Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What is good about eurocamping?

27 replies

notheretoargue · 25/08/2018 22:06

First time in a static caravan in a French campsite. We have one dd who is 5. Friends we are with have one dd who is nearly 4.

Ok, so we arrived quite late and perhaps I am just not seeing it but ... we are staying in a car park. Cars and concrete everywhere. Everything costs extra. Everyone is too close. The food is expensive and there’s not enough room to cook. There is not even a kettle!

Swimming pools look ok but but but ... what do people enjoy about this kind of thing? Tell me it’s going to get better???

OP posts:
ForeverBubblegum · 25/08/2018 22:50

It will be better in the morning when you've had a look round. There will be central points like the pool / kids club / restaurant that are nice, and once you're there the 5 minutes walking past caravans doesn't really matter.

When you are inside you can't see how close the next caravan is, and is no worse then a hotel with people in the next room anyway.

To be honest I never tend to cook in caravans. I'll do cereal and sandwiches etc, but eat out on an evening. The money you save on accommodation should cover it, especially if you can find somewhere off site.

ForeverBubblegum · 25/08/2018 22:52

Oh the on site shop is ludicrously expensive though, if you are cooking just get a few essentials then head to a local supermarket tomorrow.

ForeverBubblegum · 25/08/2018 22:53

And buy wine for when the kids are in bed.Wine

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Camping
BareBelliedSneetch · 25/08/2018 23:02

There should be a kettle!

Choice of campsite is imperative (though obv too late now!)

Breakfast we usually do croissant/pain au choc from the shop each morning. Buy a couple of baguettes/pain at the same time. Then bread/jam/Nutella for additional breakfast. Then bread/butter/cheese for lunch.

Dinners we usually alternate pasta/salad type things with BBQ, with frites from the takeaway in the side, and something green.

Only get breakfast from the site shop. Get everything else from a local supermarket.

Don’t forget to buy Danette. And cassis. And wine.

Then find the nearest patisserie and buy a few chocolate Religieuse and some tarts aux citron.

On the right site eurocamp style holidays are amazing. Brilliant for the children. There is frequently a playground right next to the bar.

Original poster
notheretoargue · 25/08/2018 23:29

Thanks for your advice. Am hoping tomorrow is better. Dh is the only one insured on our hire car and he hates driving so has refused to go to a supermarket. And I am totally skint so considering just one meal a day for me and him - so dd can have ice creams and treats. This whole place has cost a small fortune - we normally do air bnb which is much cheaper and you don’t need to bring everything with you!!

Aaargh I need chocolate and wine and preferably to be far enough away from my neighbours not to hear them snoring/ playing drinking games all night.

OP posts:
goodgirls · 25/08/2018 23:31

If youre staying in a carpark you might be eurocamping but you aren't Eurocamping.
None of the sites I've stayed in all over Europe have been anything like you describe.

SpandexTutu · 25/08/2018 23:33

We've been to lots of Eurocamp sites - all really good. Which site are you on?

ForeverBubblegum · 25/08/2018 23:45

Are you near a town? Even the local corner shop is likely to be cheaper then on site. Also buy a multi pack of ice creams and keep them in the freezer. You'll be close enough to pop back anyway.

The kettle is sometimes a metal one that go's on the hob so check the pan cupboard. And please don't starve yourself, it's difficult to see the bright side if your miserable with hunger. Bread for toast and a sandwich is only a few quid, and your DD will probably appreciate non grumpy patents more then an extra treat.

mammmamia · 26/08/2018 00:20

All will be better in daylight OP but you’re really not going to have a nice time eating one meal a day.
Your DH needs to step up and drive to a supermarket. You can’t eat decently or cheaply from the camp shop.
We’ve eurocamped many times and it’s a lovely holiday for all of us, we all enjoy it. And we are quite particular about holidays, we do a lot of posh resorts as well as this type of holiday. There is loads to do for DC and it’s quite relaxing. It’s not like proper camping as you get your own kitchen and bathroom.
Which site are you on?

MimiSunshine · 26/08/2018 04:44

Sorry but your DH is being an arse by refusing to drive to the supermarket. Do a big enough shop and it’s one trip that’ll mean you can eat all week.
The option not to go is ludicrous

Imchangingmyname · 26/08/2018 07:45

You have a DH problem with the supermarket issue!

Original poster
notheretoargue · 26/08/2018 08:52

Dh has agreed to go to Lidl!

Don’t want to say which site we’re on but it’s in the south of France and is meant to be a good one. Loads of good reviews etc. I just hadn’t quite realised how it was going to be, and the fact that everything is so so so so expensive. We should have done some more research but I’ve been working so much I haven’t had time. Can’t actually face the idea of going back to work after this ‘holidat’ I was hoping I would feel refreshed!! Ha Didn’t sleep last night as neighbours were drinking late into the evening on their porch, which is right next to my bedroom. Dd has been whining all morning because she doesn’t want to go to the supermarket.

OP posts:
WrongKindOfFace · 26/08/2018 09:04

Wander round the site and see if there are better locations and ask for a move as the neighbours are noisy fuckers. People are usually quiet at night on site so that’s unacceptable.

Stock up at Lidl. Lots of wine and chocolate. Can you add you to the car insurance?

