The Giga.de portal presented five apps that can replace park4night when searching for overnight spots for motorhomes and campers. Among them are AlpacaCamping (over 4,000 spots in Europe, focus on natural sites), Campercontact (over 60,000 points in 58 countries, with route planner), Landvergnügen (overnight stays on farms in Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Roadsurfer Spots (booking with filters by themes, e.g., wineries) and iOverlander (map for finding campsites, including remote ones, with offline access).
The camping.info app, available for Android, iOS and as a web version, shows the current occupancy of campsites in Europe on a map. The user enters travel dates and sees which sites are free, then can book a spot via smartphone. The live availability system is gradually being introduced at campsites across Europe. In Germany, wild camping is prohibited and punishable by a fine of 10 to 2500 euros, according to other sources up to 5000 euros.
The Alpaca Camping platform, created by a team of enthusiasts from Germany, offers over 4,000 private camping spots in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Prices range from 12.50 to 35 euros per night, regardless of the number of people. The app includes filters by accommodation type (tent, motorhome, caravan) and amenities, including a search for spots with alpacas.
In Germany and Austria, services that allow overnight stays on farms, vineyards and other private properties are gaining popularity. The Landvergnügen app brings together about 2,000 such spots, where no fee is charged for the night, but a purchase at the local shop is expected. Alternative platforms such as Alpaca-Camping and Schau aufs Land offer fixed payment or an annual subscription. The German Tourism Association believes that such sites do not compete with traditional campsites but complement the market.
