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.

[DinosaurDiana]

If I were you I’d leave them to it and take the dogs home.
Then pour a glass of wine and book an all inclusive abroad.
Yes, camping is shit.

[doistayordoigo]

Where you're all going wrong is camping in the UK - it's much better if you go across the Channel to France, as far south as you can. Weather is much nicer, as are the campsites and facilities. Shower and toilet blocks can be lovely on a good site, and less chance of rain.

Then you need a decent tent, big enough to stand up in, with a sewn in groundsheet to keep the bugs out. And an electric hookup so, you can still use your devices, and decent beds.

With all of this camping is very enjoyable, and certainly in France can mean you have access to great facilities and locations at a fraction of the cost.

[Willowtree999]

Completely agree with you. If your standard of living is worse than at home it's not a holiday.

[TheGenealogist]

So don't go.

I was forced into the camping / touring caravanning thing as a child. Increasingly hated it as a grew up. Swore blind as an adult that I would NEVER again spend a night in a tin box or canvas hell hole.

Why would you camp when there are perfectly nice holiday houses to rent?

Holidays have to work for all the family and camping is clearly not working for you.

[ineedsun]

😂😂 I love it. Time to connect with each other and nature, don’t mind emergency wees in the night, or the occasional bug. Love that the kids aren’t glued to screens, that we can sit outside and watch the stars and if it’s raining we have epic board games marathons.
Ear plugs and eye masks are your friends, but if it’s not your cup of tea, don’t do it! I’d be the same at a Pontins or suchlike. Holidays are too short to be miserable

[Rainy365]

I love camping. I agree it’s probably not a relaxing holiday when you’ve got basic kit and have to walk across fields to use the loo and wash up. (I’m a single parent to a preschooler so it’s all on me too). So I do understand why it’s not for everyone. But I also don’t go camping for a ‘relaxing’ holiday. I know it’s going to be harder work in some ways. But last week we were so close to the sea I could hear the waves at night and had stunning views of oceans and mountains and it cost £35 for two nights. Stick a cottage in the exact same location and it would cost a bloody fortune. I find camping makes many places much more accessible. And we get to go away a few times a year in different parts of the UK, rather than just one expensive trip. So I feel like we are experiencing a lot more.

I think I would still camp though even if I could afford 5 star luxury. I just like the back to basics and being a small tent experience. Nothing I love more than hearing rain on the tent when tucked up in bed. (Agree not so much fun in the day!).

[ImInStealthMode]

I'm with you!

My DP is a camping enthusiast and it's an absolute hard no from me. I fail to see anything fun about it at all.

When we have kids he can take them on his own, I'll be at home or in a nearby hotel.

[Calmdown14]

You need a pee bucket for your own tent and ear plugs. Makes a hell of a difference to sleeping.

[reluctantbrit]

Last time I camped was after A-level, 29 years ago.

When DD started talking about it, some of her friends have camping-loving parents, I told her to look into Scouts and I would happily buy all equipment needed.

She loves it, she even camped in muddy fields , ankle high in water, in November and January.

Saying that, she also loves the resorts we go to as a family and the hot tub we had in one self catering cottage.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Dh and I went camping when I was in my early 20’s in Normandy. Pretty good 4 person quality tent we could stand up in. The weather was so so, not terribly hot but too much rain. I vowed never bloody again. He used to camp a lot before meeting me. The thing, which peeved me is that the investment in the tent could have paid for a cheap b&b.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

YANBU. It's shit. Not a holiday.

I don't even like self catering where you have to cook and clean before you leave. A hotel with cleaners to do the rooms for me thanks.

[AlwaysLatte]

This is one of the reasons we sold our caravan, I'm done with camping now that the children are older. It's rented cottages all the way now if we holiday in the uk. When we sold it we did get a tent for the possible occasional last minute weekend (though it would have to be perfect weather!)

[Anjo2011]

Never holiday anywhere that isn’t as/more comfortable as your own home. Rules out camping for me !

[DarlingFell]

Wow, most of the posts on here are with you OP!

But me, I LOVE camping I do! There is nothing like waking up in the great outdoors 😊 However, everything has to be set up to my specifications and there has to be lots of home comforts / luxuries, imagine DIY glamping if you will. So duvets, sheets, pillows, most comfortable camping bed on the market, plenty of lighting, incl fairy lights, comfy seating, our own ‘travel loo’ as I hate getting up in the night to trudge to the loo…we have a large 4 man tent with separate seating area and cooking area… private ‘garden’ area (we use wind breakers) and this is all just for DH and the dogs… yes I don’t even have children and I still go camping 😂

[GoingGently]

100% agree! Even at festivals.

May a hot bath and a real bed come your way ASAP!!!

[Calmdown14]

@whiteroseredrose wasn't Crow's Nest by any chance? A notorious tent killer that one

[Clutterbugsmum]

Well isn't is nice that DH and DD have found something they enjoy . I think I would be encouraging them to have some nice dad and daughter time camping a couple of weekends a year. And then you can enjoy your weekend at home.

[pictish]

I love camping. This thread has made me laugh because I know it’s not for everyone. A change of scene is cheap and easy when you enjoy it. I’m just back from two nights in Dumfries and Galloway with ds2 where we visited the local mountain biking trails and had a ball.

[Blueeyedgirl21]

Pick nicer campsites! Make sure you read reviews on them and make sure the toilets etc are clean and nice
Get a portapotty for wees in the night
Not sure why your dd waking you up pointlessly to tell you about a dream is camping related, that’s just naughty IMO!

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

I love camping but you really need the right gear. Otherwise I can imagine it being totally shite.

Some posters on here have cracked me up. I feel the same way about package/resort holidays!

[Fundays12]

Yep it's crap especially if it's cold and wet. DH told me i didn't need to pack much when I said I would start organising a few days before. My 7 seater car boot was full so yep I had loads to pack. Seen as it's so easy to arrange packing etc on our return I let him unload the car and clean around 60 percent of the stuff then put it away.

[texasss]

Yeah, it is shit. I wouldn't stay in a hotel where I had to sleep on the floor.

[WeatherwaxOn]

I'm away at the weekend. No electric hook up and no showers!
I can cope with a few nights bit couldn't do a week without better facilities.
I know my back will be aching by the last day, however well the airbeds are inflated.

[magicstar1]

We’re camping right now. But DH does all the organising and packing etc. We sleep on a double air bed with a thick blanket and double sleeping bed, along with pillows. There are two showers with toilets along with two full bathrooms with bath, shower and toilet. It’s great. Even the dog seems to be enjoying her first time.
We did however have a woman rock up beside us yesterday with two kids. After a few hours DH noticed she was putting duvets etc in the car to sleep on. I asked her if she was okay and her tent had collapsed…she’d never done it before and hadn’t a clue what she was doing. DH put her tent up properly so they could stay in it. She seems totally unprepared.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

I don't understand the love for putting a toilet in your tent. Emptying your own toilet is definitely not a holiday...

The main bonus of camping is its cheap... once you've bought all the equipment.