We are an American family of four considering a vacation in France and Italy next
June. We are interested in staying at Eurocamp sites. Anyone have any comments or
suggestions or experiences with Eurocamp?

We are also trying to get an estimate on total vacation costs, however that is
difficult not knowing car rental expenses, food costs, entrance fees to museums,...
Anyone have any suggestions/experience on how to arrive at a very rough estimate on
costs? I realize expenses vary depending on whether you are eating at five star
restaurants or street vendors.

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You can LEASE an auto at Paris Orly, reduces cost omn 17 day to about 25 dollars/day.
Food is similar in cost to US. Less if you cook naturally. Museums are largely free
or have modest costs. Italy is beyond beautiful.
--
I am:
H. N. Lute Food Not Bombs! LPFM Page: http://pw1.netcom.com/~optcamel/fmradio.htm SW
Sale: http://www.optcamel.com/sw_sales.doc

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Right, asking how much you'll spend on food is hard to answer without knowing
your tastes.

If you buy food in a store, expect to pay somewhat more than in the US. Expect to pay
the equivalent of USD 2 or 3 for a hamburger or a "panini" (somewhat like a large
"grilled cheese") from a street vendor. If you eat at cheap restaurants and cafes,
expect to pay perhaps USD 15 to 20 per day in France.

As an example, the cafeteria chain "Flunch" will give you a simple but acceptable
lunch or dinner for FRF 70 or 80, if I remember correctly.

--
Yves Bellefeuille <[email protected]>, Ottawa, Canada Francais / English / Esperanto
Esperanto FAQ: http://www.esperanto.net/veb/faq.html Rec.travel.europe FAQ:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/europe/faq

In my childhood my parents always took me and my brother camping in France with the company Canvas Holidays (Eurocamp rival). The last time I went was in 1992 when I was 18. I would say that this is a great holiday for your family, how old are your kids? The campsites used by Canvas Holidays are mainly the same as Eurocamp, I would recommed Canvas Holidays as our family had at least 10 continuous pleasurable holidays with them! I would recommend sites in Sarlat and Tarn Valley, people are friendly whatever camp you go to, in summer you have a lot of Dutch families which is fun as they speak English! ENJOY!

A lot depends on how you eat; if you insist on eating in the same way with the same
brands as at home it will cost you much more than if you eat the local food and buy
local brands; the cost then is much the same as in America. Petrol is of course much,
much more expensive (about 7 FRF a litre in France) Camping is fairly cheap. We have
not found entrance fees to museums either in USA or France a critical factor. We have
managed to avoid Eurocamp, but if you want a tent pre-erected it is OK I am sure.

John lloyd wrote:

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[usenetquote2]>> We are an American family of four considering a vacation in France and[/usenetquote2]
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[usenetquote2]>> next June. We are interested in staying at Eurocamp sites. Anyone have[/usenetquote2]
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[usenetquote2]>> comments or suggestions or experiences with Eurocamp?[/usenetquote2]

I had a holiday with Eurocamp last summer with my family - 2 adults, 2 15 year old
teenagers. We stayed at a couple of sites in Brittany. We had a lovely time, the
campsites were good, the Eurocamp reps were helpful, and our kids enjoyed the pools
and games (table tennis, tennis etc). We enjoyed it so much that next summer we're
planning on going back (without the kids but with our bikes).

--
OBERON

We are a Canadian family of 5 who are going for a trip to Europe in May-June 2002. We
were thinking of going the Eurocamp route too, although we may just book our own
trailers, etc at various campgrounds rather than using Eurocamp. If your travelling
is finished before the end of June, you can probably get 3 weeks for the price of 2
through Eurocamp. Also, they give a 10% break if you book before the end of October,
I think. Check the website out...if they don't have this info, order the brochure.

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in message

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I have just checked out several camping companies for a holiday in Italy next year.
The dearest one was Eurocamp. We have chosen Haven www.haveneurope/com due to the
early booking discount. Here are some links that may be of some help
www.solaire.co.uk www.sandpiperhols.co.uk www.canvas.co.uk www.motours.co.uk
www.eurocamp.co.uk Dave

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We started using Eurocamp around 10 years ago and only stopped because we finally
bought our own camping equipment. In our experience, Eurocamp always works with top
class camping sites, and a Eurocamp catalog is as good as a guide to the best camping
sites in Europe. One advantage they have over some other similar agencies is that
they are totally flexible on booking, whereas some others lock you into a weekly
booking pattern. The tents are totally equipped and never more than 2 years old. To
give you an idea of the quality we survived a flood in the Dordogne where the
rainwater pushed the tent floor up in 9 inch high bulges, but it didn't leak.

