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My husband and I both experienced numerous Eurocamp holidays when we were growing up. His family stayed in the tents; my family tended to go with Eurocamp Independent, as we had a caravan. When we discussed our experiences we found that we that our fondest memories were of the kids clubs, swimming pools and meeting new friends. This half term we decided to take our three to La Vallée in Normandy because the kids club there promised to be bigger and better than ever before. The site also has some exciting pictures of waterslides and three pools (one of which is a paddling pool). Would our kids find an experience like we remembered? Would they meet new friends, be worn out with playing games and doing art and crafts, and give us tired parents a half term to relax too?
Booking with Eurocamp was so easy and we received excellent customer service both before and during our stay. We decided to take our family car and travel from Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries so we could take more luggage and food and drink than we could do if we went by plane. On arriving at La Vallée we were given a warm welcome by the Eurocamp couriers and shown where our accommodation was. We opted to stay in a caravan, specifically an Azure. This has three bedrooms, a bathroom and separate loo, and an open plan living/dining room with kitchen area. The kitchen was very well equipped with an oven, separate 4 ring hob, sink and draining board, full-size fridge and smallish freezer, microwave and a full range of cutlery, crockery, pans and cooking utensils. The van was brand new and beautiful, both inside and out. We loved the decking area outside for eating outdoors, sunbathing and sitting out at night while the children slept peacefully indoors. We also really liked that there were blackout blinds and fly screens in each of the bedrooms and that there was a small radiator in each room (we didn’t need to use them but it’s good to know they have them if you plan on going when the weather is a bit cooler). The beds are proper-sized and very comfortable and the shower is large and powerful, and the temperature regulation is spot on! We took some of our stuff in a ‘Tub Trugg’ so after we emptied it we could put the tub into the shower and fill it up to make a bath for the kids. This worked brilliantly. Everything in the caravan is easy to clean because it all, including the sofas, can be wiped down with a damp cloth or baby wipe. Overall, it was perfect!
The children went along to the kids club on 4 of the days we stayed. The other two days we went out on day trips to Omaha Beach where we visited the Memorial Museum and the US Military Cemetery, and to Bayeux to see the Tapestry, the Commonwealth Cemetery, Gold Beach and the German Bunkers. These are fantastic days out that we’d highly recommend them. Anyway I digress! The kids clubs were a roaring success and we were surprised by how much there was on offer to children of all ages. Our two year old was able to go to Mini Fun Station Plus (up to 5 years old) sessions accompanied by an adult and she enjoyed playing musical instruments, singing, painting and playing games. She also went along with our four year old to play on mini-scooters and drive in toy cars. She had a blast! Our four year old and six year old went along to some of the Leo’s Station Plus sessions (4 to 6 years old) where parents don’t have to stay with their children. They were excited to take part in sessions called Knight and Princesses, Dino Discovery, Cowboy Adventure, Wizards and Fairies, and Alien Adventure. They played games, did arts and crafts, ran around like crazy and generally had an amazing time. Our eldest was old enough to join in with some of the sessions with the Mac’s Fun Station (6 to 9 years old) and he particularly liked Land Zorbing where each child wore a large inflatable ball around themselves and then bumped into each other whilst playing games. What a laugh! We were impressed with how enthusiastic the children’s couriers were and how well thought out and creative the sessions were. Our children bonded with the couriers immediately and looked forward to every session. Safety is the top priority and the staff were careful to ensure they had contact details for parents (parents need to stay on site but you can go off to the pool or bar, etc) and that children had to be signed in and signed out of every session by an adult.
The campsite, La Vallée is a 5 star site. It has great facilities and the whole site is kept spotlessly clean and tidy. We all enjoyed the swimming pools and slides (there are age restrictions on them so if you take younger children on them, as we did, it is at your own risk). The bar and restaurant has a terrace over looking the pool and it serves ice creams and cocktails as well as the usual selection of beer, wine and soft drinks, all at a reasonable price. From our one experience of the restaurant we’d have to say the food is fair. The pizzas are really good though and these can also be bought from the takeaway and seemed to be very popular with guests. The site has a shop which has a reasonable selection of fresh baked goods, basic foods, drinks, toys and games but you would need to go to the supermarket to get a full range of meats, fruit and vegetables, etc. There are two large supermarkets about 10-15 minutes drive away and they have everything you could need and more. On site there are also two play parks with a good range of swings, slides and climbing frames. Our children enjoyed playing on these in between kids club sessions and in the evenings where they met up with new friends they’d made. There is also a games room, boules pitches, tennis court, basketball court and even a bouncy castle. There is so much to do we didn’t even have time in our week away to try them all out!
We have to say that this week away has been the most relaxing one we’ve had with our young family. Everything worked out perfectly – the travel on Brittany Ferries, the accommodation, the campsite, the day trips, the weather and most notably the kid’s club. The kids clubs have evolved a long way from our memories of them over twenty-five years ago. But just like our treasured memories of family holidays, the enjoyment that our children had from our Eurocamp holiday at La Vallée will stay with them a long time, I’m sure.
NB: Ian & Emma were invited to Eurocamp in order to review but all views and opinions are their own.
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I hear a lot about Euro Camp but we’ve never researched any further. Will have to add it to the list.
