Staying in camping by Claire for Europe Explored

Homestays

First, you must contact a reputable organization that arranges homestays so that you can be safe while you are on vacation. A homestay is just that. You sleep in someone’s guestroom or on the living room couch. In many instances, this option is free. Sometimes the homeowners charge a small fee. This is a great way to meet locals and experience their day-to-day lives. You can get involved with their activities. You need to have an open-mind when you choose a homestay. You also have to be trustworthy and you need to trust and respect your hosts. You should be flexible and friendly to the locals.

Farmstay

Ready to flex your muscles and work in a farm? These are very popular in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. You don’t necessarily have to work day in and day out. You can do simple tasks such as feeding the animals. You can also learn a new skill such as making cheese and other handicraft projects. If you want to escape your busy city life and experience the simple life on the farm, this is for you. Remember though there is no night life in the farm so you should really take this time to relax and rejuvenate your mind and body.

Academic Housing

Live the college life all over again! Many colleges and universities open their dorms for rent. If you’ve stayed in a college dorm, you know what it’s like. There will be plenty of action around the campus though so you can party like a student again.

Home Exchange

Home exchanges are gaining popularity among budget travellers. As the name suggests, you swap houses with another traveller or family. You can have all the comforts of home while travelling. You have to pay an annual fee to become a member of a home exchange network. It does not cost a lot and you can easily recoup your costs if you travel regularly. This option is not for the paranoid traveller. You have to be able to trust the other family and they should also be able to trust yours to keep their house safe and clean.

Camping

If you can rough it, then camping can be a wonderful experience for you and your family. You sleep under the stars, cook meals over a campfire and enjoy nature. You have to be wary of mosquitoes, bugs and wild animals though so be sure to go camping on a popular camping spot.

If that’s not for you but you still want to sleep under the stars, go glamping. It’s a glamorized version of camping wherein you stay in a cabin with electricity and running water and all the perks of a hotel.

Make your travels more interesting with these great hotel alternatives. Just remember to be safe, have an open mind and enjoy the experience.

Hi, my name is Leigh. I am an adventurer and a blogger. I am also partners with a site that specializes in bespoke Kenya safari trips.

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Photo by admin

One of the most popular places to go camping in the EU is France. The whole country is set up to welcome campers, whether they are in cars and caravans, campervans or simply with a tent in the boot of the car or attached to their backpack.

Pretty every much commune will have a campsite somewhere and these will often be a ‘camping municipal’ meaning that they are owned and maintained by the local commune (or council). Although this kind of campsite doesn’t have a big swimming pool and entertainment programme, they are always scrupulously clean and well maintained. It is such a vast contrast to many campsites in the UK.

The commercial campsites in France also make a great choice – especially if you have children who are confident enough to go and join in with the entertainment provided. Once you set up your site and introduce the children to the ‘animateurs’ who run the entertainment programmes, you might not see them except for mealtimes and bedtime!

Where to go
Camping near to the Dune du Pyla is a great place to spend a summer week. You have easy access to the beach, and most of the campsites are set in the shady pine forests that are just behind the beaches and dunes. This way you have the best of both worlds – beautiful sunny beaches, yet a shaded place to camp, so that at the end of the day you don’t have to go into a baking hot tent or mobile home.

If you’re a single traveller or a couple, then the most economic option is to take the car and throw your sleeping bags and tent in the boot, so that you can go where you want, but only need to pay the site fees for a tent rather than a caravan or the cost of hiring one of the fixed mobile homes that campsites hire out. Of course, the other option is to hire one of the fixed tents that the campsites also have on offer – far superior to anything that will fit in the back of a car! It really depends on how long you want to stay in one particular place or whether you prefer a holiday on the road.

About the author of this article:
Steve is a camping enthusiast who enjoys taking off for the weekend with his mates and their fully loaded rucksacks.

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Photo by admin

In France, “le camping” is something of a religion. Families take everything but the kitchen sink to their favourite destinations – often setting up for a whole month of alfresco living.
Almost every commune has a “camping municipal” a publicly provided campsite – which are cheaper than the private ones and usually have excellent facilities. These can be particularly useful if you’re only staying for one or two nights as you travel around. A couple of good Vango sleeping bags and a cheap tent are all you’ll need any time between May and September.

Where you decide to go camping in France is entirely dependent on what you most love to do. France is a very diverse country with varied landscapes.

In the north, the coastline is rugged, while the south coast offers classic Mediterranean stretches of golden beaches.

Inland, the landscape is lush with landscapes carved by famous rivers such as the Loire and the Dordogne, whilst the Alps offer a mountainous landscape beloved by outdoor sports enthusiasts in every season for different reasons. You’ll need you best Merrell gear during any season here.

