Germany

Just back from france after 7 weeks. Now planning for next year. Sort of decided on Germany, and would appreciate any advice on wild camping. I know that the Stellplatz are similar too the Aires of France, but unsure about the tokens or coins to operate the service points. I do have the Stellplatz guide book ( written in  German !)which is fine for locations etc, but nothing matches the experience of fellow motorhomes/van owners. So any info would be appreciated.

Tengah74

Hi , my travels in Germany are mixed as regards stops. You need to read that book, looking at sites near to your route.
i do this in advance.If necessary alter your route slightly.Maybe have 2 or 3 alternatives.
1)  Only had to use euros.
2)   Some are small sites,and fill up early.
3) Quality varies a lot.
4)  We stayed by the river at Karlstad,only marked for about  8 vans in the car park.Free of course .
However other owners just parked in the car bays.Speaking to a German he said it was OK.
Hope this helps.
Any particular question than pm me.
regards
mike

Thanks Mike.

Hi, you could have been on 74sqn in the far east?

regards

mike

You guessed ! With the from Coltishall, Leuchars and Tengah. Great times. Ended up at Binbrook for my final 8 years. 15 years on the beast.

Tengah74 wrote:Just back from france after 7 weeks. Now planning for next year. Sort of decided on Germany, and would appreciate any advice on wild camping. I know that the Stellplatz are similar too the Aires of France, but unsure about the tokens or coins to operate the service points. I do have the Stellplatz guide book ( written in  German !)which is fine for locations etc, but nothing matches the experience of fellow motorhomes/van owners. So any info would be appreciated.

Tengah74

You'll only need euro coins in Germany, they don't use tokens on the stellplaetzen.  You'll need mixed bag of 2€ 1€ and 0.50€ and 0.20€ coins.   The word to look for in the guide book is "Kostenloss" which means free.  Usually a man or women will come around each to collect the money, but there are some stellplaetzen that use ticket machines.

Germany is a BRILLIANT country for touring, we go each year.  I would not advise wild camping, fines are heavy if caught, and besides there is no real need to.

Thanks zozzer.

I was surprised to read the bit above about fines for wildcamping in Germany.  I didn't know that.  We were in Germany last year for the Dusseldorf show and then later to do the Rhein.  We wildcamped a couple of times.  On one occasion we arrived at a small Stellplatz which was full.  A couple of german ladies laughed at the small size of our Sussex Duo and said we didn't really need the stellplatz we could fit in any of the town carparks.  They said no-one would bother us.  They were right.

We toured last autumn and found some great cheap and free stellplatzen, usually a reserved area in town car parks and often with river views. You have to use euros for water and electric, but we tended to fill up a proper campsites every 3 or 4 days.

Lot's of help and advice from local campers who usually enjoy speaking English.


[size=12.800000190734863]Our 2011 Camperstop guide says wild camping is permitted but we didn't try it.[/size]

Next visit I'll try to find a TUV testing station (like our MOT) so that I can get a green disc for the environmental areas. rather than risk a small fine.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your holiday

Fred
PS
My wife calls me a pendant but are we in the wrong section of the forum? Also there seems to be some gremlins in my preview pane but I'll post it anyway.

Got some very nice brochures from here, http://www.freegermanyguide.com/ all free but a limit on the number you car order, "Campsites and Motorhome Sites in Germany" is quite comprehensive.

We didn't get an Umweltzone sticker as we weren't planning to go into any of the zones.  If I was going again though then I would get the sticker.  We had to bypass one Lidl as we just noticed the sign on the entrance road in time.

Here two maps of all the TÜV stations which are operated by two companies, TÜV SÜD and TÜV NORD

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It's all very straight forward getting an Umwelt Plakette from any of the stations.

Fallen_camper wrote:We didn't get an Umweltzone sticker as we weren't planning to go into any of the zones.  If I was going again though then I would get the sticker.  We had to bypass one Lidl as we just noticed the sign on the entrance road in time.

Yes we were going from Colmar to Lake Constance and I intended to travel through Freiburg via the 'corridor' but suddenly realised I was in the 'Zone'. I did have my sticker so no worries. Its certainly worth the small cost for the peace of mind.

Peter

We've toured Germany extensively over the years and, for us, it's one of our favourite motorcaravanning destinations. The SP system is just great and, generally, we can mostly find somewhere suitable with relative ease.

My key tip is to go to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and download the database of stellplatzen for your Garmin or Tom Tom. This works an absolute treat: just determine where the nearest one is and away you go.

There are other German motorcaravan groups such as [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] who we've stumbled upon and spent the night with, then retained contact afterwards. The friendship we've received has been exceptional at times: this codswallop about all Germans being arrogant is just BS.

If anyone wants to discuss specific destinations in Germany then please PM.

Bartfarst

oldfred wrote:…………...

PS
My wife calls me a pendant but are we in the wrong section of the forum? Also there seems to be some gremlins in my preview pane but I'll post it anyway.

Fred,

One for the good guys then!!

Point out to your good lady that, like me, you are not a "pendant" as per:

1.
a hanging ornament, as an earring or the main piece suspended from a necklace.
2.
an ornament suspended from a roof, vault, or ceiling.
3.
a hanging electrical lighting fixture; chandelier.

you are a "pedant" as per:

noun
1.
a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
2.
a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
3.
a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.


Best regards and always in the search of marital harmony,
  
Ian

PS  Or maybe she knows something that we don't?    

oldfred wrote:. . . . . . . . . . . .

Next visit I'll try to find a TUV testing station (like our MOT) so that I can get a green disc for the environmental areas. rather than risk a small fine.
. . . . . . . . . . . .

You could always buy the disc online.  I did just that last year, from the Tourist Information site for Berlin I think, and it was €6 delivered.  I just scanned and emailed my V5 for the 'van and received the sticker a week later.  I'm sure my 2001 Autosleeper Clubman should be a red sticker, but they sent a green one!

 

Thanks for the marital and practical advice.

I suppose  I must be a pendant not a pedant after all

Regards

Fred