Part 1 of The Eurocamp Toolkit
Every time I tell people we’ve done Tuscany, the French Riviera and southern France through Eurocamp, they usually assume one of two things.
Either we’ve got some secret travel budget hidden away somewhere. Or we’ve spent years sacrificing every little luxury at home to make it happen.
Truth be told, there isn’t some big secret, and, despite what my husband might tell you, we don’t live on beans on toast either.
What we do have is a habit of looking at places and asking: “Right then… how do we make this happen?”
Before I go any further, I do want to acknowledge something.
Travel is a luxury. I know that better than most.
I’ve spent the last 17 years working as a social worker. Every day I’m reminded that having the money, health, time and freedom to travel is not something everybody has. Even people who aren’t vulnerable are feeling the cost of living these days. Me included.
So when I say holidays in France or Italy are achievable, I know they won’t be achievable for everyone.
What I am saying is this…
If you’re already planning to spend money on a family holiday, there’s a good chance Europe is more within reach than you think.
In fact, I’d go as far as saying that some of our Eurocamp holidays have cost the same as, or less than, UK holidays we’ve looked at.
That’s one of the reasons I keep talking about them.
That’s usually how it begins. Lol.
We Start With The Dream
I know travel experts will probably tell you to start with a budget.
We don’t.
Most of the time I’m scrolling Instagram or watching YouTube and suddenly I see somewhere that makes me stop.
A little Italian village.
A beach in southern France.
A stunning viewpoint somewhere on the Riviera.
My first thought is never:
“Can I afford that?”
It’s:
“Oh my days… that looks stunning.”
Then comes the practical bit.
“Can we make this work?”
That’s usually where the Eurocamp tab gets opened.
For us, Eurocamp has never really been about caravans. It’s about access. Access to places that might otherwise feel out of reach.
Then I Play A Little Game
Once I’ve got a destination in mind, I usually have Eurocamp open on one screen and Skyscanner or Google Flights open on another.
I bounce between the two. Looking at campsite dates. Looking at flights. Back to the campsite. Back to the flights. Seeing where the sweet spot is.
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the last week of the summer holidays often seems to be one of the cheapest times to go. I’ve got no scientific evidence for that whatsoever. lol.. but it’s worked well for us more than once.
When the kids were younger, it worked brilliantly.
The whole summer holiday seemed to build towards the trip. The planning. The excitement. The countdown.
Half the fun started before we’d even packed a suitcase.
We Don’t Automatically Pick The Cheapest Campsite
This is where I think people get budget travel a bit wrong.
Cheapest isn’t always best.
I don’t sit there looking for the lowest price. I’m looking for the best fit.
Does it have a waterpark?
Will the kids love it?
Can we explore nearby towns?
Do we need a car?
Is there public transport?
Are there restaurants nearby?
What day trips can we do?
Trips within trips are a real thing.
Tuscany wasn’t just Tuscany. It was, Pisa, Elba, beaches, and little towns we’d never even heard of before.
The French Riviera wasn’t just a campsite either. It was Nice, Èze, Cannes, Gorge du Verdon and Saint-Tropez and more.
The campsite gets us there. Everything around it is the reason we went.
Where We Save Money
This is probably the biggest thing I’ve learned.
I don’t save money by making the holiday worse. I save money on the things that don’t matter as much to me.
Take the caravan. I’d happily book a cheaper caravan on a brilliant site. No point having a five-star caravan if your surroundings are a bit dead. We’re hardly ever in it anyway. We’re by the pool. Out exploring. Sitting on the veranda with a glass of wine and working out where we’re going tomorrow. That’s where the holiday happens!
Flights, airport parking and car hire are another area where we’ll shop around.
Well… when I say “we”, I mostly mean my husband. Especially for car hire and parking.
He’s an absolute legend at finding a bargain. The man genuinely enjoys saving money.
I sometimes think if left entirely to his own devices he’d save enough money to book another holiday. But maybe with a sacrifice of quality and so..no.. I’ll lead in that area thanks! Ha!
