Top Cheap Campground Getaway: Eurocamp

Eurocamp in Europe is a winner of FTF’s Top 10 (Cheap) Getaways For Family Travelers 2008 award, and here is a look at the chain today.

Camping always seems like a good idea for families. It’s eco-friendly, and in the great outdoors there is more space to play and that cozy home-from-home feeling that only a tent can provide.  Of course, that’s only until the kids learn they have to use a communal WC, nap amongst tiny crawlers and miss episodes of their favorite television show.

When researching the best budget family campground, we set high standards. It had to be rustic, but also provide some luxuries and fun-for-kids facilities that its competitors didn’t. It had to have enough flexibility to accommodate first-timers and those who wait all year to sleep under the stars.  And most of all, our winner had to be a campground chain that was both cheap and good value for money.  We found two such chains, one in North America and another in Europe, that are the winners of the 2008 FTF Top (Cheap) Campground Getaway: Yogi Bear’s Jellystone and Eurocamp.  Check out why Eurocamp is a winner, and happy camping!

Although famous for its cities and historical sites, Europe has many excellent locations for a family to camp. Think about your dream vacation in the verdant French countryside or Tuscany’s rolling hills. Even though you’re roughing it and need a place for downtime, some days your family will want to look their best for sophisticated city sightseeing. To meet these flexible demands for creature comforts, we introduce the British campground chain, Eurocamp. We’ve become fans of their campgrounds that offer multi-bedroom luxury tents, chalets, stocked mobile homes, or RV hookups, and apartments, plus swimming pools, spacious playgrounds, flexible booking policies, and free children’s activities.

Located throughout Europe (and in Florida), each Eurocamp parc also gives guests a chance to design their own road trip and decide how plush or rustic their accommodations should be. No two parcs are alike; they vary from large holiday villages complete with a waterpark and sports facilities, to the smaller, more rural hideaway retreats. When you go on their helpful website you’ll find categories such as ‘more relaxed’, ‘more lively’, ‘more to see’ and ‘more to do’ to help you select the parc that’s right for your family.

Eurocamp offers different and unique types of accommodations for families to choose: Classic Tent, which is of the same size as two bedrooms’, usually accommodating 4 people; Safari Tent, equaling one double room and one twin room; Bungalow with 3 bedrooms and an outside terrace; and Tree House with its unique design that keeps it 3 to 5 meters above the ground. Other types of accommodations include lodges, mountain lodges, lake houses and apartments. We appreciate that Eurocamp knows no two families are alike, and has customer service representatives who help narrow choices for appropriate campgrounds and activities.  Take note that they offer special assistance to single parents, with seasonal discounts and babysitting service provided at some campgrounds.

Eurocamp also honors families with a special focus on vacations with toddlers. They currently identify 57 of their 150-plus parcs as toddler-friendly as they are far from main roads and railways, ditches, or water hazards. Families can enjoy safe play areas with grass and shade, and know their vacation will be toddler approved.

Dedicated children’s clubs are also available and provide specialize in-camp activities and mini play stations divided into four different age groups. To ensure success, Eurocamp worked closely with Kings, the UK’s leading multi-activity specialist for 4 to 17-year-olds, who annually organize camps serving more than 30,000 children at 60 top UK venues.

Since it’s not only about price, but value, in booking a budget vacation, we think Eurocamp hits the mark on both counts.  Families get the cheap price they need without sacrificing amenities or quality customer service.  In fact, Eurocamp (+08/44/ 406 0402) goes above and beyond what you would find at most local hotel chains in terms of individualized attention and variety.

Photos Courtesy of Eurocamp.