Camping holidays with children

Family holidays in recreational vehicles have enjoyed a real renaissance in recent years – and it's no wonder, as camping stands for flexible travel, a sense of freedom and getting close to nature, and – above all – child-friendly adventures! We share some practical tips to help turn your family time on the road into memories that will last a lifetime!

The essentials at a glance

Secure power supply for smartphones and tablets
Carrier systems, support systems, manoeuvring systems & Co: the right AL-KO VT technology for comfort and safety on the move
In the AL-KO VT webstore for caravanning accessories you will find a variety of useful products

Tips for a successful camping holiday with children

For many parents, the big advantage of travelling with babies and toddlers is the relaxed time management for meal breaks, naps and so on. Plus, you have everything within reach, from baby food to favourite cuddly toys and nappies.

For school-age children, there’s always something on offer at family-friendly campsites, so they can set off on their own and spend time with friends. Teenagers will appreciate the freedom camping brings (maybe even with their own tent), so you’ll find a great balance between shared experiences and the necessary independence for all family members.

Careful travel planning

One of the key factors for a successful family holiday: the destination! Some campsites have lots of facilities for small children, while others are more focused on leisure activities for adults (and older children). On a child-friendly site, your child is more likely to find holiday friends of the same age to play with or go exploring together.

Especially in the high season it makes sense, sometimes even necessary in certain countries, to book a pitch in advance so you don't face the stress of searching for a spot on arrival. Depending on the distance from home, it may also make sense to travel in stages or to travel overnight.

Choose the right vehicle for your needs

If you’re deciding on a new motorhome or your own caravan, the following interior criteria are important when travelling with children:

Size of the recreational vehicle
Number of belted seats
Number of beds
Sleeping arrangements (convertible or separate sleeping areas)
Size of children's beds

There are many options for arranging beds: bunk beds for children, a separate drop-down bed, an alcove bed, or converting a seat into a bed at night. Your preference may vary depending on the number and age of your children.

Martin Waldmann, mechanical engineer at AL-KO VT, is himself a passionate caravan camper and father, and for years preferred the bunk bed option: "Our children had their own space in the bunk beds of our caravan. That always worked well for us, because whether you’re a child or a teenager, everyone needs the option of retreat and privacy now and then."

This is possible with bunk beds, which are often separable with a curtain or similar (watch the size of children and bed length), and it’s also easy to create a bit of private space in an alcove bed.

Pack essential equipment and favourite toys

Experienced campers either have a packing list ready or approach packing in a relaxed way. If you’re heading out in a recreational vehicle for the first time, a detailed packing list is helpful so you don’t forget anything important – especially your child’s favourite toys.

If you need help putting together such a list, you can ask experienced campers you know, or try out useful apps. For inspiration, check out this packing list for 'Camping with Children'.

When it comes to choosing clothes, here’s a three-word tip: functional and mix & match. This way you can pack less and still have everything you need – especially if the clothes are easy to wash and quick-drying.

Stowing your camping equipment efficiently

If you’re not experienced in packing a camper, it helps to make a note of where you put things as you’re packing and stowing them. But this will soon fall into place as you settle into your holiday routine.

Finally on holiday – enjoying family time on the road

Every family decides for itself what makes a great time in a recreational vehicle. Here are some ideas for your time at the campsite.

Experience adventures
On and around the campsite there are countless opportunities: a barbecue evening over an open fire, a night walk or excursions on the water. Many campsites offer entertainment programmes and outings during peak season. According to your preferences, you can create your own sense of adventure during your family holiday.

Camping is especially varied around our Customer Centre in Ramsau in the Zillertal region of Austria. Here are a few examples:
- Camping und Erlebnis-Resort Aufenfeld, Aschau
- Eco campsite Hell, Fügen
- Campingplatz Mayrhofen
  A holiday here can be perfectly combined with a workshop appointment for the installation of levelling and support systems, manoeuvring systems for caravans, or bicycle and motorbike carriers.
Cooking together: (quick) recipes for children and adults
Cooking in a recreational vehicle doesn’t always have to be quick, but it should be quite straightforward. We’ve put together some tips for camping recipes for young and old.
Game ideas for toddlers, school kids and teenagers
Camping is about being outdoors, but on cold evenings or rainy days it can be cosier inside. So it’s always good to bring games for indoors and out.
Toddlers are often happiest simply sitting in the sand or meadow and digging with a bucket and spade. For getting around the campsite, a ride-on car is a good choice. For older school children, board and educational games work both outside or in the evening in the cosy caravan. Active games include badminton, beach games and football.
Sports are great for teenagers, as is outdoor games like Swedish chess – it’s fun and brings everyone together.
Ensure power supply for all family members
Not just adults, but even older children and teenagers don’t want to do without WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube & Co. while on holiday. If you’re not on a campsite with mains power, solar modules are the best way to reliably charge your leisure battery in the recreational vehicle. "Combined with intelligent charge controllers and devices, solar modules are an autonomous, reliable and sustainable energy solution on the road," says Andreas Kling, electronics expert at AL-KO VT. AL-KO VT offers a complete range of photovoltaic modules, ideally suited for camping: they feature a special anti-reflective design and glass with high light transmission that is resistant to shocks and the elements. If you want to set up your own Wi-Fi network in your motorhome for your family, a reliable power supply is also essential for the router.

