Article and photos:Minh Trang (from the Netherlands)
Campingas a way to enjoy autumn
The name alone is enough for people to imagine this type of tourism. If you have a car, like driving long distances, don't like being tied down and especially don't necessarily need a soft blanket and warm mattress, then you can think about this type of tourism. Although the price of renting a camping spot for two people and a tent for two people only fluctuates around ten to twenty Euros depending on the size of the campsite and the facilities there, much cheaper than a normal hotel room here, I don't dare say this is a cheap type of tourism. Because to fully equip yourself for the trip, you have to spend a lot of money if it's your first time to buy the necessary items. However, once you've tried this type of tourism, from the next time you won't have to worry about buying those items anymore, and it can be said that this type of tourism is quite cheap and very free.
The first thing you need to prepare is of course the tent. Depending on your plan and the duration of your trip, you can choose a suitable tent. My husband and I like to visit many places, so we only camp for about one or two days at each place, and we choose a trekking tent to set up and pack up quickly. This type of tent is small, has a sleeping compartment for two or three people and a small compartment for belongings. However, you cannot stand upright or put up chairs. This is not a concern when the weather is dry and warm. When it rains, you can only get into the tent to lie down, read books and chat with each other. The second trip learned from experience, so we bought a larger tent that can stand upright and has a compartment for tables and chairs to sit in case it rains or in the evening when it is colder.
Once you have a place to stay, you have to worry about where to sleep. This is also quite simple because when you go to stores specializing in selling outdoor gear, you will easily find air mattresses and sleeping bags that are suitable and affordable. We often visit cities or tourist destinations during the day, so we eat at restaurants there. In the morning and evening, we cook in our tents, the experience is really enjoyable. This is also the most typical and interesting point when camping, because the feeling of sitting in the middle of nature cooking, eating and chatting is incomparable. Therefore, you need to buy yourself a portable gas stove, pots, pans, cups, bowls, plates, etc. Because you move a lot, the criteria are compact,
| In the morning and evening, we cooked our own meals in our tents, which was a great experience. This is also the most unique and interesting part of camping, because the feeling of sitting in the middle of nature cooking, eating and chatting is incomparable. |
Light weight is always a top priority. Therefore, most of the items forcampingMade of plastic or lightweight materials for easy portability.
Europeans usually do not sit on the floor to eat like us, even outdoors. Therefore, tables and chairs are very important to them on such trips. The criteria are still compact and light, so when buying tables and chairs, you should pay attention to choosing the type that can be easily folded. Depending on your budget and weight, you can choose a suitable table and chair set.
My husband and I usually take at least a week off, so camping a few hundred to a thousand kilometers away from home is a common thing. However, there are many people who camp in their own country or not so far from home on weekends. However, whether far or near, having a car is the most important. Without a car, how can we bring our “home” with us! I will not mention those people.backpacking(backpackers) who travel by public transport and all their luggage is in their backpacks. Because they will have to drive far and to many different terrains, it is important to check the vehicle before going and especially the vehicle insurance. We often register as members of international rescue agencies so that if the vehicle breaks down on the road, we can call them for help without having to pay much if you are not a member. This also helps your trip not to be interrupted, because if your vehicle cannot continue, you will be lent a vehicle to continue your journey and pick up your vehicle on the way back.
Most European countries do not allow you to camp randomly. Therefore, it is necessary to learn about the campsites. We do not like noise, so we usually choose small campsites, usually local farms. Although you can find all information on the internet, campsites are often compiled and introduced through specialized camping books. For about ten or twenty Euros for a book, you can freely look up information about each campsite, from the location to the facilities of that area. Regardless of the size of the site, good or not, all campsites have toilets, bathrooms, dishwashers, washing machines and even refrigerators or freezers. Except for the time we camped in Switzerland, where we had to pay to shower, all the facilities at the campsite are included in the price of the tent. Since we went with two people and the tent, without electricity, we usually paid about 15 Euros for a night in France, England and Luxembourg. In Switzerland it is more expensive, 26 Euros a night. If we want electricity we have to pay an extra 2 or 3 Euros and need a special power cord.
