Eurocamp virgin - what do we need to take!

[nimbs]

Hi - just booked our holiday in France with Eurocamp - we've got one of their tents - but having not been camping since Ten Tors (800 years ago)I think we'll need a bit of guidance on what is essential to take!!

We're all so excited about it - will be our first overseas holiday with the kids - please tell me we won't regret it!

Thanks in advance

Hi nimbs, how exciting! We went Eurocamping last summer and absolutely love it. I remember there was a thread started by 'dinkystinky' a little while ago, which asked a similar question and I think had quite good advice on it which you could add to what you get on here. It was something along the lines of 'Keycamp newbie' in the title, which might be worth a look. Hope this helps and have a wonderful time!

Thanks oosabeauta - really looking forward to it - off to look for other thread

lots of casual clothes. sleeping bags. macks in case it rains. i always get a very detailed map of the area so you can find those out of the way beaches/places where no-one goes - in brittany anyway. mosquito repellant. earplugs in a tent. we usually put a badminton net up. french campsites are great. brill holiday with children

Thanks dreaming - am sadly writing a list!

nimbs - where are you going? we have had loads of lovely hols in france with eurocamp etc. great with kids. we do a lot of picnicking in france - cheaper and there's loads of nice food - pate, cheese, french bread - suggest checking whats in your tent and taking a coolbox if there isn't one

I've been Eurocamping since I was 18 months old Last year took my own DC for the first time.

We just take bedding, cool clothes/loose fitting, flip flops, hand held torch, oooh and a nice toilet bag so you look snazzy while strolling to the toilet block , European plug adapter, and if you're driving in France, make sure you are aware of their driving regulations, failure to do so is an on the spot fine. We take a radio/CD player too.

Do a bit of research into the area so you know whats about, although the couriers are very good and there's usually a welcome book in the tent with details of local attractions and directions.

They have so much for the DC to do at their sites, ours are 2 and 4 and had an absolute blast (they still talk about it now, almost a year later!).

will pop out to get snazzy toilet bag!! lol thanks. Really looking forward to it

Ooh, watching this thread as I was just about to post the exact same question...it's our first Eurocamp holiday this year, too! I used to go as a child and thought it'd be a great holiday for the dcs, now the reality of camping with a 2 and 4 year old is beginning to dawn on me I'm getting a little nervous

Nimbs, if you do find the 'Keycamp newbie' thread mentioned by oosabeauta, please could you post it here, I've had a quick search and can't find it so far, thanks!

Hi WindUpBird, have just seen your message and don't know if this'll help you find the rest of the thread, but when I went into 'search' and put in 'dinkystinky' for nickname and 'keycamp newbie' for words to search for, it came up with the thread I'd mentioned, and this is the start of it that I've copied and pasted in, in case it makes it more findable! HTH

"Any advice for a Keycamp newbie???
(33 Posts)
Add message | Report | Contact poster By dinkystinky Thu 18-Mar-10 15:33:38
DH has booked us (me him DS1 aged 4 and DS2 aged 1) 10 days in Keycamp (La G-something) in August. Staying in a mobile home thingy. Any advice from seasoned Keycampers on ways to make the most of holiday and things to avoid (e.g. is the arrival welcome pack worth getting) would be much appreciated!"

we've been on loads of Eurocamp/similar hols but mobile homes, tho am sure tents are as well equipped as the mobile homes. Maybe facial wipes/wet wipes/ dry shampoo/travel mirror for wet/cold days you can't face the trek to the shower block. Not sure whether the tents have camping loos, if not, would invest in portable potty/liners. I take a bottle of Stardrops with us, as it will do for handwash/washing up liquid/general cleaning.
When DCs were younger, used to take plastic cups/plates/bowls to save cost of replacement of the breakable variety. Also take pegs, lots of uses beyond pegging out washing. Which site are you going to (we're also going to a French Eurocamp site this year)

Ooh, thank you, that's great! We're going to Trinite sur Mer near Carnac, hope it's good!

its a beautiful area. did you do a post asking where to visit there - as there was one the other day i responded to?

WindUpBird--its our favourite place!!
Got to go now but will pop back on later--we tend to take a few of our favourite kitchen things like tinopener ,knife etc but we are a bit fussy!!

Where in Trite are you going to? We wil be in a Eurocamp static at Camping de la Baie from 28 May to 7 June.

Hopefully the weather will be good as DS is going to be 8 on the 4th June and has asked for a body / boogie board for the waves.

ebayaddict We're going to de la Baie too! But in a tent.....with a 4 and 2 year-old, I'm a bit apprehensive about how badly they'll sleep! Dithering about whether to take duvets or sleeping bags. We're going from 18 June for about 8 days, then somewhere in Normandy for a few days before home.
Dreamingofsun no, I didn't start a post but I saw it!

