If you’ve ever sat staring at the Eurocamp website thinking, “How on earth do I choose?” trust me, you’re not alone.
There are so many amazing campsites across Europe that it’s easy to get caught up comparing pools, restaurants and water slides until they all start blending into one.
Here’s the thing though…
I don’t start with the campsite.
I start with the holiday.
Start with what you actually want
his might sound obvious, but we all want different things from a holiday.
I’m someone who loves to explore. I genuinely can’t sit in one place for a week. I want to be up, out and seeing as much of the area as possible.
So, before I even think about booking, I ask myself one question:
Can I do what I want to do from this campsite?
That means looking at how easy it is to get around. Can I get where I want by car? Is there public transport? Will I need taxis? Is everything within a reasonable distance?
When we stayed in Roussillon, Barcelona was high on my list. I knew we could do it as a day trip from there.
In Tuscany, I wanted to visit the local beaches and spend a day on Elba. We knew we’d need a car, but once we’d factored that in, it worked perfectly.
Then there was the French Riviera. My goal wasn’t to spend every day on the campsite. I wanted to visit as many beautiful towns as possible without losing our minds driving for hours every day. Fréjus was the perfect base. We managed to visit Èze, Nice, the Gorges du Verdon and even St Tropez, all within a reasonable drive.
Now, you might be the complete opposite.
Your perfect holiday might be spending most of your time on the campsite. If that’s you, brilliant. That’s your priority.
Maybe you want a gorgeous pool.
Maybe it’s evening entertainment.
Maybe you just want to sit with a glass of wine while the kids disappear off and have the time of their lives.
None of those are wrong.
The important thing is knowing what your priority is before you start looking.
Think about everyone’s needs
My holiday isn’t just about me.
It’s about my husband.
It’s about my kids.
It’s about finding that balance where everyone gets something out of the trip.
I don’t put myself first.
I don’t put myself last either.
I try to balance everyone’s needs equally, and that’s usually where a little compromise comes in.
One thing I’ve learned is that your family’s needs change.
When we first visited La Sirène in Roussillon, my children were much younger.
My son was football mad. That campsite had football tournaments, several football pitches and loads of kids his age. He made friends almost instantly.
My daughter was at that awkward age where you’re not really a little girl anymore, but secretly still enjoy doing the same things. The teen clubs were perfect. There were cookery classes, meet-ups, activities, plus the amazing pools and evening entertainment.
They honestly couldn’t complain.
At the same time, I still needed my little adventures.
We didn’t have a car on that trip, so choosing a campsite with a shuttle bus into town made all the difference. I could wander around local markets, head to the beach, sit in beautiful cafés eating what were probably the best croissants of my life, then head back again.
Everything felt balanced.
Fast forward a few years and our French Riviera holiday looked completely different.
The kids weren’t bothered about giant water slides anymore.
The gym suddenly became far more important than the splash park!
That’s why there isn’t one perfect Eurocamp site forever. The right campsite changes as your family changes.
Don’t ignore your budget
I’ll happily admit I’ve found campsites that looked absolutely incredible.
Beautiful restaurants.
Spotless facilities.
The kind of place where every photo makes you think, “Yep…that’s the one.”
Then I’d look at the price.
Nope.
On to the next one.
I’ve always believed there’s usually another campsite that ticks most of your boxes without blowing the budget.
No one’s getting into debt for a Eurocamp holiday over here.
I’d much rather save that money for actually enjoying the holiday. Days out, lovely meals, ice creams, markets, an extra excursion…that’s where I’d rather spend it.
Once I’ve narrowed it down, this is what I compare
Location is always number one.
That probably sounds strange considering I’m writing about campsites, but it’s the most important thing for us.
The caravan?
Honestly, they’re fairly similar wherever you go.
I rarely book the most expensive accommodation. I’m out exploring most of the time anyway.
What I do care about is space.
Enough room inside.
A decent veranda outside.
That’s where we’ll actually sit in the mornings and evenings.
Transport is another big one.
Do we need a car?
Can we manage without one?
Hiring a car adds another expense, so I always factor that into the overall cost.
Facilities depend entirely on the stage of life we’re in.
Years ago it was football pitches, kids’ clubs and pools.
Now my teenage son is checking whether there’s a gym!
One thing I’ll always get excited about?
An on-site bakery.
Completely unnecessary…
Completely brilliant.
A supermarket is pretty much essential too, although thankfully most campsites have one.
My research process
Once I’ve settled on a location, this is pretty much my routine every single time.
First, I’ll look on the Eurocamp website.
Then I’ll head over to the campsite’s own website.
Little Suitcases & Stories tip…it’s worth checking other booking sites too. Sometimes you can book directly with the campsite or through sites like Booking.com or HU and get a better price.
Confession time…
I’ve never actually done that.
I’ve booked with Eurocamp every time because I receive loyalty discounts now, and I know exactly what I’m getting.
After that, it’s YouTube.
I love finding campsite walkthroughs, family vlogs and honest reviews so I can get a proper feel for the place.
Then it’s blogs, review sites and anything else I can find.
It sounds simple when I write it down.
The reality?
I can spend days researching before I finally click “Book.”
I’d rather spend a few extra evenings doing my homework than spend a whole week wishing I’d chosen somewhere else.
Final thoughts
People often ask me which Eurocamp campsite is the best.
The truth is, I don’t think there is one.
There’s only the campsite that’s best for you.
Figure out what kind of holiday you actually want.
Balance everyone’s needs.
Stick to a budget you’re comfortable with.
Do a bit of research.
Then book with confidence, knowing you’ve chosen the campsite that suits your family. Not somebody else’s.
My Top Tips for Choosing the Right Eurocamp Site
Start with your holiday, not the campsite. Decide what you actually want to do before you start browsing.
Think about everyone’s priorities. The best campsite is one where the whole family has something to enjoy.
Be realistic about your budget. Save money for making memories once you’re there.
Location is everything. Make sure the campsite works for the places you want to visit.
Research properly. Check the Eurocamp website, the campsite’s own website, YouTube, blogs and reviews before booking.
Remember that the perfect campsite changes. What works with toddlers probably won’t be what suits teenagers.
And remember there’s no such thing as the perfect Eurocamp site. There’s only the perfect Eurocamp site for your holiday.
Loves
Zo x
Travel That Adds Something
I write about travel that adds something to you, not just takes you away.
If you’d like early access to honest cost breakdowns, thoughtful travel guides, and the softer side of building a different kind of life…
You can join my email list here. No noise. Just stories
Leave a Reply