EURO CAMPING ~ our travellers critical reviews!

Our European CAMPGROUND REVIEW - low season until June 30, 2009

* not impressed
**passable
***acceptable
****quite comfortable & lovely
*****awesome, stellar!
CZECH REPUBLIC: CAMP DRUSUS (2 nights)
The WC (toilets) – *****
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) ***** ‘very quiet’
Internet access ***** Free!
Location (access to city and sites) 30-60min. bus/train/metro ***
Site ambiance **** surrounded by expansive fields
Grocery store **
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers, washing dishes) ****
‘pay 20korunas (just over 1$) for 3min shower’
On site restaurant N/A ‘can order fresh bread the night before’
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 1200korunas (student rates apply)
Exercise **** flat, quiet roads for running

VENEZIA: CAMPING FUSINA (2 nights)
The WC (toilets) *****
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) ** ‘best to be right next to the water far away from the bar’
Internet access *** ‘has a cyberbus or pay for password’
Location (access to city and sites) ***** 30min boat ride into Venezia 12 euro per person otherwise a 1 hour bus ride.
Site ambiance ***** ‘you can watch the barges, tugs, and cargo ships go by in front of your site’
Grocery store *****
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) *****
On site restaurant *****
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 56euros/ night
Exercise ***** long flat roads that follow canals

ROMA: CAMPING TIBER (2 nights) www.campingtiber.com
The WC (toilets) ***** ‘new bathrooms’
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) ** ‘good for dancing, live music’
Internet access *** free at the bar or pay for a password 5 euros for 3 hours
Location (access to city and sites) **** free shuttle to the train then transfer to metro 45mins to city center
Site ambiance **** lots of grassy areas, flowering shrubs, and a pool
Grocery store *****
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) *****
On site restaurant *****
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 47euros/night (kids up to 12yrs)
Exercise N/A no running, but roads busy and narrow

SIENA: CAMPING COLLEVERDE ( 1 night) www.campingcolleverde.com
The WC (toilets) *****
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) ***** very quiet
Internet access with a password
Location (access to city and sites) **** 10 minute bus ride to town
Site ambiance **** on a hillside, nice big pool
Grocery store N/A
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers)
On site restaurant ***** very nice restaurant
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan)
Exercise **** nice runs up and down hills, narrow roads

FIRENZE: CAMPING MICHELANGELO (1 night) www.ecvacanze.it
The WC (toilets) * always out of TP and very small for site
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) * very loud music from bar just above site ‘great for backpackers!’
Internet access restricted access. Need password and can only use their computers.
Location (access to city and sites) ***** 20 minute walk to Uffizi Gallery! Best part of this campground! Can take the bus into town. Stop right at campground.
Site ambiance *** on a hillside with olive groves, very pretty, great views of Florence.
Grocery store ‘didn’t go in, limited times open’
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) * limited, too small for size of campground
On site restaurant **** nice patio overlooking Florence
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 67 euros / night. Most expensive campground.
Exercise ***nice tree lined roads

CINQUE TERRA-LEVANTO: AQUA DOLCE (3 nights) one of our favorite areas!! A must!
The WC (toilets) *****
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) **** a lot of tiny kids running around and people talking into the night, but mostly quiet after 10pm
Internet access ***** free!
Location (access to city and sites) ***** 2 minute walk to the beach & town
Site ambiance **** very busy campsite, lower levels for caravans, upper area for tents, on a hillside
Grocery store-no grocery store onsite. 3 stores in town 5 minutes away, good prices.
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) *****
On site restaurant *****
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 56 euros / night
Exercise ***** great runs along the beach and up in the hills
Additional: full recycling bins available


COTE D’ AZUR: LA VIELLE FERME
The WC (toilets) ** co-ed
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) crying dogs!! *****Meg says this site is like a senior center
Internet access *** pay for use
Location (access to city and sites) **** close to the beaches, 2km from Antibes
Site ambiance **
Grocery store ** can get fresh baguette in the morning
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) ** co-ed
On site restaurant N/A didn’t go, very small with patio tables
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 30 euros/night with 10% magic Europe discount.
Exercise **** large park with jogging trails right next door

COTE D’ AZUR: PARC DU MAURETTE (a couple kms away from the above one)
The WC (toilets) **** co-ed
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) crying dogs!! ***** very quiet
Internet access: pay for use & very expensive
Location (access to city and sites) walk to beach & train station
Site ambiance: ***** stone walls, huge trees, bbq’s available, parklike setting
Grocery store: have to walk .4 km to large marche – good prices, excellent croissants and baguettes.
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) lots of showers with space for hanging clothes. Limited washer/dryer
On site restaurant: None available
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 45euros-no discount anymore starting July 1st.
Exercise: run through extensive park.
Other: has jacuzzis and sauna.

