Apr 17, 2008
Our U.K.-based reader, GarryRF, has submitted an intriguing suggestion for inexpensive holidays in Europe: EuroCamps
I don't know Garry's last name, but I do know that his suggestions are usually right on the mark with important advice. Recently, he has advised the use of public camping grounds (and camp facilities) in Europe, and the point he makes is so important that it should be set forth in our main blog and not simply in responses to previous posts. Note, in particular, the listing at the end of his message, of the locations and features of these campsites, most of which supply the cabins or tents in which you live. Here's what he had to say:
>Arthur. In your advice "to radically change your method of traveling in Europe," you make no mention of the Camping Parks. Similar to the US. R.V. Park. It's where half of Europe goes in the Summer.
Read Garry's full post here.
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>Arthur. In your advice "to radically change your method of traveling in Europe," you make no mention of the Camping Parks. Similar to the US. R.V. Park. It's where half of Europe goes in the Summer.
Read Garry's full post here.
Write and read comments about this post.
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).
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Labels: camping, western europe
Sep 19, 2007
Would you believe there's a website that lets you pack a tent and sleep for free across the country?
FreeCampgrounds.com (www.freecampgrounds.com) is a community-based bulletin board listing more than 1,700 places where you can camp for free across the country (though it is definitely strongest out West). Now obviously, unless you're an avid outdoors person or driving a campervan, this may not be your kind of full-time travel tactic. But interspersing motel stays with a night or two spent camping can be an excellent way to save money on a long road trip.
Since the site is designed with an RV crowd in mind, many of its entries are for friendly, customer-seeking stores that allow overnight parking in their lots, from Wal-Mart and camping suppliers to truck stops such as the Flying J. But it also has a healthy listing of state parks, Bureau of Land Management parks, and other outdoorsy camping spots, making it an excellent tool for anyone willing to throw a tent in their car's trunk in order to take advantage of a nearby opportunity for a free night's sleep.
Any member can post a listing of a free place to spend the night, providing details on whether the free spot is an official policy or merely tolerated at the destination, the nearest town, the level of noise, a rating of how scenic it is (the parking lots fare poorly on this one), a list of any amenities offered (mostly restrooms and RV hookups for water, electric, and dumping stations), as well as helpful comments by other users.
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Since the site is designed with an RV crowd in mind, many of its entries are for friendly, customer-seeking stores that allow overnight parking in their lots, from Wal-Mart and camping suppliers to truck stops such as the Flying J. But it also has a healthy listing of state parks, Bureau of Land Management parks, and other outdoorsy camping spots, making it an excellent tool for anyone willing to throw a tent in their car's trunk in order to take advantage of a nearby opportunity for a free night's sleep.
Any member can post a listing of a free place to spend the night, providing details on whether the free spot is an official policy or merely tolerated at the destination, the nearest town, the level of noise, a rating of how scenic it is (the parking lots fare poorly on this one), a list of any amenities offered (mostly restrooms and RV hookups for water, electric, and dumping stations), as well as helpful comments by other users.
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Aug 30, 2007
Specially-designed small RVs in New Zealand enable camping on a budget in that awesome, camp-friendly country
Traveling in New Zealand via RV -- or campervan, as the Kiwis say -- is enormously popular, and thanks to the recent introduction of special minivan campers called Spaceships, the activity is cost-effective and easy even for couples. The first Spaceship began zooming around New Zealand in the fall of 2004, and now there are approximately 200 vehicles available for rent in the country. The vehicles are Toyota minivans that have been custom-fitted with a comfortable bed that folds out. With the rear hatch open, a special tent-like attachment can be set up for extra space and fresh air on warm nights. Sheets, duvet, and pillows are included, along with a small refrigerator, a tiny gas barbecue grill, pots, pans, cutlery, plates, cups, and a built-in DVD player that you can watch in bed.
While traveling by RV has been popular in New Zealand for decades, it has traditionally made the most sense for families or groups of friends. Spaceships are instead perfect for couples. They're priced just a bit higher than a standard car rental, they get much better gas mileage than a standard RV, and because of their smaller size, there are no worries about maneuvering a bulky vehicle through small towns or on windy mountain roads. They're a great mode of transportation for exploring New Zealand's amazing landscapes, featured so prominently in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Rental rates, which include all taxes and standard insurance, start at $68 per day in peak summer season (when it's winter in North America). A quote for October (springtime in New Zealand) revealed that rates for Spaceships in the South Island city of Christchurch -- within easy striking distance of the country's most beautiful mountains -- cost only about $45 per day, and by booking a few weeks early you can save an additional 10 percent. Considering that during this same time period a tiny compact rental car will cost at least $35 per day, and larger traditional RVs rent for upwards of $95 daily, Spaceships are an excellent value. Call tel. 011-649/309-8777 or visit www.spaceships.tv for more information.
