If you’ve been to Eurocamp

[Changer25]

Hi, I want to plan a trip to eurocamp with 3 primary school DC next summer for 2-3 weeks. My H left me a year ago with no warning, I’m starting to put myself back together and want to have a big adventure to look forward to.

Im thinking Eurocamp, doing 5-7 nights at 2 or 3 locations (preferably in different countries), definitely want to include Switzerland.

AIBU to think this is possible or am I mad? Has anyone done multi stay holidays and can recommend routes. Are there any practical reasons this wouldn’t work. Ideally would like to bring our dog but could leave her at home with family if needed

PS travelling from north England

Are you flying then hiring a car? From Switzerland you could look at Landal holidays in Switzerland Austria/South Germany. I was looking at the Black Forest the other day. You could fly into Basel.

It isn't silly, I want to do a multiple Eurocamp trip next year albeit with DH but am hopefully going to try a Eurocamp holiday this year on my own as he doesn't want to come.

I love eurocamp type holidays although we often do canvas as find it a bit cheaper. Not done the multi night stops myself as I prefer to base myself somewhere and explore rather than having to move around.
We went this year to France and Brexit has had an impact, in days gone by nearly all the courier's on the site were British (and some Dutch) but that's not often the case now because of the visa situation. So kids clubs in English aren't running routinely at all sites - ours was French speaking and my DD6 didn't feel confident enough to access it. Also we had to completely clean our home and have it checked to get back deposit - previously it was a tidy and quick clean but not a defrost the fridge type of clean. I wouldn't want to do that every couple of days. I don't imagine that's happening on every site but I think it would be worth checking with the company in more detail if either of those would bother you.
All that said we had a glorious time and would certainly do it again!

I have to say that we haven't done multistay holidays, but have been on I think 12 or 13 eurocamp holidays, we love them.
We've stayed in tents and caravans, both are great. Our son and daughter share a caravan bedroom with no problems, and they're almost 13 and 16.
We've stayed at fabulous sites in France, and last year ventured to Lake Garda. All sites have been great, in different ways. Happy to tell you about them if you like, we e stayed in the Vendee, Dordogne, Brittany, and Burgundy, and Garda.
Always excellent service from staff,on the phone, and on site (ie rearranging cancelled ferry trips, exchanging mattresses after a wee accident!)
We love eurocamp as it offers us a back to basics, outdoors holiday.
I completely think you can do it! And if you book by October 31st, there are great discounts.
As a child we stayed in a Swiss eurocamp, I have faint memories but know it was beautiful. We also stayed on the cote d'azur once,with eurocamp as children, again, heaven.
That's why I was keen to start with my 2, we had our first eurocamp holiday when my 15 year old was 2.
Let me know if I can help.

We did a mini road trip with three children this summer from Yorkshire area and it was great, but very tiring! We did Paris, Centerparcs in the Netherlands and Bruges, with a day trip to Germany. But this was over 2 weeks.

I think you'd be mad to try to squeeze 2-3 locations in 5-7 nights!!!

We did Eurocamp in Northern Spain in May and the kids absolutely loved it. The whole set up and pools was so kid friendly. I think they might just enjoy making the most of one place rather than the travelling to different ones if you've not been away for a while?

We are hopefully doing Eurocamp again in May but in Italy this time. The European centerparcs are also very good and much cheaper than the UK.

If I was going on a eurocamp holiday for the first time on my own with 3 kids I would probably stay in one place for a week. The constant packing and unpacking would be a lot. I'd pick one place with a nice pool complex in an interesting area to visit and enjoy a week away. Then if you like it, think about a multi stay holiday next time.

You can't take your dog on eurocamp holidays but you often can if you book accommodation directly with the campsite. We've used Sandaya for the last few years and although they're not eurocamp sites, we actually have found them to be a better standard of accommodation.

Sounds like a very tiring holiday as a single parent!

I used to work for them years ago so have done a lot of their holidays in France, Italy.

Personally I'd fly to a location and hire a car locally. We've driven to South of France before stopping at a couple of places on the way, and the driving is long and tiring. Plus having to unpack and pack as you go.

Not really what you're asking for but happy to recommend some great sites in France/Italy if that's of use. Contact centre staff are generally knowledgeable if you want recommendations too.

I also think if you'd be doing all that driving as the only adult with three kids in the back without any adult support, you would be exhausted! Just thinking of directions, the tolls, stops etc. It's quite draining isn't it and might be hard on your own.

We are just back from euro camp at Duinrell in Holland it was great

I e had some fantastic eurocamp holidays, I'm from NE England. I would do one camp only though, moving around is pretty exhausting.
3 campsites x 4 people= making up 12 beds

I have three, now teens. Divorced for years and no family here, so I’ve always done things on my own with them. I love eurocamp I’ve been to a couple in Spain and one in France (I need the beach!). I wouldn’t do multiple camps partly because - for me - it’s too much hassle and partly because I can’t afford holidays very often so when we do go I want to spend my whole time with the kids enjoying what’s available. I would consider what you want to get out of this. At that age they’re going to love the easy access to pools and beach/lake, plus whatever local activities are available. I guess it also depends on how often you holiday - for us it’s a rare thing so actual time on camp is important.