Look at the online reviews and see what else they mentioned to do. Or ask the Euro amp person.

mammmamia · 26/08/2018 09:25

French supermarkets are fun, your DD will enjoy herself. That’s not a reason not to go.
Presumably you’ve got great weather in the south, and in a day you’ll adjust to the style of the holiday and hopefully be able to relax into it a bit.
You should find some interesting sites nearby as well so if you can get added to the insurance or your DH agrees to drive a bit you’ll get some good day trips or half day trips as well.

mammmamia · 26/08/2018 09:26

I’ve never had a problem with noisy neighbours, agree about asking to be moved.

MrsDoylesTeaBags · 26/08/2018 09:44

If you're on a Eurocamp site they have very strict rules about antisocial behaviour and particularly noise late at night. Make your rep and the Campsite reception aware and thye will act. Also ask your rep if you can move to a better caravan, might be difficult as this is a busy week but if you don't ask you don't get.
I find that holidays are as good as you want them to be. Campsite holidays are very relaxed and laid back and France is just lovely, you will need to use the supermarket though as South of France can be very expensive if you're not careful.

I always find to that if I get to a hoilday destination late at night I'll instinctivey hate it, a day spent travelling and tiredness will do that. I promise you will feel better once you've settled in and had a good night's sleep.

MrsJBaptiste · 26/08/2018 10:26

We've just returned from a campsite in France and not going to a large supermarket just isn't an option I'm afraid! The campsite shop on our site was a decent size but there's no way you could buy all your holiday food from there and yes, it's extorniate! Try Lidl or one of the large hypermarkets (Le Clerc) and stock up for the week then you just need breakfast bread and pastries from the campsite shop.

dollydelightful · 26/08/2018 10:58

I hope things look a bit different in the light of day! We've had many wonderful Eurocamp holidays in France.
We tend to make a bit of an event of a supermarket trip, enjoying the differences from the boring homogenous Tesco's/ sainsbo's experience at home.
You might also find that there is a traditional market in a nearby town or village where you can get beautiful fresh produce - bread, fruit, veg, fish or meat. We often hire bikes (with pull along for the kids) and use them for our shopping trip. In my experience in France there are superb cycle paths with excellent access.
As I say, hope you are feeling a bit differently this morning, and have a brilliant holiday. I'm a bit jealous having had a stay-cation this year!!

mammmamia · 26/08/2018 11:27

I agree about arriving somewhere at night, I always hate it as well and it takes me 24 hours to settle in to a holiday.

Kewqueue · 26/08/2018 11:33

What were you expecting exactly? It doesn't sound bad at all but I am confused as to what isn't there that you wanted. We are going next week and I can't wait!

Rainshowers · 26/08/2018 17:35

We went to one of the smaller sites and were pretty underwhelmed. We could hear everything from next door and people walking past and the site wasn’t even busy as it was so early in the season.

I think we’ll give it one more chance (when the baby is a bit bigger), but at one of the bigger sites next time. I’m not particularly fussy but I think I was expecting more from it.

I do love a French supermarket though so was happy to skip the on site shop in favour of a trip to Intermarche!

rosy71 · 26/08/2018 17:47

We've been to Eurocamp sites in France quite a few times. We usually spend time everyday at the pool & choose one with indoor & outdoor plus slides etc. There are usually lots of other things to do on the site but you do have to pay for them. If you're with Eurocamp, there should be a free kids club, so check that out. You should be able to find out from Eurocamp or the campsite reception about things to do & see in the local area. If you're near the beach, that's an easy thing to do.

Food is expensive. We usually take some basics from hone - cereal, tea bags, sugar, pasta & some jars of sauce. If you can find a local supermarket, it will be cheaper and have more variety than the campsite shop. Breakfast we eat the same as at home, lunch is usually french bread, cheese, ham & salad & in the evening we'll have pasta & sauce, a barbecue, pizza & chips from the take away or more bread & salad.

We have loved all our holidays like this; I'm sure you will too :)

goodgirls · 26/08/2018 17:49

Bemused at the "food is expensive" comments. Its something that only British people say, they have such insanely cheap food

Branleuse · 26/08/2018 17:53

I love eurocamp but a lot depends on the site. Make sure you read reviews and look at park layout. Theyre super helpful on the phone as well if you have a problem or you want to book sonewhere not too close to others

Toohot12244 · 26/08/2018 17:56

We’ve noticed of recent years food has become ever so much more expensive in France (we go to the south too). Lidl is cheaper but to be honest we’ve found there’s not much in it between those and the big ones. Is there an auchan near by? That tends to be cheap. You are in luck though wine is cheap as chips .. so have a wine based diet to get through it all when away! Hahahah!
Meat you will find stupidly expensive compared to the UK... milk is UhT... fresh milk costs a small fortune.
Find a local market and go to it.. early in the am.. not sure where you are staying but know the south well so can give some recommendations. Things are soooo much cheaper in the markets!

We’ve never done Eurocamp as normally stay with family in the south but some of our friends love it and go back year after year. It’s not my cuppa tea as I like creature comforts! Haha! The water parks look ace in the Eurocamps and the idea is that you make friends with everyone else there too so kids have friends to play with.