Three top winter campsites in Europe – GP
Touring in your caravan in winter is a fantastic idea, especially if you go for one of the campsites that provide you with a wealth of home comforts, so even if it’s freezing outside you’ll still be warm and comfortable inside. With that in mind LOOK have found some of the best campsites that Europe has to offer!
Austrian ski site
If you want a skiing holiday where you can take your caravan with you, take a look at the luxury Arlberg Camping site in Austria.
There are 145 camping places here, each of which has its own private and luxurious bathroom hut. The huts are heated, and equipped with a shower, WC, washbasin and dishwashing sink. You also get a separate heated ski and boot cabinet thrown in, so there’s no need to fight your way past damp clothing in your caravan at the end of the day, and when you’re ready for the next morning’s ski-session, your boots and clothing will be warm and dry.
Each camping place has a power connection and satellite TV supply. Outside there’s the beautiful mountain scenery, a kids’ playground and barbecue area – yes you can barbecue in the winter, too! And if you’re drumming your fingers with nothing better to do on your vacation, there’s also a covered car and campervan washing area you can make use of too. The ski resort of St Anton is a 15 minute bus ride away, and the bus leaves from reception every 15 minutes during the peak ski season.
For indoor relaxation there’s the Health and Spa centre of Arlberg-Stanzertal to enjoy a swim in the heated pool or time in the sauna and solarium.
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Swiss serenity
For more spectacular winter scenery in luxurious camping conditions, head to Switzerland and stay at one of seven yurts perched on the summit of Rochers-de-Naye at 2045m. Located an hour’s railway journey from Montreux, these fully insulated yurts are authentically decorated and have electric heating, so will always be warm and welcoming whatever the weather. They sleep up to eight people and you can watch the sun set over Lake Geneva from your yurt. You’ll find a great place to have a Mongolian fondue in the cliff-face restaurant of Plein Roc. No need to bring your own bedrolls here – the yurts have comfortable beds made up awaiting your arrival.
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Hot springs in Hungary
Lake Heviz is the largest biologically-active natural lake in the world and is rich in sulphur, radium and minerals. The source is a hot spring 40m underground and water temperatures range between 23-25°C in the winter and 33-36°C in the summer. The lake waters are constantly moving as the warm water travels up and the cold waters travel down. In the winter the condensed steam forms a steam cap above the lake surface which prevents the water from cooling down and creates a natural inhalatorium which is said to be medically beneficial. The tradition is to hire rubber rings and float in the waters of the lake for a few hours and then move to one of the lakeside pavilions to rest on a lounger. There are also nine indoor pools with temperatures ranging from 32 to 37°C. You can enjoy mud baths and other treatments in spas located near to the lake.
An ideal site located near Lake Heviz is the Castrum Camping and Pension, only 300m from the lake so you can leave your bathrobe in your caravan! There’s an overflow channel from the lake that runs through the campsite and you can see the pink purple and white lotuses that float on the water year round. The camping places are discreetly separated by green hedges and there is the possibility to hook up to power, water and the cable TV network. If you don’t want to bring your caravan, there are ten bedrooms that can be booked on site and two studio apartments as well. When you don’t feel like eating in, you can enjoy Hungarian specialities and international food at the campsite restaurant where the terrace overlooks the lake.
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These are just a few great examples of the different places to camp and caravan in Europe which we have found. If you’re thinking of doing some winter touring in Europe, make sure you research your destination and make sure that your caravan insurance covers you for time spent on the continent!
