Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Camping holiday. Noisy neighbours...

36 replies

neverbee · 04/08/2018 23:59

We are 1 week in to a 10 day camping holiday which with 2 under 8’s means we are pretty exhausted and yesterday we got some new neighbours. A group of at least 5 couples plus their multiple children, ages 9 and up. Clearly here for a weekend get together with friends. Obviously looking for a different experience from us as this is our main summer holiday whilst theirs is a weekend knees up.

We chose the campsite as they have a 11oclock curfew in their rules and we want to be able to ensure a reasonable amount of sleep.

So last night I asked them to turn the music off at 10 as two hours into bedtime my kids were still wide awake because of the “ party” next door. The loud conversation and laughter finally died down about 11.45. I am aware it could have been much worse.

Today aware that we faced the same situation tonight I spoke to the campsite wardens who said before 11 they could do what they wanted but after 11 they should be considerate of those around them. We decided on a late night outing with the kids as a special treat - we went to the beach and then for a drive and came back at 10.30pm (3 hours past actual bedtime) to party central. Got the kids into bed and waited patiently for 11. When it showed no sign of quietening down at about quarter past 11 my OH went round asked asked politely if they could turn the music down. Which they did.

They then spent the next 15 minutes ripping us to shreds. “They must be late 30’s as they get a bit precious about that age” “kids can sleewear through anything. If there’s one thing kids can do it’s sleep through noise” “I’ve been camping since these were six months old and never once told anyone t shut up” “if they can afford such a big tent they should be on holiday abroad what do they expect”

AIBU? I totally understand that people on a big group holiday want to sit and drink and chat with their friends til the small hours, but then they surely need to choose a campsite that doesn’t have a curfew? It’s not just me is it? (Prepared to be told to get over it and stop being a killjoy)

OP posts:

LadyOdd · 05/08/2018 00:09

TBH you might get slated but these sort of places exist for a reason the appeal is the rule, such as areas which don’t allow children after a certain time or at all. You chose this place as you expected a quiet place for you and your children to get adequate sleep however I probably would have waited until 11.30 or 12 but Incwn be a bit of a wuss as I hate confrontation.

IWantMyHatBack · 05/08/2018 00:10

More and more campsites are getting like this, it's really put me off recently.

I find sites without EHC and sites that have a strict 10pm noise policy are the way to go.

In your current situation? I usually hiss 'shut the fuck up, people are trying to sleep' which gets the odd comment, but usually works.

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 05/08/2018 00:12

No you're absolutely not being unreasonable. We go camping for our main holiday most years and this would ruin it for me. We camp because it's peaceful, deliberately choose sites with zero noise times and no group bookings.
I genuinely think some people don't understand you can hear everything in a tent!
Hope it quietens down for you and you can enjoy the rest of your holiday

MadMags · 05/08/2018 00:15

YWBU to go out to them at 10pm.

I dunno, they switched off when asked to. If it had been me, I would have made sure to be switched off by 11 but 15 minutes later than that doesn't sound too horrendous. You do sound a bit precious.

And if anyone told me to "shut the fuck up" they'd be getting more than an odd comment back.

IWantMyHatBack · 05/08/2018 00:16

My dream is to start a camp site with strict rules (like all the sites I went to as a kid).
No group bookings, no weekend piss ups, etc. I'm in a part of the country where I could be super strict and still be booked up all the time.

keyboardkate · 05/08/2018 00:18

The obvious answer is no camping.

Air BnB might work if you are totally away from any noise from children other than your own. Maybe that might work for you.

You have to do your research for your own circumstances.... likes, hates and so on. It really is up to you, not anyone else really. IMO.

IWantMyHatBack · 05/08/2018 00:19

"And if anyone told me to "shut the fuck up" they'd be getting more than an odd comment back"

If you're sleeping less than 20' away from people with only canvas as a sound barrier, you need to be considerate to your neighbours and be mindful of how much noise you're making. If anybody is telling you to STFU, and it's after 11pm, frankly it's deserved.

Ylvamoon · 05/08/2018 00:20

I fully agree with you, but would have waited until just after 11before complaining. Asking to be quiet before the actual time is a bit !
(We go camping abroad... 10:30 curfew at weekday 11:30 weekend - there is a warden going round to enforce it if need be.... )

IWantMyHatBack · 05/08/2018 00:22

Agree with the times though. If the policy is 11pm, you can't really complain before then.

Sites that are less tolerant of noisy neighbours tend to have a 10pm policy. Look out for those ones (and c&c club no guarantee - some of the wardens are useless now)

CherryPavlova · 05/08/2018 00:25

I’m thinking if you camp, you know it’s a bit of canvas between you and the rest of the world. Book a cottage next time.

madamginger · 05/08/2018 00:29

You’ve got no chance of an 8pm bedtime on a campsite, nearly all of them are quiet after 11pm.
We tend to pick smaller sites rather than a big busy site, they tend to appeal more to families rather than groups. And pitch in the furthest area away from the entrance if you can, its a longer walk to the loos so is generally the least popular area of a field.
Some sites also have a number for the warden after hours, if the noise is very bad you can contact them to come and speak to the noisy neighbours.

keyboardkate · 05/08/2018 00:34

Camping is shit.

