Mar 21, 2008
Campgrounds on the outskirts of most European cities supply an interesting, inexpensive means of lodging
In our increasingly frantic search for ways to visit Europe inexpensively, campgrounds and camping should not be overlooked.
Almost completely unknown to most American travelers, campgrounds are found on the outskirts of nearly every major European city; indeed, some European cities have as many as a dozen such camps in their outlying areas. And although they are usually in fairly remote neighborhoods, nearly all are on a bus or subway line that can whisk you downtown -- and there are still other prime camping spots in historic centers as well.
Did you know you could camp in Paris along the banks of the Seine River in the Bois de Boulogne park (www.campingparis.fr)? How about a campsite with a view overlooking the domes and bell towers of Florence from a hillside terrace in the Oltrarno district (www.ecvacanze.it/ing/michelangelo_home.asp)? Venice even has a campground by the beach on the island next to the Lido, just a short ferry ride from St. Mark's Square (www.camping-miramare.it). Some campgrounds are operated only in warm weather (roughly Easter through October or early November), but many stay open year-round.
The bill at a European campground can be a bit confusing, since you are usually charged an array of small fees -- one for the site, another for each person, yet another for your vehicle -- but the total usually ends up around $17 to $26 for a couple in a tent, up to $40 in the most popular campgrounds in the summer high season. Forgot your tent? You can usually rent one for $10-$20.
If tents aren't your style, most European campgrounds also rent inexpensive bungalows sleeping two to six people and starting around $45 plus $10-$14 per person -- far less than the cost of even a cheap hotel. What's more, the bungalow's access to the campground facilities means you get amenities virtually no inexpensive hotel can offer: a swimming pool, an on-site grocery store, picnic tables, bars, and often a restaurant, grill, or pizzeria -- to say nothing of the chance to make friends with vacationing Europeans. Campers tend to be a friendly lot, often insisting their temporary neighbors join them by the campfire or barbecue pit to share dinner and a bottle of wine. This type of invitation rarely comes from the couple staying in the hotel room next door.
National and local tourist offices always have lists of campgrounds (the better ones include them in the searchable accommodations databases on their websites; find them at www.worldtourismdirectory.com). You can also find listings for more than 8,500 European campgrounds at the site www.eurocampings.net, and some 1,500 more on the Polish site www.eurocamps.net (never fear; click on the little Union Jack flag at the top for an English version).
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Almost completely unknown to most American travelers, campgrounds are found on the outskirts of nearly every major European city; indeed, some European cities have as many as a dozen such camps in their outlying areas. And although they are usually in fairly remote neighborhoods, nearly all are on a bus or subway line that can whisk you downtown -- and there are still other prime camping spots in historic centers as well.
Did you know you could camp in Paris along the banks of the Seine River in the Bois de Boulogne park (www.campingparis.fr)? How about a campsite with a view overlooking the domes and bell towers of Florence from a hillside terrace in the Oltrarno district (www.ecvacanze.it/ing/michelangelo_home.asp)? Venice even has a campground by the beach on the island next to the Lido, just a short ferry ride from St. Mark's Square (www.camping-miramare.it). Some campgrounds are operated only in warm weather (roughly Easter through October or early November), but many stay open year-round.
The bill at a European campground can be a bit confusing, since you are usually charged an array of small fees -- one for the site, another for each person, yet another for your vehicle -- but the total usually ends up around $17 to $26 for a couple in a tent, up to $40 in the most popular campgrounds in the summer high season. Forgot your tent? You can usually rent one for $10-$20.
If tents aren't your style, most European campgrounds also rent inexpensive bungalows sleeping two to six people and starting around $45 plus $10-$14 per person -- far less than the cost of even a cheap hotel. What's more, the bungalow's access to the campground facilities means you get amenities virtually no inexpensive hotel can offer: a swimming pool, an on-site grocery store, picnic tables, bars, and often a restaurant, grill, or pizzeria -- to say nothing of the chance to make friends with vacationing Europeans. Campers tend to be a friendly lot, often insisting their temporary neighbors join them by the campfire or barbecue pit to share dinner and a bottle of wine. This type of invitation rarely comes from the couple staying in the hotel room next door.
National and local tourist offices always have lists of campgrounds (the better ones include them in the searchable accommodations databases on their websites; find them at www.worldtourismdirectory.com). You can also find listings for more than 8,500 European campgrounds at the site www.eurocampings.net, and some 1,500 more on the Polish site www.eurocamps.net (never fear; click on the little Union Jack flag at the top for an English version).
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: camping, western europe
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