Do you love or hate camping?

[Mumtothreegirlies]

I just read another thread where a women was saying how she didn’t like camping.
I get why some people don’t like camping but I was surprised about how many others also hate it and they way they talked about their hate for the outdoors.
My question is, am I weird for loving being outdoors amongst the dirt and leaves?
Sometimes I go out in my car and park up in the countryside just to get away on my own and for my birthday I’m actually going away for the weekend on my own camping.
am I weird or is there anyone else out there that gets me?

There's lots I like

• being outdoors
• fresh air
• dirt is fine, I'm not fussy.

OK, maybe not lots...

And lots I don't

• other (noisy) campers
• the cold, it's always cold. In the day it's OK, at night you're in bed, but in the evenings I nearly always find it too cold to sit outside, and then what? Go to bed at 8pm? Find a pub? (I don't much like pubs).
• hay fever
• far away toilets in the night
• you need so much stuff. We go for simple and minimal, but that also means choices about taking e.g. something to make coffee
• carrying your washing up to and fro across a field
• unpacking and drying the tent when you get home, and sorting out the other heaps of stuff
• camping in the rain

I utterly despise camping. I agreed to try it once with DH and DD but it really was such a bag of shit. So uncomfortable. So damp. Dreadful toilet and washing facilities a long walk away. Having to schlep across a field to do the washing up and then again to bring it back again. Cooking food in the rain!!

I fully agree with Terry Wogan questioning why he would want to be less comfortable on holiday than at home.

I lasted one night, and never, ever again. The camping equipment was eventually taken to the dump without further use. Fuck that.

Also, why the hell would I want to drive for ages to get somewhere and then have to build my own accommodation? Where's the fun in that?

Nah. Camping can get to fuck. I'd rather have no holiday at all.

Absolutely love it. Own 3 tents for various different types of camping. I massively hate packing down the big set up, but it's worth it if we're camping for 5+ days.

love it but getting a bit more fussy about facilities the older I get!! Definitely needs a decent toilet block and access of some sort to a fridge if it’s more than a 2 nighter! Instantly relax once the tent is up!!

I love it. I love that everything takes a bit longer so I’m forced to slow down. I love the freedom I feel; the outdoor cooking etc. I love everything about camping, and I’d honestly live in a tent if I could (something substantial like a yurt).

I hate hotels. The cost; the people; the lack of individuality. I’d go Airbnb over a hotel anyday, but my first choice would always be camping.

I do generally like being outdoors though, and that definitely helps a love of camping.

But the thing I love even more, is the freedom. I never think "oh I should put a wash load on" or "I really should visit X site of interest rather than reading my book". When I go abroad, I always feel I should be making the most of where I am. With camping I don't feel like that.

I hate it. I'm goring this weekend for a family thing and I've spent all day ramming stuff in the car while sweating and swearing.

I don't mind the outdoors if I can have a hot bath and a comfy bed at the end of it, two nights on an airbed will probably do my back in for a week.

Bah.

I love the idea and would love to have some nice long trips but I have a bad back and a weak bladder so the reality isn't actually that fun for me.

So you picked a campsite that was completely wrong for your needs and then binned perfectly good equipment that could have been passed to someone else? Ok then

I fully agree with Terry Wogan questioning why he would want to be less comfortable on holiday than at home.

People are very different, aren’t they! I actually disagree with him. Our house is comfortable and nice, so part of the fun of something like camping or backpacking is being jolted out of a cushy coma. Getting a hotel or Airbnb to top home would cost loads. I don’t mind going somewhere more simple, especially if it gives a real sense of place in your holiday location. Not only is the holiday a real change of pace, but it also makes coming home nice!

I do think that if your only experience of camping is in a miserable, wet, crowded field, then fair play to you for hating it. There are better ways to camp, though. There are plenty of small sites with large pitches in beautiful locations across Europe where you would undoubtedly have a very different experience.

I do think that if your only experience of camping is in a miserable, wet, crowded field, then fair play to you for hating it. There are better ways to camp, though. There are plenty of small sites with large pitches in beautiful locations across Europe where you would undoubtedly have a very different experience.

