Camping, Glamping or Caravan? Choosing Your Devon Family Holiday
11th Aug 2026
Booking a family holiday should be the fun bit, but when you're staring at a list of tents, pods, caravans and lodges, it's easy to get stuck in the mud. Which one actually suits your family? Which one will the kids love? And which one means you're not spending the first two hours of your break wrestling with tent poles in the rain?
At Crealy, we offer four main ways to stay, so we’ve put together this straightforward guide to what each one involves to help you pick your ideal Devon family holiday!
Camping: the classic family adventure
There's nothing quite like it. Sleeping under the stars, cooking outdoors, and that brilliant moment when the kids realise they get to sleep in a tent. It's the most affordable way to holiday as a family, and there's a real sense of achievement in setting up camp together.
It suits you if: you've got your own gear (or fancy investing in some), your children are old enough to enjoy mucking in, and you don't mind a walk to the shower block.
Worth knowing: you'll need to bring everything — tent, sleeping bags, cooking kit, the lot. And British weather being what it is, an all-weather pitch with a hardstanding base makes a genuine difference to how your week goes.
Take a look at our camping and touring pitches to see what's included.
Glamping vs Camping: what's the actual difference?
Glamping is camping with the hard work taken out. You still get the canvas, the countryside and the outdoorsy feel, but you arrive to a bed that's already made, a proper kitchen, heating, and lighting that isn't a head torch.
The big difference is what you don't bring. No tent to pitch, no airbed to inflate at 11pm, no cool box slowly turning into a puddle. You turn up, unpack, and you're on holiday.
It suits you if: you love the idea of camping but not the reality of it, you've got little ones who need warmth and a decent night's sleep, or it's your first family holiday under canvas and you'd rather ease in.
Our themed glamping tents come fully kitted out, including our safari tents, which are a proper home-from-home with a bit of adventure thrown in.
Caravan holidays: your own space, no packing marathon
If glamping is camping made comfortable, a caravan holiday is camping made easy. You get a fixed base with everything already there, including kitchen, bathroom, separate bedrooms and a sitting area to collapse into after a big day out.
It suits you if: you want a bit more space and privacy, you're travelling with grandparents or a bigger group, or you're holidaying with a baby or toddler and want everything within arm's reach.
Have a look at our family Caravan holidays.
Lodges with hot tubs: the full treat
Sometimes you just want to be properly looked after. Our luxury lodges with private hot tubs give you five-star comfort in the East Devon countryside with your own hot tub for when the kids have finally run out of steam.
It suits you if: it's a special occasion, you're sharing with another family, or you fancy a holiday where the grown-ups get a treat too.
Camping with kids for the first time?
Here's what to pack:
One more thing to think about:
Wherever you stay with us, you're a short walk from our award-winning Theme Park - home to the most rides in Devon, along with animals, adventure play and live entertainment. That changes the maths a bit. A rainy morning isn't a washout when there's a full day out on your doorstep, and there's no packing the car to go anywhere.
All our short breaks come with discounted Theme Park entry, plus access to our Resort facilities such as adventure golf, pedal bikes, a multi-sports court and evening entertainment in the Clubhouse.
Whichever way you choose to stay, the fun starts the moment you arrive.