Is (casual) European touring ruined forever?
We've been caravanning abroad for 40+years covering the majority of European countries, but this year something has changed.
When the kids were small we had to holiday during August but rarely, if ever, booked ahead but it was rarely a problem finding a pitch, although it was obviously busy. When we were able to delay until September things were so much more relaxed with plenty of pitches to choose from at any site.
This year the enjoyment has been somewhat curtailed with lots of ringing around required and many sites being full. Some sites that do offer a pitch shove you in a tight spot somewhere just to do you a favour. We started at Orleans, then Lyon, both very busy but some availability. Moving down to Cote d'azur (yes I know it's popular) everywhere is rammed and we ended up in a site's 'waiting room' area for three nights. Moving over the border into Italy... same problem with outfits being packed in like sardines.
So onto Annecy, surely there would be plenty of availability? Nope, full signs everywhere but we were squeezed into a pitch on yet another rammed site. Ten minutes later and we wouldn't have even had that. I can't believe this is happening in September.
So... is it the case that the pandemic saw such huge increases in campervan/motorhome ownership - not many caravans about - there just isn't the capacity any longer? Looks like a big rethink is required for future holidays. Booking ahead the whole holiday? Never done that and don't intend to. Just find places that aren't as popular? Well of course there's a reason places are popular...
I'd be interested in the experiences and observations of others.
Comments
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We are in a Motorhome, so have also been using Aires, but have not had any major issues on the three full sites we have used. Although this year the first two have wanted to allocate a pitch and two of the three required payment for two nights up front and then you could go back and pay for more if you wanted to stay longer. Perhaps they’ve had a few leave without paying as that in our experience is a bit unusual.
Belfort was busy and there was a bit of difference of opinion over what constituted a suitable pitch. Their allocation had a low tree branch and their alternative was already occupied, the third was OK though.😀 There still seemed to be a few spare pitches left at the end of the day. Avignon was busy and had the all electric pitches taken sign out by tea time most days, although you could still get a non electric. It was certainly busier than our visit in 2019, although we are a couple of weeks earlier. This one at Chateauneuf du Pape is almost empty, just a few tourers and grape pickers in one of the cabins.
To date the Aires, all camping car park ones so far, have had plenty of space. So far less full than last year.
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I'm afraid can't comment in Europe this season, but think you've hit the nail on the head in many ways. Casual touring or late booking as we regularly do, is more painstaking than before. Rather than choice, more a matter working down a list of preference until finding a vacancy & more people literally waiting outside at earliest arrival time to get the best spots. Maybe you were just a bit unlucky this season & it'll be fine next.
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We always book ahead when going to Europe and cannot understand the problem with doing so. My wife is German and would never dream of going on holiday in Central Europe in peak season without booking, even more so with a caravan. To say it is being ruined because this type of holiday is more popular is rather snobbish. I am delighted caravanning, motorhomes and camping is so much more popular. If it were the other way, it is likely camp sites would be closing and reflect an economy on its knees, at best.
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I am equally surprised by the level of site occupancy abroad.
After 35 years of teaching we managed to get away out of high summer for the first time in 2017.
As usual we had booked, but found lots of spaces in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Post Covid in our France/NL trip of mostly June 2022 I initially did not book, but as our trip approached I could see very little on-line availability, so booked. It was a good job I did as if I'd turned up wanting a week long stay I'd have been turned away. If in a Motorhome or camper and only wanting a few days we would have been OK.
We are currently in The Loire, having arrived 12 days ago from Carnac. The sites there were basically empty as they closed at the start of September. Fellow caravaners coming up from Millau have said the same.
When we arrived the site was busy and has been up to 90% full, so you had to take what you would be offered. Currently I'd say it is about 60% full and will close in a few weeks.
We have booked a pitch here for next year in mid June, as only 4 of the desirable riverside pitches were left.
My guess is the "newbies" who bought over Covid have fallen into one of two camps.
They have either decided it is not for them and hence a glut in used Caravans, slow sales and depressed values, along with emptyish UK sites.
They have enjoyed their time and decided to venture further afield, where weather is generally better, pitch fees lower and greater facilities are provided.
Colin
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I agree it has got bussier but not to the extent that you cannot tour without booking, Peak season at popular destination has always posed problems and I think weekends and winter sun at certain spots might be going the same way.
I toured from Easter for 6.weeks this year and only made the Easter booking and had no problems thereafter and we used a variety of sites.
I am currently in Spain and have to admit I was staggered at the amount of motorhomes on the Le Crotoy harbour Aire when we arrived for the night., Hundreds on a Wednesday! We were late arrivals (1830L) due to being held up at Folkestone by security checks and there were just two places left. We took one and half an hour later another Brit took the last one. We had no problems night stopping travelling down through central France but on arrival at a well known large resort on the Med coast, it was full on a Saturday. I have never known that to be the case before. We moved on just 10 miles further away to find plenty of spaces at the next site. After 2 nights we checked out and came back on the Monday. By that evening there were 100s of pitches available and we are waiting to see what happens this weekend and for the remainder of the tour.
peedee
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Okay, my headline was harsh - as was your response! - but with the best will in the world I can't say I'm delighted by this year's experience. Booking ahead with a rigid plan for four weeks just doesn't appeal but maybe that's just how it will have to be.
