We all like to save money while traveling in our motorhomes and campervans, whether at campsites or in other ways. And why not – it leaves that little more in your pocket for those extra bottles of wine!
What is an ACSI Camping Card? Camping Card ACSI is a way to save money on camping site fees during the low season at over 3,400 locations across Europe, sometimes as much as 60%.
When deciding which campsite to visit, finding one which gives discounts in low season helps to make your cash go that little further. Let’s look at how the Camping Card ACSI scheme works.
What is an ACSI Camping Card?
The ACSI camping card is issued by the organisation and there is an annual membership fee.
Card users can stay at over 3,400 campsites across Europe in 22 different countries and it provides a discount on your overnight stays during the early and late low seasons.
Campsites accepting the card do so at one of five fixed rates, which are currently €12, €14, €16, €18, and €20 (as 2021/22 book).
Many users find they have covered the cost of membership after just one or two stays at ACSI sites.
Each site in the scheme is inspected annually, each subjected to a 220 point checklist, managed by over 300 inspectors.
Who Can Use a Camping ACSI Card?
You can use the discount card as a motorhome or campervan owner; a car with a collapsible trailer; a car and caravan, and a car with a tent. Awnings are generally permitted.
What Are the Best Places to use an ACSI Camping Card?
The CampingCard ACSI card is very popular in France, The Netherlands, and Germany to name the top three of the 22 countries in the scheme. The smallest country to accept an ACSI card, is San Marino, with a single site.
The 12 Most Popular Countries to Use an ACSI Camping Card:
France (1,575)
The Netherlands (440)
Germany (350)
Italy (330)
Spain (285)
Austria (95)
Croatia (80)
Denmark (65)
Belgium (60)
United Kingdom (40)
Portugal (30)
Luxembourg (25)
Source: CampingCard ASCI website
How To Find ACSI Campsites
When you join the scheme, you will receive printed books which list details of each campsite.
Each entry shows two pictures and a map showing the location. A short description of the site is included, plus local road directions.
For each site, details of facilities available are listed, along with a telephone number, email, website, and sat-nav GPS coordinates.
Not all sites are open year-round and the book-entry shows opening and closing dates, plus the dates when the ACSI card is accepted. Finally, each entry shows the Euro rate you will pay during the low seasons.
In addition to the printed books, there is an app that works for both Android and iOS, along with a website.
The CampingCard ACSI website has a search engine, where you can check full details of each site, without needing to be a member. Clearly, you won’t be entitled to the fixed price discounts unless you have a valid card.
You can book using the website, the apps, or by calling on the telephone. The advantage of online booking is that you will be able to see the full details ahead of time, so there is no misunderstanding, perhaps due to language difficulties.
The website and app will often have user reviews for individual sites, which gives you some idea of what previous visitors think.
When Can an ACSI Card Be Used?
The cards are designed to be used for up to ten months of the year.
July and August, the traditional high season for holidays and travel, are excluded, so expect to pay top prices in the summer.
Each site varies slightly on what they consider the high season, so it is quite possible to receive the lower rates for some days in both July and August. The printed books, the website, and the apps will have individual dates for each site in the scheme.
How to Use an ACSI Card
Cards are valid for a calendar year.
You can often book a site ahead of arrival, or just turn up and check in if there is space. Some sites don’t accept advance bookings.
It is very important when you book ahead, to say you are in the ACSI scheme, otherwise, you may be changed full-price on arrival.
When you arrive at a campsite, show your card at the site reception. The card is valid for two adults, so there may be extra costs for other adults, children, or pets. That said, over 650 sites accept up to three children up to five years of age and one dog at no extra cost.
You will pay a set discounted rate for each day of your stay. There are five set prices, so you will always know the minimum and maximum cost ahead of arrival. The fixed cost for each site is shown in the book, in the app, and on the website.
Where available, the fee will include an electric hook-up and hot showers. Local taxes and any administration charges for advance reservations are not included in the discounted fee.
Do All Campsites Showing the ACSI Logo Offer Discount?
Around 3,400 campsites across Europe do give discounts outside the high season, although you will find ACSI signs at many other sites where there is no discount at all.
These are sites that have been inspected by ACSI and are on their approved list, and there are over 6,000 of them. Although there are no discounts at these sites, the fact that they are inspected annually should give you the reassurance of minimum quality.
I have personally found sites which don’t offer a discount and I asked the warden for the reason. One replied saying that they are full pretty much year-round, so have no incentive to give discounts. They simply pay for an annual inspection and to display the ACSI logo.
What is the ACSI Club ID Card?
This is a separate card from the ACSI discount card.
The Club ID Card is designed to act as an identity card at campsites. This is accepted at all 9,000 inspected sites in Europe. Many sites will want to take and hold your passport until you leave and pay. The ACSI Club ID card gives the site the assurance you are who you say you are.
You can apply online and will need to upload copies of your identity (eg. Passport) for a card to be issued.
There is a separate annual cost for the ID card and there are details here.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Are There Other Discount Systems, Like ACSI? Organisations such as the Caravan & Motorhome Club offer discounted rates for members, but these are generally at their own sites and are limited to the United Kingdom.
Is the ACSI Card Similar to Brit Stops? No, these are quite different. See our article on Brit Stops.