What to know about Campings.com, the European leader in outdoor accommodation booking
Origins and founding
Campings.com was founded in August 2008 in France. The company was created to meet the growing demand for online booking of outdoor accommodations, providing a platform dedicated to campers and vacationers.
A French company expanding across Europe through mergers
Over the years, Campings.com has expanded its catalog to include nearly 4,500 campgrounds and holiday parks across ten European countries.
In 2017, the Camping n°1 group acquired the Spanish site Campings.com, strengthening its position in the European market.
In January 2023, the company raised 27 million euros (about $29 million) to finance the acquisition of Bungalow Booker, a Dutch company specializing in booking stays at holiday parks.
All types of sun-drenched campgrounds
Today, Campings.com offers a vast range of outdoor accommodations, from unrated campgrounds to 5-star complexes, including independent properties and brand networks such as Camping Paradis, Tohapi, Siblu, or Maeva.
To simplify searching, campgrounds are categorized by several themes that meet the varied expectations of vacationers. Popular categories include beachfront campgrounds, those with water parks, unique accommodations, and establishments that are pet-friendly.
As previously mentioned, the platform covers about ten European countries, but focuses primarily on France and countries in Southern Europe, including Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Portugal.
At first, Campings.com wouldn't even refund us and even responded with hostility. Only after we filed a complaint with the relevant authorities in Belgium and the United Kingdom (where campings.com is officially registered) did we get our money back.
European and Belgian consumer regulations require that the total price and mandatory additional costs be clearly communicated in advance. If costs cannot be calculated in advance, the consumer must also be clearly informed about this beforehand. Campings.com does not apply these regulations, nor does it follow its own terms and conditions.
For us: never again Campings.com, from now on I am going back to booking via Booking.com, where I have booked things more than 100 times and have never run into unpleasant surprises.