European campground ()
One of the best things about being stationed in Europe is the opportunity to travel, but affordability is a different story. What if you could find a place to stay near your destination, in an accommodation big enough for the entire family with a kitchen for preparing meals to stretch your funds?
By staying at European campgrounds, you can visit the Europe of your dreams without blowing the budget.
Why Camping?
Camping to visit a famous city might sound like an oxymoron. Most Americans have camping memories that involve pitching tents with scouts or relaxing at a lake with family, but camping next to Paris or Amsterdam? Yes!
Europeans do not tend to use their caravan as a means to get away from it all, but rather as a budget-friendly way to tour Europe. Because of this mindset, there are small campgrounds surrounding almost every major city, usually within walking distance of a transit station and a short ride to the city center. To make it even more alluring, many European campgrounds are “resort-style” with cabins, restaurants, and activities to make your stay comfortable and easy.
Camping is both affordable and a great way to travel! Those touring with kids or a dog will find most sites allow pets and have playgrounds for little ones to burn off energy. Wi-Fi is standard. Morning bread service is often available to deliver fresh bread to your campsite. Plus, having a kitchen to make meals eliminates stressors for those with allergies or food intolerances, and makes it possible to sustain ravenous teens who seem to eat an entire fridge in one sitting! Couples and solo travelers will appreciate the friendly atmosphere of campgrounds where seasoned travelers are eager to tell you about their favorite local sites. The real treat of camping is that it takes you out of the isolation and tourist beat of hotels and into a fun, relaxing and unique atmosphere.
Finding a Campground
While you may not be in the habit of searching for campgrounds, they are easy to find once you have the right tools at your disposal. First, there is Google searching. “Camping near Amsterdam” generates nearly 20 Google results for campground resorts with reviews and pictures. There are also options on popular reservation sites like Airbnb and Booking.com. While convenient, you run the risk of finding outdated information, paying premium rates or discovering that the perfect campground is closed for the season. A dedicated camping website is preferred.
Happily, there are many websites dedicated to finding campgrounds in Europe. My favorite European camping websites are Camping.info, CamperGuru.com, and Pitchup.com. They provide up-to-date information on openings, types of accommodation, and exact locations. Plus, you can view results on a map and compare all the options. Some campsites allow you to book directly from these camping marketplaces, while others will redirect you to the campground website. It is also worth joining their email lists for discounts or special availability at sold-out campsites during the high summer season.
While these websites are great, finding a place while on the go, changing travel plans or the need to unexpectedly bed down for the night on a long car trip is made easier with an on-the-go app. My favorite is the Park4Night app. Using their platform, you can search near your location or even along the route of your trip. The app also gives you the ability to filter by amenities and accommodation type. You may want something pet-friendly with a pool for families, a resort cabin, a car camping slot, or even just a safe spot to pull over for a nap. Some app information is crowdsourced; so, reviews are updated, and campers can submit new locations for approval by the admin team. The paid version of the app will connect you directly to a campground’s booking method, whether a website, phone number or email, to make reserving your spot seamless.
