Eurocamp (Italy) - tips and advice please

[KeepingItReal2017]

After many years of resort style hotels in Europe we are finally trying a Eurocamp this summer with our two children. We are travelling to Bella Italia on the shore of Lake Garda and having 4 nights here (the rest of our trip will be Verona and Venice).

What tips and advice can you give for a smoother and more enjoyable stay at Eurocamp pls? We’re in a premium holiday home with AC. Have booked for bedding and towels. Planning to eat out for all meals except for the kids brekkie and occasional lunches. after researching I think we should take the following:

• extra beach towels
• kitchen wipes
• kitchen towel
• washing up liquid
• anti bug spray
• hand soap

Are the beds sometimes a bit grubby? A number of reviews flag hit and miss cleanliness. Should we take our own bedding just in case or maybe the thin sleeping bags? Or is this overkill for four nights?

Thank you

I definitely wouldn’t take your own bedding. You’re paying for them to supply it, if it’s no good, complain and get fresh linen. Sleeping bags would be horrendous in continental Europe in summer. Like roasting bags!

Personally I wouldn’t take any of the items on your list; I’d buy any necessary cleaning supplies there - all these big campsites have well stocked shops.

Do they not provide a beach towel each? Every caravan package holiday I’ve been on has provided suitable bath stuff including shower towels and a beach towel eeach.

IME Eurocamo lodges are clean but small. But you’ll probably be out and about a lot so it shouldn’t be a problem. They often have dishwashers and the kind of coffee machines with filter papers. I found coffees to be expensive in Italy so it’s good to have some in the lodge. Have a good trip.

I would take (I'm in a eurocamp rn) one of those padded mattress covers. I always forget and the mattresses are a bit plasticky. Take a few dishwasher tablets as well and you'll probably need to provide soap. If you're only there a few days it's annoying to e.g. buy a whole pack of dishwasher tablets.

Oh you’ll have the best time! I’d only take anything that you need small amounts of like the poster before has said around dishwasher tablets, everything else you can buy there. The premiums usually have an nespresso pod machine so you can take some of those. The shops on site usually do a great selection of pastries for breakfast. Beach towels you can pay to add on, probably better doing that than taking up more luggage space but if you can fit them in them go for it. Bedding was fine in my experience.

How old are your kids? If they’re young then recommend children’s museum in Verona. Gardaland is fab. Use the ferries to hop to different places on the lake rather than buses.

Thank you! Children are 4 and 6. Now I think about it we are really there to explore the area as much as the kiddos allow, so perhaps I shouldn’t worry too much about the accommodation! But also don’t want the faff of having to stock up on lots when there. Thank you for the tips

I agree about dishwasher tablets and coffee/ pods. They are always irritating to have to buy, and expensive. Cleaning stuff is fine and you can get away with a cloth plus some Fairy for 4 days.

And I agree, caravan sites are the absolute best with little kids.

Be interested in your feedback OP, we're thinking about this one for next year.

You don’t need your own bedding- they’ll have a laundry if needed but doubt you’ll need it

Sorry to jump on this, I really want to visit this eurocamp. Are you flying or taking the ferry? I'm just after a bit of travel advice as I can't work out the better option!

We went to this one last year. Enormous site. Kids loved the lake but the one thing you definitely need are shoes to wear in it - we had to buy crocs to go in as it would have been unbearable otherwise. Good shop there and lovely reasonable pizza place. Really nice walk along the prom to the town. We stayed in a safari tent and it was the heat that was the problem for us but if you've got air-con, it's fine. There were two quite lengthy power cuts while we were there, not sure whether that's specific to the site or area but I'd pack or buy torches and candles.

We’re flying to Verona & then it’s a really short taxi / car hire (25mins) to the site. We’re staying in Verona city first as our flight arrives late, plus I’ve never been to a Eurocalp before so felt like breaking the week up in the city before the campsite was a good idea for us. We’ve booked the premier AC mobile home. Happy to report back in 6 weeks!

Thank you for the reply! We have AC in our accommodation so hoping that’s ok for us all. We have crocs and the kids usually take these on hols as a good option for around the pool. Would these be ok? And do you think I have to take mine? Or would flip flops be ok?

was the pool super busy? I’ve read about people fighting for space! We’d likely explore on the morning and then be in the pool for the afternoon heat.

"Thank you for the reply! We have AC in our accommodation so hoping that’s ok for us all. We have crocs and the kids usually take these on hols as a good option for around the pool. Would these be ok? And do you think I have to take mine? Or would flip flops be ok?

was the pool super busy? I’ve read about people fighting for space! We’d likely explore on the morning and then be in the pool for the afternoon heat."

Yes, air-con is key. It was so hot when we went that the fan just wasn't cutting it!

I'd definitely get something that will stay on your feet like Crocs rather than flip/flops - lots were wearing beach shoes that were a bit like socks with rubber soles.

Yes, the pool was very busy. We went a few times to play in it for an hour in the afternoon but it wasn't really somewhere I could relax and only once managed to get a lounger there so we would do a bit of time in the pool then go back to the loungers at the accommodation. We all enjoyed the lake so much more that we tended to go there instead. It was really lovely to get back from a walk to the town and then nip into the lake to cool down.

That's amazing thank you so much, will definitely get looking at this today!!

Hey @KeepingItReal2017 I'm heading to Bella Italia next week and came across your post. Any extra tips you can share now you've been? Did you see anywhere to buy Nespresso pods or take your own in the end?

Heya! We had a short but lovely stay. Here are my tips….

• Take swimming caps so you can have access to the quiet pool
• Download films etc onto your devices at home as no WiFi in chalets and signal isn’t great on the site
• take anti Mosquito spray from home & buy the coil from supermarket to burn by decking as lots of mossies
• Take a separate bag for swim wear & towels so can swim if arrive before check in
• Pool is quiet in the mornings & again late afternoon. We always found loungers even when busy, but if struggle there’s a section that’s really quiet & you hire 2 loungers and a brolly for 5Euro
• On site supermarket is good for shopping if don’t have a car to go to nearby Lidl etc
• pack some swim shoes for the lake were good as the shore is pebbly (Aldi and mountain warehouse currently sell them)
• Thursday fireworks around 10:00pm on the lake, you can see from the campsite / pub / lake etc
• pack a tea towel or 2
• it gets cool after a thunderstorm or rain so pack a jumper!

Thanks @KeepingItReal2017 , really helpful tips! 😁😎