Sounds like the perfect kind of family holiday. Easy for Mum and Dad, kids clubs for the children, and a really lovely campsite to boot. When we go, we tend to like staying in those static homes as well, just so much less stressful than a tent! 🙂
La Vallée looks terrific. We’re huge Eurocamp fans and Normandy is high on the shortlist for next year.
We do love a holiday park break like this, so child friendly that it makes it adult friendly too! Looks like you had a fab time.
This looks really lovely. I have fond memories of many Eurocamp holidays as a child, and I would love the same for our little ones. looks like you had such a wonderful trip x
We’ve always fancied Eurocamp and now this has definitely made our minds up! It looks fantastic – the facilities are not what i imagined…
This looks a perfect place to take young children on holiday. It really does look like they all had a great time, and if they’re happy you can relax a bit too!
Looks a brilliant place for a family holiday, so much for all for the family to enjoy!
Ooh what a fun place to go on holiday! You’re children look like they really enjoyed it! #MondayEscapes
I spent many a family holiday with Eurocamp as a child, too! Very happy memories of the kids clubs 🙂 the land zorbing sounds awesome!
Just last week I talked to a friend about how I liked all the amenities campsites have to offer, but not the basics of camping with a tent. I wouldn’t want to do this for longer holidays, but for a short break this looks great! #MondayEscapes
The kids look like they loved it! 😀 #MondayEscapes
This looks so family friendly! Your kids look so happy to be there #mondayescapes
That sounds like a fun place. The kids club sounds awesome. It sounds like the kids really enjoyed it. #mondayescapes
Looks a great place to go on holiday with the kids. I haven’t been to a Eurocamp yet but would really like to give it a try. Great post, thanks.
Oooh fabulous I haven’t been to Normandy since I was 11 . I would love to go back
It looks like everyone had a great time… just like you did as a child! How lovely that you could share this experience with your little ones! #MondayEscapes
We always meant to do a Eurocamp holiday when the kids were younger but never quite got around to it (although we have been camping in France a few times). Mine are way too cool for kids clubs now but it sounds like yours are the perfect age for them! #Mondayescapes
That is my kind of “camping”. Looks like a lot of fun for the kids and adults. I loved the patio with dining table! #mondayescapes
This is our favourite type of family holiday! Affordable but still an adventure with something for all the family! #MondayEscapes
This looks like a perfect holiday for a family with young children #MondayEscapes
I think Eurocamp provides excellent flexible holidays for families. It sounds like this trip went really well and it’s somewhere I would consider taking my own family to this site.
We had a successful trip camping in Brittany last year and we would love to go back again. This park sounds great. #mondayescapes
We’ve always loved Eurocamp. I did it growing up as a kid and whilst we were living in the UK we always took the boys. Living in Kent meant that driving down to France was always an easy option. We haven’t been to this one in Normandy! Looks lovely!
Our little one is 20 months old now, and we’ve just started thinking about how she’d like camping. Of course, if there as a campsite like that here in Korea, where we live, I’m sure she’d absolutely love it. And I must admit, I certainly like the idea of the kids clubs and couriers that watch the kids a bit… 😉
Got all confused with the language in here. I thought caravan was a campervan or RV. I got it know (learned something today). I think the idea of staying in one of these places is excellent. We have several similar options close to where I live and we stop by often. So much fun! #MondayEscapes
Really informative post! This holiday appears to combine lots of attractive features: outdoor experience with indoor comforts; scope for relaxation yet plenty of historical and cultural activities nearby, as well as activities for the kiddies. And that “caravan” is enormous!! #MondayEscapes
Normandy is a lovely place for family holidays! La Vallee looks like a beautiful place to stay at! #mondayescapes
Ah it looks lovely we have never done Euro Cap but it looks fab x
Looks like a great trip. The kids club sounds fun for the kids and relaxing for parents! We haven’t tried out Eurocamp yet but we keep talking about it – perhaps we will make it there soon. #mondayescapes
It sounds like this was such a great holiday. I’ve been on something similar recently – in fact the mobile homes looks very similar. It’s perfect for an ‘outdoor’ holiday with kids. I’m a fan of the flexi bucket bath too! 🙂 #MondayEscapes
That looks like such fun for the kids! I’ve never heard of Eurocamps before, but that looks so cool! If I have kids one day I’d definitely take them!
By a strange coincidence I just nearly booked this site for this summer but they didn’t have the accommodation we wanted so we’ve ended up going to another Eurocamp site. It was the proximity to the D Day beaches that attracted us to this area. The site looks fab though so it remains firmly on my list for future! We haven’t done Eurocamp since our girls were toddlers but I’m sure now age 9 they will enjoy making friends and having some independence. Like you we used to do these holidays when we were children – always popular! #MondayEscapes
Looks great! My son would probably love the camps for the social aspect, and my daughter would live the organised fun! Is it all English speakers there, or people from lots of places?
I can recall the odd kids club session singing songs, putting on a performance, arts and crafts and sleeping lions. It’s great that they are not just a thing of the past. #MondayEscapes
Liked Normandy a lot! The campsite looks great!
We loved going to Normandy on holiday as there’s so much to see and do in the surrounding areas. Great review of a lovely campsite.