Warm sunshineisland nationOlder brother
We live near Amsterdam so we decided to take the ferry across the Strait of Calais, France to England. From our house it was a four-hour drive to Calais, then a two-hour cruise to Dover, England. It was called a ferry but it was actually a large ship with cars on the lower deck and restaurants and shopping on the upper deck.
From Dover we drove to our first campsite in Somerset. The interesting thing here was that having been used to driving on the right in the Netherlands, in England we were often confused by having to drive on the left, especially on country roads and roundabouts. A really interesting experience for our journey.
Although we had only planned to stay in Somerset for one night, our campsite and the surrounding area were so beautiful that we stayed an extra night. We felt free to stay a little longer or a little shorter. It was up to us.
The weather was even better the next few days, and we headed to Wales, a land of rocky hills and sheep. On the way from Somerset to Aberyswyth, a Welsh town where my husband lived for a few years as a child, we stopped to see some beautiful medieval ruins. As a couple who love reading, we decided to pass through Hay-on-waye, a small town that sells second-hand books, and find some interesting books.
We camped for two days in a remote village 30 minutes from Aberyswyth and drove to nearby towns each day to visit. Then we headed to North Wales and camped on a farm near Betys-y-Coed, a charming tourist town set in the middle of the moors. From there we drove for just over an hour to Chester, an old English town, and spent a day wandering the streets admiring the unique English architecture.
From Wales back to Dover to catch the train to France, back to the Netherlands is more than six hours drive so we decided to camp in Canterbury one night before the train departure. Like Chester, Canterbury is an old, small city with typical English architecture and is a city with a lot of students. Just an afternoon walking around Canterbury made us flutter with the small alleys and cozy streets. The journey to England and Wales ended when we boarded the train back to the mainland. However, the experiences of the trip still linger in us and we are sure to return to the places we have been and definitely travel this "backpacking" style.
Two weeks traveling to four European countries
On our camping trip last year, we wanted to go to the South East of France and this time we chose to go through Luxembourg so that I could visit one of the richest cities in Europe. We arrived in Luxembourg on a cloudy and drizzly day. Partly prepared, we decided to visit the city center while it was raining. When the rain stopped, we drove to the castle about 30 minutes away from the city to visit. In the afternoon, with some time and some sunshine, we visited the city of Trier in Germany, just over half an hour drive from the Luxembourg border and our camping site.
| That’s the freedom of this type of camping. You can stay as you like and go as you like. Each place has a distinctly different terrain, making the trip more interesting. |
Since the weather was not so good, we decided to leave earlier than planned to go further south in France. That is the freedom of this type of camping. You can stay as you like, go as you like. In France, we continued to wander around Besancon, Annecy and Chamonix. Each place has a distinctly different terrain, making the trip more interesting.
After a week of wandering around France, we headed to Switzerland. From our campsite in Annecy to Geneva, it was just over an hour's drive. Since it was our first time in Switzerland, we had booked our campsite in Holland just to be safe, and partly because the Swiss are known for their discipline. Our campsite was a farm near Interlaken. From there, we saw majestic snow-capped mountains, clear blue lakes, and hiked up picturesque hills. Then, the weather turned sour with a light drizzle, so we went to visit the city of Bern, the capital of Switzerland, an ancient city recognized by UNESCO as a world wonder. From our campsite, Bern was only an hour and a half's drive away.
A week wandering around Switzerland was so short. Luckily, the day we broke camp, the weather was sunny and the tent was dry. We also took the opportunity to dry our sleeping bags and pillows before packing them in the car. Camping requires worrying about seemingly simple things, but those simple worries create unforgettable memories. On the more than seven-hour drive from Switzerland to the Netherlands, my husband and I took turns driving, driving and resting. It was tiring but fun.
