After months of lockdown, we’re all itching for space: expansive, wide-open space that stretches to the horizon. The kind of space that reels you in and makes you run, cartwheel or flop down with pure joy. It’s, therefore, no surprise that camping is gaining popularity this summer; it’s one of the quickest and most affordable ways to snatch an adventure for a night or so, enjoy the great outdoors, and breathe in the around-the-clock fresh air.
No other type of holiday better allows you to bond with loved ones, get a sense of adventure, and live out long, summer days in a coronavirus low risk environment. For more information on coronavirus travel updates for campers check out our Q&A here .
Here are five reasons why camping is a ticket to freedom this summer:
Low risk coronavirus environment
According to a scientist, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, at a recent Coronavirus travel advice press conference, “it is a biological truism that outdoor environments are much less of a risk than indoor environments” when it comes to spreading coronavirus. Thanks to the constant fresh air and the ample space, camping and caravanning lend itself to social-distancing, offering a low risk environment during Covid-19. Campers should also feel confident of camping during coronavirus given that campsites are taking all the necessary hygiene and safety precautions (see below). This makes it the perfect choice to holiday with missed loved ones, friends and family post-lockdown.
Affordable and flexible
We’d love to be able to guarantee travel plans this year, but realistically none of us know what the next stage of the pandemic holds. While it’s important that we get on and book holidays — for the sake of local economies and businesses, as much as our mental health — many of us don’t want to take onboard unnecessary financial risks this year. Whether you wish to escape for a weekend camping break close to home, or pack up and head off on a summer-long road trip, camping is not only cheap (an average break costs as little as 45 Euros for five nights) but it is also flexible; it’s often possible to book a few nights before. Better still, at CampInn we don’t charge a booking fee, and there are no hidden costs. CampInn also don’t charge a cancellation fee unless the campsite does. For peace of mind, you can find details of the booking and cancellation policy on each campsite’s profile.
Adventures close to home and the perfect staycation
One of the most appealing things about camping is that you don’t have to travel far to feel miles away. Sometimes it’s just the simple, childlike pleasure of setting up camp that takes us away from routine, stresses and strains. Campsites like Camp Triglav, in the heart of the Slovenian Triglav National Park, offer an unrivalled back-to-nature experience. Out in the elements, chatting around a campfire, star-gazing, bird-watching, pond-dipping, wild swimming or pure day-dreaming, camping is one of the quickest routes to a sense of wonder and discovery. Glamping sites across Europe also help to transport us to more exotic climes, thanks to their creative use of safari tents, tree houses, yurts and igloo pods. At Camping Maremma Sans Souci in Tuscany, Italy, safari tents are surrounded by a coastal pine forest, and at Caravan Park Sexten in the South Tyrol luxury pitches come with private lawns and bathrooms with heated bathtubs. In the US, some avid campers have even started ‘day camping’ post-lockdown to get a 12-hour camping fix, and, if you really don’t want to go far, there’s always the garden.
Improved hygiene and safety
Most campsites across Europe will only be allowed to open once they have met new COVID-19 hygiene and safety measures. At CampInn, we take the safety of guests very seriously, and so we’ve provided each of our campsites with a guide to reopening after coronavirus. Hygiene is a top priority; campsites across Europe are installing regular hand-washing and hand-sanitiser stations, and ventilating enclosed spaces. Enhanced cleaning schedules may mean that shower, and toilet blocks are closed at various intervals throughout the day. On the back of ‘COVID-19 Secure’ guidelines published by the UK government, lots of campsites in England, Scotland and Wales are introducing measures such as contactless check-in (CampInn allows you to pay online), time slots for showers, and reducing the number of pitches per site to allow for social distancing.
Kinder to the environment
While the world has been on pause, we’ve taken time to appreciate the natural world around us, and feel a renewed commitment to being kinder to the planet. It’s not always perfect, but there’s no question that camping has a low environmental impact when compared to hotels, resorts and apartments. There are less energy and water demands (consider all those baths and fridges in hotels alone), and campsite owners are often avid protectors of the pristine natural environments that keep their guests returning. On CampInn we’ve included the ECOCAMPING label on sustainable and eco-friendly campsites that promote conservation and environmental protection, like this site with a natural indoor pool in Bavaria, Germany. As campers we can do our bit too, by reducing plastic packaging, recycling and always taking rubbish home.
So, to get that dose of space, get back-to-nature, and reunite with friends and family this summer, camping is a top low-risk option. For more inspiration about where to go, from road tripping around Europe, glamping close to home, or booking a staycation under canvas, take a look at CampInn’s selection of campsites.