There is something very special about attending music festivals during the summer. The hoards of people, the top of the bill live bands, the camaraderie of everyone camping out and swapping stories (and supplies); it’s a unique experience and something that everyone should experience at least once.

Of course there are also downsides to music festivals, especially in the UK. With UK festivals you can be fairly certain that the weather will play at least some part in the event and will turn a plush field into a mud filled arena from which nobody will escape unsullied.

Camping in the UK can have big disadvantages. This is one area where the rest of Europe has a distinct advantage over the UK, as camping in Europe for music festivals can be an entirely different experience, and something that could persuade those put off by the mud in the UK to give it a go.

If camping in tents isn’t your thing, you could try holiday parks that contain mobile homes. You still get the feeling of camping out, fulfil the desire for self catering, but you don’t have to wrestle with a tent in a field while the rain beats down on your face.

British music festivals have a special place in people’s hearts, but for those who don’t like to ‘rough it’ then continental Europe offers a much more civilised camping experience.

The credit crunch is taking its toll on almost everyone in the current financial climate, with many holidaymakers choosing to remain in the UK rather than go abroad for their annual summer family holidays. A dim economic forecast doesn’t mean however that you have to suffer the dim British weather as well. On the contrary, summer breaks in Europe can be just as cheap as they are in the UK, especially if you travel by car or ferry across to the continent and avoid the unpredictability of flights.

European holiday parks are also perfect for family breaks as there are many holiday parks in France, Italy and Spain that offer luxurious, fun family holidays in peaceful, entertaining and most importantly ‘warm’ surroundings. Children love the sort of family holidays you can experience in mainland Europe for the excitement and fun factor, and adults enjoy them too because of the fabulous areas the holiday parks are situated in. Areas such as Tuscany and Brittany, famed for their beauty and their history, are also great for kids as they have many family holiday parks.

The best part about summer breaks in Europe in countries such as Italy, Spain and France is that these countries are so easy to get to. Via the Channel Tunnel you can be in France in a matter of minutes and from there can easily make your way to neighbouring countries.