Hello dear four-wheel travellers, are you planning your van holiday but don’t know where to park your vehicle? You are in the right place, because in this article we will explain the differences between: Parking Area, Camper Service, Equipped Area, Camping and Agricamping.

REST AREA
The Rest Area or Rest Point is essentially a car park dedicated to campers. It can be located within a “mixed” car park with an area reserved for campers or along the road, in a meadow or on a square, wherever the parking of vehicles is permitted. This area can be free and without services or paid with services provided.
It is an ideal choice for those who prefer to travel “on the road” and are looking for a place to park their vehicle without the need to plan stops in advance or make reservations at campsites or other facilities.
Although it can be used to rest overnight, it is important to note that camping is prohibited. Therefore, it is not permitted to open the veranda, place tables and chairs, leave the step open, open the folding roof or place parking feet.
Rest areas usually don’t offer many services. The column for connecting to the electricity or the points for draining and loading water are rarely found, so it is necessary to look for a camper service or an equipped area. There are no receptions in the rest areas, so reservations cannot be made in advance and there are no fixed rules for arrival and departure times. If there is a fee, you usually pay by the day via the parking meter.

CAMPER SERVICE
The Camper Service is an assistance point that offers access to clean water and the possibility of emptying the drains, but is not intended for prolonged parking.
The term “Camper Service” refers exclusively to the place equipped with services for the supply of clean water, such as a water column or a fountain, and a well for emptying gray and black water into the sewer system. If the site also offers other services, it is configured as an equipped rest area.
Frequently managed by municipal administrations, they are located in car parks, at motorway service points and near sports facilities. In some cases, they can be made available by private individuals such as petrol stations or shopping centres.

EQUIPPED AREA
An equipped area is a place dedicated to the parking of recreational vehicles, where campers can stop for a maximum of 48-72 hours (the duration may vary depending on regional regulations) and take advantage of the services dedicated to campers.
These areas are generally located near important tourist places, such as urban centres, beaches, lakes or mountain resorts. They can be built in car parks, on asphalted squares, but also on gravelly terrain or lawns.
Usually, the equipped areas offer all the services necessary for traveling tourism: access to water, toilets, drain wells for gray water, electric columns for 220 V electricity and wi-fi internet connection.
It is allowed to park your camper in these areas and rest during the night but you cannot camp, it is therefore forbidden to open the veranda, place tables and chairs, leave the step open, open the folding roof or place parking feet. Usually, the use of the external step and the opening of the hinged windows is tolerated. Caravans and tents are not permitted.
The equipped areas can be public or private; Private ones usually require payment and are well demarcated and monitored, while public ones can be free.

CAMPER AREA
The Camping Area is a place where you can stop and practice camping without limitations, including the option to use tents and caravans. This space is equipped with all the necessary services, such as bathrooms, showers, camper service and electricity connection. The more complete facilities may also offer additional services such as restaurants, bars, and swimming pools.
In some cases, showers, barbecue areas, picnic tables and benches, children’s play areas, and tourist information points are made available, making the Camping Area a complete choice for enjoying your holidays.
The main distinction from camping is that Area Camping tends to be less structured, although the difference is subtle.

CAMPING
The campsite represents the complete structure that offers all the necessary services for an outdoor holiday. It has a wide range of services similar to those present in the equipped areas, but in greater proportion than the guests and with greater attention to detail. Among the comforts offered there are showers with hot water, electricity, wi-fi connection, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, swimming pools, information points for tourists and newsstands. Campers, caravans and tents are welcome at the campsite, with dedicated parking spaces for cars too. Furthermore, in the larger campsites it is possible to rent bungalows or studio apartments.
Camping is the ideal choice for those looking for a peaceful and worry-free holiday. It is a safe structure equipped with all amenities

Mario, Luciana e Giorgio