Also, the Vendée, Royan and the South-West along the Atlantic coast are perfect for family holidays camping in France. There are huge stretches of open sandy beach and the sea is perfect for swimming and water sports during the summer. Be warned, though, it can be exposed in these regions during the hottest months as the beaches are so open and the landscape generally flat.

Wherever you decide to camp in this magnificent and hugely varied country – you won’t be disappointed by the camping facilities.

Bon voyage!

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It is really cheap and suitable also for the families with kids. You don’t have to be an expert in canoeing, as Czech rivers are not as wild. It is even suitable for those that have never been rafting before. However you have to meet one requirement – you have to love water.

There are about 500 rivers that you can raft in the Czech republic. We prepared for you just a short overview of the most popular rivers you should start with.

Vltava river
The very Czech river is usually rafted from the town of Vyšší Brod to the city of České Budějovice. It is possible to add additional two days from Lenora to Lipno or two days from Prague to Mělník. On all these sections the river flows nicely and is suitable for tourist canoe. Very popular is sailing down the all the dams on the Vltava between České Budějovice and Prague on sea kayaks. Also, if you would like to get an unforgettable experience you should pass through the Czech capital – Prague, or through the city of Český Krumlov.

+ Beautiful landscape, nice flow, most dams are rideable
- Too many boaters and full camps.

Rental services on Vltava river: www.ingetour.cz

Sázava river
Sázava provides two interesting sections – one is at the beginning and one at the end. The section between Týnec nad Sázavou and Pikovice belongs to the most popular ones in the Czech republic.
+ Interesting rapids
- Dangerous weirs, long stretches without power, many boaters on the downstream

Rental services on Sazava river: www.pujcovna-lodi.cz (only in Czech)

Lužnice river
Lužnice has already been described in the separated article here.

Berounka river
If you’ve never been on the water yet, Berounka river is ideal for you. It does not flow too fast, it is broad and water level is enough high throughout the year. The list of superlatives can include a beautiful nature, interesting sights all around and the camping almost on every turn. Those looking for comfort, night guitar just at the fireplace, pubs or walks to the surrounding ruins, will find Berounka as the best solution. Here you can meet the groups that runs the same river for decades.

+ Forests and meadows, many nice campsites, monuments and sights
- Dry after the weirs

Rental services on Berounka river: www.rekaberounka.cz

Ohře river
Ohře river is a number 2 among the most popular canoeing rivers. It is powerful, and fresh. Fast flow alternates with rapids. It often passes under the rocks, on which is castle or at least the ruins. The historic town of Cheb, Karlovy Vary and Kadaň worth seeing. Many camps offer only cheap place for a tent and a simple toilet, but there is also a number of comfortably equipped campsites.

+ Live river, fast flow, romantic landscape
- Too many boaters

Rental services on Ohře river: www.dronte.cz

Otava river
Castles, beer, sausage, relax – it’s Otava. Nicely flowing through the planes of Šumava forests to Orlík lake. There is no unpleasant surprises waiting for the paddlers. During the holidays it is full of boaters, but the number of boats and tents in the camps is reasonable.

+ Peaceful atmosphere
- In the hot summer can be the lack of water

Rental services on Otava river: www.lodniservis.cz

View Canoeing and rafting on the Czech rivers in a larger map

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The first mention of the original village dates back to the 12th century. Most of the monuments in this city, as well as throughout Luxembourg, were bombed during the war.

The village is now a popular summer resort with a swimming pool, camping and a youth hostel. You can follow any of the numerous trails which lead you through the forests of the Mullerthal valley.

View Beaufort – a popular summer resort in Luxembourg in a larger map

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Balaton lake, Hungary by Rain Rannu

The southern shore of Lake Balaton is known mostly for the resort towns which border it. Some of the towns surrounding the southern shore region include Balatonfured as well as Heviz, which are historically known for being a place for the wealthy to stay. Late into the 19th century landowners began to build summer homes around this part of the lake, renting them out at more affordable prices to working middleclass travelers.

Those who live in Hungary know this lake as “Balaton”, which is derived from the Slavic word meaning “swamp” or “mud”. Lake Balaton has a significant impact on the amount of precipitation that the area experiences each year. The Lake Balaton area receives around two to three inches more precipitation than the rest of the country. As a result this area experiences quite a few cloudy days along with milder temperatures.

Yachts on Balaton, Hungary by arth2o

Tourism is certainly a significant source of income for those who live in this region, with a number of major resorts which thousands of people travel to each year. A few of the larger resorts around Lake Balaton include Siofok, Zamardi, and Balatonfured. From the month of June till the end of August there is a significant amount of tourism, mostly due to the beautiful scenery which is made up of grassy beaches which attract those who like to sail and fish.

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