Camping in France

When I was still single, I used to stay in 10-12 dorm bed at a backpacker hostel when traveling. Since we got married last year, he introduced me to his family tradition, camping!

Camping sites, especially in France, are very comfortable and available in most cities, regardless the fact that the sites are usually located at the outskirt of the city. However, since we always rent a car every time we travel, then distance is no longer a problem. Besides, we are more flexible in terms of destination and time.

Apart from the blocks for tents, the sites also provide places for camping van, fully furnished mobile homes, and majority of the sites are baby-friendly, too. In most of the camping sites that we have been, the public facilities, such as toilets, showers, and washing room, are kept clean and dry. The camping sites have stars, too, depending on the facilities they have, ranging from one-star to five-stars, just like hotels. So, if you demand for a swimming pool, nice rooms, playground for children, restaurant, and everything else in your site, do not hesitate to pick the five-star ones. Our picks range from one-star to three-star sites, depending on availability and in my personal observation, those sites met our standard, so far.

From the financial point of view, camping is also beneficial for our budget since we spend less in total but we see more. This is only my personal opinion since it may be varied among travelers subject to their styles and preferences. He and I share the same level of traveling passion, therefore camping for us is obviously an exciting adventure. By camping, we are brought back to nature where we hear the chirping birds in the morning and we spend the night staring at clear skies with countless stars at the camp site. Lovely, isn't it?

Last time we did the road trip, it took us twenty days, eight different camping sites, and roughly four thousands and five hundred kilometres to visit twenty cities in three countries. Do not ask how many road maps and guide books we brought along during the trip, MANY!

Our tent at Camping de la Cité in Carcassonne

Here are some tips!

1. If you plan to do camping, it is better to rent a car for your trip. You can also hitchhike if you demand for more adventures!

2. Find the camping site from Camping France or Camping de France. Visit the nearby Tourism Office once you arrive in a city and they will provide you with a complete list of camping sites in the region. 

3. Prepare your camping equipments, including tent, sleeping bags, kitchen utensils, torches, first aid kits, rubbish bags, and cooler. Some places offer camping equipment rentals, too..try to find it by Google.

4.  Always bring raincoats as in some mountaineous regions, the weather may change unexpectedly, even during the summer.

5. Make sure that you have the latest update of the weather condition in your destination.

6. Happy camping, everyone!