only ever visited Habay on a 45 min break.

I was recently on route to Swiss and arrived at Habay on Sunday morning about 9:30am, when I turned in I was surprised to see there wasn’t a parking space to be found. As the ban was still in force and I didn’t want to be stuck at the Lux border for the rest of the day I decided to park beside the pumps and hope I wouldn’t be moved. (Was fine)

I went in for a coffee and on the way popped into the loo, :open_mouth:
The smell was foul, but in need I had to go! :blush: when I was done I tried to get to the sink to rinse my paws, NO HOPE! Taliban everywhere :astonished: washing themselves from head to toe. Not to worry I proceeded to the cafe.

To my amazement it was virtually empty, couple of lads sitting at the bar drinking coffee one or two at the tables. I explained to the guy at the till I wanted to park all day and wanted to know the cost? Again to my amazement he said its free! Explains the problems I had getting to the sink :imp:

I got my coffee sat, and drank what was a decent brew. I returned to my truck sorted me gear and got my wash bag, I returned and asked for the shower key, it’s €2:50 the guy said and you gotta leave your truck keys, no probs I replied and off I went.

I was surprised to find the showers in excellent condition and enjoyed the experience. I returned the key and asked the guy at the till if they had wifi, yes he replied, sound I thought. Back in the truck I whipped out a bowl of cornflakes and got the laptop out, no wifi signal :unamused: so I pottered about and went back over after about an hour for another coffee and use the wifi to call the little one back home.

At this stage the area to the left as you enter was fairly busy, but down towards the bar it was the same, one or two stragglers. I got my drink and went on the hunt for a socket, this is when I actually woke up! :blush:

All the sockets were on the left as you enter! Hence it being busy, none of those occupying this area had a drink, or food! Awake now I decided to monitor the situation.

The Taliban were coming and going most of the day, using the toilets and availing of the free wifi, but not 1 entered the bar area! Now in not all thick and I know this is their form, but what I can’t under stand is why they offer free parking at Habay!

For those who visit you know it’s a fine establishment and worthy of pay parking, the food is good, staff friendly, and facility’s are clean.

A couple of weeks ago whilst on route to Germany I was in the same situation and decided to stop at Aston, being here before I knew what to expect, good food, friendly staff, clean facility’s, and providing you eat the parking’s free!

Wrong!!!

They have also removed the parking fee and again the situation was the same, I actually struggled to get a space.

Can anybody shed any light on why they have removed the parking fee? Because we all know the end result. Asten always did a fair trade with the charge so I don’t see the sense in moving the paying customers on, meaning I’d rather bunk up in a layby now than listen to bull being shouted across the car park on a Sunday afternoon!

2

At Habay, you pay to park during the week apparently.
I’ve only ever parked there on bank holidays for the last several years. I usually arrive about midday, get a beer and a spot of lunch, have a meal later and off to bed. I’ve never been asked to pay for parking.
Paying for parking there is a fairly recent thing anyway. I started using the place about 12 years ago when it was 100% waitress service. We were never asked to pay for parking.
The showers have only recently had a complete overhaul, this winter.

Asten now has two parking areas. The old parking area is now free, from what you’ve said. There is a newly extended parking area which is secure, you pay to park in there. It’s just further on through the old parking area, through the next barrier, closer to the autobahn.

3

Right, this explains it ok. As both times it was on Sunday.

Is Aston still the Same during the week? Eat and the parking in the new area is free?

4

Outandabout:
Right, this explains it ok. As both times it was on Sunday.

Is Aston still the Same during the week? Eat and the parking in the new area is free?

No idea. I pass Aston at warp factor 9 usually, heading for places further afield or the boat home.

5

Outandabout:
Right, this explains it ok. As both times it was on Sunday.

Is Aston still the Same during the week? Eat and the parking in the new area is free?

No it’s pay any time ! Which in my opinion is a massive mistake. Basically they took a grant to improve/enlarge the parking area as long as a section remains free. So they have effectively shot themselves in the foot.

6

Habey has a charge thro the week if u buy a meal at the till u need to tell them ur parking and they give u a ticket that has to go in ur window if u don’t eat think its €10 don’t make sense not to eat

7

Unfortunately the law prevents anyone driving so they park up and use the free facilities, it could be worse if everyone starts charging for parking it would become like Britain. At least now we get the charge back if you use the restaurants.

8

nedbro:
Habey has a charge thro the week if u buy a meal at the till u need to tell them ur parking and they give u a ticket that has to go in ur window if u don’t eat think its €10 don’t make sense not to eat

That was the system used before they built that secure parking bit.

9

Going down Memory Lane, I can remember that if you were weekended at Habay in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s there would probably be 20-30 British drivers there, the last few times I parked there, there were three or four at most.

Still, mustn’t be a Bigot or a “racist”, eh? :wink:

10

Harry Monk:
Going down Memory Lane, I can remember that if you were weekended at Habay in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s there would probably be 20-30 British drivers there, the last few times I parked there, there were three or four at most.

Still, mustn’t be a Bigot or a “racist”, eh? :wink:

The very suggestion :-0