Favourite Sites in Europe

SeasideBill
SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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Looking at the ‘dream sites’ thread and missing my ‘over there’ fix this year, set me thinking about my favourite sites. It’d be interested in hearing about other’s favourite european sites. Here’s a few of mine for starters:

A long time favourite (many visits since the 1980s) is the Cevennes region of France. A favourite site in that region is Castel Rose near the lovely town of Anduze. The campsite has been taken over by a chain since I first went there but they’ve preserved the best of it while adding new facilities. A bit further up the beautiful River Gardon is Camping de l’Arche, also much expanded and developed in recent years, but still a great site.

In Italy I like Camping Aquileia near Grado which is a lovely resort on an Adriatic lagoon. The no frills site is within walking distance of a World Heritage site and was one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire - check out the mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta.

A more recent find is Autocamp Draga in Mošćenička Draga, Croatia. Fabulous site by a lovely town and beach and close the Opatija which is a very elegant resort ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’.

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  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited September 2020 #2

    Another one for the list is Camping Le Colombier in Cagnes sur Mer between Nice & Cannes. Easy bus or train access to either and/or Monaco.

    A small, quiet site in the suburbs of the town, No frills, toilets/showers could do with updating, but the site is wonderfully quirky and has a charm that you don’t find very often on the full-fat modern French Rivera sites.

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  • Longtimecaravanner
    Longtimecaravanner Forum Participant Posts: 642
    edited September 2020 #4

    We are not bothered about the facilities on site but choose our sites for location and views and based on those our two favourites would be

    Camping Nature and Lodge Les Domes de Miage in St Gervais Les Bains with Mont Blanc in the back ground

    Nattersee near Innsbruck again with a mountain range so close.

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited September 2020 #5

    Would certainly agree with you on Nattersee.

  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810
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    edited September 2020 #6

    Good thread. I shall be looking on with interest, as our trip to France this year had to be cancelled, but hopeful for next year.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #7

    My all time favourite and the one I have fondest memories of is definitely El Delfin Verde on Spain's Costa Brava. Its much changed since we first went there in 1990 but we have been back several times since the last being in 2016. This beach front site is well run and completely self contained and has everything one could wish for on a holiday. You need never leave the site if you did not want to, many don't. A close second and I always used to think it was the most expensive site in Spain (it probably isn't now) is Playa Montroig near Cambrils.

    I wouldn't use either of these in peak season now.

    peedee

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  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #9

    Seems as though you have a difficulty making you mind up AD? That is now the 5th site you have listed! There are just so many really good sites to enjoy over there.

    peedee

  • Unknown
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  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #11

    Yes I realised after I had hit the post button that is was sites. I would be hard pushed to find one I haven't enjoyed but some of the best have been in Croatia and Spain.  I can only think of one Aire and a site in Italy that I wouldn't return to but the two I singled out as favourites have always stuck in my mind much more than others.

    peedee

  • Extugger
    Extugger Forum Participant Posts: 1,293
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    edited September 2020 #12
     

    It was on a similar thread a few years ago, where I gleaned information before setting off on my first continental European trip. No doubt this one will inspire others laughing

    I have stayed at some of the sites already mentioned, Nattersee & Camping Prumtal Oberweiss and would like to add Camping Resort Allweglehen, Berchtesgaden https://www.allweglehen.de/en/ and Camping Slatina on Cres, Croatia https://www.camp-slatina.com/

     

     

     
  • meecee
    meecee Forum Participant Posts: 304
    edited September 2020 #13

    We like Fontaine Vieille near Andernos les Bains, a town on the edge of the Bassin d'Arcachon with a footpath/cycle path to the town.  The waterfront has nice restaurants and a variety of touristy shops + oyster fishing area further along and a small town further back.We find the area relaxing and have often visited on the way back from other places. We also like Castel Rose - ideal for the Bambouserai de prafrance.  Another we like is Mas Nicolas - walking (scooter riding) distance to St. Remy de Provence.  Having spent years travelling around rarely visiting the same sites more than once we now like a bit of familiality..

  • meecee
    meecee Forum Participant Posts: 304
    edited September 2020 #14

    Or familiarity  

  • Sanchas
    Sanchas Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited September 2020 #15

    Seaside Bill, its nice to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Camp Aquileia, we should have been there 1st-7th of July this year, hopefully we will get there next year on our tour of Italy.

