Thinking about a Eurocamp holiday with your toddler? Ask our experts

[EllieSmumsnet]

Planning a break with a little one comes with plenty of questions, from nap times and mealtimes to splash pools, playgrounds and what your days might really look like on camp. Whether you’re curious about accommodation layouts and what you need to pack, available facilities for toddlers, or simply want travel tips and honest advice from a fellow parent, we’re here to help.

To help you feel confident and excited about your family holiday, we’ve combined two experts: Michelle, a Eurocamp representative who knows the parks inside out, and Breanne from Family Camping Europe, a mum who’s experienced many camping holidays first-hand with her own little ones.

Drop your questions in the comments by 13/04 and our experts will reply with friendly, practical answers. Plus, you’ll be in with a chance to win a £200 VEX voucher – T&Cs here.

About Michelle Troy:
Michelle Troy is Head of CRM at Eurocamp and has worked for the company for 12 years. She has been going on outdoor holidays since she was a child, and has continued the tradition at Eurocamp parcs with her own family since her little girl (now 3) was a baby.

About Breanne Lovatt:
"I’m Breanne Lovatt, the creator of Family Camping Europe. I help UK families plan European camping and outdoor holidays through honest reviews and practical tips. I’ve taken my two daughters (now 3 and 6) on many Eurocamp holidays across France and beyond since they were babies, so I’ve got plenty of real-life experience of what works when travelling with toddlers."

A typical day on a Eurocamp holiday with a toddler is surprisingly relaxed and a lot more flexible than you might expect.

We tend to choose a parc with multiple pool complexes and direct beach access, which made planning our days really easy. Mornings usually started with either the pool or the beach, making the most of the cooler early hours before the midday heat kicked in.

Nap times were very much ‘go with the flow.’ Some days, our toddler would happily nap in her pushchair while we had a stroll and grabbed a drink. Other days, we’d head back to our accommodation for a proper nap in the provided cot, giving us time to enjoy lunch on the decking of our holiday home.

In terms of entertainment, we didn’t feel like we needed to plan much at all. Between the pools and the beach, there was more than enough to keep her happy. There’s also evening entertainment available, and we found it easy to adapt. If there was something we really wanted to see, we’d just allow for a slightly longer nap and a later bedtime. One of the joys of being on holiday is letting go of the usual routine a little.

Meals were equally easy to manage. Eurocamp is self-catering so gives us loads of flexibility. We would typically have breakfast at our holiday home, bought from either the on-site bakery or shop. For lunch and dinner, we mix it up depending on how the day is going, sometimes eating in and other times heading out.

We never struggled to find toddler-friendly dining options, and when she was bottle feeding, we brought formula with us which made things straightforward (you can carry 2000ml milk in hand luggage on flights so the usual 100ml doesn’t apply which is great!)

Overall, Eurocamp is a really easy, enjoyable way to holiday with a toddler - plenty to do, but with the freedom to take everything at your own pace.

Ahhh the holiday nap…

We usually either stick loosely to our normal routine or go with travel naps in the car, buggy, or carrier, and then bring bedtime forward.

The excitement definitely doesn’t always help with sleep, despite all that running around! We’ve found white noise and keeping a familiar bedtime routine makes a big difference.

We normally try to stay out for at least one evening so we don’t miss things like mini discos or entertainment, and just plan that on a day when naps have gone well.

A typical day for us looks something like:

Wake up, slow start
Grab fresh bread and croissants from the on-parc shop for breakfast
Head out for a coffee or a short trip to a nearby town
Back for lunch and naps
Pool time in the afternoon
Transition out with an ice cream break (non-negotiable!)
A quick run around the park/playground
Early dinner for the children
Calm time at the holiday home, showers & bedtime
Then a relaxed dinner and drink outside for us

It’s very flexible, which is what makes it work so well.

Eurocamp doesn’t offer formal childcare for younger children, but many of our parcs have free kids’ clubs for ages 4+ which can be a great option for older kids. Our kids clubs for ages 0-4 require parental supervision.