And keep in mind that as the only adult multi stops really aren’t going to be as easy as some of the previous posters suggest.

@DorritLittle - I was thinking to drive but not averse to changing that to flying. Haven’t heard of landals holidays before, they look great though.

Hope you get your multi trip in soon

@Benjaminsniddlegrass Benjaminsniddlegrass thanks great tips on English speaking. You’re right - full on cleaning is definitely off putting

@gerbo wow, you’re a eurocamp pro. I’ll definitely get in touch if I need more info thanks

Thanks @GentlyGentlyOhDear valid points. The kids might be happier in one spot rather than travelling around. The 5-7 nights was in each location, so 3 weeks on total.

Thanks for the replies and insight. Maybe one location would be more practical. It’s daunting going on my own when I never envisioned being a lone parent but we are where we are.

I think I’ll go for one location - it’s going to be so hard to choose

Use one of the other holiday companies like Venue. Lots of the same locations, identical service, much cheaper.

I love eurocamp but I think doing one for your first trip might be easier. Kids get used to a place and you get time to relax. You get a rhythm of kids activities and evenings. There are definitely ones you can do with loads of nearby activities to keep a week interesting.

We also stayed over a night once in a small hotel, which the kids loved, in Bayeux to break a journey, that was doable, as no clean down etc to do, as you would in a caravan.
I'd heartily recommend Camping Eden in Garda. We flew and took taxis twice to and out of local towns to do bog shops.
Good pools, watersides, great sunshine, some entertainment but quiet by 1030. And a small private lakeside beach with jetty to jump off, right there.
I'm looking at La Garangeoire too for next year,busy, beautiful, loads of activities for the kids.
The vendee is good for long deep golden beaches. Camping La Baie in Brittany still though is my favourite....lovely market town a 30 min stroll away, 2 beaches to choose from. Friendly site, some activities for kids, lots of friends for them to scoot and cycle around with. Weather occasionally cloudy or drizzly, like Cornwall.

Big, not bog!

i think European driving is so much easier than in the uk - if you have time then there are no problems but I do think as the only adult one or two stops is easiest. So many lovely places to go near by. I like the vendee too. You can buy an automated tag so you can just speed through tolls - can’t remember the name but i love ours.

@Changer25

I want to make your aware ( apologies if you already are ) that euro camp is a brand of holiday homes that pay to use someone else's site.

So at one whole Camp area like duinrell for instance in the Netherlands you can book directly with the site. Or through Euro camp or through canvases.

Unless the Euro camp really offer's an amazing deal then, it's usually far better to book directly with wherever you are going.

Acdmd is usually far better, more spaced out where as Euro camp is squashed in and often run by teens don't summer jobs. ..

Not always but usually if you have a problem and you book directly with the owners it can be better to sort out. ..
Over the years Euro camp standards in some places have really fallen.

As an aside the Netherlands is an extremely child friendly destination, very easy to get to with lots to do and flat driving!

There are wonderful landal sites and places like denkemperven...( Center parks type place with ski run) and theme parks which are stunning like The Efteling.

It's somewhere you could stay in a few places but without the slog?

ive done a lot of Eurocamp holidays, and for my first I’d do single centre - either ferry with car from North East to Holland, or drive south at stay in La Croix de Vu Point, excellent site, lots to do, decent kids clubs etc, option of driving to Disney (they’ve added big affordable car parks right at the front gate), so that can be to off site activity if you wish.

Ahhh these were my favourite holidays as a kid! We did Euro camp and Canvas Holidays. We used to sail overnight from Portsmouth and we had a cabin to sleep in. The dog stayed home and went with relatives/kennels. Dad di all the driving and mum navigated (this was pre sat nav and pre internet) - thinking back I think they were quite brave!

I think the first time we went we stayed in St Cast in Brittany and then the second time we did multi site and did stay by the lake in Interlaken which was lovely. We had an overnight in a motel to break one of the journeys. The good thing about those companies is it’s all set up for you when you get there - beds etc.

They are great holidays and your children will love it. We’re still in touch with one of the families we met at the site in Switzerland and it was the early 90s.

I’m a single mum and have done loads of eurocamp with my dds. I tend to fly and hire a car - stay in one campsite and explore the area. If you stay in a decent campsite you will want a few days to relax and enjoy the facilities.

I’ve done this on my own with 2 DC. We tend to drive and stay for one or two nights at Airbnb places or hotels on the way, then have a week at one campsite, then come back a different route. That way you can just take an overnight bag for the short stops. I wouldn’t do two or three campsites as you’ll spend the whole trip packing and unpacking.

Don’t the dog. They may be allowed in the accommodation but they aren’t allowed in lots of other areas and it will just be a tie and not much fun for the dog either.

Driving in France is a doddle and the roads are great but don’t forget to factor in the tolls in your budget.