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Original poster

If you did Eurocamp for many years...

18 replies

Acunningruse · 01/08/2022 08:27

... and then had a package/hotel/ all inclusive holiday, which did you prefer?

DCs will be 10 and 6 next year. We have loved our Eurocamp holidays and the amount of privacy and independence. However there is still the meal planning and washing up etc that comes with self catering. Also next year Eurocamp is coming out at an extra £1500 for the same holiday
So we are looking at an AI where perhaps we could manage costs better. But worried it won't be for us.

Any thoughts from people who've made the switch?
Thanks

OP posts:

Middledazedted · 01/08/2022 08:30

We went the other way and took our own tent. The savings cover meals out!

courtrai · 01/08/2022 08:32

Have you looked at booking direct with campsite rather than via eurocamp. This always used to give me a fairly substantial saving.

We eurocamped when DC were little and then did a few AI. The DC loved the AI; me not so much but it did give me more time to actually relax as I didn't have the cleaning/cooking of a self catering holiday

2catsand2kids · 01/08/2022 09:52

We’ve done both and I love both! The AI is more relaxing and the kids loved the kids clubs but we made sure we were in a really good AI and the food was excellent. I saw far less of the local culture when at the AI and missed trying different restaurants. Overall doing the AI has been cheaper and more relaxing but I would very happily do both kinds of holiday again. We are currently debating what to do next summer and AI would definitely be cheaper but can’t decide!

Ragwort · 01/08/2022 10:16

I was a total snob about AI until we tried it (Neilson) - was fantastic after years of Eurocamp & SC holidays .... but Neilson holidays are not cheap.

Original poster

Acunningruse · 04/08/2022 13:02

Thanks for this! Sounds like both have their pros and cons, as I suspected. Really can't decide what to do next year and no idea how to narrow options down tbh!

OP posts:

Hollyhead · 04/08/2022 13:06

We did AI this year and agree it’s relaxing but also quite soulless. I wish there was a half board all inclusive option where you got breakfast, lunch and drinks AI but could go out for dinner. We were fortunate enough to be able to pay for a couple of meals out too which helped, but there was something about the AI ‘food factory’ that was a bit meh - and this was a high quality AI resort.

NCTDN · 05/08/2022 22:00

For me the campsites win because of the freedom children get on the campsite. We got bored with the choice of food after a few days AI.

APMom6 · 05/08/2022 23:37

We did eurocamp from 2000 till 2019 (some other holidays different years), again in 2021 for a week but went all out this year to Canada in various hotels. Next year dd will ge living in South of France so will visit her but then do a week on a campsite. I just love the freedom, we can cook or eat out, chill at pool or do day trips. We did have 6 kids with us for many years but next year ds age 20 will come along with ds aged 16.

Ricepops · 06/08/2022 09:40

Question for PPs - what age were your children when you stopped going on Eurocamp holidays? We're going for the first time this year with kids aged almost 8 and 5. We had planned to go when they were younger but the pandemic ruined that.

TizerorFizz · 06/08/2022 10:47

We did a Mark Warner holiday after Eurocamp. It was Awful. Never again. Just awful food and pretty awful parents! A1 was never going to happen again even if DC liked the clubs and activities. If you like making your own decisions, you will find it regimented with unimaginative food. If it’s miles from anywhere and you don’t have a car, it’s dire too. It suits families who don’t want to explore and only want what’s at the resort to max out value for money. I’d try a tent over that. Go to France and buy bread and cheese!

ArcticSkewer · 06/08/2022 10:54

As another poster says, move away from Eurocamp to direct booking or using another company if you just want to save £ but still camp/caravan.
Look at where Eurocamp are based then see if, for example, yelloh have spots there, or see what it's like direct booking. A lot of other companies actually have better vans in better locations on the same parks.

