Advice Please European Tour - Best APPs Websites for Excellent Verified Sites

Just my two penneth. You say you want verified sites but you also want to see as much as possible so do you mean campsites or just verified Motorhome only stop overs / wild camp spots? You also sound apprehensive over being in unfamiliar territory and the language barriers etc. For the latter I would urge you not to be. Europe and especially France, Germany and Italy are so well established for easy motorhoming there really isnt any need to use official campsites all the time if at all. Fine if you want to kick back with a pool and all the facilities for four or five nights or a week but if you are touring you really ought to check out the Aires network. (Stellplatz in Germany, Sostas in Italy). You literally cant go wrong but do plan ahead. Do a lot of research before you go.

The time of year makes a difference as well and I dont think you said when you were going. If its summer holidays then the last thing I would want is to be on a campsite anywhere popular in Europe, plus they get pricey if you are away three months. We have stayed on some absolutely cracking Aires, wild spots, Sostas and Stellplatz. Many free or low cost and they tend not to be over run with kids when its main season. They do get busy though but so does everywhere.

Which countries and regions do you fancy? Try not to do too much.
 
It's worth pointing out that the ACSI scheme does not tend to run for campsites anyway in the busiest months, so typically July and August. In fact each campsite can set the periods that they accept the card for use for discounts.

Whilst Barry is right about the aires and Stelplatz etc, bear in mind that they can't be booked and do tend to fill up as the day goes on.

Whilst I know that there is no definitive answer: what time would you say is optimal to arrive at one Barry? Lunchtime/early afternoon-ish?
 
It's worth pointing out that the ACSI scheme does not tend to run for campsites anyway in the busiest months, so typically July and August. In fact each campsite can set the periods that they accept the card for use for discounts.

Whilst Barry is right about the aires and Stelplatz etc, bear in mind that they can't be booked and do tend to fill up as the day goes on.

Whilst I know that there is no definitive answer: what time would you say is optimal to arrive at one Barry? Lunchtime/early afternoon-ish?
The fact that aires cannot be booked (though that is creeping in through one or two aire management companies) is one of their great plus points! In six years of touring France prior to Covid, I cannot recall more than a couple of occasions when an aire was full when I arrived. It helps not to try visiting popular tourist locations in high season, but in my experience even arriving late afternoon/early evening is not a problem in most locations.
 
I always think the best time to arrive at an Aire if you think it might be a popular one is either between 11-12am or between 2pm and 3pm. Why? Well those that are leaving in the morning will have naffed off or if you arrive after lunchtime there will be those that have decided to hang around a bit (certainly in France) for a Lunch two hour :D who will free up a space or three after that. This is not an exact science of course. Just what I have observed from years of Aires use.

The key I believe is doing a lot of research and reading reviews etc. Some like to take pot luck which is fine but I like to have two or three in mind wherever I am heading. Ill always tend to pick the ones that are tucked off the beaten track though so usually over crowding isnt really an issue. Ill then just use the bike to tootle around on. Top tip for the mountains in the summer. Find the ski resorts, they generally have Aires or shed loads of free unused parking in stunning surroundings.
 
We are all different, think differently, and have different preferences that are tempered by good health or mobility issues. Over many years I must admit that barryd has found some superbly scenic sites in the middle of nowhere to camp.

I plan in advance, but only to find places I want to see and visit on my way, using my SatNav to find parking that is preferably within walking distance.

Over the years I've found the whole of Europe is so much better set up for stress free overnight camping, and you will be spoiled for choice pretty much wherever you go. If I ever found a duff site, I either moved on to the next one, or didn't worry 'cos it's only where I'll lay my head that night. That's because I rarely stay anywhere more than two nights.

If I ever did find an area where sites were a bit scarce around 4.00pm (my preferred camping time), I simply pulled over and used the books mentioned above, as I personally find paper quicker to gain an instant overview over Apps.
 

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