That said, lots of parents find it still feels like a bit of a break. With everything so close by, it’s easy to take turns having a bit of downtime while the other watches the little one, or just enjoy more relaxed mornings together while they play on the decking.

This was something I really wanted too!

Eurocamp is more of a shared parenting holiday unless you bring a friend or family member along to help out, but there are free kids clubs for older kids (ages 4+).

I completely get the appeal though, even just one quiet morning together would feel like a luxury!

Maybe this is an idea for the future…?

Thank you for being such a loyal guest over the years, it’s wonderful to hear your children loved their stays so much they eventually worked with us!

We are truly sorry your recent trip with your grandchildren didn't live up to those memories. Please rest assured that the issues you encountered are not the standard we uphold, nor are they typical of the Eurocamp experience.

While we’re glad to hear a partial refund was issued, we know it doesn't make up for the disappointment. We’ve used your feedback to address site management at La Grande Métairie to ensure our family-first atmosphere remains protected.

We hope you'll give us another chance to welcome you back and provide the high-quality holiday your family deserves!

Honestly, I don’t think there’s a bad time to go, especially with young children who love making new friends.

We’ve travelled both early and late in the season (outside of school holidays), and one of the things that really stood out was how naturally children connect, no matter when you go.

One of my favourite holiday memories was watching my daughter at the playground and mini disco, playing happily with children of all different nationalities - no language barriers, just lots of laughter and fun!

If your main goal is little ones making friends, school holidays are always the easiest time for that. Even if your child isn’t of school age yet there will always be families with young children there at that time of year.

However, June is usually quite a sweet spot depending on the parc you book. If you pick somewhere that’s more toddler-focused you’ll generally find plenty of young families and you won’t have to pay school holiday prices.

I’ve also recently seen that Eurocamp have just started themed toddler weeks, so the sites that offer those will be more appealing to other young families, and your own little ones can join in too!

Earlier in the season can be quieter, which is nice in its own way, but you may find fewer children around and less facilities open.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

You can find Eurocamp parcs in really beautiful locations across Europe, making it more about the destination as well as the parc itself.

You can have the experience of a resort style holiday (think huge waterpaks, plenty of on-site eateries and entertainment) but with the added bonus of exploring new places, trying local food and experiencing a different culture.

Even the journey becomes part of the adventure - whether that’s the excitement of a ferry (and being able to pack everything but the kitchen sink!) or heading off to the airport.

I think this comes from what Eurocamp used to be known for, rather than what it is now.

The accommodation these days are much more like little holiday homes, with proper kitchens and bathrooms, private decking spaces, and room for children to move around safely.

The main difference compared to something like Center Parcs is the setting and flexibility. You’re often in really beautiful parts of Europe near beaches, lakes, or vineyards, and you can explore the local area as much or as little as you like.

It feels more like a “proper holiday away” rather than a short break 30 minutes down the road, and often works out better value too.

If you are after a similar nature and activity focused vibe, then I’d have a look at Domaine des Ormes. We stayed there recently and I was really impressed by the activities on offer.

Day-to-day routines are really manageable because you’ve got your own space, so it feels very “home from home.”

Things like cots, highchairs and baby baths can all be pre-booked (and are free), so you can stick to your usual routine if you want to. That said, we often flexe things a bit on holiday - later naps or bedtimes if we had evening plans, or earlier nights if we had a busy day ahead. Having your own holiday home with separate bedrooms gives you that freedom.

In terms of the setup, it’s very toddler-friendly. Everything is on one level - you’ve got your own outdoor space, and most decking areas have safety gates, which gives a more peace of mind.

For day-to-day life, most of our parcs have everything you need close by - splash pools, playgrounds, shaded areas, and some even have their own beach! We tend to do mornings and late afternoons out and about, then head back during the hottest part of the day for naps and a bit of downtime on our private decking. Some days naps were on the go in the pushchair while we explored local towns. It’s really easy to mix it up depending on your plans.

