Europe on $5 a Day - 1971
 

Hello, Can anyone tell me if the 1970/71 edition of Europe on $5 a Day lists information about camping sites in France? I'm researching a story and would love to know how extensive the information is for various camping destinations. Seems as if there was a camping craze in Europe in the summer of 1971.

I don't quite follow your train of thought on looking at Frommer's to see how extensive info was on camping. Most of it at that time in France would have been done by British citizens, probably, and French or other Europeans, although there is a very interesting history of socialism/communism and vacation organizations in France, which developed after WWII. ALso, their history of the camping "village" which is a little different from caravan camping, but that was definitely going on then in France. A lot of British went to northern France like Brittany for that. Also, there were French tourism organizations at that time, and camping organizations. the FFCC was founded in 1938, after all. Club Med and FVVs began after 1950. I don't know what you are referring to as camping, though, those camping villages (which still exist) are different from someone driving around pitching tents. I don't know about any particular craze just that one summer in France.

But my thought about how i well known it is -- to whom? Frommer's wouldn't the main source of that info for many people. It sounds like you really mean Americans, as French people wouldn't be reading Frommers and they were camping from about WWII onward. Also, British and other Europeans can camp a lot easier as they can drive to France (or take their caravan) than Americans, who aren't going to do that. Camping for anyone who is traveling by plane across the ocean isn't really that easy, more so back then.

I don't know who may be funding your research, if anyone, but if you really want to know (and I might question any assumptions made based on that book), you might contact either Frommers themself (who should have some library of their books, but sometimes you can be surprised at what organizations toss), or there is a copy in various libraries. I'm sure a good librarian would know how to find that out for you (not your specific question, but how to find the book). Several libraries in the US apparently have a copy, like Florida State U, which is surprising.

Personally, as a long time user of Frommers' guides, I doubt if campground info would have been in that book as that wasn't what the book was really targeted at, it was more for city info. If anything, I would expect books like Guide du Routard (which began in late 60s) or Rough Guide (which I don't think was around then ) to have ore of an influence on camping knowledge than Frommers, but Guide du Routard is French.

Hi Christina,
Thank you for your thoughtful response. The people I'm writing about are Americans, and they drove through Europe in 1971, stopping at various campsites. They recalled using Europe on $5 Dollars a Day - but it was a long time ago and their memories may be faulty. I wish I could access the book at a library, but the one closest to me is closed. Just thought someone might have a copy - and the answer. I appreciate your thoughts.
best,
Deborah

I have my parents' copy of Europe on 5 Dollars a Day, 1965–66 Edition.

It is true that much may have change by the 1971 Edition.

However, the 1965–66 Edition does not list countries. It just lists 17 major tourist cities as chapters. The only city in France covered is Paris. It does not list any campgrounds--even under the Starvation Budget Hotels.

A chapter titled "A Tale of Many Cities: Low-Cost Living in One Hundred Towns" has one or two paragraphs about many cities throughout Europe. None of the 21 French cities listed mentioned campgrounds.

There is a listing on Amazon for a reproduction copy at only $189.21.

$5 a day was the budget for an inexpensive double occupancy room with the bath down the hall, breakfast included. Cheap dinner and lunch. As mentioned, only major cities were included.

I used Europe on $5 a day for my first independent trip in 1971. I remember that my hotel just north of Place de Clichy cost 17 francs a night (2.59€). Those were the days.

We took Europe on $5 a day along with us but I don't believe it listed campsites. We started out our trip using a booklet of campsites from a US-based camping organization whose name I can't now remember. Pretty soon we realized that campsites were all over and all we had to do was drive into a town and look for the Camping sign. We met lots of Americans and Canadians camping in Europe and North Africa. I remember coming across an orange VW bus with a big Jimi Hendrix silhouette on the front in France, Spain, and again in Morocco.

You could try Lonely Planet - either contact them online or try and find an early copy of their Europe guidebook. Tony and Maureen Wheeler started the company in 1973 with one book, on Asia, and it grew enormously (has since been sold). I don't know when their first Europe on a Shoestring book was published but am pretty sure they mention campgrounds. The books were initially aimed at the penniless backpacker.

Inflation...who dreamed that up?

Nowadays, some folks spend 100X that much.
Europe, on $500/day

$300/night for a fancy hotel
$50 for lunch for two
$150 for dinner (with wine) for two

Thank you, that's very helpful!

camping in France in the 70s

google this and the photos will be fun and amazing. There was a craze in the early to late 70s. We saw campsites everywhere. Many places were just open fields, crammed with little tents. Others had ponds or small lakes. Of course, there were scenic places too. It was practically a way of life for some travelers, not for me though. There were many camping organizations back then. Booklets or listings would be at the little local tourist information booths in every town.

You're right! great pictures and videos. Thank you!