If I’m being honest… I didn’t choose Eurocamp because I thought it was better than a hotel.I chose it because we were desperate to go abroad.
We’d just bought our house, taken on a new mortgage, had two fairly young kids… and I was looking for something, anything, that felt like a break.
At first, I was looking at UK options.
Centre Parcs. Forest Holidays.
Thinking that would be cheaper.
Hell to the freaking no it wasn’t 😂
Then I remembered someone at work mentioning Eurocamp, and I started looking into it properly.
And if I’m being real?
What sold it to me wasn’t the campsite life.
It was the fact that we could get on a plane and go somewhere sunny…
Because another caravan holiday in the UK rain was about to send me into a slow depression 😂 slight exaggeration… but also not really lol.
If I had the money back then?
I would have booked an all-inclusive hotel without even thinking twice.
But we didn’t.
So we made it work.
And honestly?
My kids couldn’t have cared less about the details.
They just knew:
Plane.
Beach.
Ice cream.
Fizzy pop until they nearly felt sick 😂
That was enough.
What I Thought vs What I Found.
At the time, I didn’t think Eurocamp would be “better”. It was just… the option that made sense. But after doing it? Multiple times? I’m not even exaggerating when I say this:
There is no comparison for me. Eurocamp wins. Every time. Honest.. I’m not saying that to be dramatic. I genuinely mean it.
Once I experienced it, going back to looking at package holidays and hotels in Europe actually felt like a downgrade.
The Difference in Feel.
Hotels, especially all-inclusive, can feel a bit… contained.
Where everyone goes to veg out, lie by the pool, eat food you could get at home, drink watered-down cocktails and repeat the same routine every darn day!
Things can start to feel a little repetitive. I get it…If you’ve just spent £4k+ on a family holiday, you’re going to stay put and make sure you get your money’s worth.
But Eurocamp?
Eurocamp feels like life. It brings, freedom, variety, culture and just…realness!
You’re not just surrounded by Brits. You’re mixing with people from all over Europe. You’re eating local food. Shopping in local supermarkets. Exploring towns and villages.
Not just bumping into Dave from Manchester at the bar every night 😂.
It becomes your home for however long you’re there. And it just feels… richer.
It’s Not Really Caravans vs Hotels.
Maybe this is the real thing I’m trying to say…
This isn’t really about caravans versus hotels. It’s about two different philosophies of travel.
One is about convenience.
One is about immersion.
One helps you switch off.
The other invites you in.
Neither is wrong.
And to be honest, I still enjoy both. But I’ve just realised I’m drawn to the second one. Because I don’t just want travel to help me escape life for a week. I want it to pull me deeper into life.
Maybe that’s why Eurocamp has stayed with me all these years.
With all-inclusive, you’re often paying for convenience.
With Eurocamp, you’re paying for experience.
Let’s Break It Down Properly.
Space
I’ll be honest, caravans aren’t massive.
If you’ve got a standard one for a family of four, it can feel a bit small inside. Compared to UK caravans, Eurocamp ones can actually feel a bit smaller.
But…
You’re not really inside. Trust me the veranda becomes your living room.
You’re outside: eating, talking, relaxing and just..well..living! So the space feels bigger… just in a different way.
If you’re the type of family that stays indoors a lot? Then yeah, it might feel similar to a hotel room.
But if you live outside?
It opens everything up.
Kids
For me, this is where Eurocamp wins. Easily.
My son literally said the other day: “Eurocamp holidays were some of the best.” And this is a kid who’s been to Zanzibar. Been on safari.
So that says a lot.Because what they get on Eurocamp is something different.Freedom.
They’re not just:
in a pool
in a kids’ club
stuck in one space
They’re out:
running around
making friends
playing all day
It reminds me of the 90s. Leaving the house in the morning and not coming back until it’s dark. That was my core memory growing up. And that’s what they experienced. But elevated.
More to do. More space. Still safe. You don’t feel like you have to be a helicopter parent.
That to me is…priceless.
Cost
I won’t go too deep into this. I’ve got a whole post for that.
But realistically:
Flights… cheap
Caravan… reasonable
Food and spending… flexible
For us, France and Italy came in at around: £600 flights for a family of four return. Around £1,000 for accommodation. So under £2k before spending.
Even after adding everything?
Still cheaper than most all-inclusive holidays.
The big difference? You’re getting more for it.
With all-inclusive, you’re paying for convenience.
With Eurocamp, you’re paying for experience.
Flexibility
This is where Eurocamp really separates itself.
You’re not locked in.
You can:
stay on site
go out
explore
eat in
eat out
You’re not stuck thinking:
“Well we’ve paid for this… so we have to use it.”
You just move how you feel.
That makes a huge difference.
But Let’s Be Fair… When Hotels Win
I still book hotels. Just not in the same way anymore.
If I’m going somewhere like Barcelona? I want a central base. Easy access. Public transport. Restaurants on the doorstep. No thinking. No planning. No effort. Just exist. Hotels are perfect for that.
And sometimes we need that. We want to clock out of life for a bit.
Also, places like the Caribbean or Zanzibar? All-inclusive makes sense because the experience is different.
So… Which One Should You Choose?
Honestly?
It depends on what you want.
If you want:
Ease
Structure
No thinking
Full relaxation
Hotel.
If you want:
Freedom
Culture
Variety
Real experiences
Kids actually living, not just existing
Eurocamp.
Final Thought
I realised something after doing these trips. I don’t want to clock out of life.I want to live it.
Fully.
In a different country. In a different environment. In a way that actually feels like something.
And for me?
Eurocamp gives me that. Every time.
I wrote more about why we keep returning to this style of travel here…
Travel That Adds Something
I write about travel that adds something to you, not just takes you away.
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