Campsite

A campsite (usually private, sometimes operated by the municipality ) is a distinct (often fenced ) area, on which camping is possible, so that is staying with tents, caravans or motorhomes. This usually happens in the context of leisure activities (eg holidays, weekends ); occasionally people live more or less permanently at campgrounds, eg assemblers (see also residence ( Germany ), second home, commuters).

• 4.1 The situation in Germany

Description

Campsites are generally located in areas of tourist interest, whether in scenic areas or near ( rarely ) larger cities.

Almost always they have (more or less complex ) sanitary facilities; they often have additional facilities such as shops, restaurants, increasingly, recreational facilities such as fitness center, swimming pool, jogging path, boules / bocce court, Swin / mini-golf, children's playground. Not infrequently, a guest entertainment is offered ( "Animation", such as organized sports competitions, guided walks, childcare, evening entertainment ). Such additional services are very often limited to the season.

A distinction must be Campsites for permanent campers ( campers who use their caravan as a holiday home ) and for traveling campers. There are annual rent places that are closed to through -traveling guests or tourists. Similarly, there are campsites for tourists traveling that do not rent spaces for permanent campers. Mixed forms are common. In camping guides spaces are often referred to as stages, vacation or camping place. A special form is the nudist camp.

Many campgrounds offer rental accommodation on (tents, caravans, mobile homes, log cabins, bungalows).

Camping is available in the whole of Europe and beyond, with a very broad range. They range from small, simple (usually inexpensive ) Wiesenplatz up to the full offer with swimming pool, supermarket, restaurant and entertainment for all ages and interests. For campers there are often fortified places ( with grass pavers ); Caravans and tents are mostly on loose meadow surface.

Various so-called camping guide published annually ( among others, the ADAC Camping Guide Northern and Southern Europe, DCC Camping Guide Europe the German Camping Club and ECC [Europe Camping Caravanning ] ) with descriptions of several thousands of campsites in Europe.

Sanitary facilities at campsites

At campgrounds, there are usually facilities for personal hygiene and toilets. Because the facilities for washing dishes, laundry and sinks for the onboard toilets affect other are usually spatially, they are mostly also counted as sanitation.

The range of embodiments of the sanitary facilities at campsites is very large. It can be found ( rarely ) Campsites with rather archaic equipment to a standard that can compete with upmarket hotel complexes, where the prices are correspondingly wide -ranging.

The sanitary facilities are generally all campers available. The cost of their use are - with some exceptions - included in the course fee. However, there are also sometimes individual institutions to individual campers rented equipped with individual sanitary facilities ( private cabins with full " bathroom equipment " ) or spaces.

Many campgrounds also offer sanitary facilities for the disabled.

On larger campsites and sanitary facilities are often spread over several buildings. It is not uncommon that the facilities in the various buildings qualitatively significantly different ( different ages and renovation status). Often the offer of assignment is adjusted (some of the facilities then closed ).

To evaluate the sanitary facilities of a campsite, must, as to its space size Number of objects whose functionality and appearance, and cleanliness are considered. This can sometimes lead to misunderstandings in the interpretation of such assessments such as a camping guide when evaluation criteria are very different cases (eg devaluation despite ultra-modern, but accurate facilities because too few of them are available or certain facilities are lacking).

Shower

Showers are located mostly in cabins and usually have a lockable door. They should offer a protected against splash water storage or for hanging for clothes, towel and toilet bag.

Dishwashing and laundry facilities

Such cleaning facilities are often located on the outer walls of the toilet block in the open. Most campgrounds also feature washers and dryers ( extra charge), rarely also dishwashers.

Toilets

Toilets are running around the Mediterranean occasionally (proportionately ) as a urinal. Toilet paper is often brought along. Urinals are often not visually separated. Therefore, it is placed in caravans and motorhomes from the buyers increasingly on value built toilets.

Hot water

Hot water is available at least for the showers have long been standard. The water temperature was often preset; but today is considered, the adjustability of the camper again as a convenience feature. The hot water supply is usually included - only for the use of the showers is often an extra fee demands (chip, shower brand or smart card, the latter captures the shower duration for later billing ) to restrict the use of time to a reasonable level ( a few minutes); rare for other devices ( dishwashing ). These usually cost only an extra cost if it eg for electrically heated water (most of devices with more than 18 kW of power consumption) is, otherwise unmanageable costs for the operator of the campsite would be the result.

Sink

Sink can be installed open or in cabins. Particularly in southern regions only cold water is often offered. Wash troughs can be seen only rarely.

Terms of Use

In Germany and Austria the minimum level of campgrounds by the camping regulation of the federal state is set. These regulations require, among other things, depending on the number of approved accommodations a certain minimum number of toilets, washing facilities and water connections, but also set as the minimum width of the access roads fixed.

Classification

Many countries have an official classification system - mostly stars - introduced for campsites. The criteria vary from country to country, hardly comparable to each other and also differ from the ratings in camping guides. In some countries, the classification and the signs performed a classification is required, in others it is voluntary.

Situation in Germany

In Germany, the Federal Association of the camping industry in Germany together with the German Tourism Association, a classification system for quality improvement and assurance of the infrastructure, services and service offerings placed on camping and recreational facilities in Germany. The guidelines and evaluation criteria were developed in collaboration with practitioners and consumer groups in 2000 and continuously adapted to the changing demand.

There is no obligation to classify, camps voluntarily undergo the checks, the results of which are reviewed every three years. Are evaluated in the categories of reception and service, plumbing and stands criteria such as size, accessibility, cleanliness of the toilets, toilet facilities or overall condition of the pitches and paths. Depending on the result campsites with up to five stars are awarded, the stars have the following meaning: