Euro Campsites 2006

So What were the European Campsites Like

What can we say about camping in Europe?

We used the "AA France" and "AA European Campsites", which although they have comprehensive lists of available sites, both lack:

Detailed Addresses
In places, honest reviews seem absent
Consistency between the two books
Recent reviews (3 years is too long for campsites)

We have stopped at 13 sites across 4 countries and have decided to give you our view of the sites that we have stopped at:

COUNTRY	CITY	NAME & ADDRESS	OUR RATING*	DETAILS
France	Chalons-En-Champagne	Camping Municipal Rue de Plaisance,51000 www.chalons-en-champagne.net	7	Pleasant surprise Spacious pitches, clean & plentiful wash facilities Showers controlled manually, no time limits on buttons Mainly a transit site, used heavily by Dutch & English en route south Quiet location, access to nearby commercial centre and large supermarket for supplies Very handy for access to Champagne region Good pitches for tents on grass
France	Nancy	Villey-le-sec www.campingvilleylesec.com	5	Pretty location right next to the river in a small valley On-site cafe handy for food and small supermarket Closed for check-in from 12noon to 2pm Wash facilities are unisex and clean Bring your own toilet paper No toilet seat (seems to be European standard) Timed showers, have to keep pressing the button to maintain water Major transit site for Dutch. Site fills up rapidly early afternoon and can feel cramped Good pitches for tents on grass Remote location, need to drive to get supplies
France	Obernai	Le Vallon de L'Ehn Rue de Berlin, 67210 www.obernai.fr	8	Excellent location within walking distance of pretty villagei Onsite small shop and slow Internet Access Wash facilities excellent Showers not on timers Nearby supermarket and central shops for supplies True vacation location, good mix of tourists, not a transit site Pitches are excellent, some private surrounded by hedging and grass for tents Quiet location near to municipal pool, available to campers at a reduced rate
France	Colmar	ClairVacances route de Herrlisheim, 68127 www.clairvacances.com	6	Pleasant location in quiet wooded area Caters for families with plenty of activities etc for kids Unable to check in between 12noon and 2pm Awful ground for tents, mainly gravel based Facilities very good and well managed Showers on timers, have to keep pressing the button to maintain water No onsite shop, but bread available if pre-ordered Heavily used by Dutch campers Not a transit site Onsite pool
France	Chambery	Coin Tranquille Les Abrets, 38490 www.coin-tranquille.com	6	Pretty location in beautiful area Excellent restaurant onsite Caters for families Site can be loud at night due to teenagers Loud bar area at night Toilets are unisex and on the outside of the blocks in the two smaller units No toilet paper, no hand driers, no soap Showers on timers and small cubicles Good onsite shop Private grass pitches clearly separated Onsite pool
France	Champagnole	Camping Municipal Boyse Rue Georges-Vallery, 39300 www.tourisme.champagnole.com	7	Good location for exploring Jura area Well managed site with good pitches Caters for families Unisex toilets are clean and plentiful Bring your own toilet paper Showers on timers Clean facilities with regular checks done by managers Excellent local supermarket within 5 mins walk (good local produce) Excellent chalets as an alternative to camping Onsite municipal pool (be aware no swim shorts allowed, take trunks, due to French Law)
France	Versailles	Huttopia Versailles 31 Rue de Berthelot www.huttopia.com	6	Perfect location for Versailles and access to Paris Interesting Eco-camping concept Tent pitches are terrible. Forest floor locations with steep slopes Decent sanitary facilities Showers on timers Clean facilities Local supermarket & shops within 5 mins walk Excellent Roulottes & chalets as an alternative to camping (excessive prices for these though) Onsite pool (be aware no swim shorts allowed, take trunks, due to French Law) Onsite small restaurant area for simple meals 20 mins by regular train service to Paris Younger Staff can be rude and arrogant
Italy	Aosta	Mont Bianco Fraz St Maurice 15, Sarre 11010 (Take SS26 from Aosta to Courmayer) Site is on left. St Maurice village is on right	7	Pretty location in beautiful area Small quiet site managed by friendly owners Facilities are exceptionally clean, but toilets & washing up area are old Showers are on a meter, but excellent Cheapest of all the campsites chosen Grass sites Walking distance to good supermarket Close to Aosta and Mont Blanc but car needed
Italy	Lake Garda	Fornella via Fornella 1, San Felice Del Benaco, 25010 www.fornella.it	7	On edge of village Good site with range of accomodations including chalets, caravans and tents for hire as well as pitch your own Grass sites Two massive pools Organised entertainment for children Quiet site, aimed primarily at families Excellent on site supermarket On site restaurant (not tried) Beachside access to Lake Garda Cycles for hire and good safe cycle tracks to outlying area Good toilet blocks & washing up areas Had central toilet roll dispenser for ladies & mens toilets (take your own is recommended)
Italy	Venice	Fusina via Moranzani 79, 30030 www.camping-fusina.com	4	Perfect location for visiting Venice Waterfront view across from mainland to Venice Site aimed at students/backpackers primarily Excellent pizzeria on site (cheap) Decent little supermarket Noisy bar area, parties continue until sometimes 4am No control over noise, even with cars driving through with music blaring at all hours No set tent pitches, can be haphazardly distributed Static caravans for hire (but look cramped) Central toilet block clean & modern Older sanitary blocks best avoided Poor washing up facilities
Italy	Trento	San Cristoforo via dei Pescatori, 38057 www.campingclub.it	6	Pretty location at head of lake Small quite site Used mainly by Dutch holidaymakers Close to small supermarket Decent sanitary facilities, with timed showers Need your own toilet paper Mainly a transit site
Austria	Innsbruck	Natterer See Natterer See 1, 6161 www.natterersee.com	8	Pretty location in very beautiful area Allocated pitches are of a good size Some pitches are a little stoney and not good for tents Rated by UK Camping & Caravanning Club Excellent sanitary facilities, top quality Excellent on site supermarket Childrens play areas away from campers Two lakes, one for swimming, one for padle boats Very close to Innsbruck Lots of walks from the campsite Wireless Internet Access available at pitch
Switzerland	Interlaken	Lazy Rancho 4 Unterseen, 3800 www.lazyrancho.ch		Pretty location in very beautiful area Allocated grass pitches are of a good size Ground very soft, may require multiple tent pegs per point Rated by UK Camping & Caravanning Club Excellent sanitary facilities, top quality Good on site supermarket Lovely quiet site Childrens play areas away from campers One small pool Free use of bus service to Interlaken (paid for by a tourist tax) Lots of walks from the campsite

* Where 1 is Poor and 10 is excellent

All sites have electricity available for a nominal charge