Camping is hell.

[Thisisnothappeningagain]

I havent enjoyed camping since i was a teen. Dp is well into it 'i just chuck a few things in the car and go!' -_- (i wont even get in to how much effort it was to acquire, sort and pack everything for a family and dogs) i finally bowed to pressure and here i am, a trek across a field away from the locked, extremely poorly ventilated, toilets and no idea where in this dark tent trying to take off the key is even though ive tried to keep it in the same zipped pocket. I must have had 5hrs sleep all week.

I HAVE TRIED to be positive, but im seriously struggling to see why this is fun, or relaxing.

We invented roofs for a reason, the Anglo Saxons weren't like oh sleeping under this sheet in snow is banging let's invent real roofs so we can just do this for holiday.

Exactly. And even if the weather is glorious, tents are always freezing at night and claustrophobic and airless in the morning. Why would you choose a crapper form of shelter? Why would you choose greater inconvenience (not to mentioned inconvenient conveniences)? Why would you spend 40 minutes trying to coax some asthmatic puny gas stove with the power of a mouse's fart to heat your tent-moist sausage to a point where it's probably safe to eat it?? And THEN wash up in a shared sink??

Is that like roof panels though? These devices are quite small to be portable

camping is the gift that keeps on giving!

I remember a thread where the poster described how, once back home, they had to clean the tent and dry it before storing it or it would get mouldy

Who the heck has time for that!

It's just so much faff all round, the kit, the storage, the mess, the discomfort, the cost..

Nothing like camping to make you appreciate home; it's lovely when it stops...

To add further insult to injury he found a pack of Aldi bacon under his car seat two weeks later that had fallen out of his bag and spent two weeks trying to get his car to stop smelling of pork.

This has really made me laugh. For some reason it's the 'Aldi bacon' detail that's finishing me off

@GoldBar

Camping isn't a break. It's everything you have to do at home - wash, cook, shower, use the loo, wash up - made 10 times harder and more uncomfortable.

Exactly 🤷

What @GoldBar said!

Currently driving home from what DH doesn’t yet know is the last camping holiday we will ever go on. It was just about bearable with younger kids, but with older ones - we are done.

And yes we have to unpack, wash, dry and repack the entire bloody thing when we get home as the weather has been rubbish all week - until today of course.

If you MUST take me on a campsite, these are the minimum I would consider

and I am not putting them up myself!

@ClawedButler

We invented roofs for a reason, the Anglo Saxons weren't like oh sleeping under this sheet in snow is banging let's invent real roofs so we can just do this for holiday.

Exactly. And even if the weather is glorious, tents are always freezing at night and claustrophobic and airless in the morning. Why would you choose a crapper form of shelter? Why would you choose greater inconvenience (not to mentioned inconvenient conveniences)? Why would you spend 40 minutes trying to coax some asthmatic puny gas stove with the power of a mouse's fart to heat your tent-moist sausage to a point where it's probably safe to eat it?? And THEN wash up in a shared sink??

😱 I’ve always loved camping bit this post might be enough on it’s own to turn me!

Camping for me is a cheap way of getting away. I know prices have gone up esp this yr... £30 a night and you bring your own house 😱... but it’s still cheaper than the alternatives.

We’re a very outdoorsy family who don’t mind being mucky, so maybe that makes a difference

@Annoy

Camping for me is a cheap way of getting away. I know prices have gone up esp this yr... £30 a night and you bring your own house 😱... but it’s still cheaper than the alternatives.

We’re a very outdoorsy family who don’t mind being mucky, so maybe that makes a difference

Joking aside I am jealous of those who don't mind roughing it. The idea of it is lovely and the thought of enjoying a bottle of wine around a camp fire under the stars is idyllic. However the thought of rain is just too much! I think I'm just a miserable bitch who's too used to her home comforts

tent moiste sausage

I don’t mind roughing it @nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome but the rain is a bit much and I try to plan around the weather. Tricky this year though as many places are fully booked months in advance!

@IntermittentParps

To add further insult to injury he found a pack of Aldi bacon under his car seat two weeks later that had fallen out of his bag and spent two weeks trying to get his car to stop smelling of pork.