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On second thoughts, if there was an edit function I'd change the headline to 'Is (casual) European touring changed forever?
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I cannot imagine travelling long distances to a rigid schedule. There are just too many variables effecting the journey. I do plan but as with my stop over at Le Crotoy, you have to accept the variables. I was planning on getting to Neufchatel!
peedee
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Ha ha, I thought I was back on Twitter for a moment!
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Haven't been abroad this year but last May/June we had 5 weeks in the Netherlands.
They like their touring but we only booked a couple of sites that were either in tourist spot areas or fell during Ascension and Pentecost holiday periods.
Rang other sites a few days before going to that area. Didn't encounter any problems.
About as near to casual as I'm likely to get with a caravan behind me.
A lot different for Motorhomes who are at an advantage over 'vanners abroad.
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I can't imagine encountering problems in the Netherlands - they're all in other European countries!
And you're certainly correct about motorhomers having an advantage.
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We are touring France at present. Apart from a slight difficulty with one site infested with lover of the game that uses a strangely shaped ball 🏉😂 requiring booking we have had no real difficulty going as we please. Incidentally, the infestation has moved on but it was great fun while it lasted 👍.
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Out of 8 sites stopped at 4 were full for at least a few days.
The Dutch don't all export themselves, just seems like they do
. In many ways they "tour" mainly in caravans still. There might be financial reasons or storage space reasons or taxation reasons why there are, or seem to be, a higher ratio of caravan to Motorhome ownership.1 -
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Le Croty is popular as it's ideally placed for those who have just crossed to Calais to pull in after an hour or so....it's on a recognised route southwards into and through France.
most folk will just be sleeping and then off in the morning, this isn't camping but 'stopping over'. Quite a difference.
if we want to 'camp' and enjoy resting, swimming, walking, cycling, eating and drinking it will be at a site that's spacious and has 'relaxing' facilities.
if we are just pulling in for a 'stopover' as part of visiting a town or city, an aire is exactly what we want.
paying two or three times the level to overnight on a site that we won't make use of seems a waste...
to tour in the above mode doesn't feel on the point of extinction to us...I'll let you know shortly (if we ever get away....lol).
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My profile picture was taken at Le Crotoy aire on the way home in October.
It does get rammed in peak season but it is a very convenient overnight stop outside those times, with a lovely walk alongside the moorings into a charming small town with lots of seafood restaurants.
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Here’s an alternative on the north coast of France - also open all year round.
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Some Aires are a transient stop, others are very much a place to spend a couple of days leisure time. It so much depends on the Aire and its location. We recently spent a couple of nights at one in a ski resort in the Jura, of the 38 places only 4 / 5 were occupied.
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“Oh well, it’s fine for motorhomers, but you wouldn’t see me spending leisure time in such a place” aspect shows the great gulf. If we pull into an Aire, we are not “spending leisure time” but “getting our heads down time”, en route to a desirable, destination, leisure time place, as YT explained. I suppose caravanners don't "get it".
A rather condescending view, particularly as I was at pains to state I understood why Motorhomers would use such places. I do in fact "get it"!
I just don't wish to, or most times cannot, pitch my caravan there.
As the OP is a caravanner the type of "casual touring" referred to by him isn't to be found on Aires as shown in Peedee's post.
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Getting back to the original question....
My observations this summer are that NW France is significantly busier than in recent years, wheras Provence is notably quieter. My suspicion is that after last summers very very hot weather, ther is a trend towards the northern coasts and away from the south. Having said that I had no troiuble getting a pitch anywhere in France in August, generally making a booking two or three days in advance of turning up. As usual, site empty significantly after 14 August and by the last week in August nowhere seemed to be full.
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We are crossing in the next few days and anticipate it to be no different to the last 2 years. Yes some sites are busy as are some areas of France and Spain.
We were over in April, May and June this year and did come across some sites that were busy, don't think we saw a Complet sign out anywhere, though some sites were only taking those who had booked.
This spring certainly was busier than last but many folk were not yet back into travelling after Covid. In 2021 and 2022 we hardly saw a Brit outfit, this year there were many and not just the oldies, lots of younger folk out even just for a couple of weeks. We spoke to quite a few young families who were taking a year out to travel before the children started school. Can't remember ever coming across any before.
Times are changing and it's not just here in the UK, many across Europe are seeing things differently since Covid.
I never thought I could spend any time on an aire especially a busy one. I'm glad to say I did give it a try and thankfully it was OK. To be honest some Aires are quieter than campsites and not so busy.
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