My favourite cheap European holiday parks – with on-site theme parks, huge tropical lagoons and sandy beaches

HOLIDAY park getaways are a cracking choice for families wanting to keep things easy and simple.

The main appeal is having everything you need in one place (convenient facilities and kid-friendly attractions).

They tend to be in great locations, too, often overlooking sun-drenched beaches or immersed in nature – and, more often than not, they’re much more affordable than a hotel stay or villa.

Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the best holiday parks in Europe to visit this summer.

DUINRELL, NETHERLANDS

The big draw of Duinrell, on the western coast of the Netherlands, is that it has its very own theme park on site with over 40 attractions – and best of all, guests get free admission.

When you’re not spinning around in a barrel on the newTobbedanser ride, have a paddle in the indoor ‘Tiki Pool’ which has a whopping 21 waterslides as well as a shallow children’s play areas, wave pool and lazy river.

There’s also a 10-pin bowling alley, arcade games, restaurants and a pizza takeaway.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a three-bedroom holiday home is from £1671.39 for arrival on May 24. See eurocamp.co.uk

TERME CATEZ, SLOVENIA

With its own wave pool onsite you’ll never need to worry about that 30C heat in summer at Terme Catez on Slovenia’s eastern border.

There’s also an outdoor waterpark on site with nine pools, 19 mega waterslides and a 450-metre lazy river where you can spend the afternoon slowly bobbing on the water in a rubber ring.

Little ones will also love “pirate island”; that features a pirate ship spraying water, while adults can soak away their worries in one of the bubbling jacuzzis.

Activities on dry land include table tennis, badminton and football.

There are three restaurants and two bars on site, or you can wander 2km to the nearby village of Čatež ob Savi for some local grub.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a two-bedroom holiday home is from £223.23 on May 24. See eurocamp.co.uk.

ZATON, CROATIA

At the stylish Zaton park on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, white sands are backed by dense pine forests where kids can get up close with nature.

A new pool complex is opening at the resort this June, complete with an adults area, children’s area and six attractions including two toddler-friendly water slides.

Sports fans will be spoilt for choice with six clay tennis courts, several volleyball courts (including some beach ones), various basketball and football courts, three mini-golf courses and 2.56 km track all at their finger tips.

There’s also watersports, kids clubs and evening entertainment.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a five to six person apartment is from £642.18 for arrival on August 24. See zaton.hr.

DOMAINE DE KERLANN, FRANCE

This sunny spot on France’s eastern coast, in southern Brittany, is within easy reach of not one, nor two, but a whopping five white sand beaches where kids can play in rock pools and explore craggy caves.

On site, there’s indoor and outdoor heated pools, waterslides and a splash zone fitted with jets that fire water, as well as several play parks and pitches for football, tennis courts and archery.

And for active families who want to explore further afield, the holiday park has a bike rental shop.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self catering in a mobile home costs £604 for up to six people on August 23. See siblu.co.uk, or call 0208 610 0186.

POORT VAN ZEELAND, THE NETHERLANDS

Flower-filled dunes and picturesque lakes make Euro Parc’s Poort Van Zeeland a haven for nature lovers, with wildlife right on the doorstep.

An indoor and outdoor playground, plus a ‘Fun Crew’ that entertain kids with games such as laser tag and even bat safaris, are a few of the many reasons that families flock here year-on-year.

There’s a well-stocked supermarket and bar-cum-restaurant on site. Off site, there are hire boats for exploring the wetlands while Rotterdam is a 35 minute drive away.

STAYING THERE: A two-bedroomed chalet sleeping four costs from £108 per night. See pitchup.com.

LES CHARMETTES, FRANCE

A little off the beaten track and one of four Silbu holiday villages in the Charente Maritime region, Les Charmettes is in a prime spot for sun seekers, with enough sunshine hours to rival the Mediterranean coast during the summer months.

You’ll be able to take advantage of that heat at the huge swimming complex with five separate pools, a splash zone and two giant slides or the beach at La Palmyre which has golden sands that are swim safe and perfect for kiddies.

On site there’s mini golf, tennis, basketball and petanque, while the seaside towns of Royan, Cognac, and La Rochelle are a short drive away.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a mobile home costs £995 for up to six people on August 23. See siblu.co.uk or call 0208 610 0186.