I know this having done it once. Never ever again. There are too many things, sorry.

Shall I name them?

OK the tents. Humidity and lack of comfort. tick.
Airbed (shit) tick.
And the lack of privacy
And having to go to a piss/shit block with a torch.
And.....

Well I just don't get it really. But each (masochist) to their own. No worries if that is what you choose.

But to complain about it here is ridiculous. There are other ways to do this complaining. And maybe never do it again either!

Original poster

neverbee · 05/08/2018 00:40

Thanks for your comments. There was not even a “shut up” let alone a STFU! It was a polite would you please turn the music down on the first night (and yes early the first time was unreasonable but they had just turned it up) and off well after the curfew. It’s all quiet now but typically I’m wide awake as it’s playing on my mind.

This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been camping pretty much every year since being a child and as an adult (so 30+ years - apparently they’ve got me pegged late 30’s and precious) and always managed to have good experiences and considerate neighbours until now. I know the score that you can expect to hear conversatione and snoring from the next tent along. I guess I just expected some consideration for other people. Perhaps there’s an age when folk stop giving a crap about other people?

OP posts:

Original poster

neverbee · 05/08/2018 00:46

Just reread my post and I did say turn it off the first night sorry.

Sorry keyboardkate - I thought this was a forum to decide if you’d been unreasonable or not and I wanted to know if I had been unreasonable. How unreasonable of me. I enjoy camping. We go places with actual toilets that flush and light switches and showers. And the kids love it because it’s exciting and different and they actually do exciting things when there’s no tv or tech to distract them. There’s a lot of good stuff about camping that usually makes up for the slightly uncomfortable bed.

OP posts:

IAmInsignificunt · 05/08/2018 00:46

Get a potato, write “pipe down, twat” on it and leave it outside their tent.

That’s what someone did to us when our baby was taken ill in the night whilst camping. Despite the very ill baby, the photo of the “twat” spud made me laugh so much when my DH text it to me, as I sat in the hospital.
WHY A POTATO?

Original poster

neverbee · 05/08/2018 00:50

passive aggressive potatoes! Excellent idea.

And a crying baby I would have no problem with - chances are that tent needs the sleep more than I do! Hope your little one is ok x

OP posts:

keyboardkate · 05/08/2018 00:57

OK,

OP what is your problem then?

Before you venture out of your front drive, make sure that the campsite and everyone there will comply with your wishes.

Cannot be that difficult in this day of reviews and so on. Do your research. We cannot help with the actual experience really, but we do and can comment!

Original poster

neverbee · 05/08/2018 01:05

I did my research. I picked a campsite with a curfew, nice facilities and good reputation. I asked the people who were being loud and playing music after the curfew to be quiet. I didn’t think that was unreasonable. They clearly did as they complained loudly about us for the next 15 minutes. We can’t both be right. I was hoping (as I suspect most people who post on AIBU do) to get opinions from impartial people. Not To be told to stop complaining - I can get that from the tent next door!

OP posts:

IWantMyHatBack · 05/08/2018 01:10

OK, I don't actually say STFU.. it's more that that's what I'm thinking when I attempt a polite interaction while begging them to shh.

. 8pm bedtime on a campsite is impossible though. Kids playing outside until most adults go to bed is the norm, (and then a PA 'time to be quiet now, everybody is getting ready for bed' seems fairly standard)

keyboardkate · 05/08/2018 01:13

Fair enough @neverbee.

But noise travels inside and outside a tent!

Cannot be otherwise, unless the campsite owners are awake all night to supervise.

It is a chance you take I suppose. But I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.

Original poster

neverbee · 05/08/2018 01:19

Thanks iwantmyhatback. I tried loud passive aggressive comments but they couldn’t hear me over their deep booming laughter! And would you believe my usual experience of camping (including the first half of this holiday) is kids in bed around 8, asleep by 9 and and hour or two of grown ups time with DH spending actual time with each other (a rare occurrence in our busy day to day!)

I am a bit of a worrier and am currently lying awake thinking I’ve ruined their weekend away with their friends but then reminding myself they’ve not been the best neighbours either. Argh!

OP posts:

Original poster

neverbee · 05/08/2018 01:21

Thanks keyboardkate! I’m sure we will - boat trip tomorrow so lots of fun ahead. The owners do have an on call button you could press but I’d feel to guilty disturbing their sleep to press it! Ironic hey?

OP posts:

IWantMyHatBack · 05/08/2018 01:23

On one trip, after telling a particularly loud mancunian to use his inside voice (he was SO loud, the rest of the convo was the usual rumblings) I got called the 'noise police'. This was an hour after curfew btw, and he was being spectacularly loud.

Really need to set up an autism friendly campsite.

Happypuppy · 05/08/2018 01:26

You need to chill op, it’s hoidays and the weekend!

keyboardkate · 05/08/2018 01:27

Ah you will make the best of it @neverbee.

We have all been there at one time or another. Enjoy the few days left and D heck with everyone else.

Flip

1 2