Cheap Camping: Money-Saving tips for your camping holiday

Camping offers you the opportunity to plan your well-deserved break exactly how you like. You can enjoy a great and cheap holiday with a camper van, even on a small budget. To save as much money as possible, it is worth booking early and researching prices. You can also save money during your camping holiday with the right tips and tricks.

Step 1: Plan and book in advance

Early booking discounts are not just available for package holidays, camping fans can also save money if they plan their holiday well. The following money-saving tips will make your camping experience cheap:

Travel in a group: whether with friends or with the whole family - make the most of the space in your motorhome and plan a camping holiday in a group if possible. Sharing the costs of renting, campsites, and food will make it cheaper
Choose the right destination: Camping in your own country is the cheapest option. This saves on fuel costs and additional insurance. However, if you would like to visit the tourist highlights of other countries, it is worth booking campsites in quieter areas. These are usually cheaper and often not so far from the hotspots.
Travel in the low season if possible: If you can plan your holiday freely, you should travel in the low season if possible. Campsites and tourist attractions are cheaper and less crowded during this time.
Plan a long holiday: If you want to rent a motorhome or book a spot at a campsite it is often cheaper if you book for longer periods. Therefore, it is worthwhile to plan a longer camping holiday than many smaller trips.
Avoid unnecessary luxury: When choosing your campsite, you should strike a balance between comfort and cost. Often you don’t need a luxury campsite - even campsites with less than five stars can be an oasis of relaxation. Read the reviews and agree on which features you could do without.
Look out for hidden costs: If you want to use facilities such as a swimming pool or an indoor playground at the campsite, check whether they are included in the price before booking. This will save you additional hidden fees.
Book as early as possible: As soon as you have decided on your travel dates and destination, you can start booking campsites and/or renting a motorhome. For the best choice, book six months to a year before your holiday.

Tip

Many providers allow you to cancel a booking up to three months before the start of your trip. This gives you flexibility in case your plans change.

Step 2: Prepare for your motorhome trip

If you plan to spend your holiday in a motorhome or caravan, fuel costs will play a big role in your budget planning. Try to drive as fuel efficiently as possible and organise your trip as much as possible:

Take a child seat with you: If you want to travel as a family, take your own child seat with you to save the rental costs of a seat.
Avoid toll roads: Tolls are additional costs that can be avoided by planning. If you take country roads, you may travel a little slower, but you can travel cheaper and enjoy the scenery.
Don't fill up at the motorway: With the help of price comparison apps, you can quickly and easily find the cheapest petrol stations near your location. Give yourself plenty of time to find fuel to keep more options open.
Look for suitable parking spaces: Especially if you are planning a round trip, you can save a lot of money by choosing the right parking spaces. Look for parking spaces that are a little away from the sights or the beach. You can go to the beach or into town by bike or public transport.

Step 3: Cheap camping on site

You can also save money on holiday and keep your budget as low as possible by organising your stay on site. Below we give you the best tips for saving money during your stay at your holiday destination:

Keep an eye on your expenses: Even if it seems tedious at first, you should keep a budget book for your holiday. With this, you can keep track of your expenses and quickly assess how your budget is doing.
Get a camping card: With a camping card you can benefit from many discounts. For example, you can save on camping spots or buy camping equipment at a lower price. The most important Camping Cards in Europe are Camping Card International (CCI), the ACSI Club ID (ACSI) and the Camping Key Europe (CKE).
Take supplies with you: Although you can buy essentials at the campsite, it is usually a little more expensive than in the supermarket. Take some light food items, such as spices, from home and buy the rest in supermarkets along the way. You should also cook as much as possible yourself. Not only does it taste good but it's also a lot cheaper than eating out.
Take advantage of regional discounts: Find out about regional offers and discounts early on. Some campsites offer free bus rides to the nearest town. Regional discount cards can often save you money on admission to museums and attractions.
Buy camping equipment second-hand or off-season: At the end of the summer, you can often buy camping equipment in a sale. It's also worth looking at the classifieds to buy second-hand equipment in good condition.
Cycle more often: Cycling is a great way to explore the area for free and is also good for your health. It's a good alternative to public transport.
Save electricity at home: Before you set off, you can also save money at home. Switch off all appliances that you won't be using during the trip. For example, you can turn the fridge a little warmer or turn off the hot water tank. If you are going to be away for a long time, it might be worthwhile subletting your home.

Conclusion

With good planning and a few good money-saving tips, you can adapt your budget camping holiday to your budget in no time at all. If you forgo one or two luxury features and simply enjoy camping close to nature, you can experience an unforgettable holiday that is easy on your wallet.

More than 700 stations worldwide

Choose one of the most popular destinations: