I'm new here so firstly I'd like to say hi and quickly introduce myself.
I had camped for years growing up then fell out of it when I met my now fiancé who enjoyed renting houses or hotels to holiday in rather than stay under a canvas.
Fortunately for me we have agreed on a reasonable side camping trip this year so she can try it out and see whether it's something she'd consider continuing with...
So my questions to you knowledgable guys and girls on here are the following...
We plan on travelling through France, into Italy (maybe via switzerland), up into Austria or Slovenia first then Austria, up into Germany to Amsterdam across to Bruges in Belgium then back to the UK.
We are aiming for around 30days as we have been approved holiday for that length of time.
We are trying to do this on a budget, are there any recommended low cost campsites that you would personally recommend, all we require is easy to get to, beautiful scenery for walks and clean toilets (that is a prerequisite according to my fiancé lol) oh and some that are perhaps not far from train stations if possible or in walking distance of nearby towns etc
Also, what equipment will we require for such a long camping trip, the tent would have to be easy to get up and down but durable due to moving from site to site every few days... We are renting a house in Bologna, Italy for a week to keep Hannah happy.
Mode of transport would be my trusty Ford Fiesta so space is limited.
I hope some of this makes sense and that you intelligible guys and girls are able to offer some personal recommendations either on camping sites across Europe and which camping equipment to bring...
Thank you in advance,
Jack
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If you are in Bologna for a week out of your 30 days, then the planned itinerary will just be travelling. So get a motorhome as you will not have time to set up a caravan nor a tent.
Alternatively be less ambitious and make the journey part of the holiday.
Sounds like an excellent plan.obviously you are not going to dash out and buy a motorhome.
From personal experience you should book nothing but your crossings. Plan your route based on the things you would like to do or see. Then whilst you are on the trip you can stay more days in the places you like and less on those you don't. If you get fed up with camping for example if it's raining then check into a cheap Accor type hotel, ibis, etap or formule 1. if you have a tent there are loads of campsites everywhere that are bound to have space for you.
I recommend driving as far as you can on the first day, Switzerland is possible, stay at jungfrau camp in unterseen near interlaken. Then take an evening lake trip that has dinner served, then take the train up the jungfraujoch. Climb some mountains, when you need to move on head over to Italy. You could make bologna in a day easy. But check out lake como and lake maggiore they are beautiful.
There really is no need to restrict yourself by booking ahead. It will just add pressure you don't need.
Take a dome tent that's as small as you can live in. It's quicker to erect and take down but also stays warmer. Invest in good 4 seasons sleeping bags. As they will keep you nice and warm. But some camp beds rather than air beds, they don't go flat or get punctures and the one I use is comfy like a hammock. Take a couple of camping gaz or Coleman stoves (I have one of each) then you can cook rice and chilli at the same time for example.
Buy food as you travel keeps things interesting. Take a can to keep drinking water in.
I take everything required on a motorbike so you will have more than enough space in a car.
As long as she is warm and comfortable and you break up the camping with a few hotel nights your lady will enjoy your adventure.
Camping in Europe in summer is way more attractive than in blighty.
Remember camping reduces your travelling time by 2h each day because it takes 1h to make camp and 1h to pack up.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Rather than quote you all id rather just say how much I appreciate all of the input!
Especially at Baileyjake
I shall look at some dome tents is there anywhere in particular I should look?
I have a Decathlon close to my London address which I shall be at this weekend due to seeing my mother for Mothering Sunday.
Would be staying a a campsite near Paris as my fiancée wants to see the Moulin Rouge show but from there we will head down into Switzerland.
Interlaken is beautiful and is now a must stop, especially with the mountain train.
I presume and hope whether shall be reasonable okay around the end of June through July .
My biggest fear is getting to a site for the evening and them being full so having to find another one :/
On a side note whilst I wouldn't purchase a motorhome just yet I did consider renting one, however as I'm under 23 at the time of departure they refused to rent it to me and we'd already booked our holiday time.
Also I looked at the ACSI card but unsure of its benefits so will have to look into it
We take a week just to get down to the Med! But at your age it should be easy to do your intended trip and still be able to walk when you get out of the vehicles.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I think your itinerary is too ambitious and you need to decide if you are camping or going to Cities. Your fiancé will need posh clothes and camping gear!