Tom

Patrick Dirks schrieb:
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[usenetquote2]> > We are an American family of four considering a vacation in France and[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > next June. We are interested in staying at Eurocamp sites. Anyone have[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > comments or suggestions or experiences with Eurocamp?[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > We are also trying to get an estimate on total vacation costs, however[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > is difficult not knowing car rental expenses, food costs, entrance fees to[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > museums,... Anyone have any suggestions/experience on how to arrive at a very[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > rough estimate on costs? I realize expenses vary depending on[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > you are eating at five star restaurants or street vendors.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]

Is there any benefit to bypassing Eurocamp and just renting a trailer at the same
campground (i.e. is it cheaper)? We will be touring around and never staying more
than 2-3 nights at the same place, so I'm not sure that we will get the full benefit
of all the Eurocamp amenities. Are the pools and waterslides at the various
campgrounds usually open by the middle of May?

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[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > We are a Canadian family of 5 who are going for a trip to Europe in[/usenetquote2]
May-June
[usenetquote2]> > 2002. We were thinking of going the Eurocamp route too, although we may just book[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > our own trailers, etc at various campgrounds rather than using Eurocamp. If your[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > travelling is finished before the end of June, you[/usenetquote2]
can
[usenetquote2]> > probably get 3 weeks for the price of 2 through Eurocamp. Also, they[/usenetquote2]
give a
[usenetquote2]> > 10% break if you book before the end of October, I think. Check the[/usenetquote2]
website
[usenetquote2]> > out...if they don't have this info, order the brochure.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]

[usenetquote2]> > > We are an American family of four considering a vacation in France and[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Italy[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > next June. We are interested in staying at Eurocamp sites. Anyone[/usenetquote2]
have
[usenetquote2]> > any[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > comments or suggestions or experiences with Eurocamp?[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > We are also trying to get an estimate on total vacation costs, however[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > that[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > is difficult not knowing car rental expenses, food costs, entrance[/usenetquote2]
fees to
[usenetquote2]> > > museums,... Anyone have any suggestions/experience on how to arrive[/usenetquote2]
at a
[usenetquote2]> > > very rough estimate on costs? I realize expenses vary depending on[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > whether[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > you are eating at five star restaurants or street vendors.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > >[/usenetquote2]
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Hi Patrick,

sure you can do that - last year we went back to one of our favourite sites on
Sardinia - which we got to know from Eurocamp - and our daughter rented a trailer
for herself and her friend directly from the campsite. The question is in general,
whether they will let you rent by the day, or is there a minimum booking. For
touring, Eurocamp is ideal. I guess in May the pools will be open, but it could
still be a little chilly anywhere north of the Alps.

Tom.

BTW the site on Sardinia (Vignola di Mare) doesn't have a pool - it's right on the
beach - but if you'd like info, reply by mail.

Patrick Dirks schrieb:
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[usenetquote2]> > We started using Eurocamp around 10 years ago and only stopped because we[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > finally bought our own camping equipment. In our experience, Eurocamp always[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > works with top class camping sites, and a Eurocamp catalog is as good as a guide[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > to the best camping sites in Europe. One advantage they have over some other[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > similar agencies is that they are totally flexible on booking, whereas some[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > others lock you into a weekly booking pattern. The tents are totally equipped[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > and never more than 2 years old. To give you an idea of the quality we survived[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > a flood in the Dordogne where the rainwater pushed the tent floor up in 9 inch[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > high bulges, but it didn't leak.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Tom[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Patrick Dirks schrieb:[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > We are a Canadian family of 5 who are going for a trip to Europe in[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > > 2002. We were thinking of going the Eurocamp route too, although we may just[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > book our own trailers, etc at various campgrounds rather than using Eurocamp.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > If your travelling is finished before the end of June, you[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > > probably get 3 weeks for the price of 2 through Eurocamp. Also, they[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > > 10% break if you book before the end of October, I think. Check the[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > > out...if they don't have this info, order the brochure.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > >[/usenetquote2]

[usenetquote2]> > > > We are an American family of four considering a vacation in France and[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > Italy[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > next June. We are interested in staying at Eurocamp sites. Anyone[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > > any[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > comments or suggestions or experiences with Eurocamp?[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > We are also trying to get an estimate on total vacation costs, however[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > that[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > is difficult not knowing car rental expenses, food costs, entrance[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > > > museums,... Anyone have any suggestions/experience on how to arrive[/usenetquote2]
    >
[usenetquote2]> > > > very rough estimate on costs? I realize expenses vary depending on[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > whether[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > you are eating at five star restaurants or street vendors.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]

The only problem is that we will be about half of our holiday in Germany, Austria,
and Switzerland. Eurocamp doesn't have many sites in these countries. Do you know
if most of the non-Eurocamp campgrounds have bungalows or trailers on site for
rental? If so, you made the point that there may be a minimum booking...do you know
what the norm is?

