Tent on hard standing - what do you think?

[Stuffedhippo]

We're planning a trip to Germany with our tent in the Summer, but hit some problems - it seems there are very few sites in that area that cater for tents AND will let you reserve in advance (which we'll definitely want due to kids and long car journey etc). Most sites with tent fields expect you to just turn up on the day it seems.

I have found a few sites though that will let you book in, but these seem to be mainly ones with hard standing only i.e. they're allowing tents but on pitches mainly geared for vans.

So I would like to know, how bad is camping on hard standing? I know we'd need special pegs, but more worried about discomfort and potential holes in groundsheets /SIMs/airbed really! Thank you!

(PS any recommendations for German sites which let tents book in also welcome! Esp in Bavaria area).

[Happycow]

I dont have any help re. sites, but i wouldnt even attwmpt to be in a tent on hardstanding. As well as the comfort factor id worry about the groundsheet etc on hard ground.

[badger21]

We stayed at Camping Via Claudia near Lechbruck/Neuschfanstein - it rained loads but nice campsite. Small pitches, grass, next to lake, amazing toilet/showers, good playground and nice restaurant. Can book in advance.

Also stayed near Berchtesgaden, Bodensee and near Tittisee if you want info about any of those.

[Stuffedhippo]

Thanks happy, this is partly what I was worried about, though I've read some comments that people did camp on gravel etc and were OK. I think maybe it depends on the exact surface, but that isn't always clear on the websites...


badger that's interesting cos I contacted Via Claudia but they said you couldn't book for the tent fields (only for the caravan/mobile home pitches I think). But I was trying to phone them to double check - couldn't get through today but I'll try again. Of course they may have changed their policy recently.

I would be interested if you have any recommendations for Tittisee/Bodensee as well please! Those are all possibilities, I think Berchtesgaden will be a bit far for us though from where we'll be travelling from.

It's all turning out a bit more complicated than I thought it would be! We're used to camping in France which seems to be much more set up for tents... but I'm surprised Germany doesn't seem so keen on them. Maybe because the weather's more variable?

[badger21]

We had a numbered pitch at Via Claudia - request near central toilet block 5 - it’s amazing. We sorted everything by email - and found typical German efficiency.

We stayed at Schloss Kirchberg on Bodensee. Campsite was only ok, but cheap and good location. Couldn’t book on tent field - and sign at entrance said full, but turned out not to be full if you asked nicely about pitching a tent. Don’t arrive too late in the day.
In Black Forest we stayed at Kirchzarten. Campsite big for us, pitches small. Definitely need to book. Great outside pool complex next door included in price, as well as free public transport pass - up to Titisee, or down to Freiburg.

We really loved Germany!

[fedup2017]

Camping brunnen! Can't do link sorry.... Great lake to swim in and we reserved a pitch with grass. You can see neuschanstein from the site

[Stuffedhippo]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone again for the advice! Especially to badger as I've now managed to get a booking at Via C! Not sure why they originally told me we couldn't book with a tent, but it doesn't really matter now as it's all sorted. Looking forward!

[crazymumofthree]

Sorry I know you are sorted but incase anyone else comes into the thread we have camped on hardstanding before and found it to be fine. The campsite hired us a thick sheet to go over the gravel and we also have a tent carpet.

[millimat]

We stayed at camping Kirchzarten but with our caravan. Although the site was huge we really liked it. The pool complex was amazing and the black forest is beautiful.