Our requirements for a campsite in Italy (and our best tips)

This year we'll probably go for something different (we haven't decided yet), but it goes without saying that as Italophiles we love to go on holiday to Italy. And preferably to a campsite, since the kids are at the age where meeting peers is pretty much a basic necessity (after wifi, of course).

Now we regularly get questions about campsites and Italy and what we specifically pay attention to. That is of course very personal, but many families with growing children will recognize that you have to make some concessions to keep it fun for everyone.

• It's a campsite that attracts a lot of Dutch young people, right?
• There must be at least one large swimming pool with slides.
• No campsite had as bad a WiFi as last year.
• I don't want to be crammed in the car for 2 days again!
• It must be warm, because I want to get rid of my pimples!
• It shouldn't be as hot there as it was then, remember?
• I'm not going to visit all those stupid villages and churches again.
• I want to go back to the same campsite as last year.
• Preferably close to the beach/a city/the supermarket/attractions…
• And so on.

However, there are some things that everyone agrees on.

1. We would like to rent accommodation

We are not the type to have a trailer or to carry your own camping gear. In the past we have camped with our own tent, but for such a long trip to Italy with an already full car, we now choose the comfort of accommodation on the campsite. That also saves a lot packing stress.

The accommodation doesn't have to be super deluxe, on the contrary. We regularly rented a tent. Not even a safari tent, but just a cheap bungalow tent (because we do like camping).

Renting a tent is even possible in popular places in the high season in Italy at a low rate. You have almost all the stuff you need in the tent: beds, kitchen utensils, fridge, table and chairs. That saves you a lot of luggage.

If you rent accommodation, you can make do with a sports bag with personal luggage for everyone, especially if you are a somewhat experienced camper.

Of course, a rental tent can be hot in the middle of summer. Therefore, check in advance whether the rental tents are under trees, that will save you a sip on a drink. You could also opt for a mobile home with air conditioning, as many Dutch, Belgians and Germans do. They are often expensive in high season.

2. There must also be compatriots (yes, really)

It is great to brush up on your Italian and it is also fun when you can gossip about your camping neighbours without them being able to understand it, we think (my wife and I). But for the children it is a must that other Dutch people come too, so that they can make friends. Other nationalities will recognise this too.

"You can also make friends who speak another language," we try, but of course they don't fall for that. awkward for many teenagers and we understand that.

Fortunately it is not too difficult to find a campsite where Dutch people come. Try to find one without yellow license plates and big shoppers with Hello Jumbo! on top!

So we check the reviews of the campsite in advance and if there are many Dutch speakers among them, you know enough.

3. Some facilities, but not too massive

In the past we also looked at what there was to do in and around the campsite, but that does not seem to be decisive for the youngsters. If there is just one place where the youth gather, it is quickly good. And in our experience that is the place where the wifi signal is the strongest.

Of course, our preferred campsite has some facilities. A camping shop where you can get fresh bread rolls and possibly some forgotten groceries in the morning is a must. We also like to see a bar or a good pizzeria.

Last but not least, there is a swimming pool (or several), but a water paradise with multiple slides is not necessarily necessary. This is also a great day out in Italy because there are water parks everywhere.

4. Nice location, please!

A bit of a nice location, yes please. We are not so bound in that respect. Nice could be: a campsite in the Dolomites, a campsite on the Northern Italian lakes, in Tuscany by the sea, in Umbria at the Lake Trasimeno or a campsite on the Adriatic coast.

It's great to be near the beach, but it's also really nice (especially in hot summers) to be in the mountains. A lake or river nearby is always a good idea, especially because the Italian summers often so scorchingly hot.

We always look at places and attractions in the area. You don't have to plan your entire vacation, but some things are better arranged in advance. And you don't want to have to spend hours in the car to go to some nice places in the area.

5. We have never been there before

Last year we had to deal with teenagers who insisted on going back to a campsite we had been to before. We didn't think that was a good idea and we didn't do it. But during the holiday they kept nagging about it, so as a compromise we booked 2 more nights at the same campsite at the end of the camping holiday.

And yes, that is of course disappointing. A nice holiday on a pleasant campsite should be cherished, but we do not necessarily have to go there every year.

Also Italy is so diverse and there are so many campings that you can spend every year somewhere different and see completely new things. So yes, we always choose a place that we have not visited before.

6. Don't drive too far, please

We have driven considerable distances in one day, even to Tuscany and Le Marche. But you also get a bit older and the children can no longer hold out that long in the back seat. And to be honest: a somewhat quieter ride is more pleasant.

That's why we're doing the trip to the Italian campsite in 2 days now. The first stretch to a simple yet nice hotel in southern Germany, Austria or Switzerland (if you need inspiration, look here). The 2nd day from that hotel to the final destination, where we would like to arrive at the end of the afternoon at the latest.

This gives you a range of around 1.400 to 1.500 km, if you leave early on day 1. With this range, you can be at Lake Trasimeno, for example. We won't look any further, because 3 days of driving will already take almost a week off your holiday there (yes, the journey is also a holiday, but still).

Some more loose tips

That was about it, our requirements for an Italian campsite. We are not really into booking early, because we prefer not to commit ourselves. But in recent years you have noticed that popular campsites are fully booked.

If you can't move your vacation days too much, it is therefore useful to book that campsite. Of course, there are always last-minute alternatives, but then you have to be flexible and perhaps let go of some of your requirements.

Especially if you want to visit several campsites in high season that have dates that connect to each other and you need accommodation, then booking early is a must.

An alternative with school-age children is the Dutch May holiday. At some schools, this is 2 weeks long. In Italy, you are in the low season (don't expect the swimming pool and restaurant to be open yet) and you can camp for a fraction of the cost. In the north, it can still be quite cold, especially at night, and the weather is changeable during this period.

A disadvantage: you will mainly share the campsite with pensioners from Germany or Switzerland, for example. On more popular campsites you will also find families from the Netherlands.

If you want to keep your camping holiday affordable, you will also cook for yourself regularly. The supermarkets in Italy are well equipped, but if you want to keep it easy for yourself, you will look for a campsite that is not too far from a large supermarket.

Do you have any special requirements that you have for the Italian campsite? Let us know below.