Camping in France is so incredibly popular, and not just with the British. Regardless of where you choose to stay you will find that there are Dutch, German, French and lots of people from the Eastern European countries on campsites in France. You may not speak the same languages but it is amazing how quickly all the kids start to play together; football seems to be universally understood.

Making a success of your family holidays is simple because it is largely a state of mind. The pace is whatever you want it to be. You can eat when you like, get up when you choose and sit outside until the small hours just having a glass or two and talking. Of course booking a mobile home on a good site is pretty essential if you know that you would hate being in a tent. Mobile homes come with everything including the kitchen sink and even the most basic come with a good bathroom, a cooker and a fridge. Most camping holiday companies offer various levels of home and some of them are downright luxurious.

There will be holiday reps on the site to help you if you need any advice or have any problems and if a holiday company has invested in putting mobiles on to a campsite it is because they know that it has something special to offer. Whether it is a fantastic pool complex or direct access to a stunning beach you will find that they are perfect for family holidays. In fact once the children have left home you will probably find that you are still going to a French campsite because you will love just being able to relax and go with the flow.

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.