When looking for a campground for your next camping vacation, you actually also always look at the number of stars a campground has. But what does this number of stars really say about a campground? What are the criteria and who decides? We’re going to tell you in this blog.
The star system may vary by country within Europe. For the Netherlands, the ANWB is the organization that awards the stars, but they also rate a lot of campsites within Europe. If you want to get five stars in France or in Italy, different conditions apply.
What is true of every campground, however, is that you are assigned a certain number of points for the facilities it has. This point total is added together and produces a certain star rating. However, there are differences from country to country, so the star system is not completely foolproof.
France
A French campsite is reviewed by Atout France. This is the French Tourist Office and they check as many campsites as possible every three years. Did you know that until 2013 there were no five-star campsites in France? Only since that year has the maximum number of stars been raised from 4 to 5. However, a campground is not required to qualify. So it doesn’t always mean something if a campground doesn’t have stars. In France, a campsite is rated on the number of amenities. For five stars, a campground must at least meet the requirements of offering an entertainment program, swimming facilities with loungers and heated toilet blocks. You must be able to book 24/7 and at the front desk they must speak at least 3 different languages. But the total area of the campsite and the size of the camping spot also count, in addition to, of course, the quality & hygiene of the sanitary facilities. By offering additional facilities, such as a wellness center or tennis court, you will also score higher. If you’re looking for a 5-star campsite in France, consider Camping La Baume-La Palmeraie, Camping Domaine de la Yole, Camping La Vallée, Camping La Sirène or Camping Domaine des Ormes.
Italy
The determination of the number of stars in Italy is determined by region. Thus, with 20 regions, different criteria can be attached to a campsite and thus give a different picture in terms of stars. For example, for the Venice region, each guest must have at least 44m2 of floor space in order to qualify for 5 stars. Of course, this is not all that matters; there is a long checklist. Thus, the number of showers per 100 guests is also a criterion. Every five years a campground is reassessed. Our 5-star campsites in Italy include Camping Bella Italia, Camping Union Lido, Camping Village Lido, Camping San Francesco (Caorle) and Camping Marina di Venezia.
Spain
In Spain, they work with categories and not stars. For example, category 1 is the highest category that can be achieved and then it is a more luxurious campsite. This is unlike most campsites, where the more stars the better. Again, quality is determined at the regional level. The 5-star campsites in Spain are Camping Playa Montroig, Camping Vilanova Park and Camping Sanguli.
Croatia
In Croatia, the Ministry of Tourism is the one who hands out the stars. And this is not done lightly; there are no less than 80 pages of criteria. It’s not just about the number of facilities, but also their condition. So it does say something about quality, unlike, say, Italy. What is striking is that there is not a single 1-star campsite in Croatia. But fortunately, there are 5-star campsites in Croatia, such as Camping Marina Krk.
Netherlands
Campsites in the Netherlands are generally tested by the ANWB. If the campsite has been rated by the ANWB, you can earn the most points when it comes to hygiene and sanitation. This makes sense, as clean sanitary is seen by most people as the most important element at a campground. In addition, there are many points to be earned for the camping site itself: if there are nice spacious sites, if it is well maintained, if it is nicely landscaped and if it has a beautiful view, then you will score better. Then we look at the recreation and entertainment available, the swimming pool and the food and beverage offerings. If you have obtained five stars from the ANWB, you will receive the designation ANWB Top Camping. They additionally distinguished between small campsites and medium or large campsites. A small campground is rated with green stars and this looks primarily at quietness, privacy and size of pitches. A medium or large campground are given yellow stars, and that is precisely where the number of facilities and their quality are considered. The 5-star campsites in the Netherlands include Camping De Schatberg, Camping Holiday Park Eiland van Maurik and Papillon Country Resort.
However, the ANWB also checks a lot of European campsites and they use the same point system for that. The ANWB predicate is also very important there and is almost always prominently displayed on the website as well.
So the number of stars does not always say everything about the quality of the campsite, but more about the number of facilities and the quality of these facilities. And as you’ve read, how many stars you get varies by country as well.
