Trouble Booking EU campsites.... Is it just me....? (2 Viewers)

[Rjcamper]

First trip, ferry booked, into France, Belgium then to sons in Netherlands.

I have messaged two sites, one in Belgium for 1 night and on in Netherlands for 4 nights, had no response and sent a couple of chase up emails...? Is it just me or are they very slow, trip is end of April so clock is ticking????

 

[Riverbankannie]

Are those campsites closed for the winter? They might reply after easter.
Plenty of aires open so don’t worry too much .

 

[Emmit]

And breathe!

Are the sites open?

 

[Rjcamper]

Think so, getting my son to call the Netherlands one....

 

[ctc]

Why book?

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[Lenny HB]

Why book?

My thoughts to especially at the end of April.

 

[Odd job]

I'm not sure it's an EU thing I have tried to book a couple of stopovers here and had no response from any of them. I booked through pitchup in the end. After our first trip to France we don't bother to book anything unless it's August and even then I have never been on a site that didn't have a spare pitch.

 

[jdk62]

Why book?

Because some people just like the surety and comfort of knowing where and when they will be staying each day, particularly if it is their first overseas venture in their Moho.

Each to their own…

 

[Brains]

Remember around May-June time each year there are three German holidays close together.
Which means every Hinz und Kunz (Tom Dick & Harry) with a motorhome is heading for the hills for a 8 days of holiday for only 3 or 4 days off work.

Many companies give the extra day if the holiday is midweek, like Assentation and Assumption.
It means Hinz und Kunz may be able to take 24 days holiday (12th of May to the 4th of June) but only use 12 of their working days holiday .
Hence many big factories also close for this period.

It can mean that every campsite from Poland to Croatia to France and Denmark is full of German vans, many of whom booked before Christmas.
(As we found out the hard way last year)

The key dates to either ensure you book or avoid are:
Friday 12th of May to the Sunday 4th of June (See above)
Monday 10th April (Easter)
Tuesday 18th May (Assentation)
Monday 29h May (Pentecost)
Thursday 8th June (Corpus Christi)
Tuesday 8th August
Tuesday 15th August (Assumption)

I've not cross referenced this with the French holidays, as they tend to head south to clash with the Spanish and Italian holidays.

 

[Rjcamper]

Thanks all, reason for booking is this is first trip into the EU so want the first night and journey all set, as for Netherlands want the site near my son's and his in-laws

In the future we will just wing it, but this trip we have a schedule and first visit to sons since he moved there 3+ years ago

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[Roby2008]

Remember around May-June time each year there are three German holidays close together.
Which means every Hinz und Kunz (Tom Dick & Harry) with a motorhome is heading for the hills for a 8 days of holiday for only 3 or 4 days off work.

Many companies give the extra day if the holiday is midweek, like Assentation and Assumption.
It means Hinz und Kunz may be able to take 24 days holiday (12th of May to the 4th of June) but only use 12 of their working days holiday .
Hence many big factories also close for this period.

It can mean that every campsite from Poland to Croatia to France and Denmark is full of German vans, many of whom booked before Christmas.
(As we found out the hard way last year)

The key dates to either ensure you book or avoid are:
Friday 12th of May to the Sunday 4th of June (See above)
Monday 10th April (Easter)
Tuesday 18th May (Assentation)
Monday 29h May (Pentecost)
Thursday 8th June (Corpus Christi)
Tuesday 8th August
Tuesday 15th August (Assumption)

I've not cross referenced this with the French holidays, as they tend to head south to clash with the Spanish and Italian holidays.

Exactly how we do it, wifey plans around the feiertage to get the most from them and if the feiertag is on a Thursday then she takes the gap day too..................along with half the population.

 

[Roby2008]

Haven`t actually booked a site for years, try and if full move on............but with no kids, dogs or anything in between it is easier.

 

[Dorwyn]

... Plus, over a long distance, schedules can change. You could find yourself knac ... tired out and a hundred miles away from your target. Then you have to rush etc. You arrive late and in a state. Yet you've passed lots of suitable stops. I do understand the need to book for certainty when you're new to it, though.

 

[Rjcamper]

... Plus, over a long distance, schedules can change. You could find yourself knac ... tired out and a hundred miles away from your target. Then you have to rush etc. You arrive late and in a state. Yet you've passed lots of suitable stops. I do understand the need to book for certainty when you're new to it, though.

First planned stop 2.5 hrs, next day 3hr drive, so have a little wiggle room.....

 

[Rjcamper]

Going to see if I get a response, if not wing it..... Managed to roadtrip route 66 without pre booking, so can adapt if needed, just need to convince SWMBO

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[Burgo]

We have pretty well given up emailing sites, and other businesses, in Spain. Very seldom they reply, and when you actually ask them face to face why not you don't get an answer.

 

[orridge]

Going to see if I get a response, if not wing it..... Managed to roadtrip route 66 without pre booking, so can adapt if needed, just need to convince SWMBO

Perhaps just pickup the phone and call them the Dutch will speak perfect english.

 

[Riggers1]

We managed to book 2 sites in Belgium and 3 in Netherlands last month via email with no issues. Again first time in Europe with motorhome so just wanted to make life easier until we get a feel for things and easy it will probably be to travel without fixed plans in future

 

[JnJ]

We have booked 6 SVR (minicamping) sites across the Netherlands for whole ofJune all done via email. 2 others we tried were already fully booked.

 

[Rjcamper]

We have booked 6 SVR (minicamping) sites across the Netherlands for whole ofJune all done via email. 2 others we tried were already fully booked.

Son called them and the Netherlands site is fully booked until June, so back searching around Utrecht

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[Riggers1]

Son called them and the Netherlands site is fully booked until June, so back searching around Utrecht

We have booked here near Utrecht https://www.campingdevliert.nl/

 

[Rjcamper]

We have booked here near Utrecht https://www.campingdevliert.nl/

thank you, have booked for the 4 nights ( I have had an email response, just waiting on the confirmation), just need to sort out the Belgium one, but thats less urgent

 

[Folkranger]

Booked my first trip 30 years ago. Wished I hadn't, too constricting. Never ever booked a site again. Never had a problem. I know this isn't what you asked but you may agree after you've been.

 

[Riggers1]

Glad you got it sorted. You will have to let us know what you think of the site. We aren’t there until late June

 

[Rjcamper]

Glad you got it sorted. You will have to let us know what you think of the site. We aren’t there until late June

Will do and thanks for the help

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[Folkranger]

We have booked here near Utrecht https://www.campingdevliert.nl/

Love Utrecht. We usually stay at Vakantiepark De Krakeling.

 

[Rjcamper]

Love Utrecht. We usually stay at Vakantiepark De Krakeling.

Our son has lived there for a couple of years, first opportunity to go visit

Belgium overnight stop now sorted.......

Now for another question, we may have 2 days free towards the end of the trip, any recommendations of places to stay or visit in Belgium or France, we will have the dogs so generally look for parks, estates, beaches, forest etc so we can take them for a good walk??

 

[busby]

Changed from caravan to motorhome so I don't have to plan and book when in Europe,,Its so easy,,BUSBY.