One of the best things about Eurocamp is also one of the most overwhelming things about Eurocamp: there are so many parcs to choose from.
Different countries, different regions, different pools, beaches, airports, ferry routes, accommodation types, kids’ clubs, restaurants, activities, reviews… it can quickly feel like a full-time job trying to work out which one is right for your family.
But once you know how to narrow it down, it becomes so much easier.
We’ve done Eurocamp a few times now, and for us, the trick is not to start with “which parc looks the best?” It’s to start with what kind of holiday you actually want.
Do you want to fly or drive? Do you want to be by the beach, near a city, by a lake, or somewhere with a big waterpark? Do you want lots going on in the evenings, or somewhere a bit quieter? Are you happy to hire a car, or do you need things within walking distance? It is also worth factoring in which airport you might fly from in the UK as not all airports in France are served by regional airports – this is a big one for us down in Dorset!
Here’s how we narrow it down.
Step 1: Decide if you want to fly or drive
This is usually the first filter for us.
Because we often fly, we start by looking at which countries and regions are easy to get to from our local airports. Then we look at the nearest airport to the parc and check flight options on Skyscanner.
This makes such a difference. A parc might look amazing, but if the flights are expensive, awkward, or the transfer is too long, it might not be the right one for your family.
If you’re driving, I’d do the same thing but with ferry routes and driving time. Think about whether you’re happy to drive all the way in one go, whether you need an overnight stop, and how far you realistically want to be in the car with children.
A few things to check:
How far is the parc from the airport or ferry port?
Are flights available from your nearest airport?
Would you need to hire a car?
Is the transfer simple?
If driving, how many hours are you happy to do in one day?
Would an overnight stop make it feel easier?
For us, travel time really matters. A beautiful parc is not always worth it if everyone arrives exhausted before the holiday has even started.
Step 2: Choose the type of location
Once you know whether you’re flying or driving, the next question is location.
Eurocamp has parcs in lots of different settings, so it helps to decide what kind of holiday you want before you start scrolling.
Do you want:
A beach holiday?
A lake holiday?
A countryside holiday?
A parc close to a city?
A parc near theme parks or attractions?
A parc where you do not really need to leave much?
This is where the filters are really helpful.
For us, we usually look for somewhere that has a holiday feel straight away. We love being near the beach, or somewhere with a really good pool complex, because that tends to make the holiday easier with kids.
But if you like exploring, it might be more important to be near a town, a city, restaurants, markets or local villages.
There is no perfect Eurocamp for everyone. The best one is the one that fits how your family actually likes to holiday.
Step 3: Look at the pool and aquatic fun
This is always a big one for us.
There are lots of filters for aquatic fun, and this is where you can really narrow down the options. We usually look for parcs with epic water parks or great pool areas because we know our children will happily spend hours there. You can read our reviews on La Sirene and Le Serignan plage on this blog, they have amazing water parks!
But depending on your children’s ages, you might want to check for different things.
Look for:
Waterslides
Splash playgrounds
Splash pads
Lazy rivers
Wave pools
Indoor pools
Covered or heated pools
Toddler pools
Lifeguarded areas
Pools that work well for mixed ages
If you’re travelling outside peak summer, indoor or heated pools can be a real bonus. Even in France, Italy or Spain, you can get cooler or cloudy days, and having a pool that still works in that weather can make a big difference.
Also, if you have little ones, check whether the splash area is separate from the deeper pools. A huge waterpark can look amazing, but it needs to work for your children’s ages.
Step 4: Check the entertainment and kids’ clubs
The next thing we look at is what is happening on the parc.
Some Eurocamp parcs have lots of entertainment, kids’ clubs, sports, activities and evening shows. Others are much more relaxed and low-key.
If you like the idea of the kids making friends, joining activities and having lots to do without leaving the parc, then look for:
Kids’ clubs
Sports courts
Playgrounds
Evening entertainment
Family shows
Arcades or games rooms
Bike hire
Water sports
Organised activities
Teen-friendly spaces
If you prefer quieter holidays, you might not need all of that. You might be happier somewhere smaller, with a lovely pool, good location and a more relaxed feel.
