--family holidays in Europe with kids programs, waterslides and other recreation, and good price point--
Eurocamp: intro
Don't let the name fool you: "Eurocamp" is "camping" as you've never pictured it -- in fact you can forget the (spacious 3-bedroom) tent altogether and stay in a "holiday home."
Eurocamp has 157 parcs in France, Italy, Spain, and other countries. You're heading to the places where Europeans take their family holidays! Make a Eurocamp holiday parc your home base, and explore the region; guests get a travel pack with local and regional guides and maps. Or go "Park Hopping" to see more areas.
Kids under 18 are free, kids' club is free, there's free use of toddlers' crib-playpens, swimming pools, soccer clubs... The Eurocamp site has a special section with activities for Families With Toddlers, Teens, and other age groups.
In sum, Eurocamp locations are more like resorts with fun facilities and kids' programs. Tip: look for "off-season" specials in May, June, or September, such as three weeks for the price of two.
What's Eurocamp like?
Recreation
Eurocamp parcs have lots of recreation and places for kids to "play in safety from dawn til dusk."
Many parcs have major pool complexes with water slides, kiddie pools, jacuzzis. Outdoors recreation might include hiking, walking with Wildlife Guides, bikes for rent, soccer (called "football"), volleyball, cricket (try to figure it out!), tennis, mini golf, horse riding, archery, golf driving ranges.
Watersports might include canoeing, pedalboats, windsurfers, scuba lessons, windsurfing, aqua gyms, water polo, catamaran sailing, and rafting.
Some areas offer special activities. For example, In the Cevennes region of France, the Val de Cantobre parc has caving, canyonning, river trekking, and even sky-diving, absailing and bungee jumping.
Kids Programs
The popular free kids clubs -- called Fun Station --
run six days a week. At larger parks, you'll find:
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Leo's Fun Station, for ages 4 to 6; dress-up, playing pirates or exploring Leo's nature trail
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Fun Station 7+ : benchball, treasure hunts, talent shows...
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Fun Station 10+ basketball, uni-hoc, flag football, orienteering, new games such as "Chinese football"
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Base Club for Teenagers : many sessions and fun activities for age 13+
"Soccer station" for boys and girls mixes coaching, training and games in morning and afternoon sessions, all free to Eurocamp customers.
At medium-sized or smaller parks, "Fun Station for All" has activities for ages 4 to 12.
Families with younger kids can look for Eurocamp's Toddler Friendly Parcs which have Mini Fun Stations, with sandpits, water-play, rocking toys, climbing frames, books and puzzles, etc.
In addition to kids' programs, many parks have daily activities ("animation") for all, entertainment, family disco, etc.
Lodging, Restaurants, etc.
Guests can stay either in "canvas accommodation" or several models of holiday homes.
Eurocamp tents are already up when you arive, and have 3 bedrooms, a fridge, gas hob and electric lights. The aim is that all units have their own space and privacy (-do check visitors' comments, though.) During the day the sides of the tent can be rolled up. All Eurocamp parcs also have showers, laundry, shops.
Holiday homes come in a number of styles, including 3-bedroom units. The "luxury mobile homes" models are attractive and have creature comforts -- see photos.
Families can "self-cater" (--the word used in the U.K. for buying and preparing your own food--) or eat at the holiday parc restaurants. Some parcs have other niceties such as Wellness Centres, spas, saunas or thalossotheraphy.
Sample Holiday Parc
Here's a description of Eurocamp's
Bella Italia parc on Lake Garda, in Italy's popular Lake District:
" A large, well equipped parc on the lakefront, ideally situated for sightseeing and featuring a spectacular pool complex that's a big family favourite.... At weekends during June, and throughout July and August, 'animatore' provide a variety of entertainments including games, shows and competitions. And after a busy day there is no better way to unwind than over a leisurely meal in the friendly restaurant with its wonderful lake views. Bella Italia is also ideally placed for sightseeing, based as it is on the south eastern tip of Lake Garda, at the start of the 'Olive Tree Riviera', and less than a mile from the lovely town of Peschiera."
Bella Italia has Fun Station kids' club for several age groups; canoes, windsurfers, pedalboats, fishing; bikes for rent; five pools; waterslides; grocery store; children's disco... Also, restaurant, pizzeria, and bar.
Find out more
- check out photos of Eurocamp- waterparks, holiday homes, 3-bedroom tents
- visit the Eurocamp site, select English language content, and explore; the site has many ways to focus on family holidays
- check visitors' comments at a site like TripAdvisor.com: search for the name of a specific holiday parc. For example, "Bella Italia Lake Garda" shows raves, at time of writing. (Always check for the latest, though!)
*photo courtesy of Eurocamp
