European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 21, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wide Range _ a a a a a in a i a Man walks amid tents and Camp trailers along the Guad Alete River in Spain. A amps Fite relaxing campers Are silhouetted by a scottish Sunset. Continued from Page 3 Beauty Parlours Are among the other attractions. Especially in Germany Many campgrounds have developed beyond being merely Sites for camping. Some Are min vacation communities Complete with social schedules organized recreational activities entertainment and lecture programs. Trailer camping is very popular in Europe. For some nationalities such As the dutch it is a Way of life. Some europeans use their trailers As semipermanent vacation Homes parking them for the season at one Campground and spending weekends there. If you do not have your own camping gear you have two Basic options. You can go out and buy what you need or you can rent it. Unless you have taken the time to do some research and have previous camping experience you probably should t make a major investment in gear. You May find after a few trips that the Quot perfect tent the Salesman talked you into buying is less than Ideal for your needs. Or that your wonderful Down sleeping bag makes you sneeze. Many european campgrounds have a limited number of trailers and Cabins they rent to campers who do not have their own equipment. The Cabins often Are furnished Only with Beds but some also have min kitchens and refrigerators. Keep in mind however that unless you Reserve ahead of time you might find yourself with no place to stay. The Best bet is probably to rent camping gear at one of the Many on base outdoor recreation centers. You can gain experience and get an idea of some of the equipment available should you later choose to buy your own. Prices Are a bargain and most centers Stock a wide Range of equipment from tents and sleeping bags to Camp stoves coolers and lanterns. At the Darmstadt West Germany outdoor recreation Center a four person tent rents for $4 a Day $8 a weekend or $20 a week. A Large tent for six to eight people rents for $6 a Day $12 a weekend or $30 a week. Sleeping bags rent for $2 a Day $4 a weekend and $10 a week. A two Burner stove costs the same As does a 54-quart cooler and a propane lantern. Cooking kits cots and Small coolers Cost $1.50 a Day $3 a weekend and $7.50 a week. Roy Laswell maintenance Man at Darmstadt says the Darmstadt prices Are comparable with prices at other recreation centers though Quot they might vary a Little either  Laswell says the Center s philosophy is to Quot try to keep everything priced economically for the soldiers Quot adding Quot it would t do any Good to have a couple Hundred thousand dollars Worth of equipment and no one to rent  in addition to outdoor recreation centers for equipment needs there Are also a number of military campgrounds. They Are located in West Germany Scotland Italy and Spain. One of the most popular ones is the Camp Darby travel Camp in Italy. If you have planned a camping trip with a specific itinerary it is a Good idea to Call ahead and Reserve a campsite. You can get the Telephone number by checking one of the camping guides available. Many choices amps file an american family sets up Camp from the Back of a truck in the Hills near Kas Tamano Turkey. Campgrounds Are full during Peak vacation periods. However not All of them will accept reservations. If you do not have reservations plan to arrive Early enough in the Day so you can look for an alternate Campground if the one you chose is full. Even within a particular Region or country Europe has an amazing variety of camping opportunities. In Spain you can experience the sweltering heat of the Plains the warm sea breezes of the Costa brava or the Cool Pine forests of the pyrenees similarly Yugoslavia has camping along the pebbled beaches of the Adriatic and in the jagged mountains of Bosnia. Most people think of camping As a summer pastime but some campgrounds stay open in the Winter. Some of them Are near ski areas. There Are a number of Good guides available on european campgrounds. One of the Best is the one put out by the German automobile club adar which lists More than 6,000 Sites. It is in two parts Northern Europe and Southern Europe. Though it is in German much of the information is in tabular format and is easily decipherable. It is available at adar offices and bookstores in Germany. Here Are a few other worthwhile guides Europa camping and car Vaning military living s military camping and rec areas around the world camper s companion to Northern Europe and camper s guide to Southern Europe. 4 stripes Magazine june 21, 1990