Camping

Camping – A fantastic family friendly holiday for children and adults alike

Children love to camp and it is always a super family friendly holiday option. There are essentially two types of camping.

The first is the DIY version where you erect your own tent and spend hours grappling with this (which can in itself be great fun for kids) and cook your own food over a gas stove.

The other option is a campsite which usually has excellent children’s facilities including supermarkets, swimming pools and in many cases kids clubs. Both are great family holiday experiences and have their own merits. As another alternative to staying in tents, you also have the option of staying in well furnished chalets or mobile homes which usually have bedrooms, a lounge area, a kitchen and in some cases DVDs, televisions, fridges and microwaves.

Many of the top end campsites have put a lot of time into thinking about what families want and have baby-sitting, baby equipment rental, organized children’s activities, swimming pools with slides and family activities including cycling and children’s lessons. Whichever option you go for, your children will be experiencing much of the outdoor life and a camping holiday really is a fantastic family holiday to experience.

Irish camping

We would recommend camping-ireland.ie the official website of the Irish caravan and camping campsite which gives you a comprehensive search facility, including a facility guide which includes symbols for playgrounds, beaches nearby, children’s playrooms, TV rooms and swimming pools. All of the sites are registered and generally you are required to bring your own tent although in some cases you have the option of hiring a mobile home. Prices are however very competitive and this can make for a very cost effective family holiday.

UK holiday parks

Our preferred family friendly partners for UK camping and holiday parks are Park Holidays and Hoseasons. You might like to also consider classic holiday park options such as Butlins or Pontins who have excellent facilities at the cost effective end of the market. Check out their special offers and online discounts.

European camping sites

The European camping facilities can provide a fantastic child friendly option for spending time on the continent, whether it is a beach holiday or a sightseeing holiday. Our preferred partners are Eurocamp, Keycamp and Siblu. Hoseasons are also another fantastic holiday village option. Check out their special offers and online discounts.

We have prepared some destination specific guides on Camping in France, Camping in Italy and Camping in Spain as well as our editor's picks for camping sites.

Top tips when booking your family camping holiday

It is important to remember that the cheapest may not be always represent the best bargain and we would always recommend as a general rule of thumb buying a bigger tent from the one you think you will need or upgrading to a bigger property for an organized ready-made campsite.

Standards can vary in campsites from the most basic to those whose facilities equal a five star resort. The range of campsite amenities is something that you really should investigate in detail before you book. In particular check the baby and child friendly equipment that is provided if you are going to an organized campsite and what is open when you are going to be there.

Look at whether you will need to provide your own linen and towels or whether these are provided and if so, the cost, whether or not there is a supermarket on site (local supermarkets off site are usually cheaper), whether there is a restaurant on site, whether there are laundry facilities, whether there is a swimming pool and whether there are any activities if it rains.

Check precisely which kids facilities and amenities will be open when you will be there as sometimes facilities advertised including water parks and kids clubs are only open during high season July and August.

Look into whether or not you can get extras such as free overnight stays if you are travelling long distances from the ferry and any other family friendly special offers and deals that may be available.

Consider the size of the campsite. If it is too big you may be a considerable distance from the facilities and if it is too small facilities may be inadequate or your children may have no one to play with.

Check the location of the property and how far it is from any kids attractions or sites you wish to visit and if distances given are by car or on foot.

Consider the type of accommodation you will be staying in. If you are pitching your own tent, you will generally be relying on the shared common facilities on the campsite. If you are opting for a ready-pitched tent, this can often feature separate rooms with zipped partitions, extended living spaces outside and separate toilet tents. It is often worth the extra expense of investing in a toilet in a tent to avoid having to travel through wet grass with children. If you are booking a chalet or a mobile home, again check the number of bedrooms rather than bed spaces and the facilities on offer.

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

Sign up for our free newsletter to be kept updated with all of the latest special offers for family holidays and family travel news. Remember to enter our fantastic competitions which have super prizes and best of all are free.