Camping in Europe in late September

[elbert79]

I'm planning to ride down through europe in late september/early october, and to save money I will use my tent.
So I have two questions, is there any maps with campsites on them (paper version), and will campsites be open that late...
I'm still not shure if I'll go east or west...

[Flyingdoctor]

I was going to say it may be a bit on the chilly side but then noticed you're Norwegian, ha ha, enough said. I think a lot of sites will be closing at the middle of September so you may have to stop in a few formula 1 hotels on route. There will be sites open but it's locating them. I'd search google for Alan Rodgers camping and KarmaBum Camping Europe Homepage

Good luck.

[elbert79]

Lots of info there...
From just checking a few sites it seems like campsites are open into october so I should be ok. The only problem would be to find them when I suddenly realize it's time to put up the tent and get some rest.

The temperature shouldn't be much of a problem as long as I stay dry...

[spakur]

Hi

In Sweden you can buy Motormännens Europa Vägatlas wich has camping sites marked throughout europe. Perhaps this atlas is sold in Norway as well? Or other similar?

5 years ago I travelled from Sweden to Turkey and back in april and may and I hadn't any problem finding open camping sites.

Good luck!

[elbert79]

I'll try to get a copy of that one then. Sound s just like what I'm after, except that it's writen in swedish

[martinjeffes]

We run a small camping site in southern Bulgaria, and will still be open in late september/early october, and the weather should be ok. From our place it is easy to get to Greece and Turkey.
See our website. Home
Regards,
Martin T. Jeffes
Sakar Hills Touring Park.

[wanderingscotsman]

I assume you probably won't be coming over to Scotland but for info for this thread you can buy a camping map of Scotland via http://www.scottishcamping.com/ (NB : if you just want a list of contact details but not marked on a map I think you can download the back of the map in PDF format for free via the shopping cart)

You can get a free one from the tourist information offices as well but they'll only list the sites that pay them some cash to join their programme, get rated etc etc.

I think most campsites will be open here but some may start to close down but there are many in the correct locations that are used by climbers and walkers year round.

[Indoors]

Not wishing to upset other posters but personally, I try and avoid campsites as they can be noisy and frankly a rip-off when you consider it's your tent and sleeping bag so all you're paying for is the grass and maybe a shower if they don't charge extra for that as well.

A youth hostel will charge about the same, security is a little better for your stuff, they have proper kitchens, and the showers and toilets tend to be cleaner. If it's not busy, you'll get a room to yourself and most now tend to have small 2-4 person rooms, not huge dormitories anymore.

You could also look for independent hostels or bunkhouse accommodation. Or try couchsurfing.com

Also, there's always wildcamping but only if you think it's safe.

And if you know where you're going, try contacting the HU communities on the way.

Enjoy your trip.

Indoors.

[Caminando]

It's not in the least cold in September. (!!!!!!)

Why not do wild camping? If you're careful and discreet, no-one will know you're there.

If you must pay someone to camp, then there's nothing better than camping municipale. And the cheapest. I think you'l find this on the Web.

[elbert79]

Camping in the wild is an option and I will probably do it. Hostels are an option too but my limited experience with hostels in europe is that they are usually full by the time I arrive and there is no where to place the bike.
So by bringing a tent with me I have plenty of options to get some rest for the night...
I ordered the "Motormännens Europa Vägatlas" and will come back with a repport on it.

[Caminando]

Hi Elbert

In France, if you're using the autoroute, about every 20 kms, you will find an "aire de repos". These are stop places which usually (depends on which Departement) have trees, bushes, toilets and water. I use them all the time. I get out of sight, put the tent up, and no-one has ever troubled me. Though you dont really need to, I put a cover on the bike too.

The French are also very accommodating, and bend the rules as they wish. If you're pleasant, they will be too.

Sometimes the aire is bigger, and has restaurants too. You can still use these if you can find a quiet spot. You usually can.

Otherwise, just leave the autoroute and scan the countryside for a similar, hidden spot. I've had terrific rewards with this- at dawn seeing the deer graze out of the edge of the woods in morning mist, sunrise over river and forest etc etc.

Sunday afternoons can sometimes be difficult for petrol if you're off the autoroute. And French 24hr automatic pumps wont take your credit card.

Use "Flunch" "Casino" and "Carrefour" restaurants for good cheap food. Or better, around 12.00, buy your food in a supermarket (Lidl does good German ) and then ride out till you get a nice place by the river/chateau or somewhere, to eat and have a sleep.

It doesnt equal Norway for free wild camping - but with a little thought it can be good.

[elbert79]

The "aire de repos" sounds like a good option for France, is there anything simmilar that can be used in Spain?
I've got three weeks of vacation starting th 15th september. If I have enough time I might drive down through Spain and take the ferry over to Marroco just to be able to say I've been in Africa

[Roodeberg]

From our knowledge if you want to go to Italy, most (but not all) campsites will be closed.

Be wary of Aires in France - we know three sets of people who have been robbed (the Aires near Marseilles are particularly notorious).

Around the coast, most camp sites in Spain are open - but fewer camp sites are open in the middle of the country .......a few stay open in the cities

[JMo (& piglet)]

If you get hold of the Michelin 1:400,000 scale road atlas' for Europe (I have the one for Spain and Portugal) then a number of (but not all) campsites are marked on that, if not the exact locations...

Personally I find the autoroutes soul destroying on a bike, but Caminando's suggestion about the service areas in France is a good one as long as you keep your belongings close by...

I rode 6000 miles around Spain, Portugal and France this year (and dipped into Morocco for a couple of weeks) - but strangely never felt particularly safe enough to wild camp in Spain or Portugal (without hiding myself away in a tiny corner, which really defeats the object?), as I always felt I was on someone's farm or something... However, I found the south of France seems far more remote and rural, and would have no problem finding a nice quite wild camp there - especially in the Cevennes - beautiful!

xxx

[JMo (& piglet)]

Originally Posted by elbert79

I've got three weeks of vacation starting th 15th september. If I have enough time I might drive down through Spain and take the ferry over to Marroco just to be able to say I've been in Africa

3 weeks isn't masses of time to get to Morocco if you've got to ride all the way from Norway - not unless you blitz it, and then you'll miss everything in Europe on the way?

Morocco really is a fantastic destination, but you won't do it justice in just a few days or even a week or two... the north of the country is rather dull and agricultural - you really need to get a couple of hundred Ks south and into the Cedar Forest/Atlas mountains (and the desert of course!) to really appriciate what Maroc has to offer compared to Europe. The weather will still be nice and warm mind you x

xxx