Eurocamp Domaine des Ormes review: how it won over this all-inclusive-loving family

Our verdict

As a family, we usually choose all-inclusive holidays, so I'll admit I was slightly apprehensive about our first Eurocamp trip. I worried I'd miss the convenience, comfort and ease of a resort hotel. To my surprise, Eurocamp Domaine des Ormes completely won me over.

Set within 400 acres of beautiful woodland in Brittany, this five-star Eurocamp parc offers an impressive mix of outdoor activities, swimming pools and family-friendly accommodation. There was always something to do, from swimming in the wave pool or cycling around the lake, to hiring a pedalo, watching wakeboarders or simply relaxing on our spacious decking while the twins played safely on the grass in front of our holiday home.

What surprised me most was how relaxing it felt. At an all-inclusive resort, I often spend hours supervising children in the pool. Here, the kids had the freedom to play outside, scooter around the village area and enjoy the open spaces while we relaxed nearby with a drink.

The accommodation was modern, spotless and extremely well-equipped, while the range of activities meant we never once heard the words, "I'm bored."

For families with young children, especially those who enjoy active holidays, Domaine des Ormes is an excellent choice. We'd happily return.

How we tested

I visited Domaine des Ormes with my husband and our 3.5-year-old twins. This was our first Eurocamp holiday. We travel regularly as a family and often choose all-inclusive resorts, so we were interested to see how a Eurocamp holiday compared.

We stayed for one week in a Premium three-bedroom holiday home and spent our time making the most of the pools, cycling trails, activities, restaurants and nearby attractions.

Location

Domaine des Ormes is located near Dol-de-Bretagne in Brittany and is surrounded by woodland, lakes and countryside. Despite its peaceful setting, there is plenty to see and do both on-site and nearby.

We travelled by car, taking the ferry from Dover to Calais before driving approximately five hours to the parc. The journey was straightforward, with plenty of excellent service stations along the way. France does family-friendly motorway stops particularly well and we found several with playgrounds and picnic areas.

For those arriving by ferry, Saint-Malo is the nearest port, around 27km away. Rennes Airport is approximately 56km from the parc.

Mont Saint-Michel is around 25km away, while the beaches around Cancale and Saint-Malo are within easy reach by car. We visited nearby Plage de Cherrueix, which took around 20 minutes to reach and made for a lovely family day out.

A Lidl supermarket is roughly a 10-minute drive away, making it easy to stock up on groceries for the week.

What's the accommodation like?

We stayed in a Premium three-bedroom holiday home, which we were told was one of the newer units on the parc.

The accommodation felt modern, fresh and exceptionally clean. While the bedrooms were fairly compact, the layout worked perfectly for our family of four. The twins shared one room, while we used the third bedroom as a handy storage space for luggage, shoes and all the bits and pieces that come with travelling with children.

Inside, there was everything needed for a self-catering holiday including:

• Hob

• Microwave

• Dishwasher

• Toaster

• Kettle

• Tassimo coffee machine

• TV

• Cutlery, crockery and glassware

• Air-conditioning and heating

The shower deserves a special mention as it was surprisingly large and powerful.

Bedding, bath towels and beach towels were included.

The outdoor space was probably my favourite feature. The huge decking area included outdoor dining furniture, a sofa and a barbecue. We spent many evenings eating outside while the children played on the grass directly in front of the accommodation. There was enough space for the twins to scooter around safely while we relaxed with a glass of wine.

It's a simple thing, but this freedom was one of the biggest reasons I found the holiday so relaxing.

One thing worth knowing before you travel is that the welcome pack is fairly basic. We were provided with small bottles of washing-up liquid and cleaning spray, plus a sponge and cloth, which was enough to get us started. However, if I visited again, I'd definitely pack a few extras to make life easier:

• Dishwasher tablets

• Tea towels

• Extra toilet roll

• Bin bags

• Washing-up supplies

Our holiday home was less than five minutes' walk from the pools, restaurants and central village area.

What are the pools like?

The swimming facilities are one of Domaine des Ormes' biggest highlights.

The indoor aquatic complex sits beneath a huge dome and includes waterslides, a wave pool and a lazy river that flows outdoors before looping back inside.

Our 3.5-year-old twins absolutely loved the wave pool. Every hour, waves would begin rolling through the main pool and it quickly became their favourite part of the aquatic complex.

