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

Leaky tent was the problem.

I won't poke up with leaks.
When our Vermont (RIP) started leaking and we couldn't afford a new one we bought proofing spray and seam sealer. It got us through until we got our inflatable Vango - with my RA I can no longer help MrBishop put the tent up. Now the tent is up in 8 minutes and MrBishop pegs the lines whilst I inflate the sims, put up the kitchen (which is literally undoing and redoing Velcro and takes a minute). Mega fast set up. But it did take several years learning what kit we needed and I do have memories of a miserable wet week at Corfe Castle about 7 years ago...

I hated camping as a kid. I remember it being cold at night. Trying to get into the tent without a load of moths getting in was always a challenge and yes the night time trips to the loo were horrible. I have never been as an adult, can't be arsed the the hassle.

DP and I love camping. The DCs (16 and 13) are going off it. It does help to have the right equipment for your needs. We never used to bother with electric hook up, but now with screens needing to be charged it's more important. Also keeps the coolbox cool for food.
I love the simplicity - it takes ages to make a cup of tea, and you feel you've really earned it, then sit outside and look at the view while drinking it. Washing up is a family affair, instead of leaving one of us to load the dishwasher on our own at home. Bacon butties never tasted better either.
And get a waterproof spray for your tent before you go and put loads on!

Camping is fun if you're rich

Much like most other activities apart from masturbation

I no longer will camp in the uk...... unless for a weekend with heatwave weather and no chance of rain.
As a result we head to south of france/ further afield where warm weather is guaranteed and you get a decent ( warm) beach or lake and swimming pool.

YANBU about camping in this country...... it is often a grey miserable experience, but go further south and its a great holiday.

I love being in my tent, hearing the rain on it in tne night and being warm and snug, I love hearing nothing but birdsong in the early morning.

We do camping in woods and places where you can have a fire. We have a simple set up, cook on the fire, sit out by the fire looking at the stars and chatting. Under a tarp if necessary.

We have the whole nighttime wee issue sorted.

Things I don't like:
A wet pack up.
Relentless high wind.
Rolling up a double Sim. (It was ditched in favour of singles).

Saucyjack, I love Marmite.

Still hate camping though.

You either love going back to self-sufficient basics in a field, or you don't. It's not a punishment for not being able to afford a hotel for loads of people.

When we camp we take the following:
Bell tent
Chandelier
Bunting
Fairy lights
Fresh coffee
Rug
Wooden side tables
Inflatable plug in mattress that tops itself up
Inflatable sofa
Hammock

It isn't really self sufficient basics

My husband takes my younger daughter now I refuse to go. I suffered camping then caravans and boats on the norfolk broads for years until we could afford a proper holiday. Now I can't bring myself to do it anymore. So she gets roughing it with dad and her brothers and nephews and then comes on short breaks with me. We all still do a family holiday and we are all happy. I do not get the damp, boring sitting in a tent thing its just not for me.

One year it rained so much on the day we had to leave the campsite to go home that my dh took the (rather large) tent down single handed in his wetsuit!

Camping is shit. I hate it. Much against my better judgement DH persuaded me to try camping a few years ago. In August. On the shore of Loch Lomond. On a Euro Camp site where tent already pitched and camp beds.

It was still shit.

The site was under 2" of water, and it rained. Rained. And rained some more. At one point I found myself pissing into a washing up bowl, round the back of the tent, at 3am while the wind and rain howled, and thought 'How the Hell has it come to this?'

I have even tried a Featherdown Farm camping weekend....still shit.

Never, ever again. I live in a lovely, comfortable home - why the fuck would I want to spend my holiday living like Cro-Magnon man?

We only camp for short periods and when the weather is decent.

We love it.

I have seen some beautiful, safari style tents with raised wooden floors, free standing bath etc in the South of France...they could possibly tempt me. Possibly.

Each to their own, but I much prefer a night in a tent to a night stuck in the four walls. Unless the four walls are some super-duper cottage with lots of character (which would cost £££), but even then I prefer the fresh air. Even better with the hum of rain overnight as long at the tent doesn't leak obviously!
Being indoors just feels like I never left the house. Don't see the point.
Saying that, I grew up camping in retired canvas army tents so I'm used to it Once woke up to find my mum winding a piece of string down a pole to feed the rainwater further down the side of the tent

Get yourself a DVD of Carry on Camping. Sexist shite if you like, but the last few minutes will enlighten you.

Yes, camping is bollocks.

BTW we try to keep our gear to the minimum but we have upgraded to a very nice sturdy Sunncamp Vulcan since having kids. It's 4x4.5 m, you could have a disco in there! got it second-hand off www.a2zcamping.co.uk/
we do have airbeds, a stove, table and chairs but no awning/windbreak/bbq and CERTAINLY no other nonsense like wardrobes We tend to go for 4-5 days because DH can't get time off work but TBH I don't see myself wanting more gear if we did go for a full week, or two, or three
Whining kids is another matter though, I'm not sure that could be fixed by a different holiday setup

Darling save yourself. Go to a hotel now and always in future.

I would have quite happily camped for our honeymoon - I love it. We are hoping to go camping as soon as school finishes on Friday. We are about to take our toddler though - this could be the time that I change my mind.

Could you afford a hostel? One up from a tent, no chance of getting rained on, but still cheap. Many are v family friendly these days.

One year I was eight months pregnant, my DD was 3, my DSS was washed downhill and my DD was so muddy. We went home a day early and I've never regretted it. We've been camping since and before and survived rain and the odd bad night but it's mostly been fun. Don't be brave for the sake of it. It's not a holiday if you're stressed. We are skint as well this year and are staying at home and taking in a succession of language students for extra income and for some foreign culture. I've sold it to the DC as an adventure. Time will tell.

Love camping but you have to have the kit. Decent tent and must be able to stand up in it. Decent chairs and table electric hook up and cool box really help esp if not seasoned campers if you haven't got camp beds putting a duvet on top of air bed to lie on helps keep warm. Kids wee behind tent at night. Wardrobe to hang clothes and cupboard for food. At least a 2 ring gas hob. Most of the above you can buy 2nd hand. Jogging bottoms crocs and loose t shirt for shower trips. Waterproof clothing. The campsite makes a massive difference. Choose somewhere well kept within walking distance at least to a good pub. Accept you are outside on a camping trip and getting flamed up generally means jeans rather than jogging bottoms. If you go to outdoorsy places, e.g. Tge countryside or Devon/Cornwall coast you tend to fit in more.

Went as a child a couple of times and hated it..was always eaten alive by mozzies.
Tried camping once as an adult with young children and vowed never to go again!
DH takes the youngest two every year and I stay at home with our eldest who also shares my dislike of tents and it is bliss

And I think you're either a camper or not. Put up an old tent in the garden for DS to play in the sound of the tent zips made me desperate to go camping