Campsite Clues....Spain, France, Italy

[mwheatley]

Hi All,

It's now the time of year to plan the August trip abroad. Courtesy of the pesky credit crunch this years trip was put off . However, we've decided to go a little further afield this time to make up for it & try Spain....The Pyrenees to be precise, with a possible route through southern France to the Italian lakes then back to Calais via north eastern France. This is the first small step in the long journey of organising this and I need some help

Does anyone have any recommendations for campsites in these areas, or websites for finding campsites, preferably with reviews? Also, are there any big differences in Spanish/French campsites (the French ones we went on in '08 were great)? We were hoping to go onto Barcelona, so campsites there would be good. In fact, any help would be appreciated.

Ta.

[Ian Hulley]

The aire at Metz (N.E. France) was great as was the campsite in Buzancy (Northern Central France).

There's a great looking aire at Narbonne Plage (between Perpignan and Marseilles) and we know another at Cavallaire (sp?) which is near St.Tropez.

Ian

[mwheatley]

Great, thanks Ian. I believe there is a book you can get listing all the aire's in France, is this correct?

[Ian Hulley]

I believe there is a book you can get listing all the aire's in France, is this correct?

Here's a post I put over on another thread ... which they never bothered replying to

Buy these from Vicarious Books .. http://www.vicarious-shop.com/home.php?cat=1

and

Remember you don't have to drive to Brittany or Normandy to be in France, we stopped in some beautifull towns and villages this Summer in North East France ... try Metz for example, it has a lovely Aire right next to the town centre

This ... is a typical aire in Northern France, about an hour from Calais and this ... is it's beach

Ian

[chippieshaun]

I can vouch for the Camperstop book. I got the recomendation from the very same Mr.Hulley and we found it fantastic for France and useful for Spain/Portugal.
Haven't got any particular recomendations for Northern Spanish campsites but , be warned.........they're well expensive!! It seems that you will be lucky to get anywhere for less than 20 euros a night and you can pay more if you want electricity!

[Ian Hulley]

Pleased it was good for you some of them can be slightly awkward to track down, especially in the middle of towns or cities ... we couldn't find one in Bregenz, Austria. We stopped on a mossie-ridden campsite instead and then found ourselves driving past the camperstop on the way out of town the following morning


Ian

[Doctor Foster]

I got the 'all the aires' one. Looks very good indeedy

[binka]

Sounds like a great trip, I'm hoping to do similar in 2011. I want to get a bit more used to the van first before going so far for so long so think will have a trip to Scotland or Wales this summer. I've also ordered "all the aires" books afetr seeing it recommended on the other thread.

I hope you have fun and that you take lots of photos and post them on here after!

[mwheatley]

Thanks for all the replies folks. I will be purchasing the aires books pretty soon, and once the trip is over I will hopefully be able to part with my own advice!!!

Thanks.

[90cali]

Hi,
Although we're down in Sicily (and technically don't even own a T3 YET:)), I'll see if I can get some advice through an Italian Westy forum.
If you have any specific places you want to visit, let me know... unfortunately there are several "anti-camper" towns in the north of Italy that are completely off limits to campers in August and campsites tend to be pretty full so it would be a good idea to book ahead.
Jo

[Ian Hulley]

unfortunately there are several "anti-camper" towns in the north of Italy that are completely off limits to campers in August

I was talking to an Italian guy down in Brittany 3 years ago and he was saying that the national government was trying to stamp this out ... many of the local authorities were being prosecuted and made to take down their height barriers and make parking available to motorhomes as the French do. It's being fought tooth and nail though apparently.

I'd definately buy the Camperstop book, which lists some overnight stops in Italy and perhaps the Alan Rogers European Campsite book and book in advance to make sure you've somewhere to stay.

Ian

[chriscburgess]

Agree with chippieshuan. Spanish sites are very expensive. paid 32 euros a night in Mundaka for something that can only be described as beach towel sized. The Spanish seem to do camping very differently to the French. They turn up with pop up tent for the kids, mum and dad sleep in the car and they cook on a trangia- usually at midnight, so they dont need much space.

We just squeezed our van and awning into our plot with no space either side. A day later a 25 ft Motorhome moved in beside the van just 2 inches away.

So choose your spanish site carefully, always have a back up and view the plot before you book in.

However on the plus side apparenelty they are relaxed about wild camping inland although i have never tried it.