This is why it helps to know your family’s dealbreaker before you book.
Step 5: Think about whether you need a car
This is one of the things I would always check before booking.
Some parcs are great if you have a car, because you can explore beaches, towns, supermarkets and nearby attractions. Others work really well without a car because they have everything on site or nearby.
Before booking, I’d check:
Is there a supermarket on site?
Are there restaurants within walking distance?
Can you get to the beach easily?
Is public transport nearby?
Are taxis realistic?
Would you feel stuck without a car?
If hiring a car, does that change the budget?
If you are flying, this can really change the overall cost. A cheap-looking holiday can become much more expensive if you need flights, transfers and car hire.
Step 6: Check the accommodation type
Eurocamp has different accommodation options, and it is worth looking properly at what you are booking.
Think about:
How many bedrooms do you need?
Do you want air conditioning?
Is decking important?
Do you want a dishwasher?
Is there enough living space?
How close is the accommodation to the pool or facilities?
Would you prefer to be quieter and further away?
Do you need space for a travel cot?
For us, outside space makes a big difference. Having a deck or terrace where you can sit in the evening while the children are asleep can make the holiday feel much more relaxed.
I would also check recent reviews for the accommodation, not just the parc overall. Sometimes the parc reviews are great, but certain accommodation types might be older or further away from the main facilities.
Step 7: Read the recent reviews
Reviews are so helpful, but I would focus on recent ones. I also find instagram to be a great tool for research so use that too!
Things can change a lot from one season to the next. Pools get updated, restaurants change, entertainment teams change, facilities improve, and sometimes older reviews are no longer that useful.
When reading reviews, I look for comments about:
Cleanliness
Pool areas
Noise levels
How suitable it is for different ages
How easy it is without a car
Food options
Staff
Evening entertainment
Distance to the beach or town
Whether people would return
I also look for reviews from families with children a similar age to mine. A parc that is perfect for toddlers might not be ideal for older children, and the other way round.
Step 8: Choose based on your children’s ages
This is probably one of the biggest things.
When children are little, you might care more about toddler pools, shade, short transfers, easy food options and early evenings.
With older children, you might want bigger slides, sports, bike hire, independence, evening entertainment and somewhere they can make friends.
With mixed ages, you need somewhere that has enough for everyone, which is why bigger parcs can work really well.
Before booking, I’d ask:
Will the pool work for all of them?
Is there enough for older children?
Is it safe and easy with younger ones?
Are there places to eat that everyone will like?
Will we need to leave the parc every day to keep them entertained?
Does it feel relaxing for the adults too?
Because that is the goal really: a holiday that works for the children but still feels like a holiday for you.
Step 9: Know your non-negotiables
This is the bit that makes choosing so much easier.
Before you start searching, pick your top three non-negotiables.
For example, yours might be:
Close to an airport
Great waterpark
Near the beach
Or:
Driveable from the UK
Good evening entertainment
Budget-friendly
Or:
Quiet parc
Beautiful location
Easy day trips
Once you know your non-negotiables, it becomes much easier to ignore the options that are not right for you.
Otherwise, every parc starts to look tempting and you end up with 47 tabs open and no idea what you’re doing.
Our usual Eurocamp checklist
When we’re narrowing it down, this is what we tend to check:
Country and region
Nearest airport or ferry route
Flight prices or driving time
Distance from airport/ferry to parc
Whether we need a car
Pool and slides
Splash areas for children
Beach, lake or local town nearby
On-parc entertainment
Kids’ clubs and activities
Accommodation type
Air conditioning
Decking or outside space
Supermarket and restaurants
Recent reviews
Whether it suits our children’s ages
Overall cost once travel is included
The filters make researching the right holiday so much easier and, thanks to this, we’ve already found some amazing places that tick the boxes for the whole family.
Sarah x
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