My name is Yulia. By education, I am a medical professional; by profession, a children’s writer and editor; by calling, a passionate traveler. I love cycling and skiing—there’s no better way to clear my mind and feel the fullness of life. I enjoy traveling because it allows me to experience a full range of diverse emotions and sensations. I love photography—it’s one way to share emotions and showcase the beauty of the world. I also enjoy sharing impressions and helping people plan their trips—this makes me feel needed.
My main motto is: “We travel not to escape life, but so life doesn’t escape us.” With a great love for wandering and experience in organizing trips for myself and friends, I offer assistance in planning budget travel across Europe. You can learn more on my website greenvaliza.co.ua.
Until the age of 22, we traveled a lot and actively across Europe by car, mainly staying at campsites. My family enjoys this style of travel. Why? I’ll explain now. I should clarify right away: everything I write is exclusively MY experience. It is by no means certain that it will suit everyone. We are all different, we see the world differently, and we have completely different travel styles. But if this information proves useful to someone, I’ll be glad.
Camping “Weshof”. Austria, St. Johann im Pongau, Austria 47.34580, 13.19251
Why Camping? At first glance, it may seem that we chose campsites as places to stay during our travels solely for economic reasons. Partly, this is indeed true. Typically, camping costs less than even the cheapest hotel or hostel. Although there are exceptions. The savings come from several areas: accommodation, parking fees, and food. Thanks to camping, we manage to cut these costs by at least half, if not more. During a three- or four-week trip, the savings become significant…
However, even if we had a much larger budget for our vacation, we would still prefer camping to a hotel. I will explain why further…
Camping “Olympia”. Italy, Cortina d’Ampezzo 46.56929, 12.11563
How are they arranged? So, what exactly is a campsite? For those who have never seen a campsite with their own eyes, it may seem like something akin to a former student retreat with tents by the river. Yes, there are tents present. But that’s where the similarity ends.
Most European campsites are well-maintained areas with trees and lawns, divided into spaces for tents or campers.
Campsites always have well-equipped sanitary facilities — sinks, showers, and toilets. How well they are maintained depends on the location and level of the campsite. In “starred” campsites, the cleanliness and beauty of the showers might make some hotels envious!
Camping “Maslina”. Montenegro, Sveti Stefan 42.19814, 18.96584
Moreover, campsites have separate areas for washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning vehicles, and even bathing pets! Almost everywhere there are washing machines and dryers. In some campsites, there are also electric stoves and refrigerators. Some campsites feature excellent swimming pools and good playgrounds for children. Almost everywhere, there are small shops and cafes where you can buy missing groceries and grab a snack. And at one Italian campsite on the Adriatic coast, there was even a large team of animators…
Of course, if the campsite is small, all these amenities may appear somewhat more modest. But the key services designed to ensure minimum comfort will always be present.
Camping “Gößl”. Austria, Grundlsee 47.63804, 13.90409
Pricing at different campsites varies. Typically, payment is made for a tent pitch, for the vehicle, and for each person. Drinking water is usually available everywhere and is free. Sometimes, the cost may not include shower access, in which case tokens for the shower are purchased for a small additional fee. Prices vary by season. Campsites are cheaper in May-June and more expensive in July-August.
Camping “City Camping Nord”. Germany, Berlin 52.54905, 13.25669
Camping prices vary from country to country. Of the places we have been so far, I found the campsites in Austria, Poland, and the Balkans (but not in Croatia!) to be the cheapest. The most expensive campsites were in Croatia and Slovenia. Prices will depend on the “touristiness” of the area and the quality of the campsite itself. Moreover, small campsites are by no means inferior to larger ones. We have fond memories of some small campsites that far exceed those of larger, “starred” ones. On average, the price for three people is about 30 euros, but it can be less or more.
Camping “Campsite Vrachos Kastraki”. Greece, Kastraki (Meteora) 39.71332, 21.61578
I want to note that we primarily use campsites not as a place for an extended vacation, but as a stop for 1-2-3 nights to explore attractions. We choose small, inexpensive campsites because that suits us just fine. When it comes to a large starred campsite, say, by Austrian or Swiss lakes for a longer family vacation, the price can be quite high.
There are many campsites where you can rent cabins. However, that tends to be less budget-friendly…
Camping “Berau”. Austria, St. Wolfgang 47.73062, 13.47876
Pros and Cons. Now, we are getting closer to answering the question of why we vote for campsites. Like any phenomenon, this type of vacation has its pros and cons. Let’s start with the positives. I admit that some of these may be subjective…
– Campsites are generally more budget-friendly than hotels. We’ve already mentioned this.
– Campsites are usually located in picturesque areas and near interesting attractions.
– We enjoy campsites specifically for the opportunity to relax in nature. A radical change of scenery is an excellent chance to switch off, forget about problems for a while, and gain new experiences. Perhaps, if you live in a private house, this might not be as relevant for you.