You need time to sightsee, relax, enjoy the weather and scenery and not just through a windscreen.
Decathlon is good and their advice will be worth listening to but don't you know anyone who will lend you camping gear? It's a big outlay if your g/f says "never again"
Try gumtree for second hand kit if you can't borrow.
If your ambition is to cram in as many locations as possible your plan is possible I think but it sounds like a marathon of "on the road" travelling.
Making camp and exploring your surroundings on foot or by car is a better experience in my opinion and might appeal more to your g/f on a first camping trip.
Good luck. If you don't book ahead you can decide what's best for you as you go. You shouldn't encounter "site full" especially with a tent.
Honestly, I have never been turned away from a campsite. I was even showed a pitch between 2 caravans in a diet that was rammed on lake como. I turned it down and went to the next site up the road that wasn't so full. Once you have reached Switzerland everything is within easy reach for example on 5 occasions now I have ridden or driven from interlaken to the riviera coast in an afternoon. I have driven 900 miles in one day before and have ridden the 640 miles from Essex to interlaken in one hit 4 times. Now it's not pleasant but it gets the boring flat bit out of the way then the rest is slower roads and shorter distances. Last time I did it I exited the channel tunnel at 11am and reached interlaken at 9.30 pm.
I believe GoOutdoors have some really good tents often on offer. But there are some good brand new Coleman tents on eBay for under £100. I bought my current tent from Argos the night before a camping rally because my sister had borrowed my tent from my parents garage. It was supposed to be a temporary measure but it's still ok and waterproof 5 years later. It's a 4 man tent with a porch. I am 6'4" tall and I fit in it on my camp bed. Best to go to a place where you can see the tents on display to get an idea of size.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
I did a very similar trip when I was 22 ... but on a Raleigh Roma scooter ... one each ...
We just stopped where we wanted ... never had a problem, though this was back in the 60's!!! We even camped on a beach just outside Imperia for five days! Doubt you'd be allowed to do that now.
Just don't plan anything ... except getting to your booked hotel on time. Discover things ... that's the excitement! Use a Meteo site for weather forecasts, just to ensure you are heading into blue skies rather than thunderstorms ... and use Via Michelin (link below) to plan your routes ...
Decathlon's a great idea ... we have bought tons from them ... can't resist ... seldom drive past one without paying a visit! http://www.viamichelin.co.uk
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
My gf and I (now wife) did a similar trip when I was 23. We drove from North Wales in my VW golf mk4 tdi packed with a 3 man dome tent and many accessories...
It was our first holiday together, so it was going to be a test of our relationship, but as I said we are now married and have a little boy and have upgraded to a mk5 golf and a folding camper.
..anyway back to the story... I made sure that the gf could take as many of her home comforts as she wanted, I.e hair dryer... And lots of clothes/shoes (which you ll have plenty of room for under the seats of the fiesta) make sure you have a comfy bed (air bed) and a duvet, blankets, sheets. Layers is important as nights in the mountains can be freezing, but very cosy just the two of you in your tent as long as you have plenty of bedding. Also I'd recommend packing a couple of folding chairs.., a must! Obviously torch, tool kit, Cooker, gas, pans, etc... As you can tell I was in the scouts, so I tend to make a kit list :)
We only went for 2 weeks and travelled right through France to Antibes, Monaco, Italy, Simplon Pass, Zernatt, the Rhine... We had a fantastic trip and would do it again tomorrow..
Top tip, don't take a sat nav, use your map and sense of direction/adventure... Makes a holiday ... Enjoy :)
Just as a guide Calais - Colmar - Interlaken - Bologna - Trieste - Salzburg - Trier - Amsterdam - Bruges is 3400km and 35h on Google maps. If you're staying at Bologna for a week and assume travel 5 hrs per day. you'll be spending 7 days or 1 week of the othwr 3 weeks on the road, stopping at 7 places, thats one every 3 days. Ambitious ?
Maybe better to plan a route to Bologna then see what you feel like after that ?
Forgot to add, for what it's worth if I was to spend 30 days in Europe, I'd plan for something like 4 centres, a week in each and a bit varied, and a similar distance apart. Maybe something like Bernese-Oberland, Bologna, Bavaria, Flanders.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Camping across Europe
