For all those who don’t want to give up on their vacation plans and, at the same time, need to keep themselves safe and respect the anti-Covid protocol in terms of social distancing, going camping seems to be the best solution. Through camping, everyone has the chance to move from his own house, still preserving all the amenities that they are used to have there. Moreover, each family unit (or a bunch of friends, whenever allowed) has the chance to keep a correct distance from the others, enjoying at the same time the beauty of outdoor life. This is the main reason why almost every camping lot in Europe has registered a remarkable increase of requests and attendances between Summer 2020 and the upcoming Summer 2021 (which is rapidly going to sell out).
In particular, in Western Europe, many countries have managed, throughout the last 12 months, to improve and increase their country facilities, renewing the oldest establishments and creating new ones specifically designed for the so-called “Covid era.” Thanks to that, the overall camping business in Europe is probably the only tourism sector that hasn’t been severely affected by the pandemic’s economic crisis.
France has established itself as absolute excellence in this specific area and a cutting edge to take inspiration from. Many countries (firstly all the Mediterranean ones: Spain, Italy, Malta, Croatia, and Greece) are trying to replicate – with mixed results – “the French model” for camping, implementing their facilities and services. But, at least until now, France’s leadership seems to be unassailable. What’s the secret of France? Why is this country so friendly and comfortable for camping fans from all over the world? It is due to probably a mixture of reasons: let’s try to discover the main ones.
1 Landscapes
France has a massive variety of sceneries to pick from. You can explore the southern coast, with its unforgettable shores, and at the same time you can exploit your proximity to the Côte d’Azur, to enjoy some hints of high society leisure’s lifestyle; or you can swerve to the inland’s countryside, crossing the hills and the mountains of Provence. Otherwise, you can head north and reach the Atlantic Coasts, visiting the historic sites of Normandy and experiencing a total climate shifting (from the hot Mediterranean to the more moderated temperature of the Continental Area). If you are bold enough, you can even cross the English Channel and make a brief stop in the UK. Or last but not least, you can approach the wines’ regions (Champagne and Bordeaux) and turn your vacancy into an enological tour.
2 Facilities
If you search on the Internet France’s top campsites, you will be able to realize, almost in real-time, that they are provided with all the kind of services and amenities that a traveler might need. And if you are looking for luxury accomodation, in France you will find camping sites that resemble enough close with the best four (or even five) stars hotels. In France, the idea of camping as an extension of your house in the middle of nature has taken shape.
3 Rules
Few, simple and straightforward: these three adjectives represent everything that characterizes the “rules of engagement” for those who want to go camping on French territory. Even the strictest norms are meticulously balanced to work as a general demeanor’s guidance without becoming a deterrent for tourists’ enthusiasm and curiosity. Nevertheless, precisely because of their non-invasive nature, those rules are being applied constantly. Without exception, so it is advisable to get to know them and, most of all, adhere strictly to their prescriptions.
4 Prices
We can say that the French one is the most profitable pricing behavior from all over Europe, both for sellers (who sell more) and buyers (who buy a top-quality service at a relatively low price). Though there isn’t an actual common policy about that, the companies that manage the essential camping sites in France seem to have adopted a mutual pricing system, which turned out to be affordable for almost everyone. This is possible only if you work on huge numbers and satisfy every request with a wide bouquet of options. And this is exactly what is happening between the Alps and the Pyrenees…
