First time touring in Europe- advice
Hi all
taking my campervan to the Alps, via France, Austria then into Italy and back through Switzerland in September.
I know France has aires, but what are the best options equivalent to CL in the various countries and how do you book them. Do many have any facilities at all as a shower would be nice occasionally
any other suggestions for using or finding sites would be appreciated
Comments
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Hi, Depending on your preferences you will likely find a great deal of choice in all the countries you mentioned.
As AD says the ACSI/Camping Card website will show you over 3000 sites with the dearest just €22 a night and, rest assured, they all have showers!
Booking is not really necessary unless you want a specific pitch, on a specific site.
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It will be worth your while to purchase a copy of Touring Europe 2022, published and sold by the Club for £13.49. It also contains a list and details of 3000 sites, including some of the small sites which ACSI misses. But more than that it has a wealth of information and advice for a first tour of Europe. It will be money well spent.
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France Passion is a little bit like CLs, farmers, artisans and vineyards allow you stay overnight for no charge and, although not obliged, hope you’ll buy some produce/wine from them. You’ll need to join (€30) and there are loads of stopover options.
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I know what you mean, but we’ve generally done vineyards and buy a case of wine, usually at very reasonable price - never had a bad one yet. Sometimes the owner throws in a 7th bottle for free! Farmers selling fruit and/or veg via farm shop are always a good bet because it’s fresh & cheaper than supermarkets.
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Lots of advice above, some a little confusing. In my opinion I’d forget the hard copy books and go for the Campercontact App. You will find everything you need there; Aires, Stellplatz, Sostas and campsites. In my experience Stellplatz are not so common in Austria but there are hundreds in Germany. Most Aires, Stellplatz and Sostas don’t take booking although some in popular areas do. It’s normally a first come first served system.
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There is so much information available it is easy to get bogged down and totally confused. I would stick with just a couple of options. As a caravaner it would be ACSI, as a motorhome owner it looks like the Campercontact App.
I know in France that most if not all villages have somewhere that campervans can stop overnight. These have water points to fill up fresh and dump waste, may have a hook up point and even basic facilities.
Colin
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wookie65 - “any other suggestions for using or finding sites would be appreciated” - If travelling mid/late Sept and using sites bear in mind that some campsites are coming to the end of their season so worth checking closure dates in area you want to visit. Enjoy your time away.
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The fantastic provisions and opportunities for MH/campervans, especially in France, was the main reason we looked at changing to such a few years ago.
The reason we knew this was from our trips with the van so for someone like the OP its the unknown that leads to the comparisons with, say, CLs.
One point, looking at the outfit, is that I would be looking more at sites for stays, for that 'occasional shower', and aires etc for stopovers en route.
Also agree with Euror about the clubs Touring Europe guide, it was very helpful at the start of our foreign trips.
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I don't think you can go far wrong with the Acsi guide and app.
The other apps mentioned are also very useful especially for the aires type of stop over. We use them when overseas with the MH.
Twice now we have bought the club guide in the last 11 years and can't get on with it. I was hoping the newer version would be better but sadly it's not. If we had to rely totally on that I fear we would have missed so much of the places we have been.
The sites abroad are plentiful so if one isn't to your liking just move on a little way and you easily find another one.
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