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[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > Is there any benefit to bypassing Eurocamp and just renting a trailer at[/usenetquote2]
the
[usenetquote2]> > same campground (i.e. is it cheaper)? We will be touring around and[/usenetquote2]
never
[usenetquote2]> > staying more than 2-3 nights at the same place, so I'm not sure that we[/usenetquote2]
will
[usenetquote2]> > get the full benefit of all the Eurocamp amenities. Are the pools and waterslides[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > at the various campgrounds usually open by the middle of[/usenetquote2]
May?
[usenetquote2]> >[/usenetquote2]

[usenetquote2]> > > We started using Eurocamp around 10 years ago and only stopped because we[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > finally bought our own camping equipment. In our experience, Eurocamp always[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > works with top class camping sites, and a Eurocamp catalog is as good as a[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > guide to the best camping sites in Europe. One advantage they have over some[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > other similar agencies is that they are totally flexible on booking, whereas[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > some others lock you into a weekly booking pattern. The tents are totally[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > equipped and never more than 2 years old. To[/usenetquote2]
give
[usenetquote2]> > > you an idea of the quality we survived a flood in the Dordogne where[/usenetquote2]
the
[usenetquote2]> > > rainwater pushed the tent floor up in 9 inch high bulges, but it[/usenetquote2]
didn't
[usenetquote2]> > > leak.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > Tom[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > Patrick Dirks schrieb:[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > We are a Canadian family of 5 who are going for a trip to Europe in[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > May-June[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > 2002. We were thinking of going the Eurocamp route too, although we[/usenetquote2]
may
[usenetquote2]> > > > just book our own trailers, etc at various campgrounds rather than[/usenetquote2]
using
[usenetquote2]> > > > Eurocamp. If your travelling is finished before the end of June,[/usenetquote2]
you
[usenetquote2]> > can[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > probably get 3 weeks for the price of 2 through Eurocamp. Also,[/usenetquote2]
they
[usenetquote2]> > give a[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > 10% break if you book before the end of October, I think. Check the[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > website[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > out...if they don't have this info, order the brochure.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > >[/usenetquote2]

[usenetquote2]> > > > > We are an American family of four considering a vacation in France[/usenetquote2]
and
[usenetquote2]> > > > Italy[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > > next June. We are interested in staying at Eurocamp sites.[/usenetquote2]
Anyone
[usenetquote2]> > have[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > any[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > > comments or suggestions or experiences with Eurocamp?[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > > We are also trying to get an estimate on total vacation costs,[/usenetquote2]
however
[usenetquote2]> > > > that[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > > is difficult not knowing car rental expenses, food costs, entrance[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > fees to[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > > museums,... Anyone have any suggestions/experience on how to[/usenetquote2]
arrive
[usenetquote2]> > at a[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > > very rough estimate on costs? I realize expenses vary depending[/usenetquote2]
on
[usenetquote2]> > > > whether[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > > you are eating at five star restaurants or street vendors.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > > > >[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]> > >[/usenetquote2]

We are currently in the position of searching for caravan accommodation in Italy for
2 weeks in Easter next year. I have found two other sources of information that has
helped me to find independent campsites. The first is an excellent campsite guide
'Alan Rogers Good Camps Guide Europe' which comes out around January each year. The
2001 version's ISBN no is -901586-78-1 Although the book is primarily for those
touring with their own caravan / motorhome it does give email addresses and usually
mentions if the site has bungalows, etc for hire. I have recently contacted some
sites from the book and they have sent me some details (although several have not).
They are very honest with their detailed descriptions and opinions of the sites, all
of which they have stayed on as opposed to just a line or two about a site other
guides have never even seen.

The other aid is in the form of a website that may prove helpful and that is at
http://www.camping.it/english/default.htm

Dave

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Have you tried the AA guide to European camping?

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