Camping

I arbitrarily divide campers into two broad categories: those who are going for a backwoods/wilderness experience, and those who are camping in order to see the cities and countryside of Europe as cheaply as possible. Camping is indeed the cheapest form of accommodation in Europe, but be warned, it is much more enjoyable if you are traveling by car. Taking a train to a city or town and then carrying all of the normal budget traveler load, plus tent, stove, real sleeping bag, and other camping essentials out to a campground is often a daunting prospect. Consider this if you plan to use camping as your primary means of accommodation.

Before you plan on camping your way across Europe, think about how much you will enjoy living out of a tent for two months. Camping in Europe is a bit more settled than in other continents, and campgrounds are generally well equipped with amenities, especially in France. Nevertheless, sixty days in a tent is a long time. If you plan this, try and budget for at least a few nights in a bed. Tips follow for the tenting crowd: