Never before have so many people stayed at Swiss campsites: The Federal Statistical Office recorded over four million overnight stays in 2020 – the number has almost doubled in five years! Despite the moderate weather, the campsite operators are likely to record record sales again in 2021: The uncertain situation abroad due to Corona is one of the factors.
But where more people spend their holidays next to each other in a rather confined space, the potential for conflict increases. Especially because there are a lot of newcomers who have never or never been to campsites. Blick lists nine typical mistakes on the campsite that not only beginners should avoid:
1. Not greeting fellow campers
Especially those who are new to a square are often watched with eagle eyes, especially by regular guests. The ultimate means of reducing skepticism and spreading a good mood is a friendly Grüezi or hello. Incidentally, that belongs to the good neighborly nursery anyway.
2. Slam the sliding doors
It is a noise that can drive the neighbors to white heat during the extended lunch break: Ritsch-Ratsch-Peng! The boom of the VW Bulli campervan and its fellows means that sliding doors are now as much a part of the typical sound of every campsite as the buzzing of tent zips. Therefore our tip: feeling instead of just pure power when closing the door or zipper – because then it works with the neighbors too!
3. Family washing up
If you don’t have a luxury class motorhome or rely entirely on non-ecological disposable dishes, you won’t get around washing the dishes on your camping holiday either. It might be a change for the kids to help mum and dad with washing up. But apart from the corona-limited number of people in the washroom, the space at the washbasins is also so tight. Therefore, no more than two people wash the dishes and please always clean the basin afterwards.
4. Block the sanitary facilities
When everyone is crowding into the sanitary facility in the mornings and evenings in the high season and queues are already forming, extensive showering is not well received. The same applies to overly extensive toilet visits at rush hour. Those who take it easy in the bathroom and toilet prefer to avoid off-peak times.
5. Speed across the square
Gravel paths on campsites invite you to take a brisk drift around the next bend. But let it stay that way! On the one hand, there is a speed limit of 10 km / h on local courses – also for bicycles. You never know if a gang of playing children will jump out from somewhere – and the dust that is thrown up annoys everyone. By the way: pedestrians always have right of way on campsites.
6. Make space the party zone
Of course, a beer and music for camping fans are also part of the end of the day. But the cozy get-together should not degenerate into a rave party with growls. Moderate your voice and music, especially at lunchtime and at night, so that you don’t have to go to the groundskeeper in the morning.
7. Smoking instead of barbecuing
Barbecue is part of the campsite like paella is part of a holiday in Spain. Make sure, however, not to produce an unnecessarily large amount of smoke (e.g. from unsuitable lighters or extremely greasy grilled food) and thus envelop the entire space in smoke. In the case of disposable barbecues, the following also applies: Also think of a mat so that the heat doesn’t burn ugly marks into the grass.
8. Make space for the nudist zone
When the temperatures allow it, quite a few guests put on bathing trunks and slippers as a cloakroom. It shouldn’t be less, nudes are not welcome (unless they are in designated nudist areas). A T-shirt should be worn when visiting the kiosk, bar or restaurant.
9. Walk over other people’s parcels
Mortal sin number one on every campsite and a guarantee that you will mess it up with the camping community: Anyone who regards the neighbour’s parcel as an official sidewalk or shortcut to the washroom will come out as a complete beginner. The parcel is considered a living room and is like rented property, so to speak, violations are almost seen as a breach of the peace.