Can anyone shed some more light on camping in Europe? Is it possible to rent a tent at the locations? Are they generally well outside the city centers? I will be traveling through France and it seems that(especially in Provence) camping might be a fun and adventurous way to save some Euros.
Also, the segment devoted to camping in Rick's travel tips mentions "free camping" where one just finds some land calls it home for the night. Is this do-able?
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10548 posts
I don't know about renting tents. My brother camped in Holland, Switzerland (his favorite) and France. He might have camped in Belgium too, but I'm not sure. He had a small backpackers tent and sleeping bag that he carried with him.
Posted by
Newburyport, MA
683 posts
Most "campings" we've seen are located just outside towns. We have no experience w French ones but have seen many in other countries. They often have cabins available and some will rent tents. Others will have what they call "caravans", which are trailers. Free camping is doable but not a frequently available choice as owners are not always available for asking permission, local rules vary, etc.
Campings usually have amenities like pools and showers and stores and often have bus service (either private to the camping or on a publicc route) to nearby towns and cities.
Whatever u do, avoid August , as it will seem all Paris has taken up camping--it is major French holiday time.
Posted by
Taylor, TX, USA
416 posts
I cannot speak to camping in Europe specifically, but as an experienced camper I can give some general advice. If it is just you (or you and someone you are intimate with), a Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight tent weighs a little over 3 pounds packed. Worth the purchase if you truly like camping and will get use out of it besides just in Europe. Of course, sleeping outdoors isn't just about a tent. There's the sleeping bag, pad, cooking gear and so forth. A sleeping bag good down to 32 degrees fahrenheit will weigh almost 2 pounds (if you get an ultralight bag and when you start getting into specialty gear, you start paying more). The pad will add at least another pound, but considerable bulk. Then add in cooking gear, assuming you plan to cook for yourself. That can get complicated (forget carrying your kerosene with you from the states, LOL!). Hopefully one of the posters who is "on the ground" in Europe will turn out to be a camper and can hook you up with information on places to rent gear in Europe. Personally, if I could rent the tent and cooking gear, I would bring my own bedding (sleeping bag, pad and sleep-sheet). If you DO rent a campstove of some type, make sure you are able to operate it before leaving the rental place. I never COULD get the hang of mine that I bought. Fortunately I found it was easier to fast for the 2 or 3 days I would backpack than to deal with food (carrying, storage, cooking and digesting and all that implies...).