Finding a campsite in europe

[1982john]

Hi, my n00b question of the day.....

So I went to Smiths today to look at some maps of europe and I couldn't really see any that showed campsites.

I wanted to avoid having to plan to far ahead and also didn't want to be logging on everyday to search for sites. Can anyone recommend a type of map which should show campsites?

Thanks

[lisap]

Try alanrogers.com for maps online and i think they sell them as well. They have a good selection for Spain although I haven't looked at other countries. Another good site is mapsman.com. They sell the Michelin high resistance (waterproof and non rip) maps and Alan Rogers as well.

[Barrenfluffit]

You might have more luck in country. If your near London, Stanfords may be worth a visit. Often there's a local guidebook and it tends to be possible to figure them out.

If you can make GPS work Garmins have campsites on.

[tatanab]

Michelin maps show only the sites that are in the guidebook the year the map was printed. i.e. very few. The book I use for France shows 10143 campsites http://www.amazon.co.uk/guide-officiel- ... nning+2013 I have been told that some tourist offices in some parts of France have been known to have a local map (say for Normandy) showing campsites. Books such as Michelin and Alan Rogers are very limited in their scope, only showing the very few that have been assessed by them. Other than France I do not know because I just find the campsites on the internet before I leave home.

[foxyrider]

what you really need to do is look on here then print a list for the areas you are visiting - or buy the book!

http://www.acsi.eu/en/home/l2-n144/

Not every site but a hell of a lot, never had a really bad one yet.

[bikepacker]

I often use this website http://www.campingfrance.com/UK

There are many unlisted municipal campsite in towns and villages.

[1982john]

Thanks for all the updates, some of those maps look like they could do a really good job. I'd be happy to leave with a book for france and then hope to pick up others on the way.

What i've been looking into is some kind of app / file that has all the current campsites of europe. I'm hoping to garmin free but will have a smartphone gps but want to avoid using data as its really expensive.

[Barrenfluffit]

http://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/

[1982john]

yea their app looks like it could be just what im after or might even be able to install that file onto the smart phone ?

[nmnm]

The book I use for France shows 10143 campsites

Only 10142 of them are open though, I discovered at dusk last year in Puget-Theniers (site closed, probably around 2007). The same error occurs in campingfrance.com, and the Archies Camping list. Maybe they all use the same source data. Another thing is, the book just lists a town name, leaving finding the site a bit hit and miss sometimes - I had reached Puget-Theniers so late because I couldn't find the site listed as Roqesteron (it's 2 miles out, down a big hill).

In the mountains, I wasn't too bothered about the campsites' details, just the locations. Google maps doesn't make the Puget-Therniers error, I see. I'm thinking I can do a holiday's worth of google map searches for "camping" for <£5 in data costs. The Archies app is intriguing but it maybe uses as much data as looking at google maps, and the archies main website layout is pretty dire, doesn't bode well.

The classic option is making a list or marking dots on our preferred maps prior to departure, of course!

[tatanab]

The classic option is making a list or marking dots on our preferred maps prior to departure, of course!

That's what I do, make a list of maybe 6 options for each night. I then find them on aerial views etc when at home and against each one make a note such as "D123 7k N, NW of big lake". I like to know where I am going when tired and not have to hunt around at the end of the day. My tours are free of electronics so apps etc are no good to me.

About 20 years ago I stayed in Roquesteron in a dirty little hotel with magnificent food. A very pleasant area.

[andymiller]

I also mark up the map to show options - the easiest way to plan a route for the next day or so (even though I also have them on the gps).

When I checked out the Archies POIs a couple of years ago they just had the location of the campsite - which I guess is OK as a backup, but without information about opening periods and phone numbers etc it's of limited use, EDIT looking at the GPX files they include the phone number which is a help. The screenshots of the app suggest that it includes phone numbers and opening periods. I would definitely make use of the phone numbers if you are going to travel to a site in an isolated place where there aren't any alternatives - campsites go out of business.

Here's a little trick if you are planning to use Google Maps. Zoom in on the campsite then right click near to the campsite marker and then when the contextual menu appears, click 'What's here' and the coordinates will appear in the search box so you can simply copy and paste them for use in Basecamp or wherever. If you are a Doubting Thomas you can also use street view to scope out the campsite entrance.

what you really need to do is look on here then print a list for the areas you are visiting - or buy the book!

http://www.acsi.eu/en/home/l2-n144/

Not every site but a hell of a lot, never had a really bad one yet.

Another vote for ACSI (although Alan Rogers is also also pretty good, and their iOS app is really useful because you can use it offline). The ACSI has user reviews: most are in Dutch or German, but the marks awarded are IME pretty reliable (8 or more is v.good, 7 is OK and 6 or so is OK for a night.

[psmiffy]

http://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/

you have to be a bit circumspect - I think campsites get put on ther - and the POI website- when they are operational - but not taken off when close - Ive ended up wild camping a couple of times when ive turned up at a site that has closed at least 4 years before

[Slowroad]

http://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/

I've just had a look at this website - can't work out how to use it - do you need to download things to a smartphone?
Cheers,
Slowroad (slow technically too!)

[andymiller]

http://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/

I've just had a look at this website - can't work out how to use it - do you need to download things to a smartphone?
Cheers,
Slowroad (slow technically too!)

You need to click on the 'download' button in the menu on the left of the page - and not what look link links on the home page. Or follow this link:

http://www.archiescampings.eu/downloadpage/

Aternatively you need to download the iOS app via the App Store.