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited September 2020 #16

    Yes, it’s a lovely little site, nothing fancy but just has a nice feel about it. 

    You could use it as a base to visit Venice, but my advice would be to base yourself at Sottomarina and travel to Venice by boat. Fab trip across the lagoon and the best way to arrive in Venice.

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  • mnlatham
    mnlatham Forum Participant Posts: 108
    edited September 2020 #18

    Camping Bella Vista, Manilva has everything we need for a 3 month winter break. Not the cheapest but we love it.

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  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited September 2020 #20

    Hi Bill, only just seen this as we are away in the van for the first time in 2020!

    As can be seen from other posters it’s sometimes difficult to pick the one site and we always end up talking about lots of sites!

    One of the issues of course is location and there are some sites that we would go back to just for that but otherwise probably wouldn’t bother.

    When I’ve posted in similar Threads before I usually comment that if I had to pick just one site that I could go to in the future it would have to be Camping Bella Italia at Peschiera Del Garda.
    there are many stunningly located sites but sitting outside your van with a lake in front of you swans serenely passing by and snowcapped mountains in front of you take some beating.

    Add in The fact that it’s possible to get low season discounts just adds to its appealing location being well placed to visit cities, if that is your thing Verona is only 20 minutes away and Venice 90minutes, the mountains and lakes and of course, all the while being able to indulge in great food and drink.

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited September 2020 #21

    Like the Italian lakes, I think I’ve done all them all now, but with the exception of Maggiore, all courtesy of Mr O’Leary so not that familiar with the campsites. However, I do have some concerns about water quality in some of them. I saw some dodgy looking stuff floating around in Lake Garda after a big thunderstorm, put us off any thoughts of swimming!

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited September 2020 #22

    Is that the same site as Orbitur Camping Évora just on the outskirts of Evora? If so, yes we’ve stayed there and enjoyed it. The only downside I recall was the mulberry trees, they permanently stain everything that comes into contact with the berries, and they got everywhere!

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #23

    I think I would find it difficult to pick one overall favorite site. Often the reason we go back to sites is because of their location rather than the quality of the site and facilities. Perhaps one exception to that would be Camping Natterersee above Innsbruck which has a wonderful location and excellent facilities. Camping de la Plage at Port Grimaud is one we liked because of its location rather than its facilities. Our most visited site in Italy is Camping Miramare at Punta Sabbioni. It's not a bad site either but the winning point is the closeness to the ferries to Venice and many happy memories of three or four visits to Venice and it's Islands. 

    David

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  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited September 2020 #26

    Another French favourite Camping Cascade set on terraces above a languid section of the Tarn. Walking distance to St-Rome-de-Tarn, a small, ancient town with bakers, small supermarket and typical plat du jour restaurant in the main square. We saw beavers here. Good prospects of a river side pitch in low season. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #27

    We have simple tastes.

    Here's Camping les Chalottes at Murs - a one star municipal site up in the hills in Provence - where we spent a very comfortable week under pine trees during a heatwave. 

    The lady in charge was from Tahiti and came round for money, a chat, and glass of wine in an evening. 

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited September 2020 #28

    If you’re looking to visit Ronda, I can recommend Camping el Sur, nice site with good restaurant on site and walking distance into Ronda. 

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited September 2020 #29

    Simple tastes is good. Municipal sites are always worth checking out.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited September 2020 #30

    Help me, Ronda?!!

    So far as swimming in Lake Garda, there are a number of reasons why the pool is preferable but for boating, if a small plastic dinghy can be classed as such, then it’s OK.

    Seeing the last hydrofoil of the day returning means it’s almost time to go and get the pizzas and suffer the giggling when I ask for extra anchovies in my phrase book Italian. 

    The ice cream order that will follow is much easier!

  • Dave Nicholson
    Dave Nicholson Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited September 2020 #31

    Our favourite is Camping Capalonga near Bibione. We’ve been coming here for 40 years and is ideal for both young and old. Arguably the best private beach in Europe, 3 pools, 2 restaurants, snack bars. The site is big but there is plenty of space between units and it has a relaxed atmosphere. Excellent cycling from the site for short or long days out with free cycle ferries across the lagoon or rivers to extend your tour. Boat mooring, fishing, canoe and boat hire. Pubic transport to Venice.