Eurocamp

[FramptonRose]

I have considered doing a Eurocamp for some years but always thought I would end up hating it and paying near enough what we would have paid to go to a hotel etc.

I would really like to do one in Spain or Italy as opposed to France. Has anyone got any recommendations.
My biggest question is if we fly there, will we get away with not hiring a car or is it a must?

I would like to do maybe 5 days at Easter.

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Update from MNHQ

If you’re short on time, here’s a summary of the best Eurocamp sites Mumsnetters are recommending on this thread:

😎Union Lido, Venetian Coast, Italy

😎Sanguli, Costa Dorada, Spain

😎Marina Di Venezia, Venetian Coast, Italy

😎Le Pianacce, Tuscany, Italy

😎Altomincio Family Park, Lake Garda, Italy

For more inspo, check out our guides to the best Eurocamp sites for families, the best Eurocamp sites in France, the best Eurocamp sites in Italy and the best Eurocamp sites in Spain.

We went to two in Tuscany and had a great time. Not sure how you would get there from the airport without a hire car? When you are on the site you wouldn’t need a car if you were happy to buy all your food from the onsite shop but you will end up paying more for it.

Ahh thank you.
I am happy to hire a car but didn't want to book it all, hire a car only to realise it works out more expensive than if we had just booked a package at a hotel with transfers.

Did you find the people staying there nice, we had a holiday last year in a pretty decent hotel with good reviews and it was horrendous, drunk parents, kids roaming around the pool unsupervised. We ended up with extra kids tagging on with ours constantly and it was just a bit rubbish for what we had paid.

Did you find it quite relaxing?
Were you near a beach?

Sorry for all the questions, just really trying to convince DH this would be a good idea and I can imagine me booking it mucking up and everyone hating it for the week!

Eurocamp has a list of sites you can do without a car. www.eurocamp.co.uk/travel-and-extras/travelling-by-plane/car-free-holidays

Look on tripadvisor for the individual parks.

It depends which one you go to. Some are near town and some not and you'd need a car. The Parc info says whether a car is essential or not. Definitely less drunk parents etc than a package hotel holiday. I'm surprised it's coming out as expensive as a hotel though!

La chapelle parc you don't need a car. You can walk into the town and beach. It's in France though.

We did Eurocamp for years- up until 2 years ago when we became brave enough to take our own tent!

We have always loved them. We've stayed in their most basic tent, safari tent and mobile homes with a/c.

The site we used in Italy, we flew, then did a taxi transfer. We used the shops on site, and used public transport if we were leaving the site to visit the market or major tourist attraction.. Have returned here many times and have many happy memories.

People there always been lovely. Never seen any drunken antics, and in any case the sites are strict and will soon be along to issue warnings to anyone being rowdy or loud. My children have made friends with kids from all over Europe- language has never been a problem. Although the Dutch and danish children speak amazing English.

We still use the same site in France now that we discovered through Eurocamp. Lovely like-minded families, lots to do during the day, at night we could put the kids to bed, then sit on our decking with a bottle of wine.

Thank you for the info.

I have so many friends that have been and loved it, so I guess I should take the plunge, if it saves money, than great!

The only reason I was avoiding France is the weather, would like to have some guaranteed sunshine and I know April would be very hit and miss in France and knowing my luck it would rain the week we book it :)

Thank you winesolveseverything
That is very reassuring. I don't think I am brave enough for the tent yet, we will start with a mobile home with AC and work from there.
Which one in Italy did you to, if you don't mind me asking?

We've done lots of different Eurocamp sites and it's always been fine. Easter is early April this year, you couldn't guarantee warm weather even in Italy or Spain, so I wouldn't bank on swimming pools etc. For 5 days in April, to be honest, I would go for a hotel. 2 weeks in the Summer it would be fab.

It depends what you want to do. Kids ages? Budget? One of the European center parcs or Landal.com might be a better bet at Easter. Or something like Duinrell?

We've been to loads in Italy and some in Spain, we've often done May half term and the campsites would just be properly opening up then.