Camping “Sunset”. Albania, Ksamil 39.77936, 20.00633
– In a campsite, you can cook full meals. Of course, you can eat at cafes and restaurants. However, if your goal is budget travel, organizing an “outdoor kitchen” in a campsite is much easier than in a hotel. This allows you to significantly reduce your budget by alternating home-cooked meals with dining out. You might argue: you can also cook in apartments! True, but definitely not on a grill.
Camping “Schloss Aigen”. Austria, Salzburg 47.77992, 13.09148
– The opportunity to enjoy family dinners in nature. These are such wonderful, happy moments! You can grill meat, sausages, fish, vegetables, or halloumi every evening—whatever you like! Dinner with loved ones in the open air, in a picturesque place, consisting of grilled sausages, fresh vegetables, cheese, bread, and good wine—what could be better? It’s much cheaper than a restaurant, and personally, I find it much more enjoyable…
Camping “Neue Donau”. Austria, Vienna 48.20847, 16.44704
– There are never any parking problems at campsites. Unlike hotels in the city center, if your hotel is located downtown, especially in the old town, you will almost certainly encounter issues with parking availability. Many hotels do not have their own parking, and some may even be located in pedestrian zones. This means you have to waste time and nerves finding parking, which can be quite far from the hotel and, understandably, quite inconvenient. Additionally, parking can cost a significant amount. Again, this problem does not exist at campsites.
Camping “Medulin”. Croatia, Medulin 44.814179, 13.932053
– Unlike hotels, campsites usually don’t require reservations (with rare exceptions). This is a huge plus for road trips. It allows you to feel free and not be tied down to specific places and dates. Even if you haven’t planned in advance where you’ll be stopping, you can always find something along the way using your GPS or signs. Again, if we’re talking about large campsites in popular tourist spots, especially during peak season, reservations are necessary. However, we have managed so far without them.
Camping “Ljubljana Resort Mobile Homes”. Slovenia, Ljubljana 46.09802, 14.51755
– Campsites are easier with kids. This might sound a bit absurd, but it’s true! Especially if you have multiple children. Campsites are relatively safe places with spacious areas for children to play, often with playgrounds. You can let the kids “run free,” while you sip your wine, lazily watching as they gather a fun group and try to communicate with other kids speaking different languages… For children, this type of vacation is a huge boost to their development and a source of happy childhood memories for the future.
Camping “Rapallo”. Italy, Rapallo 44.35692, 9.19958
– Staying at a campsite gives you the opportunity to be among people, observe them, interact, and better understand their moods, lifestyles, cultures, and characteristics. This is pleasant and interesting! Campsites always have an incredibly simple, warm, and friendly atmosphere. It’s delightful to greet everyone in various languages every day and wish your neighbors goodnight in the evening.
Camping “Piomboni”. Italy, Marina di Ravenna 44.46660, 12.28514
– At campsites, you can get detailed information about transportation, attractions, and even obtain maps and guides for free. You can also purchase transport tickets and discount cards. Often, campsites provide special buses to the metro or other convenient locations, which are cheaper than public transport or even free.
Camping “Harenda”. Poland, Zakopane 49.32345, 19.98543
– And finally, a very significant advantage that perhaps should have been mentioned first. Such an active way of vacationing brings the family closer together. Only when you are a united team can active recreation bring you joy! Over time, a certain algorithm of actions develops. Everyone knows their responsibilities: who sets up the tent, who unpacks, who cooks dinner, who washes the dishes, etc. There are no arguments or disputes. Each team member has their own role, understands its importance, and is ready to help their loved ones rather than pull the blanket over themselves. Additionally, the shared memories of adventures experienced together (which are inevitable with this kind of vacation!) serve as the strongest glue binding the bricks of the family home. A shared reality strengthens all relationships!
Camping “Zeeburg”. Netherlands, Amsterdam 52.36532, 4.95943
And now, the downsides. What would a discussion be without them?
– Sleeping in a tent is not as comfortable as in a bed. However, you can organize sleeping arrangements quite comfortably in a tent. Nowadays, there are plenty of options for this.
– You cannot stay at campsites during the colder months. Some campsites may be open, but that would be more of an extreme experience.
Camping “Campingplatz Dresden-Mockritz”. Germany, Dresden 51.01451, 13.74739
– The need to spend time setting up and taking down camp. Yes, that’s true. Even with our experience, it takes at least an hour. And this has to be done regardless of potential fatigue and bad weather.
– The lack of available spots during the season. I repeat, we have never encountered this, but I’ve read about it. However, we didn’t travel in August. In June and July, we didn’t have any problems with spots. In any case, you can always look for another campsite.
Camping “Gasparina”. Italy, Castelnuovo del Garda VR 45.45494, 10.70222
Perhaps that’s all the downsides. Not too many… And how significant they are for you personally is up to you to decide. )
In the photos are some campsites where we stayed, with coordinates.