This has really made me laugh. For some reason it's the 'Aldi bacon' detail that's finishing me off

To this day I don't know the details of what happened on the fishing trip

He just describes it as the worst weekend of his life - it wasn't even a full 24 hours.

He'd gone to Aldi especially whenever he sees it in the shop I think he gets flashbacks the poor bloke.

If that's the only holiday you can afford then fine... invest in the kit and do it yearly. If you can afford an actual holiday then do that!! Nice holiday cottage or b&b

@BrozTito

People loved the war

?

I think many of the camping haters are doing it on a budget or without the luxury of higher-end equipment. Our camp supply is now extensive as it's built up over the years and we sleep comfortably, are warm and well fed. Supermarkets even deliver to campsites as do many takeaways if that's your thing. Even on a smaller budget it can be comfortable with research and the right bed.

Sites with parking next to the pitch is a must for us as dragging a load of gear from the car through a field is not a good way to start the holiday.

Some just hate it and that's fine too, it leaves the campsite space free for us who do!

@sleepyhoglet

If that's the only holiday you can afford then fine... invest in the kit and do it yearly. If you can afford an actual holiday then do that!! Nice holiday cottage or b&b

It would probably be the only holiday we could afford (if we had the gear).

Not been on any sort of holiday, even in the U.K. for ten years … and I still wouldn’t entertain the idea of camping!

I love camping but not in the UK. I tried the UK once, never again.
We have an ancient Vango tent, but we use fisherman's beds, which can be also used as chairs. So comfy.
Cook? What's that then? The nearest we get to cooking is throwing some meat on the small collapsible BBQ.
We pee round the back of the tent at night, I'd never make it to the loos without pissing myself during the night.
We don't do EHU either as we don't need electric for anything.
Usually in and out of the shower and chomping breakfast before the other campers have even woken up, unless we're wild camping then a shower is out of the question obviously.
We avoid family campsites where possible, such as the ones with swimming pools etc, the only necessary requirement for us is a bar on camp.
So basically yes, we throw the gear in the car, which takes around 10 mins as it's always ready to go and off we go.
We have a small campervan, but rarely use it if we're going camping. It's used really when we're touring around.
We love camping, though I appreciate that it's not for everyone.

@Sleepyhoglet Some people can afford both.
I enjoy and take holidays abroad too, but camping is a great in between few days break as well if you enjoy it.

I think many of the camping haters are doing it on a budget or without the luxury of higher-end equipment.

not really. Even the faff of buying the high end equipment, transporting it, setting it up, cleaning it, packing it, storing it is not something I find enjoyable.

Sadly with the lockdown, many have been more or less forced to join in the camping fashion to occupy the kids at the weekend when there was nothing else to do.

I put my foot down at ever calling it a holiday!

@sleepyhoglet

If that's the only holiday you can afford then fine... invest in the kit and do it yearly. If you can afford an actual holiday then do that!! Nice holiday cottage or b&b

Why can't people enjoy both? In the last month we've both camped a few miles down the road and stayed in a 4* resort hotel in a currently eye wateringly expensive but very beautiful part of Scotland- that was long saved for as part of a twice rescheduled Xmas present for dc. We enjoyed each trip equally, both had their own merits. The camping we were able to pretty much forget about covid bar needing to wear a mask when checking in and to go to the supermarket. It was so relaxed. The hotel it was a lot more obvious as pool/spa use was restricted, breakfast times had to be booked rather than just turning up when you're ready and evening meal bookings were hard to come by.

@AuntieMarys

I hate it. Been once. I'm a 4 star accommodation person.

Same. I like a king sized bed and a hot tub.

I end up in tears on every camping trip. Fucking hate it.

I will just about tolerate glamping where there's a proper bed and everything set up for you.

Is that like roof panels though? These devices are quite small to be portable

No it’s a folding 100w panel. You can angle it get the most of the sun.

@rantymcrantface66 fair enough! I don't enjoy it so would be a waste for me. I am happy glamping eg treehouse or yurt well resources but that's the closest I get. My parents want a camper van. I think it's over rated.