It's decided, next summer it will be camping for everyone. After a few evenings of hard bargaining, you have chosen the region but also between the sea, the mountains and the countryside. With all this in mind, you scroll through the campsites that might interest you and see a number of labels appear. What are they? What do they mean? Here is a selection of the main ones. Follow the guide!
When it comes to choosing a campsite, especially if it's your first experience of camping, you may find it a little difficult to choose from the almost 8,500 campsites. There are several things you can do to help you make your choice: internet reviews, of course, but also a handful of labels that guarantee that the campsite meets the quality criteria associated with each charter.
The stars: the basis!
Without being a real label, the number of stars will be one of your first "skimming tools". Although they are primarily a quality criterion, the stars also characterise the level of equipment and infrastructure of an establishment. In other words, the classification takes into account elements such as cleanliness, the size of the pitches (at least 70 m² for a 2-star campsite and at least 80 m² for a 5-star campsite), the presence and characteristics of a swimming pool (covered, heated, etc.), the restaurant or lack thereof, Wi-Fi, the reception, etc. Moreover, some 2 or 3* campsites can be real little corners of paradise, while some 4* campsites are a little less so. It all depends on what you are looking for. Read more: what does the number of stars on a campsite mean?
Clef Verte : a nature bath
If you love unspoilt nature and fresh air during your holidays, this is one of the labels that you should consider. It rewards campsites that have focused all or part of their approach on sustainable development and environmental protection. It meets very strict criteria in terms of environmental policy; environmental awareness; water, waste and energy management; responsible purchasing (organic products, responsible cleaning products, etc). This is often accompanied by activities and events focusing on the subject: discovery outings, beekeeping, etc.
In environmental terms, this is almost the best label available. In most cases, it has been awarded to campsites that already had the green key and wanted to go further. The European Ecolabel is based on compliance with a number of criteria (97 to be precise) concerning 5 main areas: energy, water, waste management, cleaning products and the company's environmental policy. The label is awarded every two years. Consult the list of Ecolabel campsites
Tourisme & Handicap: the reference in terms of accessibility
For a disabled tourist, the blue "Tourism and Disability" sign at the entrance to a campsite is indisputable proof of the concrete commitment and efforts made by the owners of the campsite to welcome the disabled. The logo will reliably inform me about accessibility according to disabilities (hearing, mental, motor and visual) thanks to four pictograms. The sign can display all of these pictograms... or not, depending on the facilities. Consult the list of Tourisme & Handicap campsites
Camping Qualité: safetyimage
Choosing a campsite with the "Camping Qualité" label also means... playing it safe. The "Camping Qualité Charter" and the audit that leads to the label are based on 665 criteria that concern all aspects and all areas of the campsite. This ranges from the quality of the information and booking process, to cleanliness (sanitary and general), pitches, accommodation, services, leisure activities, etc. In other words, everything is rigorously "scrutinised". In order to 'pass the test', the campsite must have met at least 80% of the criteria.
Based on the same principles, "Qualité Tourisme" is a state mark awarded to tourism professionals (campsites, hotels, etc.) as a reward for the quality of their reception and services. The ‘Qualité Tourisme’ label will be replaced by the ‘Destination d'excellence’ label (created in May 2024) at the end of December 2026. This label will take over the essential elements of the ‘Qualité Tourisme’ scheme, and will raise the bar in terms of eco-responsibility and information for the disabled about the accessibility of the services on offer. It will be managed by Atout France.
Home Bicycle: for your holidays on two wheelsimage
Accueil Vélo is a national label awarded in particular to campsites located less than 5km from a cycle route (La Loire à Vélo, Vélodyssée, etc). A campsite with the "Accueil Vélo" label is a guarantee for tourists on a bicycle that it has suitable facilities (secure bicycle shelters, repair kit), that it offers a warm welcome (useful information and advice), and that it has services suitable for cycle tourists (luggage transfer, washing and drying of clothes, bicycle and accessory hire, bicycle washing, etc.).
