Eurocamp Packing Essentials: What to Pack for a Campsite Holiday

Packing for a Eurocamp holiday is slightly different from packing for a hotel. You’re not camping in the traditional sense, especially if you’re staying in a mobile home, but there are quite a few everyday things that you’d normally expect a hotel to provide that you’ll need to bring yourself.

After staying on European campsites as a family of five for over eight years, we’ve learnt that it’s the little things that are easiest to forget. A bath mat, a sharp knife or dishwasher tablets might not sound particularly important until you arrive and realise you need them!

And while you can normally buy most things from the campsite shop or a nearby supermarket, bringing the basics from home can save you quite a bit of money.

So, if you’re wondering what to pack for Eurocamp, here’s our family campsite packing list.

Bathroom essentials

Bath mat – This is one I always recommend. The shower floor can get absolutely soaked, particularly with children.
Bath towels – Check what your package includes, you could hire or bring them with you
Pool or beach towels
Hand soap
Toilet roll – You’ll often get one roll to get you started, but I’d bring extra.

Bedding and bedroom essentials

Before you start packing, check exactly what your accommodation includes. Depending on the campsite, accommodation type and how you’ve booked, bed linen may be included, available to hire or something you need to bring yourself.

For children, we also find a small nightlight really useful. Mobile homes are unfamiliar places and can be very dark at night, particularly if someone needs to find the bathroom.

Kitchen essentials

Your mobile home will have a kitchen and usually comes with the main crockery, cutlery, pans and cooking equipment. However, there are a few extras we always take.

Washing-up liquid and sponges
Tea towel
Bin bags
Kitchen roll
Dishwasher tablets, if your accommodation has a dishwasher
Washing powder or laundry tablets – there will be campsite facilities as opposed to a washing machine in your accommodation
Cling film or foil
Reusable water bottles
Cool bag and ice blocks
BBQ utensils – even if you have a BBQ, there is not always utensils for the BBQ.

And one of my biggest recommendations: take a sharp knife! There may be knives in the kitchen, but in our experience they’re rarely particularly sharp. If you’re planning to cook regularly, bringing your own makes life much easier.

Don’t forget the coffee

If morning coffee is non-negotiable in your house, check what type of coffee machine your mobile home has before you travel. There’s no point packing capsules only to discover you have the wrong machine when you arrive. It will always tell you what coffee machine is provided and its cheaper to take this with you rather than buying on site.

Cupboard staples worth bringing from home

You don’t need to take your entire kitchen cupboard on holiday, particularly if you’re driving past a supermarket on the way to the campsite. However, there are a few basics that can be worth bringing:

Pasta
Tinned food
Snacks for the children
Salt and pepper
Cooking oil
Tea and coffee
Any herbs, sauces or seasonings you know you’ll use

It saves buying full-sized bottles and packets for a holiday, only to use a tiny amount and leave the rest behind. If you’re driving to Eurocamp, this is particularly easy to do because you don’t have the same luggage restrictions as flying.

Other useful Eurocamp extras

A few other things regularly make our packing list:

Travel adaptors
Extension lead or multi-plug: Especially useful when a family has several phones, watches and other devices to charge.
Reusable shopping bags
Mosquito repellent
Cards and games for evenings on the terrace

Can you buy everything when you arrive?

Yes, you absolutely can. Most larger campsites have an on-site shop, and there will usually be supermarkets nearby. However, campsite shops can be expensive, and it’s frustrating spending your first afternoon buying washing-up liquid, toilet roll and bin bags when you could be heading straight to the pool.

If you’re driving, I’d bring the small essentials from home and then do a proper food shop at a local supermarket once you arrive. It definitely helps the budget.

What does Eurocamp provide?

This is the important bit: don’t assume every Eurocamp mobile home or campsite provides exactly the same things. Facilities and inclusions can vary depending on the campsite, accommodation range and booking. Before packing, check your booking carefully for:

Bed linen
Towels
BBQ
Dishwasher
Coffee machine
Air conditioning
Cleaning equipment
Kitchen equipment

Eurocamp holidays are truly brilliant for families. You get the freedom of self-catering, loads of space for the kids, fantastic pools and facilities, and the chance to explore some incredible parts of Europe, all without the formality of a hotel.

If you pack the right extras, get the boring bits sorted before you arrive, and then all that’s left to do is unpack, head to the pool and start your holiday. 🏕️☀️

We’re huge Eurocamp fans, and you’ll find plenty more campsite reviews, packing tips and European family holiday inspiration here on Saving & Sandcastles. Why not check out our campsite reviews.

We’re huge Eurocamp fans, and you’ll find plenty more campsite reviews, packing tips and European family holiday inspiration here on Saving & Sandcastles. Why not check out our campsite reviews.
Read about our trip to Lake Garda for some inspiration
Read about our booking guide for Eurocamp and campsites