2015 Croatia Tour Campsite Reviews

1. Camping Municipal de Troyes, Troyes, France

1st April, 2015

Site easy to find from A26 motorway, site well signposted.  We arrived a couple of days after the site had opened to find it unkempt and a bit of a mess.  Clearly no maintenance work had been done over the winter and when the manager was not in the reception office he was out on site with a rake clearing twigs and weeds.  The small toilet block was open but was very dated and not particularly clean. 

The pitches were of a good size with a few hardstanding. 

All this is a pity as Troyes is a very pretty medieval city. 

Ok for a night halt.

2 Camping Columbier, Neydens, France

2nd April 2015 - 2 nights

ACSI Site

Access is easy from the motorway.

The site is in a small village very near the Swiss border. In fact when you drive into Geneva Neydens feels like a suburb.

Visitors can use the sites indoor heated pool but about half a mile away there is a huge shopping and leisure complex with large swimming pools with slides.

We stayed for two nights at the beginning of April and found a really tidy and well maintained site.  We received a warm welcome from the owner who was very helpful and spoke good English.

The pitches are of a good size separated by hedging and are hardstanding, which was just as well as the grass was very soft underfoot.

There are views of the mountains towards Geneva.

Only one toilet block was open but it was heated and there was plenty of hot water.

The restaurant was open and although we didn’t eat there it had a good menu.

A lovely well managed site which I thoroughly recommend.

3 Camping Conca d’Ora, Verbania, Italy

4th April, 2015, 8 nights

ACSI site

Located on the West Bank of Lake Maggiore. Access is easy from the motorway but the road into the site from the main road is narrow with only one passing place.

Warm reception from staff and we were invited to select our own pitch. However there were only three vacant, which came as a bit of a shock. It was Easter but we have never found sites particularly full at this time of year. However, this area is very accessible from Germany and they had arrived in force. We arrived at 2pm. If we’d have been half an hour later we would not have secured a pitch.

The pitches are on sandy soil so well drained. We could easily get our caravan, car and awning onto the pitch with room to spare. A lot of people left on Easter Monday which resulted in better views of the nearby mountains. If you want a pitch on the first row adjacent to the lake it’ll cost you 28 euros in the low season. We were happy to use our ACSI card and pay 18 euros a night.

The site is very well maintained. The three toilet blocks look as though they have just been repainted and are very clean.

There is a well stocked shop selling goods at reasonable prices. The bar and restaurant are very popular so book a table. There is a varied menu which includes about 20 different varieties of pizza. Two pizza’s a small beer and a jug of house wine cost us 32 euro.

It is a short drive into Baveno where you can catch the ferry to the three islands or the ferry which sails the whole length of the lake.

Very nice site, well located, helpful staff happy to recommend.

4 Venezia Camping Village, Mestre, Italy

12 April, 2015 4 nights

ACSI Site

You will need to follow the directions to site very carefully as there are many opportunities to take a wrong turn and end up in Mestre as we did. 

The site is designed primarily for motorhomes, although caravans can easily be accommodated.  Most of the pitches are long and thin which means that you have to put your car in front of the caravan.  They are wide enough to accommodate a table and chairs but not an awning which isn’t a problem as most people seem to use the site for 3 or 4 days whilst visiting Venice. 

The sanitary facilities are exceptional.  More akin to a spa than a camp sanitary block.  They are heated, immaculately tiled and so clean you could eat your lunch off the floor.    There is also a spa and an indoor swimming pool that can be used for a small additional payment.     There is a small restaurant/bar which also does takeaway dishes. 

The bus stop for Venice is a 5min walk away and tickets can be purchased at reception.    The bus takes you right into the main terminal for the vaporetto.

Excellent site, highly recommend if you are visiting Venice for a few days.  

5 Autokamp Slapic. Duga Resa, Croatia

16 April, 2015. 4 nights

ACSI Site

Location: About 3 miles South of Duga Resa on the banks of a lovely river.  From the motorway be sure to take Exit 3.  Your sat nav may recommend taking Exit 4.  DO NOT follow this as you will end up on the equivalent of cart tracks.   Exit 3 through Karlovach and Duga Resa is straight forward and the site is well signposted. 

The site is quite large but when we were there at the beginning of April 2015 only a few pitches near the bar were open.  These were perfectly fine, on grass and with a 16 amp power supply.   Water taps seemed to be quite sparse within the main camping areas so you may have a walk on your hands.  Even in early April the bar was open serving food and drinks.  Whilst we were there it got quite busy at the weekend when locals use it as a meeting point.   This wasn’t a problem but you might like to know.  Reception have varies tourist information leaflets including a small booklet with local hiking trails.  The staff are all very friendly and speak excellent English.  

The facilities have been recently refitted and cleaned to a very high standard.   Regular trains stop in the village and will take you directly to Zagreb or you can take the car which is about a 1 hour drive.  Very nice, well managed and maintained site in a beautiful riverside location.

There is a small village shop a 5 min walk away selling daily essentials including bread.  

