To think camping is absolutely bollocks

[FuckYrBellTent]

It's crap isn't it?

Everyone else has fancy tents you can stand up in, we have a squished up, leaky four man. There's a puddle in the middle of it. It's rained non stop. My head is aching. I had an argument with DH over putting up the tent. Everyone has a sore back. Nobody can dry out. The kids (7 and 10) tag teamed us by needing the loo all night and wanting one of us to come with them. We are meant to be here for one more night. Aibu to go home early?

We used to enjoy camping, but I think our tent days have reached a natural conclusion. It's shit unless it's blistering sun. If we wanted to be stuck indoors with whining kids we could do it in the comfort of our own home, with ready access to toilets and kettles. It always ends up raining and it's really properly lashing so not even the type you can go out in anyway

We are poor and this is the only type of holiday we can afford, but I really don't think it's worth it

Also a lot of people are going camping who "cant afford" to stay in a place on holiday that has a roof and toilets that you don't have to go outside to use but can afford to drink

I can theoretically afford to stay in hotels/airbnb whatever but I prefer spending £25/night to stay on a nice site, be outside in the fresh air all weekend and slep in my very comfy camp nest (memory foam mattress topper, duvets, pillows) that to spend £80 for a premier inn or far far more £ for something nicer!

Also... OK bottle of wine on offer, £5-£10. Not exactly expensive entertainment! Actually we usually take 6 ciders for the weekend for 2 people. Have one after we've got the tent up on Friday and two on Saturday with dinner if we're camp cooking.

What my friends spend on alcohol and fags would definitely afford a holiday in the Caribbean.
His are £10 a pack.
I'd weep if I had to hand that amount of money over

Me and DH hardly drink, occasionally on beer a week. DH is virtually tee-total. So no not all those people could afford a holiday abroad. I'd have to get passports for all of us first, which would cost at least £350

I think the tricky thing about hotels is that you can't leave the children in the room and go out for a drink etc., so you are stuck there. My glamping experience was one of putting kiddo to bed, and then hanging out with the rest of my groups around the campfire while our children slept indoors a few yards away from us. It wasn't much cheaper than a hotel, but it really was worth it for that.

"The amount people spend on smoking and alcohol I could take my family for 2 weeks in the caribbean AI in a 5* resort."

I'm virtually teetotal and don't smoke, but please do point me in the direction of the fortnight's AI 5* Caribbean family holiday for the £50 I possibly do spend a year and I'll be off!

NRTWT but: we love camping. We got a bigger tent than we really need translationhubbywentabitnutsinanonlinesale but it means DD can bring a friend, the living space is big enough that we can cook indoors if need be, and we have a camping loo (actually, two - one is the bucket type that we use if 'wild' camping as it will flush in a normal loo and the other a proper chemical one). We invested in an electric hook up two years ago (teen - phone = hell so worth it)

TBH we prefer it to travelling abroad. Yes, we might spend 5 hours in the car but if we don't like where we are we can move (we normally only pay 2 nights initially) and it's great fun. We have a couple of favourite sites within an hour or two & will be buggering off to one shortly.

As to the alcohol issue - nope, normally take a couple of bottles of wine / cans of beer for the weekend as the idea is to have family time not get ratarsed!

YADNBU

I am a reformed camping wanker. I used to have alllll the stuff. I went from survival style with all tiny little space and weight saving gadgets, to a full on bell tent set up with rugs etc and I just finally recently admitted to myself that I don't enjoy it and got rid of the lot. Other camping wankers still try to force it on me - nope nope nope. B&B all the way or just stay home and indulge with nice food and days out!

Update: camping wanker is a wanker. It was shit. I didn't enjoy it, I've had no sleep for two nights and the kids were awful. I've told him he should invest in a tent he can pitch himself so he can piss off with the kids and the dog and I can stay at home because I'm not bloody going again.

I don't often get up for a pee in the night when camping but if I do, I have my wellies positioned to just step into and a fleece or waterproof and a golf umbrella at the ready too.

On a clear night I look at the stars for ages and soak up the 3am silence. If we're camped on a lochside, beach site or beside a river while the moon is out that can be very atmospheric. I love being the only one awake. Of course, sometimes it's just a mad dash through the driving rain. I still prefer this to peeing in the tent.

After I come back I'm usually wide awake so usually make a hot drink and read for a while with the lamp on low and the heater on as well, before snuggling back in and going back to sleep. I sleep like a log while camping.

I enjoy it. Camping has taken a total slating on this thread which I think is a shame. It's what you make it. Granted we take a rake of stuff along (two cars) and the packing is a pain but I'm never cold, wet, bored or uncomfortable. We have the means to set up our own home (albeit in miniature) wherever we like. We have stayed at some gorgeous places and enjoyed brilliant holidays in the tent.

I feel a bit sorry for camping after this thread. Camping's feelings have been hurt. Poor camping.

Isn't there a whole camping section where camping could go to feel better about itself Pictish ?

I can't go there because it makes me want to buy things, and actually I know really that we are best suited to single night camping with our existing equipment on sites which allow camp fires and are walking distance from a pub which does good food :o

Last minute deals in static caravans is the way to go, op. Last summer i got a week on the IOW woth ferry crossing from the ferry website for £325. YANBU the only camping i would do these days would be with a new tent, close to home, last minute (so the weather is predictable) & for 2 or 3 nights max. Camping is shit, particularly when it's your only option.

I like a drink or six

I hardly drink any alcohol while camping. It makes me piddle too much and that really isn't what camping is about.

I tend to avoid places that allow groups anyway. Is very anti-social though

hotels are fine for one or two nights but an extended holiday needs a tent.

We are off for a week in wa les soon. We assume it will rain and go prepared. You can still have an amazing time even if it is soggy.

With us it was necessity - we needed cheap holidays so just got on with it and built our kit a couple of items a year. We had to make it work or not go on holiday. Then we discovered camping in Europe and prior to Brexit that was cheaper still because of the exchange rate. Now we've got decent kit I'm starting to enjoy it, though. Trip to Alton Towers last year cost us about £40 pitch fees and petrol (we're camping and caravanning club members and have merlin annual passes).

It's OK OP, all you need to do is:
a - spend lot of money on equipment
b - get a bigger car to transport the equipment
c - get a shed, or ideally a house with a garage, to put all the equipment in

Don't you see that without all that you are doing it wrong?

Actually last year we went camping for the first time since having kids. The tent leaked because it had been in the loft too long, the kids hardly slept, the gas stove we'd borrowed didn't match the gas bottle we had. It rained a bit. The tent wasn't a stand up one.

I had a great time and the kids absolutely loved it. We hired a fire pit and the kids were a bit feral for two days. DH was a miserable git, but he often is ;)

As pictish said I even quite liked the nighttime toilet trips, the stillness, peace, stars etc.

I love camping, even without the fancy equipment.