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Labels: camping, car rental, new zealand
Aug 16, 2007
For travelers 18 to 38 years of age, here are further details on the unique TrekAmerica
Couple of weeks ago, I wrote about TrekAmerica (tel. 800/TREK-USA; www.trekamerica.com), the largest operator of so-called "cooperative camping tours" (they supply a 14-passenger van with driver/guide, tents and cooking equipment, you show up with a sleeping bag). I have subsequently spoken with staff of TrekAmerica in Rockaway, New Jersey, and feel the need to supply further details about this fascinating firm, too often overlooked by young and/or active/unpretentious Americans.
TrekAmerica offers trips of one to six weeks, limited to 13 persons and a driver/guide -- scores of departures, in both summer and winter -- in North America for the most part (but occasionally in Central America), to and through every major region and attraction. Its program has proved so popular overseas that the overwhelming bulk of its passengers are today from Great Britain and Australia, joined by the occasional American. Everyone pays between $75 and $85 per day on the TrekAmerica program for persons 18 to 38, and about $125 to $150 per day to the older adventurers who book its "Footloose" program, on which there's a greater use of hotels. Everyone chips in $9 per person per day into a "food kitty" for the ingredients of meals cooperatively cooked. (My earlier statement that per day costs averaged $40 and food kitties $6 was based on a typo in my notes).
One of travel's great adventures is to take to the open road and go exploring our own huge and diverse United States. If you have a yen to do so, but limited time and budget for pulling it off, I urge you to look at Trek America.
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TrekAmerica offers trips of one to six weeks, limited to 13 persons and a driver/guide -- scores of departures, in both summer and winter -- in North America for the most part (but occasionally in Central America), to and through every major region and attraction. Its program has proved so popular overseas that the overwhelming bulk of its passengers are today from Great Britain and Australia, joined by the occasional American. Everyone pays between $75 and $85 per day on the TrekAmerica program for persons 18 to 38, and about $125 to $150 per day to the older adventurers who book its "Footloose" program, on which there's a greater use of hotels. Everyone chips in $9 per person per day into a "food kitty" for the ingredients of meals cooperatively cooked. (My earlier statement that per day costs averaged $40 and food kitties $6 was based on a typo in my notes).
One of travel's great adventures is to take to the open road and go exploring our own huge and diverse United States. If you have a yen to do so, but limited time and budget for pulling it off, I urge you to look at Trek America.
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Labels: camping
Jul 31, 2007
"Co-operative camping" is an often-overlooked method of enjoying a memorable, and very inexpensive, trip through the U.S. or abroad
Cooperative camping is a cheap and sensible travel method for people who haven't the energy, funds, or commitment to buy and then transport their own camping equipment and/or camping vehicle to regions out-of-town or overseas. Operators of cooperative camping tours, like TrekAmerica (tel. 800/221-0596; www.trekamerica.com), schedule departures and then round up as many as 14 scattered persons for each such departure.
When the group arrives at the jumping-off point, and the individuals on it meet each other, they then board a 14-passenger van furnished by the tour operator and driven by a professional guide -- the only paid employee on the trip. The vehicle is already supplied with eight, state-of-the-art tents, elaborate cooking utensils, and (sometimes) sleeping bags -- although most companies require that you provide the latter. On the first day of the trip, participants vote to establish a "food kitty" and then rotate the shopping for groceries and the actual preparation of meals. The driver drives. Since the group carries its own accommodations (the tents) and needn't adhere to hotel reservations, the group is able to make broad deviations from the itinerary and travel through areas where standard hotels aren't found.
The entire trip is unstructured and fun, close to nature and informal, adventurous, instructive -- and cheap. The average cooperative camping tour costs around $40 a day, plus air fare, and plus about $6 per person per day in contributions to the kitty.
Most of the programs operated by Trek America are designed for youthful people 18 to 35; but a parallel "Footloose" program featured on the website is meant for people of all ages, and heavily booked by persons in their middle age. Try it!
Write and read comments about this post.
When the group arrives at the jumping-off point, and the individuals on it meet each other, they then board a 14-passenger van furnished by the tour operator and driven by a professional guide -- the only paid employee on the trip. The vehicle is already supplied with eight, state-of-the-art tents, elaborate cooking utensils, and (sometimes) sleeping bags -- although most companies require that you provide the latter. On the first day of the trip, participants vote to establish a "food kitty" and then rotate the shopping for groceries and the actual preparation of meals. The driver drives. Since the group carries its own accommodations (the tents) and needn't adhere to hotel reservations, the group is able to make broad deviations from the itinerary and travel through areas where standard hotels aren't found.
The entire trip is unstructured and fun, close to nature and informal, adventurous, instructive -- and cheap. The average cooperative camping tour costs around $40 a day, plus air fare, and plus about $6 per person per day in contributions to the kitty.
Most of the programs operated by Trek America are designed for youthful people 18 to 35; but a parallel "Footloose" program featured on the website is meant for people of all ages, and heavily booked by persons in their middle age. Try it!
Write and read comments about this post.
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
