Do cheap family camping holidays still exist?
A few years ago this question would have made no sense. Cheap family camping holidays were the very concept of this type of holiday. Perhaps that's a bit quick. Some families, of course, don't choose a campsite for its price, but more for its natural surroundings, its conviviality, its entertainment... its atmosphere.
In the last ten years or so, things have changed a lot when it comes to camping. The general standard has soared and there's no longer any need to be afraid when you go to the sanitary facilities! Everything will be spotless. Campsites no longer have anything to envy from hotel residences and hotels. Most camping holidays
This general rise in the standard of campsites has naturally resulted in an increase in the prices charged. But don't worry, prices for other types of accommodation have also risen, so it's still possible to book an expensive family campsite. So the answer to our first question is yes... but how do you find these famous cheap family campsites? What do they have that other campsites don't? When should you book a 'classic' campsite so that it becomes a cheap campsite? Let's start with this last question! You should be aware that the price of a campsite, for the same week's holiday, varies greatly over the year, but also according to its location, its services and, lastly, the date of your stay!
When to book your holiday for a cheap family campsite?
There are two ways of getting a good deal in tourism, and family camping is no exception to the rule. To book a mobile home or chalet at a good price, you need to book early or book late... If you're looking for a cheap family campsite for this summer, you'll need to book either before March or at the last minute! In terms of price, you'll be looking at discounts that are more or less the same, give or take 10% (the last minute being a little cheaper). But the risk of booking at the last minute is quite high when it comes to availability. Remember, too, that a cheap family campsite at the last minute is a campsite that has not found takers in high season... there may be a reason for this.
As you will have realised, a priori we cannot give you a list of cheap family campsites. It all depends on when you decide to book your holiday. But we can make a small selection, and that's what you'll find on this page! How did we do it?
How to select a cheap family campsite?
A good way to find cheap camping holidays is to get away from the tourist hotspots... So get away from the south of France and the beaches... So, when you put it like that, I get the impression that you're not happy. Well, it's just a first step. There are some magnificent regions in France where you can spend a family holiday: the Loire, the Lozère, the Cantal. The climate is not that of the south of France, but with global warming we're getting close. When it comes to swimming, you can even bring the price down even further by choosing a campsite without a pool... but close to a river or lake, for example... You're sure to find a cheap family camping holiday in these regions.
In the list below, you can find a cheap family campsite by the sea. But there's a reason for this.
A cheap family campsite holiday in the south is often a campsite of limited standing with ageing accommodation. But is this a campsite to avoid? The answer is no. We have many customers on a budget who are prepared to sacrifice a little comfort for good weather and the sea nearby. To quote the phrase our advisors hear most often: "We go camping to enjoy the outdoors, we just need somewhere to sleep". Sometimes it's not the standard that's lower, but the services. For example, you may only have one swimming pool for the whole campsite or a smaller water park. Some campsites have no swimming pool or water park at all. If you're close to the beach, this isn't too much of a problem.
As for cheap camping holidays in the Aquitaine region, or more precisely in the Landes, it's a bit the same problem... there aren't many of them.
If you're absolutely looking for a cheap family camping holiday with the sea nearby, you'll have to head for destinations that are a bit riskier in terms of climate. Say goodbye to the Var, the Côte d'Azur, Provence, the PACA region, Languedoc or Corsica, and hello to Brittany, Normandy or even the North. Brittany is very popular with families because it fits in well with the notion of wilderness associated with camping. Before looking in Brittany, you can take a look at the Vendée.
What type of accommodation is cheap family camping?
The cheapest is a stay in a tent with a pitch. At Familytrip, we don't offer this type of package because it is becoming less and less popular. They may seem cheaper, but you still have to buy a tent. We're not talking about a couple's holiday here, but a family holiday... a two-second tent costing 50€ won't be enough. In short, pitches aren't expensive, but tents are.
The best accommodation for cheap family camping holidays is clearly a mobile home. Chalets and cottages are nice but generally a bit more expensive. It's not really a difference in comfort that you're paying for, but more the aesthetics of the accommodation. Mobile homes don't have wooden cladding and blend in a little less with the surrounding countryside.
Mobile homes aren't usually very big, around 20m², but they're perfectly optimised for family holidays!
What services should you sacrifice for a cheap family camping holiday?
Then it's quite simple, if you take away the water park and children's clubs you can reduce the total price of your holiday by 30 to 40%. We're talking about the water park here, which means that you can still have a swimming pool, which is already great for children.
Which week to book?
The best way to book a cheap family camping holiday is to go during the spring holidays. But it's also possible to get good rates by going on the "edges" of the school holidays: the first and last weeks are clearly cheaper.
That's all you need to know about booking your family holiday at a cheap family campsite. Remember: book early, not too close to the sea, with limited facilities and at the beginning or end of the school holidays!