Where I Happily Spend Money
Food.
Every single time.
I do not cook on holiday.
Ever.
I mean it.
The most cooking you’ll ever see me do is throwing some meat on a BBQ and even that feels more like an experience than cooking.
I love food.
I love wine.
I love sitting in little restaurants watching the world go by.
I’d much rather save money on accommodation than miss out on those moments.
The same goes for day trips.
I don’t book expensive holidays.
I book intentional holidays.
There’s a difference.
The Biggest Mistake People Make
Honestly?
Writing Eurocamp off because it’s a caravan.
I think some people hear the word caravan and immediately picture themselves surviving in the wilderness. Cooking over an open fire. Fending for themselves for a week. It really isn’t that deep. Ha!
Most of the caravans are no different to apartments.
If someone looks into it and decides it’s not for them, fair enough.What I always say is just consider it first.
Especially if you’ve got younger children, because every parent knows the truth. If the kids aren’t having fun, nobody’s having fun…And I do not like wasting money.
What I’d Tell A Friend
If one of my friends came to me tomorrow and said:
“Zo, I’ve got about £4,000 and I want sunshine, Europe and family memories.”
My answer would be immediate.
“Huni… let’s get on that Eurocamp website right now.” Because £4,000 is enough to create some of the best family memories of your life.
The Bit I Didn’t Expect
Looking back, I think the thing I’m most grateful for is that Eurocamp completely changed the way I travel.
Before these trips, a holiday was a nice hotel, a pool and a few cocktails.
Nothing wrong with that. I still love a cocktail.
What I discovered though is that I actually enjoy exploring more.I like wandering around places.Finding little restaurants and getting lost in old towns.
Taking random day trips because somebody at the campsite recommended them.
Eurocamp gave us access to that kind of travel. That’s probably why we keep going back.
The funny thing is, even when we don’t stay in caravans now, we still travel in exactly the same way.
Eurocamp became the blueprint.Not for where we stay. For how we travel.
More exploring. More living. More feeling.
Quick Tips If You’re Thinking About Eurocamp
Look at the last week of the summer holidays.
Its often cheaper than earlier August dates and can save hundreds of pounds.
Choose the location before the caravan.
A basic caravan on a brilliant site beats a luxury caravan in a location that doesn’t excite you.
Compare flights and accommodation together.
Don’t book one without checking the other. Sometimes moving your dates by a few days can make a huge difference.
Think about the trips around the trip
Look at what towns, beaches, attractions and day trips are nearby before booking.
Don’t dismiss it because it’s a caravan
The caravans are far more comfortable than many people expect, and you’ll probably spend most of your time outside anyway.
If you’ve got kids, think about them first
Pools, slides, sports courts and freedom often matter more to children than luxury accommodation.
Don’t assume Europe is more expensive than the UK
Price both before deciding. You might be surprised.
I always hire the bedding and towels
Some people bring their own. Fair play to them. If you’re driving, I can see the appeal. We fly, and the thought of squeezing bedding and towels into our luggage fills me with absolutely no joy whatsoever 😂. I always pay for the bedding and towel package and consider it money well spent.
If you’ve never considered Eurocamp before, my advice is simple… have a look before you rule it out. You might just find yourself drinking wine on a veranda in Tuscany wondering why you didn’t do it years ago.
If you’d like to see these trips in action, you can also read:
French Riviera Cost: What We Actually Spent
What People Get Wrong About Eurocamp
Eurocamp vs Hotels: Which Is Actually Better for Families?
This post is part of The Eurocamp Toolkit – a simple collection of guides I’ve created to help normal families plan affordable European holidays without sacrificing the good bits.
Coming soon:
How to Do the French Riviera on a Budget
How to Choose the Right Eurocamp Site
The No-Stress Eurocamp Guide
Travel That Adds Something
I write about travel that adds something to you, not just takes you away.
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