AIX EN PROVENCE: CAMPING CHANTECLER
The WC (toilets) ***
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) crying dogs!! **** if you’re away from the bar/restaurant area
Internet access pay for use and most expensive (6euro/per hour!)
Location (access to city and sites) the book says a 30 min walk to the city
Site ambiance *** has a quaint little park area, but run down
Grocery store N/A
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) showers ***
On site restaurant: **** nice ambiance, lots of outdoor tables
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 46euros
Exercise: street roads, didn’t go running today

PONT DU GARD: CAMPING LA SOUSTA
The WC (toilets) squatters only **
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) crying dogs!! **** restaurant area has a dj @night. Noise till 11pm then quiet
Internet access Free internet with your own wireless, otherwise 3euros for 30mins.
Location (access to city and sites) can take bus to Avignon in 30 mins. 1km walk to the Pont Du Gard.
Site ambiance ***** gorgeous parklike setting with large flat sites close to the Rhone river which you can swim in. Huge trees everywhere. Very beautiful area.
Grocery store: fresh croissants in morning, some supplies, not bad
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) showers **** co-ed
On site restaurant: **** nice ambiance, lots of outdoor tables (didn’t eat)
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 52euros
Exercise: great treelined roads for running and only 1km to the Pont du Gard with more trails. Swimming in the river afterwards- Excellent!

LA SALLE-AOSTA ITALY: CAMPING GREEN PARK
www.greenparkcamping.com
(there are a lot of small campgrounds scattered along the road Morgex & Aosta-stay off the autostrada & take the smaller road)
The WC (toilets) *** combo of squatters and sitters
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) crying dogs!! ***** very quiet
Internet access pay for use.
Location (access to city and sites) *** in between Mont Blanc and Aosta. In a great area for hiking and exploring. A series of small towns.
Site ambiance: ***great view of Mont Blanc when it’s not clouded over. Changeable weather. Most of the spots are for permanent campers. Just a few open for caravans and tents.
Grocery store: * had to take a nice walk to the town about 1 km away
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) ***** great pressure in the showers and lots of hot water
On site restaurant: ***lots of pizzas to choose from. Decent caps in the morning
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 54euros – mid season prices still
Exercise: ***could be nice for running-hilly. Didn’t go. Took a walk into the small town.

ZERMATT: TASCH CAMPING
The WC (toilets) **** upgraded the facilities since we were here 2 years ago. Much nicer, lots of hot water.
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) crying dogs!! **** very quiet, except for the train shuttle that goes back and forth to Zermatt. Stops at midnight.
Internet access: pay for use 3francs/hr
Location (access to city and sites) ***** right next to the main train terminal that goes into Zermatt. You can’t access Zermatt by your own car. Tasch is the last place before Zermatt.
Site ambiance: ** Mountains around are nice, but it’s a narrow strip of grass up against a mountain. Not a large site. Fairly basic for any extras.
Grocery store: no, but there are grocery stores in Tasch a few minutes walk away.
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) showers: **** lots of hot water
On site restaurant: No
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan)
Exercise: ****flat running trail by the campsite or great running up in Zermatt on the trails. Zermatt marathon happens July 4th.


LAUTERBRAUNNEN: CAMPING JUNGFRAU
The WC (toilets) *****
Noise factor (includes kids, crying, music, construction, late night loud talking) crying dogs!! ****
Internet access: bought 30 hours for 45 francs
Location (access to city and sites)
Site ambiance *****
Grocery store *****
Washing facilities (including washer/dryer, showers) showers *****
On site restaurant: *****
Cost (for 5 adults & a caravan) 75francs
Exercise: *****