Choosing a first camp is daunting, and the websites all look alike. These eight questions are the ones that really separate a well-run camp from one that isn't. They work for any camp, not just ours: ask them over the phone and compare the answers.
1. How many camp counsellors are there per child, and how many are qualified?
The number alone isn't enough: ask how many of those camp counsellors hold the official leisure-time counsellor qualification and how many are trainees. A group of 10 with two trainee counsellors is not the same as one with a qualified counsellor and an assistant.
At LayosCamp: two camp counsellors for every 8 campers, one with the official qualification and one on placement. All the camp counsellors hold the official qualification, which includes first-aid training.
2. Is there an infirmary, and what are its hours?
“We have a first-aid kit” and “we have a 24-hour infirmary” are two different things. Ask who gives out medication, whether you can speak to that person before the session starts, and what happens at three in the morning.
At LayosCamp: the infirmary is open 24 hours with two infirmary managers, and you can speak to them before and during camp. If a child has to be given one of the camp's medicines, the parents are phoned beforehand.
3. How are food allergies managed?
This is the question that best tells camps apart. Ask them to walk you through the whole process: who checks allergies each day, whether the kitchen team is permanent or seasonal, how they prevent cross-contamination in the dining hall, and whether a child with an allergy eats the same as everyone else or something separate.
At LayosCamp: the infirmary manager goes through allergies every day with the kitchen team, who are with us all year round. Campers with allergies go into the dining hall first with their tray ready, and sit at the same tables as everyone else. Severe allergies require a phone conversation with the camp management beforehand.
4. What is the policy on bullying, and what happens if my child is having a hard time?
Ask about the actual procedure, not the intention. Who explains the rules, and when? Is the team trained in conflict resolution? At what point do they call the parents? And what if a child wants to go home on the second day?
At LayosCamp: zero tolerance, rules explained on the first day by the coordinators, a team trained in mediation, and immediate contact with parents if a conflict is serious. There is also a first-timers' supervisor for campers who are away for the first time.
5. Can I talk to my child? From when?
There is no right answer here: some camps have no phones and some have a daily call, and both can be defended. What matters is that they tell you clearly before you book, and that the rule is the same for everyone.
At LayosCamp: you can talk to your child's camp counsellor from the first day, and to your child from the fourth, during the call hour: one hour a day, on the camp phone or on their mobile, which the counsellor looks after the rest of the time. Phones are collected on the first day. We recommend four calls per family.
6. Who runs the higher-risk activities, and with what qualifications?
Climbing, kayaking, horse riding, surfing or zip lines are almost never run by the group's camp counsellor. Ask which company runs them, whether there is a signed agreement, and whether you can see the list for each program. If they can't tell you, that is an answer in itself.
At LayosCamp: the list of activities and companies for each program is in the general terms and conditions. Every subcontractor has a signed agreement guaranteeing protocols, the condition of the equipment and up-to-date qualifications. And you can ask in writing for a camper not to take part in a specific activity.
7. What exactly does the price include?
Ask for the breakdown: transport, uniform, insurance, activities, laundry, airport transfer. Two camps with the same price can differ by several hundred euros once you add up what is charged separately.
At LayosCamp: the price of the session includes accommodation, full board, all the activities in the program, accident and third-party liability insurance, a 24 h infirmary, daily laundry and the coach from Madrid and back. Charged separately: the uniform (€160 for the full set) and the transfer, if you use it. There is pick-up at Madrid-Barajas, Bilbao, Santander, Málaga and Gibraltar airports, and at Atocha and Chamartín stations; the price depends on the pick-up point and is confirmed by the office.
8. How long have they been running, and who is accountable if something goes wrong?
Years don't guarantee quality, but they do mean someone has already seen almost everything that can happen. And ask who has overall responsibility during the session: whether it is a person with a name and a phone number, or “the organisation”.
At LayosCamp: a family business since 1985, with more than 10,000 families. During every program there is always a member of the family with overall responsibility. And since 1999 we have trained our own camp counsellors at our official school for leisure-time counsellors; in summer we don't hire anyone who hasn't worked with us before.
And what do families who have already been there say?
Ask for the rating and, above all, how many responses it is based on. A 5 from 3 reviews tells you nothing; a 4.5 from 200 does. And check whether the camp asks systematically at the end of every session or only collects whatever comes in unprompted.
At LayosCamp: we ask every camper's family at the end of their fortnight, and they score the camp counsellor's care, the activities, the food, the facilities and the office's service from 1 to 5. The average of those five is 4.74 out of 5 across 220 families in 2026. We don't ask for an overall score, so we don't give one.