CAMBRILS PARK, SPAIN

Adrenaline-addicted families should make a beeline for Cambrils Park, which sits just 8 kilometres from the spinning rides of PortAventura World, Spain’s most popular theme park.

Positioned in the Costa Dorada, the holiday park has five pool complexes, including a Mediterranean pool overlooking a prop lighthouse and with soft sands bordering the water.

Other on site activities include crazy golf, tennis, football and trampolining plus there’s a restaurant, super market and even a takeaway for those who want to stay cosied up in their bungalow.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a bungalow sleeping up to six costs £1332.66 for arrival on August 29. See eurocamp.co.uk.

CAMPING FABULOUS VILLAGE, ITALY

This park certainly lives up to its ‘fabulous’ name thanks to its enviable position on Italy’s Ostia Coast and on the outskirts of Rome.

The kids clubs really are excellent with sports tournaments, creative workshops and mini discos keeping them and their new friends busy.

Italian classics, burgers, pasta and salads are dished up at the park’s restaurant, while cocktails are shaken up at the bar where you can while away the evening with live entertainment.

It only takes 35 minutes on the bus to reach Rome’s city centre, where you’ll undoubtedly find the best pizza in the world.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a four person motorhome is from £693.04. See canvasholidays.co.uk.

CAMPING DEFIPLANET, FRANCE

Spread across 116 glorious acres, Camping DefiPlanet claims to be the biggest holiday village in France – and it might just be the most adventurous, too.

A high ropes course, horse riding and a tropical lagoon are just a few of the activities kids can take advantage of.

What can be better than a summer barbecue, too? Here you’ll be able to tuck into all sorts of barbecue-grilled dishes from meats to fish platters which can even be delivered to your door.

It’s also just half an hour from Poitiers – the ‘city of 100 steeples’ – and close to the award-winning Futuroscope theme park.

STAYING THERE: Camping pitches for tents, touring caravans and motorhomes start at

£7.84 per night (including 2 adults). Or two-person Star Cube micro lodges cost from £36 per night. See pitchup.com

PLAYA MONTROIG, SPAIN

There’s a reason that so many holiday parks are on the Costa Dorada and that’s because of its reliable sunny weather.

At Playa Montroig you’ll have direct beach access and a pool with an astroturf sunbathing area that means you’ll never be fighting for a space to lay your towel.

Kids will love the splash park and waterslides, plus there’s tennis, football, mini golf, basketball and ping-pong.

Meanwhile, adults can unwind in the onsite spa, which features a jacuzzi and a sauna.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a four-person lodge is from £1679.20. See eurocamp.co.uk.

BELLA ITALIA, LAKE GARDA

Fancy dipping your toes into the life of an A-lister? Hundreds of celebs flock to Lake Garda in northern Italy year on year because of its peaceful setting and breathtaking scenery.

Luckily, Bella Italia holiday park comes with a much smaller price tag than the fancy hotels that the likes of George Clooney stay in.

It features lagoon style pools, direct access to a lakeside beach and four cracking restaurants (although, not the Bella Italia chain) – Gardaland theme park is also just a ten minute drive away.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a six person bungalow is from £941.29 for arrival on August 30. See eurocamp.co.uk.

PRAIRIE DE LA MER, FRANCE

Animal lovers will be able to get properly stuck into the pony club and petting zoo at Prairie de la Mer, in between Nice and Marseille on France’s southern shores.

It’s on the larger size, with 3,000 pitches on site – and that means that facilities and activities are in abundance, including a spa with a hammam, gym and jacuzzis.

It’s the “aquatic area”; that steals the show, though, with a huge main pool flanked by swaying palm trees, as well as a smaller pool for kiddies to splash about in, that’s if they’re not making new pals at the kids clubs.

Spend sunny afternoons playing the traditional French game of boules or have a go at windsurfing, archery or horse riding.

There are six restaurants, a supermarket and three bars on site, but Port Grimaud is under a 2km stroll away, littered with restaurants dishing up fresh seafood to tables overlooking boats on the harbour.

STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in a four-person Premium Exclusive lodge costs from £2,403.25 for arrival on August 27. See eurocamp.co.uk.