Packing-wise, a pram sunshade and a clip-on fan were absolute lifesavers for us for on-the-go naps.

My top tip would be to take an extra swimsuit to the pool with you, toddlers hate putting a cold, wet one back on! The other thing that worked really well for us was to hire bikes to get round the parc. Ours had a baby seat and a basket for our bags, and it made getting around really easy (plus it turned leaving the pool into something to look forward to, rather than a meltdown!).

One of the things I really love about these types of holidays is how child-friendly the accommodation is. There’s very little for little ones to grab, pull over or break, which makes it feel much more relaxed compared to some Airbnbs we’ve stayed in that look beautiful, but aren’t easy with curious toddlers.

You can request things like cots, high chairs, baby baths, potties and changing mats when you book (for free!), which makes a big difference. We’ve always used the ones provided rather than bringing our own, purely for the convenience of not having to pack everything.

All parcs are slightly different, so activities really depend on where you go, but there are some fantastic toddler-friendly options with soft play areas, toddler-friendly playgrounds, and splash areas and paddling pools in the waterparks.

I loved Camping La Garangeoire in particular. It has a lovely open lawn area with a bouncy castle, and a toddler park with a baby swing right next to the older children’s playground, which worked really well for mixed ages. There’s also a small toddler pool, and the site itself isn’t too big, so it felt very manageable with a little one.

I’d definitely bring a few toys and books for quieter, low-stimulation time. It’s very easy for children to get overtired with everything going on. White noise has always been really helpful for us too, especially as evenings can be a bit livelier and bedtimes tend to run later for other families.

One thing I always recommend is a portable seat, like a Sack’n’Seat, for restaurants. Highchairs and straps can vary quite a bit, and it just makes eating out that little bit easier.

A typical day can be as relaxed or as busy as you want it to be.

You’ve got your own accommodation, so it feels like a ‘home-from-home’, and then everything else is on your doorstep - pools, restaurants, activities, and a lovely location to explore.

For teenagers, there’s actually loads to keep them entertained. Many of our holiday parcs have huge waterparks with slides (some even have wave pools and lazy rivers!), sports courts, bike hire, evening entertainment, and free teen clubs which create opportunities for them to meet other kids their age. It’s a really social environment, especially during the school holidays, so they tend to make friends quickly and have a bit of independence, which they love.

Eurocamp holiday parcs are a great place to let everyone do their own thing during the day, then come back together in the evening and spend time as a family.

It’s very different to what most people imagine when they hear “camping”.

You’ve got your own accommodation (think holiday home, not tent!), but with access to pools, restaurants, playgrounds, sports areas, and entertainment all on site.

For teenagers, the larger parcs especially have loads going on - sports, social areas, evening entertainment - so they’re not stuck doing younger children’s activities.

Take a look at La Croix du Vieux Pont, Duinrell & De Schatberg, all 3 offer a range of different activities for older children and teenagers.

Day-to-day life with little ones is really manageable because you’ve got your own space and separate bedrooms in your holiday home, so it feels very “home-from-home.” Naps can either happen back at the accommodation in a cot, or on the go in the pushchair if you’re out exploring. Meals are flexible too - you can stick to your usual routine or just go with the flow depending on your plans.

A typical day can be really relaxed. Mornings might be at the pool or beach while it’s cooler, then back to your accommodation for a nap and some downtime during the hottest part of the day.

Afternoons and evenings can be as chilled or busy as you like, and there’s often entertainment if you fancy it.

In terms of insects, it does depend on the location and time of year. We’ve never experienced anything too bad, but I’d always recommend packing some insect repellent just in case. Spiders haven’t been an issue in our experience.

For peace of mind, many parcs have access to medical support - some have an on-site doctor, and where they don’t, the on-site reps will point you to the nearest pharmacy or medical centre if needed.

