People often ask us for travel planning tips and advice. We don’t usually write about places to stay, sites to see, or where to eat for a reason. The reason is many of our most memorable meals, lodging experiences, and sightseeing adventures have been the result of a wrong turn, a failed plan, or an off-the-beaten-path encounter. There is always an exception to the rule and our experience with Eurocamp was just that – exceptional.
We have spent over six months of our time on the road in Eurocamp Holiday Parcs in Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy (Explore all of Eurocamp’s locations). That does not include the time we have spent in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and Austria in other holiday parks that have similar models to Eurocamp but cater less to the English-speaking population. We have had time to compare camping services, sites, prices, locations, and amenities. Eurocamp wins in every category. Why? Because even when they don’t get it right, they make it right which is critical when you are traveling far from home and investing in a European vacation.
What Is Eurocamp?
Eurocamp uses existing campground facilities around Europe and leases a portion of that campground for its sites. The sites may house anything from RV and tent sites to holiday homes, lodges and bungalows. While Eurocampers have access to all the facilities, they also have a holiday courier dedicated just to Eurocamp which is the intermediary between their guest and the main campground.
They almost always offer special amenities, games, kid’s clubs, and camps, designed and delivered by Eurocamp for their customers. For example, we checked kayaks out daily at the Jura, France camp, our kids did animal feedings at the zoo on-site in Noja, Spain, and in Rome, Italy we made World Cup flags every day for the bracket board at the activity center. We have stayed in everything from a safari tent at Lake Bolsena, Italy to a three-bedroom holiday home in Maisson Lafitte, France .
Why We Love Eurocamping
Eurocamping is amazing for everyone. Families, couples, and individuals love Eurocamping because it allows you to plan a route through one region or several countries with ease. While we knew basically how our kitchen would be equipped and generally what facilities would be present, each camp provided a totally different cultural perspective. Not only that but there is a sense of community at holiday parks and campgrounds which makes it different than staying in a hotel.
We have made friends from all over the EU and the world in Eurocamp settings and we have visited many of them at their homes at different times in our continuous travels. We have said over and over that it is like going to the best-ever summer camp with your kids and then opting out of the kids’ activities at will.
In Dordogne, France we had dinner at the on-site romantic, castle restaurant while the kids went to the evening pool party. In Spain, we grabbed picnic supplies at the campground market and headed to the beach for sunset. In Portugal, we reserved the boogie/surf gear from the Eurocamp Office and hit the waves at Guincho Beach. We borrowed everything from footballs and Jenga to blenders and backpacks from our Eurocamp courier stations, making traveling light a breeze.
Eurocamps are strategically located if you want to see major sites and yet they provide a resort-like setting to relax immediately when the time comes. It really is a remarkable business model and by watching their sales and off-season rates, we were able to go further for less without sacrificing quality.
Journey Versus Destination
We find that when we have experiences with businesses that really resonate with our family it is because we have core values in common. Eurocamp exemplifies the concept that it is about the journey. The thing we have learned after nearly four years of continuous travel is that when the journey is joyful, the destination will exceed expectations.
From site to site, Eurocamp gave just enough of the familiar for us to enter each new region and country with excited anticipation which we believe is a state of mind and heart that provides the foundation for global citizenship.
We are grateful Eurocamp has been a part of our experience and we are certain our paths will cross again in the years to come because as Walt Whitman penned in Song of Myself “I tramp a perpetual journey.”
Today’s Tweetable: Europcamp exemplifies the concept that it is about the journey.