Smart technical solutions – more comfort and safety for the whole family

Useful additional equipment can make your holiday in a recreational vehicle even more comfortable.

Products for panel vans and motorhomes

Technical equipment for extra comfort

Panel vans and motorhomes are ideal for touring different parts of a country or even several countries on holiday. Sabbaticals or parental leave in a camper are also popular. Extra technical equipment ensures even more well-being and comfort as you travel.

Carrier systems for bicycles

Whether for extended cycling tours, the morning ride to the bakery or journeys around large campsites: Having bikes on board keeps you mobile and flexible on holiday. And shared bike rides are often a highlight for children on a family holiday. Bicycle carriers from AL-KO VT offer a wide range of models for different requirements.

If you're travelling with a small child, you can bring along a balance bike or a child's seat for your own bike. Depending on how many bikes you need to take and the type of recreational vehicle you have, AL-KO VT offers a range of rear carrier models for you:

AGITO 120: Aluminium carrier system specifically for panel vans, swivelling, can carry up to 4 bikes or e-bikes
LIGERO III: For motorhomes, telescopic, can carry up to 4 bikes or a scooter and 2 bikes
VARIO: Telescopic and foldable

Support systems for a stable position

Hydraulic support systems for motorhomes offer considerable added value when travelling with children. There will be days and evenings when the whole family is in the motorhome, with children running around or playing. "Fully automatic, hydraulic support systems such as the HY4 system from AL-KO VT or LevelM Pro save time when arriving and setting up: automatic levelling instead of laborious winding is the motto – time you can spend with your family instead," explains Matthias Ländle, Product Manager for hydraulic levelling systems at AL-KO VT.

The control is electronic, the cylinders extend to the ground at the touch of a button and raise the vehicle to a level position via the axles. Levelling is precise to the millimetre and completed within minutes. In addition, the integrated weighing function of the HY4 system protects against overloading by displaying the current weight.

A special technical feature may interest those travelling in a panel van: LevelVan is the new levelling support system for panel vans. Thanks to the stable position, the little ones can sleep soundly while you move freely inside the camper. The carbon cylinders ensure a low net weight, so you don't have to worry so much about payload.

Technical solutions for travelling with a caravan

More safety thanks to technical support

Caravans are especially suitable for holidays at a campsite. If handling such a trailer is not part of your daily routine, technical solutions offer even more comfort and safety.

Safety on the road with the ATC anti-snaking system

If you're travelling with the whole family, you as the driver are responsible not only for yourself but also for all your passengers. That's why, when driving with a caravan, especially on narrow roads and winding passes, it can be reassuring to rely on safe technology in addition to your own skills – such as the ATC (AL-KO Trailer Control) anti-snaking system for caravans and trailers. The ATC constantly monitors the driving behaviour and movements of your caravan throughout the journey. It's comparable to ESP (Electronic Stability Program) in cars, but intervenes much earlier – at the very first sign of snaking, reliably correcting it.

Mechanical engineer Martin Waldmann is a firm believer in the ATC: "ATC really ought to be legally required: especially for less experienced drivers who may only drive once a year, it's a huge gain in driving safety."

Manoeuvring system for easy parking (manoeuvring system)

If you're travelling with a small child, it can't help you with manoeuvring. If teenagers are strong enough, they usually don't want to help and have their minds on other things: Manoeuvring a caravan on a pitch can be hard work once you arrive at the campsite. To save your own energy – especially with large tandem axle caravans – and to avoid relying on help from your camping neighbours, it is worth installing a manoeuvring system, also known as a manoeuvring system, such as the AL-KO MAMMUT.

Martin Waldmann was involved in the development of the first MAMMUT and milled the prototype himself. "Thanks to the small motors mounted on the wheels of the caravan, caravan owners can manoeuvre and park their caravan precisely using just a remote control, without any effort. Even obstacles up to four centimetres or gradients of up to 28 per cent can be handled without any problems. It's a huge comfort advantage when parking."

Support system for caravans with Big Foot

Just as with the motorhome, the advantages of a hydraulic support system stand out when travelling with children: With the LevelC system from AL-KO VT for caravans, the four corner steadies and two axle supports can be extended comfortably at the touch of a button. In addition, you can level the caravan. For extra stability on all surfaces from sand to mud and snow, the – as standard with LevelC – Big Foot feet are included, providing an extra-large base area of 200 x 180 millimetres and a load capacity of up to 1,250 kilograms.

Pack more thanks to increased permissible total weight

More people also means more luggage. But it's not just clothing, leisure equipment and so on that add weight to your caravan – more technology and additional equipment, such as the battery for the manoeuvring system or bicycle carrier, will also increase the kilogram total and thus reduce the payload for your travel luggage. If you are approaching the payload limit of your caravan, we recommend you check the possibility of a gross weight increase.

Appropriate burglary and theft protection

A certain level of caution against burglary and theft is advised. From a technical perspective, the market for anti-theft devices for motorhomes and caravans offers a wide range of solutions. Consider what measures make sense for your travel destination and style. In general, alarm systems, additional door locks or wheel clamps like the PROSAFE all help protect motorhomes and caravans from theft. For caravans in particular, there are also drawbar or security locks for telescopic steadies.

And for those who prefer to travel without the little ones, you'll find inspiration here.