6 Camping Korana. Rakovica, Croatia

20 April, 2015. 3 nights

Location: Site well signposted from the D1.  

We had decided to stay at Camping Borje which is at the other side of the National Park but changed our minds after seeing both locations and deciding that the area around Camping Korana was much prettier in Spring, plus there are 2 or 3 restaurant and a small supermarket nearby. 

The site is very large and very hilly.  Whilst we were there every campervan and caravan was parked on the concrete areas of which there were several.  I would have found it difficult if not impossible to find a grass pitch on to which I could manoeuvre and level the caravan.  There are plenty of electrical supply bollards supplying 16 amps but fresh water taps are few and far between.   On the whole the site staff were friendly and spoke good English.  There are 3 toilet blocks but only one was open in early April and you could have a long walk to any of them from some pitches.  We found the toilet block to be modern, well fitted out and clean with plenty of hot water.  Washing machines were available.  There is a restaurant, café, bar and shop on site, although only the shop and restaurant were open when we visited.  There is a bus that leaves at 9.00am each day for the Plitvice Lakes National Park or you can make the 10 min drive yourself.  Parking costs 7Kn an hour.  Park admission is 110 Kn each (£11.00) which includes all bus and boat transport within the park. 

Given the number of tables and chairs around the bar and restaurant we got the impression that this site could be extremely busy during the high season.   We found the site to be well managed, well maintained and very clean and peaceful.   Happy to recommend.  

7 Camping Stobrec, Split, Croatia

23 April, 2015. 4 nights

ACSI and Camping Chq

Location:  This is a medium sized site situated in the village of Stobrec, about 4 miles from the centre of Split.  The pitches are all marked by shrubs and trees and are generally very generous in size.  We could have got our caravan, awning and two cars on to our pitch, in fact some pitches had two motorhomes on.  There are smaller pitches and, of course, a few that accommodate the odd tree (fewer after the storm).  The site faces directly onto the sea with its own stony beach.   It is tidy and well maintained.  At the time we were there it was undergoing some building work.  Apparently it had been hit by a 200 mile an hour wind in early 2015 and they are having to rebuild the beach bar and take down a number of trees.

The sanitary facilities are of a high standard and kept very clean, with plenty of hot water.   You are given a bracelet on arrival which you use to operate the barrier in and out of the site but also to operate the showers.  You hold the bracelet up to a reader and then press the button for the shower cubicle you are in.  You then get 7 minutes of hot water which was plenty.  You could have up to 3 showers a day.   This bracelet also operated the washing machine.  You got it charged up at reception and then used it in the same way as the showers for the machines and driers.

The site has a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining area.  The outdoor being on a terrace overlooking the sea.   The food was good and very reasonably priced.  There are a number of other restaurants and bars in Stobrec just a short stroll away.   The reception staff speak good English and are very helpful.   There are two bus routes into Split running regularly.

Happy to recommend, well managed, well maintained and very clean facilities.

8 Camping Kate, Mlini, Dubrovnik, Croatia

27 April, 2015. 6 nights.

Location: About 5 miles South of Dubrovnik.  Easy access along the E65 from Northern Croatia.  Site well signposted in Mlini – it is on the right hand side if you are driving South and left hand vice versa.

We selected this site after reading other reviews but when we pulled in we were a little disappointed as it felt more like a rustic CL than a proper site. This could be that the sites we have stayed on thus far have been quite large with extensive facilities.  However, after just a few hours we have acclimatised and enjoy the peaceful nature of the site.  Some of the pitches are on hard standing, others on grass.  All have access to 10 amp electricity and 50% have water and drainage by the pitch.  The toilet block is small accommodating just 4 showers and 4 toilets.  However the facilities are very clean but be warned there is only a small hook outside the shower door on which to hang your clothes and only a curtain dividing the men’s from the women’s.  But they are very clean and there is plenty of hot water.   There is also a washing machine.  The site is located in what looks like a former orange and olive grove.  We are pitched on the lower tier within reaching distance of an orange tree and there even a small chapel to add to the quaintness. 

Following the steps directly from the site down towards the sea you come across a small beach front collection of restaurants and bars.  There is even a small beach and a swimming area.  You can also catch a boat directly to Dubrovnik from here.  There is also a frequent bus service which leaves from a stop 200 m from the site.     There is a little bit of road noise but you don’t really notice after a while.

Happy to recommend to anyone who doesn’t want 5* glamping luxury and is used to using CLs.  

9 Camping Palme, Orebic, Croatia

3 May 2015. 4 nights.

ACSI Site

Before going to this site we had planned to stay at Camping Nevio, but after having looked at the site we decided that the access roads were too steep and narrow for our 7.5m caravan.  It also felt a bit claustrophobic.

Camping Palme is East of Orebic and overlooks the sea.  We were lucky enough to get a pitch along the first row facing the sea.   It is a small site, just 50 pitches and when we were there in early May it was only about 20% full. 

The pitches are of varying sizes.  We managed to get one of the largest on which we could accommodate caravan, awning and car. 

