Eurocamp La Vallée review: an activity-packed site on the Normandy coast

Our verdict

Set in a scenic valley less than a mile from the beach and the seaside town of Houlgate, Eurocamp La Vallée is a brilliant family-friendly base on the Normandy coast. A 25-minute drive from the ferry port of Caen (and a 3.5-hour drive from Calais), it’s also one of the easiest Eurocamp sites to get to from the UK and features in our roundup of the best Eurocamp sites for families.

We visited with grandparents, parents and a preschooler, and everyone found something to love - from the splash park and the water slides to browsing local markets and spending evenings sipping wine on our holiday home terrace.  

It’s our second Eurocamp holiday and each time we’ve found the Premium cabin upgrades totally worth it. In particular, we really appreciated the air con and the blackout blinds in the bedrooms during our August stay.   

With three swimming pools (including an indoor pool and a toddler-friendly splash park), a bouncy castle, tennis courts, a kids’ club and more, there’s plenty for children of all ages to enjoy. 

It’s one of those sites that can keep kids entertained all day, but you’re also within striking distance of Normandy highlights like Rouen, Honfleur and Festyland. With tons of family-friendly facilities and an easygoing vibe, it’s a great choice for a stress-free summer holiday, and we’d definitely return to explore more of the local area. 

How we tested

Making the most of the spacious decking at our Premium holiday home

I stayed at Eurocamp La Vallée for one week in August with my husband, four-year-old daughter and parents. We travelled in two cars and took a P&O ferry from Dover to Calais. We drove from the port to the site, which took around 3.5 hours (minus stops). We made the most of the on-site pools, activities and entertainment and explored the local area.

What’s the accommodation like?

Bedrooms in our three-bedroom Premium holiday home

We stayed in a three-bedroom Premium holiday home with a private deck. The space worked well for our family, with blackout blinds and bug screens making bedtime for our four-year-old much easier. And the air conditioning was a welcome relief on hot days.

The open-plan living space felt comfortable and well-equipped, with enough kitchen gear to cook proper meals - the steak knives were particularly handy! 

The bathroom (left) and bedroom storage (right)

Storage was good, although the twin bedrooms are on the small side for adults. They'd be fine for kids and teens but my parents found the space a little tight. Thankfully we could put their cases in the spare bedroom to free up some room. 

We liked having the choice between a gas and a charcoal BBQ, and we loved the outdoor sofa on the terrace. The decking offered both sunny and shady areas, and it was a great spot for reading or playing board games in the evening - we stayed out there until dark most nights.

Relaxing on the decking in the evening

Alternatively, the Comfort holiday homes are a more affordable option, but note that they’re more compact and don't include air con. The wooden chalet-style Ultimate Plus homes offer a large deck and en-suite bathrooms in the master bedroom. 

We lucked out with a spot opposite the bouncy castle so we could enjoy a glass of wine while the kids played nearby. 

What are the pools like?

The main outdoor swimming pool

The pools were a real highlight for us. There are three in total: an outdoor pool with slides and plenty of loungers, a heated indoor pool with a shallow area for kids and a jungle-themed splash park.

The fun jungle-themed splash park

Our four-year-old spent hours in the splash park, while the bigger slides were a hit with braver family members. And we never struggled to find space around the pools, even in peak season.

A selection of water slides including the spacebowl slide

What activities are on offer?

My four-year-old loved the bouncy castle and playgrounds

There’s more than enough to keep kids entertained during a family holiday, including tennis courts, football pitches, table tennis (you can buy equipment from the shop for €6 and play whenever you want), a bouncy castle, and multiple playgrounds. There are daily kids’ club sessions throughout the summer months and they put on a cute performance at the end of the week. The family magic show was a particular highlight and featured genuinely impressive tricks that kept everyone enthralled.

We loved the evening magic show

The evening entertainment takes place by the bar and kids’ play area so parents can enjoy a drink while the little ones play nearby. It felt lively but relaxed with a real family-friendly buzz.

What are the food and drink options?

The moules-frites was a particular highlight and we made full use of the BBQ

The on-site restaurant serves decent family-friendly meals, and the moules-frites and kids’ menus went down well. Food is straightforward rather than gourmet, but the service is quick and prices are reasonable. It was definitely more on the basic side than we experienced at nearby restaurants, but it's not hard to find incredible food in this part of France - L’incontournable Restaurant in Rouen was a particular favourite of ours. 

The delivery service from a local boulangerie was a daily highlight. Ordering pastries the night before and picking up fresh baguettes each morning from reception felt wonderfully French. We recommend the Pepito (a giant chocolate twist), which was delicious and a real bargain.

Takeaway pizza and snacks are also available, and the restaurant’s location next to the pool made it easy to grab an ice cream afterwards. 

What is there to do nearby? 

The Normandy coast is full of wide sandy stretches, including Houlgate beach

Houlgate beach is less than a mile away (a five-minute drive), and we loved the beach near Villes sur Mer (30 minutes away) for fossil hunting. Don’t miss a trip to Deauville, a chic seaside town with a fantastic market (Tuesdays) plus high-end shops and great restaurants. The city of Rouen can be reached within 90 minutes and it’s worth a trip to explore its cathedral, shops and family-friendly restaurants. We loved Le Petit Souk for cute toys and accessories for kids. 

Festyland, a family theme park around 45 minutes away, makes a great day out. There are loads of rides for young kids and some adrenaline-pumping options for older children too. My daughter went on her first rollercoaster here - the Drakkar Express, and we enjoyed Le Grand Tournoi. The food was really reasonably priced and we queued for no longer than 10 minutes to get on rides in the height of summer. 

About the author 

Rebecca Warbis is a UX Designer at Mumsnet where she works closely with the Tech and Product teams to make the site easier for parents to use, interact and engage with. 

She is a mum to a four-year-old daughter and is the author of the Date Night Cookbook, which has been published in Europe, the US and South Korea.

About the editor

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel.

She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London. She loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids.

We review holiday parks independently as well as seeking out trusted Mumsnet user feedback from our holiday forums. Sometimes our writers are hosted on a complimentary basis but we'll only ever publish an honest review.