We went in a tent 3 years ago when they were 5 & 3. The blankets that Eurocamp provide are nice and thick but we took duvets as well.

If you fold them up and put them at the veryy bottom of the boot they get squashed flat my everything on top - so don't take up much room.

Site looks really lovely

I would second the snazzy toilet bag - the French ladies all trip about with their leather vanity cases and made me feel like a scruffy tosspot with my Morrisons carrier bag

I found the Eurocamp beds to be v.comfy indeed. We took sleeping bags - I'm a bit dubious about other folks bedding

Having the fridge in the tent is a slice of heaven, as is the cooker. We had a great trip to Burgundy a couple of years ago If you like to do any cooking, then take your own knives - theirs will be blunt I imagine. I also take foil & clingfilm - helps prevent the almighty smell of the lush French cheese from transfering to everything else in the fridge

Would second the advice about French driving laws - off the top of my head you'll need to have a warning triangle, and a reflective vest for every person travelling in the car - something of this nature. Check your car manual to see if you can adjust your headlights for driving on the other side of the road - if you can't, then you'll need to get stickers. You have to display a GB badge unless your number plate shows the EU flag. Erm, can't think of owt else off the top of my head.

Washing line and a few pegs. Can't do without it. Normally can find a couple of trees nearby to wrap it round.

Your own tea bags. Lipton Yellow is about the best you can get in France and its not good.

Hi! We've been a few times to eurocamp/keycamp/canvas.

One wee money saving tip. Don't pay for the welcome pack that has washing up liquid but look at what is included in the pack and make up your own to bring.

this means you don't end up having to buy big bottles of washing up liquid, handwash etc. once you get there as this can be expensive!

It's also worth stopping at a Supermarket on route to get some essentials even if it delays you by half an hour. It saves you spending loads on the basics in the campsite shop before you get out the next day.

Enjoy - we love it!

Hi,
We've been camping in France with children since before no.1 could walk. It is good fun but can be quite hard work (dont delude yourself!). We think the most important things to take are:

• your common sense - it is obvious but so many people forget to pack this one. Camping means that it will be dark at night so take a torch. Make sure that sharp knives are put away etc etc
• your sense of adventure - camping whether with your own kit or Eurocamp's should be a bit of an adventure. Let the children stay up late - look at the stars, go for a promenade. Eat ice-cream at 10 o'clock at night. You're abroad, live differently for the duration. If you share that sense with your children they will pick up on it.
• your sense of humour - things will go a bit pear shaped from time-to-time. It's funny, laugh!

On a more practical note we take:

• a sharp knife because theirs are always blunt.
• a warm fleece or similar for the evenings
• a torch
• plenty of really fluffy towels. It's a real luxury to step out of a campsite shower into it.
• take a good guide book - the michelin green guides are excellent.

If near Carnac dont miss the standing stones. The guide mentioned above also detailed a row of stones away from the big site. They were in a wood and totally quiet - magical!

As NIKat says - enjoy!

Hi,
This info is brilliant - we are going keycamp, La Grande Metaire near Carnac in July (mobile home). First time with this kind of holiday so really excited!

Was wondering about the kids clubs, DC are 6, 4 & 2.5 - will they get value from the clubs....I'm kinda banking on it and looking forward to reading a few books myself while they're busy. Am I deluding myself??

Hi Arabella

Quite by chance I had the Keycamp brochure to hand. Kids clubs are great but do be aware that only your 6 year old can actually be left at the club. You will have to stay with your younger two. There should be somewhere to sit but sloping off isnt allowed.

Whether children enjoy the clubs or not depends on their personalities and on the kids courier (tend to be best on larger sites). We found with our lot that they did have fun and made friends who they then played with at the pools and playgrounds outside club sessions.

While kids are at the clubs parents arent allowed to leave the site but we would always be able to find something to do while the children were being entertained! While the clubs are in operation the campsite is strangely empty. This is not the time to go calling on your new friends unless invited!

This type of holiday is great with children. It gets easier as they get older. It is a great opportunity to slowly give children a little bit of freedom in a safe environment.

The only constraint you need to put on children is to ensure that they respect other people's privacy - this means sticking to their own pitch and also being quiet around tents especially in the morning. Tent dwellers tend to get up a bit later than mobile dwellers.

We did a 'Super tent' a couple of years ago , we flew down to south of france so didn't want to take lots.

Super tents are fitted out with everything including decent fridge, we also had BBQ, so did alot of cooking on that.

We paid extra for bedding and towels to be provided , inlcuding beach towels .

We did take torch , sharp knife, our own tea bags (earl grey ), own mugs ( french ones alwayd designed for expressos )matches.

insect repelent etc etc

Most stuff howvever you can get on site.