Open-air holidays are not all the same, and this is well known to the tourists who book campsites and resorts every year. Nowadays a common sight all over Europe, and particularly concentrated along coasts and in the Mediterranean area, open-air establishments offer several types of accommodation, to meet the needs both of those seeking to combine economy and close contact with nature, and for families and tourists looking for a similar level of comfort to a hotel. While the spirit and enjoyment typical of outdoor living are the common thread in all the variants, we can initially distinguish between campsite, resort and camping village: the campsite usually offers pitches for tents, camper vans and caravans; resorts offer accommodation in bungalows, mobile homes and chalets; camping villages offer both open-air pitches and roofed accommodation. Among other types of set-up, worth a mention are Glamping and camper van sites: the former catering for the recent phenomenon of luxury camping and the latter, far more spartan, designed for motorhomes.
Bungalows: this is the most-commonly requested type of accommodation for families and tourists who don't want to sacrifice comfort; they often have their own bathroom, a small kitchen and air conditioning. Their size and furnishings may differ depending on the category of the resort and the availability of models within the same structure; they usually sleep between 2 and 6 people. In terms of appearance and characteristics, bungalows can be made of plastic-type materials, but the most popular are undoubtedly those made of stone or wood, the latter being more widespread in mountain areas, where they are called chalets.
Mobile Homes: sometimes considered less comfortable than bungalows, mobile homes have evolved over the years to the point where they offer amenities not dissimilar to those described above. However, the essential difference between a mobile home and a bungalow lies in the name: a mobile home can be moved with relative ease, in other words it is not permanently fixed and therefore relies on lightweight materials (usually plastics) and does not have a plumbed-in bathroom. Nevertheless, over time mobile homes have changed in both appearance and facilities, and today they may differ from bungalows only in the details.
Pitches: these are the true essence of the campsite, the accommodation that originally gave rise to the outdoor holiday movement. Perfect for lovers of freedom and nature, pitches can be for tents only, or for motorised options such as caravans and camper vans. The surface is therefore extremely variable in size and terrain: from gravel to grass, right through to artificial lawn and other more outlandish options. In terms of other services, meanwhile, a pitch may be "pitch only" or with water and/or electricity hook-up.
