Which app for finding places to stay (UK and EU) and why?

Chiso

Chiso

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3
Location
Bath, UK
Vehicle
T6.1 Ocean 204 4 motion
Hi All, this is my first post, so be gentle. he kids grew up and cleared off so we're looking to start our first Cali adventure in the next few weeks. Seems like there are a lot of different apps, some paid, some free. What do you use and why? Books or other publications recommendations would be gratefully received also.
 
searchforsites

Good mapping, easy to knock out all the places you don't want, costs nowt
 
Hmm. Wonder why I pay a subscription!!!!
 
Generally we just stick to CMC and CAMC sites where we can. We find prices reasonable and quality good. If we had a preference it would be CMC. Generally better pitches which are a little more private. Cornwall / Scotland search for sites as mentioned and we also use pitchup (for Wales and NC500). We also tend to plan our route and then look for sites on them, using Google reviews as a guide.
 
It depends if you’re looking for an app showing wild-camping spots or campsites.

For wild camping, I’ve tried all the apps I could find but always go back to park4night as my go-to app. It’s got all the spots and useful reviews. And at €10/year, it costs effectively nothing.

For campsites, I started with the ACSI app (https://www.acsi.eu/en/products/acsi-apps/ - The ACSI website is enormously confusing. The ACSI Campsites app is what you want and is just a directory of campsites that they’ve visited. It’s not a special network of campsites, you can’t book sites from the app and you can’t find availability from the app. The app just lets you find campsites and it’s then up to you to call the site or use the campsite’s online booking system to book. They also have a separate “great little campsites” app which is just a subset of the campsites the main Campsites app contains - pointless. Finally, they have a “CampingCard” system that’s completely unrelated to their ACSI Campsites app and that gives you reduced rates at a selection of campsites during low season. You need a separate app for that).

But I’ve now given up on ACSI as Google Maps does the same job for campsites - and it does often a better job as you get more pictures and more reviews. The only benefit of an app would be to be able to search by availability and checkin time and book in one tap. But the ACSI app doesn’t do any of that.
 
In addition to the others, this one is written by campers, not the campsite owners and does UK and Europe (variable coverage). The reviews are handy
www.ukcampsite.co.uk

Search over 12,000 UK Campsites with over 250,000 independent reviews. Plus France and Europe

Search over 12,000 campsites and caravan site parks with over 250,000 independent reviews, in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and France and Europe
www.ukcampsite.co.uk

I also have success with Google maps. I find a location then just search for 'camping'. I've found some great places that way.

ACSI discount card can be useful in Europe outside July and August. I had the electronic version which was fine till my phone broke! Perhaps a card is a more sensible idea.

Don't forget to research vignettes and environmental (ulez) permits for travel through Europe.

Have fun!
 
All of the above for me plus Your Parking Spot.
It seems to be aimed at event parking but it allows you to park in supermarket car parks overnight. I’m not sure it’s aimed at overnight camping but sometimes when you want to stay in a city centre this can be your only option and generally parking is pretty inexpensive.
 
In Europe I use Camperstop, it has an annual subscription which is not a lot, and it shows lots of free permitted places, with pictures and information. It has saved us lots over the past 8 years. we only renew when going abroad.

I have park 4 night built into navigation unit, which is OK, but in UK we tend to stick to Club sites.
 
Welcome. In Europe we almost always use the ACSI app but keep Park 4 Night as a back up.
ACSI is great if you are traveling out of season and pays for itself in no time.
ACSI
 
Last edited:
Chiso said:
Hi All, this is my first post, so be gentle. he kids grew up and cleared off so we're looking to start our first Cali adventure in the next few weeks. Seems like there are a lot of different apps, some paid, some free. What do you use and why? Books or other publications recommendations would be gratefully received also.
Click to expand...
Archies camping app. Available from Apple and Google Play Store. £2.99.
Offers over 30,000 campsites in Europe , UK and Ireland. Data updated regularly.
From big to small. No reviews but provides GPS contact details and website link if there is one. Uses Google maps and can plot and display route and directions.
I have used it all over Europe and UK and have found some beautiful sites on and off the main routes.
 
Just back from France after a months travelling around.
We used Campingcarpark.com (get app on Google Play).
Great bit of kit tbh, we used 4 of their sites, whilst en-route.
Tells you how many spaces available, allows you to just 'rock up' if spce avail, and you can filter what you need, ie Loos/Shower, basic stopover etc etc.
Eur5 for a lifetime membership, or Eur 30 for the privilege pack (this allows you to book in advance, rather than just turn up, also allows you to come and go from the site & not loose your space).
We opted for sites with facilities, all were clean, spotless, quiet, and incredible VFM (+- Eur14 a night, with hook up & sanitary).
Perfect for 1 - 3 nights if your travelling around but doing some visiting in an area as well.

Don't dismiss 'Aires', as whilst basic, are superb if your needing an o/nite stop.

We didn't 'book' anything, just worked out where we wanted to be, checked the app for space, and rocked up.
 
Another vote for Searchforsights backed up by checking Google map reviews. Worked really well during our recent 5 week trip to N Spain and Portugal. My preference for Searchforsights over Park4Night (that I also used), is that the reviews are predominantly in English, rather than needing translation. I tended to select our next sight using the App then email to confirm they had space or book if it was a smaller sight. In reality, travelling in May - early Jun we never had any difficulty finding a pitch.
 
We are some Australians currently three months in to travelling in Spain France, Ireland and the UK. There are so many apps and sites here and none are perfect for us.
Park4night is everyone’s staple so it has very up to date reviews. But I’m not a fan of the interface. It doesn’t quite work for me. But it is the best source.

We use an app called Campy. I like the interface a lot and can plan trips on it in advance or as we go. . It’s free or a minor cost to have all features for life. It’s not as up to date in the uk (reviews can be a little old) good in Europe though. So I use it in conjunction with P4Night. To get recent reviews for the places I like. The more people who use it the better it will get.

We got the ACSI CC card but found it useless. Every single place we were interested in were ACSI accredited but no longer accepted the CC card so no discounts at all.

Park4night is used by everyone so whatever you use I would suggest always having it as it has the most users and up to date reviews/information.
With all them you have to learn how to read the reviews. Some people have interesting expectations and opinions.

Have fun.
 
Just back from 5 weeks in France. Park4night is our favourite, very few sites are not shown in the app, and bang up to date reviews. We also use acsi, and it more than paid for itself on this trip. However the app is awful - slow and buggy, and the reviews are all at least a year out of date. A bit unrelated, but if, like us, leisure cycling is your thing Mapy is excellent for finding local cycle routes.
 
BrugseB said:
If you fancy France and don't need "grand luxe", the France Passion card is superb - we do love it!

France Passion: Great stopovers with your motorhome in France

France Passion - A guide to friendly and gastronomic motorhome stopovers in the French countryside with farmers and winegrowers – agri-tourism and wine tourism
www.france-passion.com www.france-passion.com
Click to expand...
We’re driving to SW France this September in California. France Passion seems adamant that vans are self contained. Does that mean we could stay, using our Bog in a Bag, no showers? So v basic camping, but with the chance of great food?
Feels like they want motorhomes, not camper vans?
 
It's worth looking at joining either (or both!) the Caravan and Motorhome club or Camping and Caravanning club - they both have extensive networks of "certified sites" which are more often that not basic fields / farm stays / etc which are often quite reasonable - some are very basic (just a tap and drain) and cost very little while others have toilets, showers, etc. They are only accessible if you're a member of the club (each club has their own network of sites)
 
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