Located in Santa Cristina d'Aro, in the Empordà, wecamp Santa Cristina is the beginning of a new concept of 100% design camping. And it is the first of many others to come. We chat with Albert Montesinos, CEO, and Elvira Ràfols, from Marketing and Communication, about this new generation of innovative and sustainable campsites. Your plan? transform and upgrade campsites to provide them with design, make them respectful of people (eye, we are talking about a concept not suitable for party people) and with the environment. A new experience that drinks from the hotel sector, aimed at a committed public.
"We come from that sector," explains Ràfols. “Sometimes, at campsites, everything is too casual, you have to find your way around with a map when you arrive at reception. We have greatly reinforced this hospital sensitivity”. Albert Montesinos was the creator of the Chic & Basic chain, innovative at the time because it offered a design product at affordable prices, experience that they have now transferred to the camping sector.
Camping… but in a different way.
“We focus on design, comfort and, whenever possible, sustainability”, Elvira explains to Condé Nast Traveler about this accommodation model, aimed above all at families who want to enjoy being in contact with nature, but who cannot find an offer with sensitivity towards design. ago already three years since the wecamp brand was born and that of Santa Cristina has been the first that has seen the light under his seal.
"We are acquiring campsites and then the process takes to reform them, many still do not operate under the wecamp brand." There will be more next year: in Cala Montgó, L'Escala, Cadaqués... and this same season, in September, wecamp Cabo de Gata, in Las Negras, will open its doors. “It is located at the foot of a cove, it is impressive”, emphasizes Elvira.
Adults only area for couples.
With an extension of 5.5 hectares, three kilometers from the beach and surrounded by forests and massifs of the Baix Empordà, wecamp Santa Cristina is capable of accommodating more than 400 people. Its 138 stay units are divided into 47 glamping tents of different types and 91 exclusive pitches for motorhomes; a restaurant with capacity for 220 people and a car park with 143 spaces.
“Camping is sharing with other people in a privileged environment, near the sea, the mountains... in destinations that, in themselves, are of great interest. We seek to create something fresh and informal but that takes care of detail, in destinations top", apostille. How are they doing it? Making use of great architects who have been in the camping sector for many years and establishing agreements with interior design studios that had never done this but that contribute their vision of restaurants and hotels, as in the case of Lagranja Design, who have worked in the restaurant of Nando Jubany, for example, and in hotels in Singapore, Turkey… “This is one of the keys to our success”, Elvira says.
The dining room in one of the shops.
Lagranja Design has designed specific pieces for wecamp, such as a table and coffee table, some lamps and a chair. Also, a team of architects and energy efficiency experts have created a plan to take advantage of local resources, minimize the carbon footprint and use modern and natural materials. On the other hand, they favor and promote selective collection, have aerothermal systems with the support of solar panels; LED lighting, use of rainwater and fleet of electric vehicles.
Swimming pool at WeCamp Santa Cristina, in the Empordà.
THE UNEXPECTED PUSH OF THE PANDEMIC
The Covid-19 pandemic is something that, paradoxically, has favored its concept. “Many people wanted to leave the country and it was not in their plans to stay, but now this idea has caught on. The one in Santa Cristina is only an hour's drive from Barcelona and many visitors come on weekends”, says Elvira. It has also settled, she adds, the use of the motorhome. "When we attend camping fairs we were surprised by the variety and quality of vehicles that there are, a real luxury."
In this way, they offer plots for these campers (beware, not for their own tents), but The most remarkable thing is that they have 100% quality and design common areas. “You don't find this so easily – Elvira suggests – there are sites that have the design only on part of their property”.
The bathrooms at WeCamp Santa Cristina are designed by Lagranja Design.
Here, even if you come with your own motorhome, you can enjoy the shower area with shower heads by Lagranja Design, beautiful tiles, mirrors, lighting... And with a restaurant, all design, as well as the area for children and teenagers.
Another of its strong points is the experiences: “We wanted to dignify the motorhome sector. The take away part is often found at a campsite, but we are working on winks like the picnic basket, being able to use a normal or electric bike... and we encourage you to get to know the environment, it is not about creating a camping-city. There will be no hairdresser or ATM here,” they explain.
The facilities are perfect for families with children (but not only).
Thus, they have developed a local guide and a free app, in which they have poured content and recommendations with great effort, places of interest in the destination to promote the purchase of local and artisan products: ceramics, espardeñas... They also suggest restaurants in the area that fit their style, so you can extend the experience outside the campsite.
Finally, this is a plan that you can enjoy in many ways: with family, with friends or with children. “It is not very common in campsites to give importance to the issue of couples. In our case, we have a zone only adults with Cabin Tents for couples, a very hotel concept that guarantees greater privacy. It is perfect for trendy and informed people looking for this type of environment, and it is available at a very reasonable cost (between 60 and 100 euros). There is no fixed rate but we adapt according to the season and the time of the week. But if you come at a time of low occupancy, it is a very competitive price”.
Verd Oliva Restaurant at WeCamp Santa Cristina.
“Of course, we avoid the public that chooses to go camping because it is cheap and what they really want is to party. We pursue harmony and respect. In fact, we work a lot on relaxation and we have a certificate sleep-friendly, both in the accommodation and in the common areas. Guaranteeing sleep is important, because some may be reluctant to choose a campsite for this reason”, says Elvira, who explains that they have chosen mattresses from Pikolin. “The ones we have always known from the hotel sector, high quality king size, and we have increased the width of the beds whenever possible”. In addition, they control the temperature, humidity, lighting, and that the appliances are silent. "Our goal is for the birds to wake you up," emphasizes Elvira.
These are the prices and types of accommodation: Lodge family and duplex (between €150 and €270/day for 4-6 people); Glamping Couple (between €100-165/day for 2 people); Cabin Tent (between €60 and €120/day for 2 people); Y plots (between €25 and €60/day for 2 people).
Cabin Tent at night.