Shops on parc usually stock all the essentials (including nappies and wipes). There are often larger supermarkets nearby too if you’re planning a bigger shop.

My top 3 tips would be:

1. take an extra swimsuit to the pool with you - toddlers hate putting a cold, wet one back on!
2. Bring a pram fan and sunshade for naps on the go.
3. Embrace a bit of flexibility - it’ll make the trip feel more relaxing!

We’ve been doing these holidays since our children were tiny, and now have a 6 and 3 year old, so I can definitely reassure you on this.

Your routine only has to change if you want it to. If you prefer to stick to your usual nap times and meals, you absolutely can. Having your own holiday home with a kitchen makes a big difference, you can cook what you like, eat when you like, and head back for naps whenever you need. I’ve definitely taken advantage of toddler nap time for a bit of a rest myself!

Some parcs are more prone to mosquitos than others, depending on their location and the time of year you go. Our 3 year old reacts quite badly to bites, so we always go prepared with repellent and creams, and make a note of where the nearest pharmacy is, just in case.

In most tourist areas you’ll find access to doctors quite easily, and in some places, particularly in Spain, there are even resident doctors on or near the campsites. It’s not something I’d be overly concerned about unless you have an underlying medical issue, in that case I’d note down where the nearest hospital/doctors are before I book.

If you choose a more rural, countryside site, you might come across the occasional spider, but nothing out of the ordinary. Coastal or more built-up areas tend to have fewer.

On-parc shops are really convenient but can be a bit more expensive than local supermarkets. In most cases, there’s a supermarket nearby, so we tend to do a mix of both. Supermarkets in France and Italy can feel a bit pricier than Spain, and the product range is slightly different. I remember struggling to find water wipes in France and spending far too long reading labels to find something similar, so if there’s anything specific you rely on, it’s worth bringing it with you.

It’s funny you say that, as I’m still a big fan of the tents myself, but I completely understand they’re not for everyone.

Eurocamp has definitely moved away from that original “tent-only” image on a lot of parcs, and their holiday homes have come a long way. They’re getting better every year in terms of comfort and layout, and little things like having a dishwasher make a huge difference on a family holiday.

It really just depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for, I personally wish there were still more tents, but with the added dishwasher luxury!

Eurocamp holidays are a great option for teens, as well as younger childen!

Many of our parcs have activites geared towards older kids like ziplines, treetop adventure courses and laser quest, as well as action-packed waterparks with lots of waterslides, wave pools, lazy rivers and more. There are also lots of parcs that have free teen clubs and organised activites for kids to meet others that are a similar age to them.

Our parcs are a great place to give teens a little freedom too - our holiday homes have private decking and separate bedrooms so they can have some space to themselves.

I'd recommend looking at the 'teenager-friendly holidays' page on our website, or filtering to 'Resorts' to find our most activity-packed holiday parcs, but some brilliant options include Duinrell in the Netherlands (which has it's own theme park!) or Terme Čatež in Slovenia.

I’m still holidaying with a 3 and 6 year old, so I’m not quite at the teenage stage yet, but I did go on these holidays myself as a teenager, so I can share that side of it (even if it’s a little dated!).

From my experience, the parcs with lots going on are always the best. I wasn’t massively into sports myself, but I loved things like the teen discos, waterslides, arcade, etc. So parcs with those tend to work really well. If your teenagers are more into sports, then sites with good sports facilities are likely to attract a similar age group and many of these parcs will arrange Summer tournaments.

When we stayed at Camping Le Vieux Port, it felt very aimed towards teenagers. There are good waterslides, a surf simulator, direct beach access, and loads of sports facilities, which were always busy with teenagers making friends.

If you go for a quieter, more basic campsite, they might get bored easier, so for a first trip I’d definitely lean towards somewhere with a bit more going on. The Eurocamp filters are really helpful for this, you can look for “Resorts” and even filter for parcs that are better suited to teenagers.