I tried it in Germany on a very well equipped camping ground and it was still utterly shit. Nothing would make it tolerable imo and I wouldn't go for a second attempt if you paid me.

Fair enough! It’s definitely not for everyone. As I said earlier in the thread, I used to really enjoy it as a young adult, but less so now that I’m middle aged. My back doesn’t do well with the hard ground and I don’t like being cold.

I grew up camping in remote parts of the Rockies in the US, and used to absolutely love it as a child. I was horrified when I saw what my husband’s family called camping (aka sleeping in some horrible forsaken field in Normandy with your tent pitched about 5 feet from the next person).

We have some Swiss and Slovenian sites we like now, but it’s still not the same as the US.

Nothing would make it tolerable imo and I wouldn't go for a second attempt if you paid me.

Yeah, I'd always be wary of a holiday whose description included the words "standpipe" and "toilet block".

But each to their own.

I love the daytimes but hate the nighttimes. If you could get picked up from your tent at 11, taken to a b&b, given breakfast at 8 and returned to the campsite for the day, that'd be perfect.

We do it because camping is c£30 a night, other accommodation for a family of 4 is more like £150 min. It's worth the bad sleep and cranky mornings to be away somewhere.

I absolutely love it! I love my tent when it's just been set up and I've arranged all the camping furniture and equipment nicely and settled down for my first glass of red.

I camp for two weeks at a time and really enjoy the freedom and lack of housework.

We do choose our campsites carefully though. The best ones are small with no entertainment or club. Ones with shower blocks that are similar to what you would find in a health club/ gym are what we look for.

I'm really sad as now our kids are older ( 17 and 15) they've said they don't want to camp anymore .

I absolutely adore camping. I'm literally never happier than when I'm in my tent with everything all set up. The rain can be a little bothersome but it's so nice to listen to. I've literally tried to keep my eyes open as long as possible at bedtime because I'm so happy I don't want to sleep.

I'm very committed to it though, so I have a big tent, a camp bed I use with an inflatable sleep mat, a mini camping table, a bucket toilet, a gazebo, lovely camping chairs, a pack up big camping table and chairs, tarp, usb fairy lights, lovely warm sleeping bag, silk sleeping bag, a sleep mask with earphones, a tarp, windbreak, proper hiking boots, and my portable firepit to make delicious sausages. You name it, I've got it!

I hate packing it all away for the year when it gets to late autumn.

Hate it

I'm more surprised at people going to the toilet block during the night, rather than going for a pee round the back of their tent like I do.
Can I ask those who go to the block why? I'm genuinely curious.

Yeah, that's what I've got my toilet bucket for. I'll take that to the loo in the morning and tip it out, thanks. No way am I getting my boots back on for a trek to the loo.

Because naturally, as soon as you've got nicely tucked up in your sleeping bag and you're drifting off, you're going to need a wee!

Yeah, that's what I've got my toilet bucket for.

Um, that’s not selling it to me.

Um, wtf? You’d rather squat and sleep next to a puddle of piss than walk a minute or two to an actual toilet with handwashing facilities? Not to mention you can be fined for public urination

Not sure if this question was for me, but will reply anyway. Ours is a Trigano Mini 290. They are imported from France and sold through Three Shires Leisure in the UK now, although we got ours last year directly from the importer. Three Shires Leisure serviced it earlier this year and they seem like a really good dealer. We love it, it was the old caravan we could find in the UK which would fit in our regular garage and has hot water and a full washroom with toilet, sink and shower. I think the basic spec for 2023 doesn't have the shower like the 2022 model. It also has a decent sized fridge, 2 ring hob and kitchen sink. The table/sofa converts to a bed and is really comfy with a mattress topper. Here are some pictures.

Because I'd rather sit on a proper toilet than get wee on my shoes or clean out a chemical toilet. Had enough of Bush wees in the Army thanks.

Also I think adults having wees where other people sleep is a bit minging really...

Love it, I've even put a teepee up in my garden so I can sleep outside at night