@FramptonRose

The site in Italy is Union Lido. I'm biased but it is amazing. I've been going since I was a child. But there are other great sites in that region too. Have also been to Baia Domizia in the Naples region which was good for visiting Pompei. We hired a car for this one though.

I'd advise checking out the other tour operators too- we have sometimes gone with Canvas holidays which are equally as good. Compare the prices and go for the cheapest option. Also see if booking direct with the site via their website is an option- can be cheaper still... 😀

Would echo what some of the pp have said- would probably aim for May half term onwards for campsites.. Easter might be a little early and a little chilly...

If you are considering Union lido I'd price up bolero holidays as they have lovely accommodation in better more central location and when we booked early it was also similar price.
We had a lovely holiday there and you really don't need a car

We've also been to Union Lido and had a fab week without leaving the site - plenty to do - and got a transfer from the airport. You can get the bus to Venice etc if you feel the need to explore. We went in June though. I am booked to go to Sorrento, so much further south, at Easter and have been told it's unlikely the pool will be open.

Thank so much everyone for the great advice. Will look into all recommendations and definitely look at May Half term.
I was getting a little ahead of myself with the Easter plans.
Just want to get my feet on the ground in one so we can consider it for a summer option. We seem to either be spending silly money on summer holidays or simply not going due to cost and DH being super picky!

It really depends on what you want. I haven't done a package holiday in years. I hate the idea of big hotels with buffet dinners etc. We have done a big mix of cheap flights/driving with apartments, Eurocamp, French gites with shared pool, the odd villa with own pool. Do you want kids clubs for example?

We are looking really to try something new, I am sick of paying silly money for package all inclusive's as I actually do not like them very much, more DHs thing.

We don't use the kids clubs really.

The Eurocamps have appealed to me as they look fun and a bit more relaxed than the package hotels.

I am really going to take the plunge this year!

Have you looked at Dunriell in Holland in the low season you get into the massive pool complex free and the whole amusement park is free for every ride all year round. Really good value and loads to do. you can hire bikes and cycle to the beach.

We have been told about Dunreill so many times. We were going to go last summer. Definitely on my list.

I am really excited now. I feel like I have been missing out all these years!

One other question, if anyone is still following this, if you fly over do you pack food, like coffee, jams etc to save you buying it or is it easier just to buy all of that over there.

We always take tea coffee sugar, jam is pretty plentiful so never taken that but have taken packet soups/noodles/rice mixes to start off with. A lot of sites have bikes you can hire so you can get into the local shops and buy food cheaper then in the site. At Dunreill there is an Aldi in the local town I have been to but it wasn't up to the standard of our Aldis. But there's a mini market at the site and a pub and takeways so you can always get something to eat.

We always take squash (the little squeezey ones that are tiny) as it's non existent in Italy it would seem, healthy cereals as Kellogg's very expensive and own brand seem to be of the sugary varieties, baked beans (their variety are not nice), and some savoury rice and couscous. Tea bags too.

Also packed cling film, foil, sandwich bags.
And cleaning stuff like cloths and tea towels and a scourer or 2 purely for cleaning the BBQ. I also take a cheap pvc tablecloth for the outside table which gave an instant clean surface to eat off and easy to wipe down afterwards. But then I'm a little bit of a clean freak.

Bear in mind, this was mostly due to us staying for 2-3 weeks, and also having 23kg of baggage EACH when we flew which we definitely didn't need!!

We alternated between BBQs with salad/rice/couscous, (kids ate baked beans), pasta with sauce as there were lots to choose from, the odd takeaway pizza and eating out. Lots of fresh bread from bakery too.

Hope this helps...

Brilliant, thank you for the food advice. Definitely good to know before we set off anywhere.
Have been on the web any spare minute I have had today pricing places up.

Really looking forward to it now.

We went to marina di venezia last May half term and had a great week. We flew to treviso and got the bus that stops at all the campsites then used the bus and ferry for day trips. Pool, beach and play areas would have kept the kids happy all well though! Shop on site and one over the road that was cheaper. We didn't take any food (only paid for 1 hold bag between 4!) And hired bedding and towels. Think it was canvas that we booked through. The prosecco was very cheap and very drinkable We're flying to Pisa and going to a site near there this year...