I’d recommend choosing a parc where everything is on your doorstep. Ideally with a pool, splash area, and within easy reach of a town or beach. That way you’re not relying on lots of planning or travel once you’re there, which really helps take the pressure off.

For our first trip, we chose SangulI in Salou, Spain for exactly those reasons, and it worked perfectly!

Packing-wise, a pram sunshade and a clip-on fan were absolute lifesavers for us for on-the-go naps. But try not to overpack - most essentials can be picked up locally if you need them.

Once you’re there, it really does feel much easier than you imagined beforehand.

Out of the parcs we’ve stayed on, these have been our favourites for toddlers:

Camping Sylvamar – amazing indoor splash park and a dedicated baby/toddler play area

Camping La Rive – soft play, toddler splash pools and a sandy lake beach

Camping La Garangeoire – more of a traditional campsite feel, calmer and really family-friendly, with toddler play areas and a paddling pool

Camping La Vallée – lovely newer splash pool, great play parks, and an easy walk to the beach and town. My 3-year-old absolutely loved this one!

In terms of packing, I’d bring a few toys and books for quieter, low-stimulation time at the accommodation, it’s very easy for little ones to get overtired with everything going on.

If your child drinks squash or has favourite snacks, I’d take those too, as options can be a bit different in Europe. And white noise is always helpful for sleep, especially if there’s a bit more noise in the evenings.

It’s definitely possible to do a Eurocamp holiday without driving.

Many parcs are within easy reach of airports, and you can pre-book transfers or taxis to get you there. Once you’re on parc, everything you need is usually within walking distance.

If you want to explore further afield, lots of parcs are well connected by local buses, trains or trams.

You can absolutely travel by train too - many people take the Eurostar and then continue their journey by train or local transport to reach their destination. It takes a bit of planning, but it’s a great option if you’re not comfortable driving abroad.

Our contact centre agents are experts and can help with travel arrangements too, providing advice on trains, transfers and nearest airports.

It does vary a bit depending on the parc.

Europe’s train network is great, but many campsites are in more rural areas. That being said, it is possible to travel by Eurostar and connect onwards.

For example, you could reach the south of France by train to Montpellier and then use trams or taxis to get to certain parcs, like Oasis Palavasienne.

If you’re open to it, flying to somewhere like Beziers or Reus and getting a taxi to a parc may be a less stressful way to travel!

Many parcs do have evening entertainment, particularly in peak season, but accommodation is often set slightly away from the main hub, so it generally feels nice and quiet at night.

If you’re worried, it’s definitely worth choosing the location of your holiday home when booking (where available), as you can opt for a quieter area away from bars or entertainment spaces.

In our experience, most guests are families, so evenings tend to settle down at a reasonable time. And in terms of accommodation, our holiday homes are well equipped with proper bathrooms and everything you need for a comfortable stay.

It depends what you mean by the evening. Most campsites have quiet hours from around 10 or 11pm, and there are usually security teams to help keep things under control.

Before that, there can be a bit of noise, especially if you’re aiming for an earlier bedtime like 7pm. Families across Europe do tend to stay up later, so the atmosphere can be a bit livelier in the early evening.

However, we’ve always managed early bedtimes by using white noise, which really helps to soften any background noise.

The holiday homes themselves aren’t soundproof, but sites in more rural areas tend to have more space between accommodation, so you’ll usually notice less noise from neighbours.

Bathrooms have always been good in our experience, and in newer holiday homes they can feel quite modern, with larger showers and a bit more space overall.

You definitely don’t need to drive to enjoy a Eurocamp holiday - we have always relied on local transport!

There are plenty of Eurocamp parcs located close to airports, and you can arrange transfers or taxis in advance, so getting there is really straightforward.

Once you arrive, everything is usually within walking distance, and many parcs also have local bus links if you want to explore.

In terms of packing, you don’t need to bring bulky baby items. Things like cots, high chairs and baby baths can be pre-booked free of charge, so they’ll be ready and waiting for you when you arrive. It really can be as simple as packing clothes and the essentials.