Camping is a popular way to spend a holiday if you enjoy the great outdoors and are not too set on luxury. You could camp in a tent, use a motor home, a caravan or rent a chalet. It is advisable to camp in your own country first before you venture overseas. Do as much research as possible on your chosen site before the time and determine what the weather is like that time of the year. Make sure to book your stand well in advance.

Knowing what to pack is very important, especially if you go backpacking. Apart from clothing and personal items, you might need cooking utensils as well. Keep all these items to a minimum and rather purchase anything else you need, like food, once you arrive at your camp site. A first aid kit is essential on any holiday.

Camping in Europe is as varied as the countries themselves. Wherever you go, it is important to familiarise yourself with the rules, laws and cultural traditions of the country. Spain is culturally and geographically very diverse and not only known for its great beaches and nightlife. All kinds of seafood and chorizo smoked sausages are typical food you need to try. The weather is generally warm and dry and ideal for open air camping.

Italy has many historical UNESCO World Heritage Sites and picturesque villages and locals. May to September is usually the best time for camping in this country. Germany is a varied country with beautiful areas such as Bavaria and historical Berlin, once home of the infamous Berlin Wall. Beer drinking in Munich` eating German sausages and travelling along the Romantic Road are popular for tourists here.

France has a stunning countryside, wonderful beaches and excellent skiing and other snow sport. It is famous for its gourmet food and wines and there are many fascinating little villages with interesting locals in the countryside. The low lying countries of Belgium and the Netherlands are also highly suitable for outdoor camping, as are Slovenia, Slovakia and Poland, which are all becoming more popular with tourists.

The USA has a vast number of camping terrains to visit, especially national parks such as Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Big Bend. It is advisable to search per state to see what is on offer before simply entering the country and deciding when you get there.

Africa presents many organised safari camping experiences to exotic places such as the Masai Mara in Kenya, the Etosha National Park in Namibia, the Serengeti and gorilla trekking in Uganda. South Africa has more than 700 good campsites, some in nature reserves, spread all over the nine provinces. Especially popular areas to visit are the Western Cape, the Garden Route along the east coast, KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga. Arriving back from Africa, travellers will be relieved to be able to make use of car hire at UK airports as soon as they have landed.