The sanitary facilities are very clean, however the shower cubicles are very small and you have to hang your towel and clothes on a hook outside the cubicle.  This requires some planning on what and what not to take with you.

There is a small bar and restaurant which were not open while we were there.

Wi Fi is available at a cost of 1 Euro a day.  It is fast enough to stream audio.

Not the best site we have visited but the best view.

10 Camping Jure, Makarska, Croatia.

7 May 2015. 1 night

ACSI Site

Site well signposted on D8.

We decided to stay here as we had read good things about the area and it was also possible to get the car ferry to Brac. 

We were somewhat disappointed to find the access roads very steep, the pitches incredibly small and average sanitary facilities.

On the plus side the seafront walk is just 200 yards away and it is an easy 1 mile walk into the centre of Makarska past some impressive restaurants and the usual souvenir shops. 

The sanitary facilities are clean, however the shower cubicles are very small with curtains not doors and it is necessary to hang your towel and clothes on a hook outside the cubicle.

Shortly after our arrival we heard what sounded like teenagers cheering at some nearby sports event.  By 7pm all was quiet.  At 9pm the disco noise started, we expected it would finish about 11 pm.   Instead it went on until 7 am the following morning resulting in a sleepless night.  It turned out that the Hotel Riveria next door was jammed full of students who were clearly out to have a good time.  Fearing a repeat of the noise I spoke to the Site Manager and the Hotel Manager.  Neither could guarantee that we would not have a repeat of the sleepless night so I left.  The guidebook does say that the resort can get a bit lively in the peak summer months but I was not expecting his level of disturbance in mid May.     If you enjoy partying all night this is the place for you but if you do not I would stay clear.  

11 Camp Galeb, Ormis, Croatia

8 May, 2015. 1 night. 

Camping Cheque  and ACSI Site

Location: Site well signposted off the D8 close to the edge of Ormis.  Medium sized site with 350 pitches of varying sizes from 70 m sq to 120 m sq.

We used this as an overnight halt but didn’t want to stay for any longer.

Sanitary facilities are reasonably well fitted out but didn’t seem to be cleaned very often.  There is a bar and restaurant on site.

12 Camping Marina, Sibenik, Croatia

9 May 2015. 3 nights

Camping Cheque an ACSI Site

Site well signposted from the D8 and motorway.  It is located in Lozovac just 2.5 km from the Krka National Park. 

After a warm welcome from the owner we were shown to our pitch and advised where and how to locate the caravan and car.  There are no marked pitches and the site looks a bit haphazard but it works thanks to good management.    This is a very quiet site but seems to have a high turnover with motorhomes and caravans usually staying between 1 and 4 nights.  

Excursions are run from the site to the National Park or you can drive the short distance yourself.  The Park is stunning and well worth a visit. 

The site has a small restaurant and bar serving wholesome Croatian food mostly from the BBQ. 

The sanitary facilities are modern, and extremely clean. 

Happy to recommend.  A great base to tour the National Park and also visit Sibenik.

13 Holiday Village Jereza-Lovisca, Murter Island, Croatia

12 May 2015. 2 nights.

Site well signposted from the one and only road on Murter Island.

Large site but there are no marked pitches.  When we were there in mid May there were very few other campers so plenty of space to pitch a large caravan, awning and car.  The site overlooks the sea but it is very difficult to get a pitch on the front row due to the fact that these are occupied by semi static caravans.  Reception staff are warm and friendly and happy to provide you will local information on request.   There is a decent size supermarket on site and a fairly large restaurant.  If you have any laundry you can leave it with a laundry lady who washes, dries and irons it for you.  It is a short drive to Murter town and a 20 min walk into the main town on the Island, Tisneo. 

There are 3 toilet blocks.  The one we used was modern, well equipped and clean. 

There is not a lot to do in the area but it is a nice site in a good location.   Happy to recommend. 

14 Camping Zaton, Nin, Croatia

14 May, 2015. 7 nights

ACSI site.

This is a huge site with over a 1000 pitches, lots of statics and apartments.  We were there in the second half of May when the site was reasonably quiet.  Once again it is one of the sites that is very popular with the German and Dutch.  We were one of two English caravans. 

The pitches are mainly on the large side big enough for a large caravan, awning and a couple of cars.  Most seems to have their own water and drainage and there is a decent amount of shade provided by trees. 

It is possible to feel overwhelmed on arrival as the site is more like a village than a campsite with about 6 restaurants and coffee bars, supermarket, bakery, souvenir shops and a wine shop but you soon get acclimatise.  There is a large swimming pool and a huge sandy beach.  Seems extremely well suited for children and although it is only May the animation team are here and keen to involve you in their various games.  I am not sure I would like to be here in high season as I suspect it gets extremely lively and noisy in the evening.    If you like that sort of thing you will love it here.  We very much enjoyed the site during its quiet period.  Whilst we were there was a reasonable amount of building work going, seeming to involve installing new mobile homes, a new toilet block and annual maintenance.  I am sure this will all be complete by the end of June. 

Happy to recommend.