I like to book my campsites in advance so I never have to worry about finding a late space, or driving around at night looking for somewhere to stay. I’ve never wild camped in my TentBox, as it is illegal in many countries across Europe.
I’ve used a variety of means to book campsites and as I use new ones I will add them in below.
Pitchup
My first port of call when booking campsites is always Pitchup.com. Pitchup makes it super easy to browse and book campsites across Europe, although depending on the country there may/may not be a lot of options.
Pitchup is particularly good for the UK and Italy.
With Pitchup you typically pay a deposit and the rest becomes due on arrival, although occasionally the full amount is requested in advance.
Pay attention to the methods available to pay the balance and to the reception opening/closing times. For payment on departure, you might need to make sure you pay the day before you leave if the reception is not open at the time you wish to leave.
Also, make sure to check the reviews and be sure that the reviews are recent and relate to the type of pitch you are booking.
TCS
TCS are based in Switzerland have some fabulous campsites. They would definitely be my first choice for any camping there.
TCS will normally take the full payment in advance, and are exceptionally well organised.
Booking direct
The following is a list of campsites where I’ve booked directly via their website.
- Gien Camping, Loire Valley, France
- Les Voiles des Laives, Bourgogne, France
- Pian di Picchi, Levanto, Italy