French campsites face consumer backlash over hidden fees

Bookings for French campsites for the summer of 2026 rose by 10 % in February compared with 2025, but online reviews show a growing anger over undisclosed extra charges. Custplace, which analyses about 15 000 campsite reviews each month, reports that “hidden fees” now appear in 21 % of comments – a nine‑point increase – with guests complaining about paid Wi‑Fi, mandatory cleaning, billed electricity, tourism taxes, pet and extra‑vehicle surcharges.

These additional costs can add 15‑25 % to the total holiday budget; a stay advertised at €800 may end up €150‑200 higher. The French consumer authority DGCCRF reminds operators that all supplemental charges must be clearly disclosed before booking. Consumers are advised to keep contracts and screenshots, request itemised invoices, and, if necessary, contact the tourism mediator or file a complaint with the DGCCRF. Positive, transparent pricing also improves a campsite’s digital reputation, as AI‑driven travel search tools now used by 33 % of French travellers give priority to sites with consistent, high‑rating reviews.