A holiday with several families on one campsite: how we do it and why the kids love it

For the last two years we have spent part of our summer holidays with friends' families. We do not all drive across Europe in one convoy, though. We agree on one campsite, book pitches next to each other and spend a few days or a week there together. Each family gets there on its own and decides on its own where to go next. That is how it worked in 2024 at Lake Paladru in France and in 2025 in Arco on Lake Garda.

2024: four families at Lake Paladru

In summer 2024 we planned our whole trip around one idea: a week on a shared campsite with friends. At Lake Paladru four families set up on four pitches next to each other. Together there were eleven kids. For some it was the start of their holiday, for others the end, and for others the very middle. We drove to France together with one of the families. Near Chamonix we spent two nights with another one, and at the end of the holiday we met them again in Uffenheim. We wrote about the whole route in our post Summer 2024 by campervan with kids, and about the stay at the lake in Lake Paladru with kids.

2025: several families in Arco

A year later we did it again in Arco on Lake Garda. New families joined the ones from the year before. Some of our friends first toured Tuscany and came to Arco on their way back. Two dads came together with their kids in one car. We drove in from Prague, and our son Krzys flew to Bergamo and spent a week with us. We write about what we did in Arco in our post Arco with kids.

Why it works

The kids play together every free minute, and nobody gets bored. Thanks to that, we parents have more time for ourselves, and in the evenings there is always someone to sit with and something to do.

The second advantage is freedom. We do not have to do everything together every day. Some go on a trip, others stay on the campsite, and in the evening we meet anyway. Shared outings, like a bike ride for ice cream, dinner in town or a via ferrata above the campsite, just happen on their own.

How to organise it

Book early

Several pitches next to each other in August need to be booked well in advance. It works best when one person collects the dates from all the families and books all the places at once.

Choose a campsite with things for kids to do

A pool, a playground and a patch of grass for playing football are enough for the kids to keep themselves busy. It helps when you can cycle into town, because then evening outings do not mean getting into the car.

Do not plan everything together

Each family has its own plan, its own pace and its own ideas for trips. What works for us is that we meet on the campsite and go on trips in different groups. Older kids are happy to go on a harder route with other parents, and the younger ones stay on the campsite.

Agree who looks after the kids

When some of the adults go on a trip, it is worth saying clearly who stays with the kids. Walkie-talkies are useful too. On the evening via ferrata in Arco they kept us in touch with the campsite the whole time.

Practical info

• In 2024 we spent a week with other families at the Détente et Clapotis campsite on Lake Paladru in France.
• In 2025 we spent nine days with other families at the Arco Prabi campsite in Arco on Lake Garda.