While free camping is, well, free. It does have limitations and downsides and might not be for everyone, especially if you are like me and have no toilet in the camper. That does present its challenges but is still doable if you plan accordingly. Some beach areas, for example, might have public toilets. You know the kind, those self-cleaning types that talk to you when you enter and play music while you poop. However, if you don’t want to be constantly finding spots to park up that are ideally located for essential needs and just want to enjoy your travels and time. Then using campsites is a no brainer, but can become costly. If money is no object then great. Travel, enjoy and live the campervan life to the max. However, saving a few Euros will always be welcomed. If you are on a real budget then there are ways to bring the cost of your stay in campsites down.
The first thing to consider when staying at a campsite is to understand your needs. Many sites offer different rates for a variety of variables such as the size of the plot, plot side facilities like water hook up and drainage, whether the plot is shaded or not, but the biggest variable I found is the electrical hook up. Understanding the price list at sites can sometimes be tricky and can take practice to spot the differences, so knowing your needs is crucial. Asking at the reception for just what you need can prevent those automatic bundles. Some sites will automatically give you the most amount of facilities available even if you don’t need them. So by specifying for example: “a small plot, unshaded without electricity” will most likely be the cheapest option and you will be directed accordingly. Simply choosing not to hook up to mains electric can save you some serious cash and if you don’t have enough capacity in your batteries for your entire stay. You could always alternate days and only use hook up every other day.
Another great way to save a little cash would be to plan your travels in advance. many sites especially the larger holiday resort type sites offer online booking. This, if you are savvy enough, can work in your favor. Using search engines for Holliday booking sites like Booking.com or expedia.com for example in combination with searching for coupons could get you a sweet deal or two. But this can be time-consuming, and I would rather be using that time to plan what I want to see while at my destination.
This brings me to the definitive and easiest way to save some serious cash without compromising on any of the facilities. Camping clubs and associations offer a special discount card to their members. Becoming a member of these clubs can sometimes be restrictive. they may have certain criteria that you need to fit to become a member, such as your age or camper class. Finding the right club for you wouldn’t take any more than just being social and asking others like you that have similar campers as your own. However, the Camping Card from ACSI or euro-camping has no such restrictions and is a simple process to acquire. For a relatively small price, you can buy the camping card that will give you flat rate discounted pricing on thousands of sites across Europe. This means you won’t need to worry about the extras like electricity or bringing your dog along since that is included in the price. In my experience, the vast majority of the sites listed price for the cheapest possible stay turns out the same as the camping card price with all the facilities included, giving you more for less. Keep in mind, however, this is really for use in the offseason so won’t be much use in the middle of the summer holidays but with the savings of one-weekend getaway alone paying for the card itself. It’s a sound buy and investment.
I talk more about ways of saving money while camping on my Youtube video here. Feel free to share and comment.
Ginger Camper 
Leave a comment