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.

[Blueeyedgirl21]

You do need to spend money to get decent equipment tbf

Too many people in £100 tunnel tents that are utterly crap. Kids should be in separate compartments too not in one sleeping area hate single sleeping areas !!

[Cuppaand2biscuits]

I hate it too, my DH and children love it and we always go with friends so it all gets organised without any contribution from me.
We're not going this year and I've just been scrolling Facebook and saw a few posts about camping and thought "Thank fk We're not going"
I hate everything about it, especially all the packing and shared bathroom facilities.

[Lanique]

Camping always looks and sounds better in theory than it actually is in practice.

Dh has stopped suggesting it to me now. Our dcs are too old to want to go camping with us anyway.

I'd like to hire or buy a motorbike one day and explore Scotland but dh seems to think I won't like it. I try to explain to him that sleeping in a motor home with a comfy bed, a loo and shelter from the outside world in the remote highlands of Scotland would be very different to sleeping under canvas in a sleeping bag in some horrible campsite filled with stereos and screaming kids .

Anyway I digress. With you 1000% op.

[Lanique]

God I meant MOTORHOME not motorbike, dear god.

[Bumpsadaisie]

It is hard to get out of bed to go to the loo at 3am. But the fresh air on your face, the bleary feeling, the tightness of your skin as your so tired, you look up at the stars and mountains as you go and you feel faintly heroic.

I like that! Like I'm a 19th century explorer or something. Realise I manage camping by constructing a total fantasy world about what is going on 😆

[Sparklingbrook]

I don't want my precious annual leave to be spent on a survival challenge. Or peeing in a bucket.
Camping seems like such hard work and you'd need the next week off to recover, catch up on sleep and get the equipment dry.
We never took the DC camping I hope they don't hold it against us, but I think it was for the best.

[Sparklingbrook]

@Lanique

God I meant MOTORHOME not motorbike, dear god.

No you meant motorbike and hotels.

[TheChosenTwo]

Dh took me once pre dc. Never ever again.
It’s just a miserable way to spend time.
So much preparation and fucking about with ropes and bags and compartments and pegs and all kinds of shit I have no idea about.
I understand why some people really enjoy it, genuinely I think it’s just not for everyone.
Personally I don’t think it’s relaxing enough (AT ALL) to be considered a break/holiday in any way, it’s pure misery.
Also, you have to have sex in silence otherwise everyone knows

Dh raves about camping although the last time he went was with me nearly 20 years ago so I’m not sure he’s quite as enamoured as he claims. The dc have made murmurings about it over the years and he’s never once taken them so he’s clearly not as keen as he likes to make out

[Rainy365]

@Bumpsadaisie

I enjoy it but in the kind of way someone "enjoys" a survival challenge or half marathon.

Ie it is hard but a kind of masochistic pleasure in surviving and coping 🤣

🤣 I know what you mean!

And getting back home feels like luxury and my house always feels HUGE for a day or two!

[Ohfuckitall]

You don't get your own loo or bathroom and there is no sound protection against other peoples' noise.

My idea of hell.

[pictish]

@Sidge

I don’t do camping.

I have a rule about holidays - if it’s not equal to or better than home, why go? I’ve got a comfy bed, loo and hot shower in my house. Why would I go away to forsake those?

Perhaps you might want to do an activity or see a place that isn’t next to your house?

I go camping in places I want to visit with stuff I want to do. I’d rather camp than stay at home and miss out.

[Candyfloss99]

I love love love the feeling of sleeping outside far away from everyone. I love to camp. Would never camp in a campsite with other people though, totally defeats the purpose.

[Whattodonow5]

Im back from having a lovely weekend camping the weekend just gone but had a great pitch and perfect weather for it. Plus I slept the best I've ever slept on a camping trip.

I enjoy the experience but only if the site has decent toilet/shower facilities and is sheltered from the elements so no cliff top or high altitude ones.
I'll only book last minute if weather is looking good, I don't travel anymore than an hour and a half away from home and won't do more than 3 nights. So all in all am pretty fussy.
I have my kit ready pretty much boxed ready to go and set up is quick.

I totally understand why some people hate it though and don't know how on earth people spend a fortnight camping. I've cut trips short that have had noisy fellow campers and when there's been unplanned horrific weather. Im definitely no camping martyr.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

There’s nothing on earth that would persuade me to camp ever.

I love the outdoors but the thought of camping makes me shudder.

[Lanique]

Sparklingbrook ** i'm coming round to that idea

[BeyondMyWits]

My idea of Hell too. Used to do it or otherwise would not have gone anywhere as a poor young adult. But if the weather was bad I slept in the car
... nearer to the toilets.

Nowadays I don't holiday anywhere less comfortable than home. Costs a lot more, but we go away less often.

[MrsMaizel]

The last time I camped was 1984 which says it all.

[PieceOfString]

Camping as a kid = readymade tribe of kids to play with, freedom and everything tastes amazing because you're starving from all that running around.
Camping as an adult = equals hours of massive effort to make it function for everyone's needs on a basic level.

The only people I know who enjoy it are well off and own every piece of kit you could possibly need to make things comfortable. It takes an entire day to pack everything and set it up at the other end. And same to come home just so you can sit in a field with a glass of wine in your hand. Bonkers.

The only camping that makes sense to me is the story where you realise the weather is glorious, you sling a basic tent +sleeping bag in the car and head to the wild. No change of clothes, just a flask and a picnic. You would camp somewhere stunning. Wake up to a glorious view with no other humans anywhere near. Then come home the next day.
Enjoyable camping.
It is not a holiday.

[TheDaydreamBelievers]

We loved camping growing up (and still do now) but my mum did not. Result was my dad took us himself, sometimes with family friends and their kids too. So maybe next time tell your DP to do a solo trip and you stay home with wine, takeout, films?

[olidora63]

Have only attempted it once…never ever again!!

[AuntieMarys]

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

[YesPleaseMary]

Camping = having to do everything you have to do at home but in a wet field. No thanks.

[Benjispruce5]

2 nights in nice weather is my caveat. So i don’t need to wash my hair. We’ve only stayed in Camping and Caravan Club sites with good shower blocks. Was fun for a few years when DC were 8-12 ish. Loved cooking outside but never got great sleep.

[Tiddleztheelephant]

Yep am 100% with you op!!
Ds is very keen so we've reached a compromise, a small Glamping site with accommodation built for you, comfy beds and home cooked meals provided.

You still spend most of the day outside, eat outside and trek across the site for the loo in the night so it has a camping (ish) feel without the actual stress and loss of sleep aspect.
Maybe next time see if you can find a site with Glamping pods? Dh and dd can set up a tent somewhere if they want whilst you stay warm and cosy.

[MsTSwift]

There were drains issues nearby recently and the smell of sewage actually triggered happy memories of family camping trips in France !