There is also an outdoor pool complex with additional slides, shallow areas for younger children and plenty of space to relax.

We visited both the indoor and outdoor pools depending on the weather and found it worked brilliantly. Even on cooler or rainy days, there was still plenty of swimming to enjoy.

Despite visiting shortly after half term, the pools never felt overcrowded and we never struggled to find sunbeds. Lifeguards were present throughout.

A fun bonus was the morning aqua aerobics sessions, complete with music blasting through the dome. The children loved dancing along.

What other facilities are available?

One of the biggest strengths of Domaine des Ormes is the incredible variety of activities available.

Cycling

Hiring bikes was one of my personal highlights. We spent a morning cycling around the entire resort with the twins in a trailer, exploring lakes, woodland paths and neighbouring villages. It was a fantastic way to appreciate the scale and beauty of the parc.

Wakeboarding

My husband tried wakeboarding on the lake and thoroughly enjoyed it. It also made great entertainment for spectators relaxing nearby.

Ziplining

I tackled the zipline while the children watched from below. It was great fun and something I wouldn't normally expect to find on a family holiday park.

Pedalos

Hiring a pedalo on the lake cost just €6 for 30 minutes and ended up being one of our most relaxing afternoons. We loved drifting around the lake while watching guests fly overhead on the zipline.

Mini golf and footgolf

We tried both and they were big hits with our twins. Footgolf in particular was surprisingly entertaining for younger children.

Playground and bouncy castle

The playground kept the children entertained for over an hour, while the pirate-themed bouncy castle near the pool area was another favourite.

Kids' clubs and entertainment

We didn't use the kids' clubs, but there appeared to be plenty happening throughout the week, including face painting and evening entertainment. One evening we could hear a live show and fireworks from our accommodation, although it started a little late for our preschoolers.

What's the food like?

There are several dining options on-site, including restaurants, a pizzeria and bars.

Our first meal was takeaway pizza, which worked brilliantly after a long travel day. You order from a service window and receive a buzzer when your food is ready.

We also ate at Brasserie 1977, where the menu included burgers, fish dishes, chicken, sharing plates and desserts. The food wasn't fine dining, but it was tasty, family-friendly and reasonably priced. The desserts were particularly popular.

On our final evening we ate in the pizzeria restaurant, which offered a dedicated children's menu. Brasserie 1977 also catered well for children, with smaller portions available.

There is also a new lakeside restaurant, Le Cellier, opening for summer visitors.

For self-catering families, the on-site shop stocks essentials and fresh bread. We regularly picked up hot baguettes and croissants for breakfast and lunch, although we'd recommend doing a larger supermarket shop elsewhere for the best value and choice.

What is there to do nearby?

Plage de Cherrueix (around 20 minutes by car)

A lovely beach with plenty of space for children to play. We particularly enjoyed the beachfront café, where we warmed up with hot chocolates while overlooking the sea.

Mont Saint-Michel

One of France's most iconic attractions and an easy day trip from the parc.

Saint-Malo

Historic streets, beaches and family-friendly restaurants make Saint-Malo well worth a visit.

For families looking for a holiday that combines outdoor adventure, excellent swimming facilities and plenty of freedom for children to play, Domaine des Ormes is hard to beat. It completely changed my perception of what a Eurocamp holiday could be, and we'd happily return.

About the author

Lizzie Fuller is Head of Client Services at Mumsnet. Before joining Mumsnet, she worked at The Stylist Group and EMAP Publishing, delivering creative and commercial partnerships.

As a mum to twin preschoolers, Lizzie enjoys discovering family-friendly destinations that balance fun for children with genuine relaxation for parents. When she's not travelling, she can usually be found at hot yoga, in the theatre or planning her next family adventure.

About the editor

Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, where she writes, edits and optimises family-focused content designed to make everyday parenting that bit easier.

As a mum of three, Jenny brings first-hand parenting experience to everything she writes, with plenty of trial-and-error along the way. Her family travels have ranged from UK camping trips to more adventurous long-haul breaks, giving her a clear understanding of what really matters when travelling with children - from location and layout to those small but crucial details that can turn an average family trip into the best holiday ever.

She regularly researches and reviews family travel options, combining expert insight with real parent feedback from the Mumsnet community to help other families plan holidays with confidence.

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