We tried AI when the kids were older. I did really love it for a totally hassle free holiday but I wouldn't do it all the time

SkankingWombat · 06/08/2022 11:32

Ricepops · 06/08/2022 09:40

Our DCs are 6 and 8yo. We are doing Eurocamp this year and have taken them every year since 2017 when DD2 was 11mo. IMO they are currently at the younger end of 'perfect' for the style of holiday and won't out grow it for a number of years yet. They loved it when they were younger too, but will get much more out of it this year. They will both be old enough to play out with the other kids, inc cycling around site on their bikes, and DD1 will be able to go to the shop to buy bread and sweets alone (though sadly not wine, which would be pretty useful!).

OP I agree with others about booking direct/with other companies, but it is also worth considering booking a proper camping pitch directly with the site and taking a tent if you have one. On the site we are staying with this year, this option is 1/3 cheaper and the shower/toilet block and washing up facilities etc are a lot nicer than the many UK camp sites we've stayed at.

NCTDN · 06/08/2022 14:05

We did this with our own caravan until the children were 14&16. We only stopped because we sold the caravan as it wasn't being used for weekends in the uk. Then Covid hit. I think we'd do it again though even with other children

AngelsWithSilverWings · 06/08/2022 15:10

We did Eurocamo for years when the kids were younger and loved it. Loved the freedom and always picked a site that was a good base to explore the region on day trips out in the car.

We then bought our own tent and camped in the UK every summer for a few years and loved that too.

Was persuaded to try an all inclusive resort by a friend who loves them. We hated it from the start. Nice food and the kids loved being able to help themselves but I just felt so claustrophobic. I missed my outside deck that comes with Eurocamp or just the sitting outside the tent of an evening on our UK camping trips.

In the end we hired a car half way though the week and went off exploring. My friend was horrified that we'd left the resort!

Swore we'd never do another and then circumstances led us to being in an all inclusive in Dubai one February half term. On the second day we escaped again and went off exploring. Enjoyed it overall but just don't like how busy and noisy it is being with so many other people.

The last few years we've hired villas in Corfu - perfection. We try out different beaches and bays and either eat out or buy salads and tapas style food and bread to enjoy on the terrace of an evening.

This year due to having our villa holiday cancelled because of the flight disruption ( literally as we were leaving for the airport) we ended up panic booking an all inclusive to Croatia with a days notice . Loved the area but the hotel was soul destroying and I just hated being around so many other people all fighting for the limited space on the beach/ around the pool or at the restaurant.

We will never ever as long as I live book an all inclusive again. Ever.

I'm sure if you book very very high end resorts you will have a better experience ( out Dubai hotel was 5 star and nothing to complain about but I just don't like the vibe)

Next year we are booking a UK campsite and taking our trusty air tent out for its final two week holiday before our DC 16 and 14 refuse to camp anymore. They've allowed us one more trip as long as we go with our camping friends who have kids the same age.

Remmy123 · 07/08/2022 08:35

I went to the eurocamp outside Paris it was bloody awful!!!!

HotInMajorca · 07/08/2022 08:43

We’ve an only Ds and always did french and Italian campsites when he was younger. Normally booked direct with the site and a mix of mobile homes and taking our own tent. Perfect for an only as he made loads of friends. Covid put a stop to our last planned trip when he was 12 and tbh he’s grown up so much since then I think now at 14 he’s too old.

We are doing an AI this year and I love the simplicity of the food and drink. No trekking to the supermarket, no deciding where and what to eat. I also like having less worries about getting here etc being a package. Ds though is refusing to talk to anyone but I think that’s his age!

I think the key is the resort you choose and the hotel. But it will end up pricey for anything decent

Enola30 · 07/02/2023 17:17

Wow you must have really enjoyed your Eurocamp holidays? At which parc did you go on your first holiday?

MissAmbrosia · 07/02/2023 19:42

I hate AI as half the fun on holiday is deciding what and where to eat. I still prefer SC to hotels as I do not want to get ready to go out for food every single night in a row for a week or more. I prefer the mix. Pool day - night out. Day out sight seeing - takeaway or knock up a salad/BBQ something. I love being able to have a shower/chill/drink wine without having to get dressed up to go out, even if that means cooking something. Often there is a lovely market to buy things, or a takeaway on site. The thought of a holiday buffet 3 times a day is beyond depressing. We have alternated Eurocamp with gite complexes/apartments over the years.

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