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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think camping is f*cking shit, it’s not cheap and it’s not fun

482 replies

Pumkinfailure · 08/08/2018 18:58

I’m currently a week into a 3 week camping tour of Europe and I’m ready to jack it in. I surely can’t be the only one to find this whole malarkey fucking hideous. Sleeping on a sloping bed in a tent hotter than the devils furnace, kids screaming day and night, neighbours who hate our wellbehaved Placid lab and have instructed us to keep him near to us at all times, never feeling clean, marriage hanging by a thread, no personal space or time alone. Not even wine is helping. And 50 bloody euros a night for the privilege!!
Please tell me I’m not alone on my detest for this form of holiday and share your tips to help me survive the rest of the holiday!

OP posts:
haribosmarties · 08/08/2018 19:57

I love camping but... 3 weeks in blazing heat... no.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 08/08/2018 19:59

We used to go camping when I was a child in Ireland. I have fond memories of the evening we were all sitting inside a damp tent, listening to the rain and wondering what we could eat for tea, and my DF suddenly announced "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I've had enough of this. I'm off to the Royal Hotel. Anyone with me?"

One hour later we were ensconced in the hotel dining room eating roast chicken while watching the summer rain batter the dark streets of Boyle. We stayed in the hotel for the rest of the weekend, and I love my parents for that.

Flyme21 · 08/08/2018 19:59

A decent pop up tent is the answer to pitching in the rain. I've got two Quecha 2 seconds "easy" tents and they are the business. Kids old enough to have one of their own.

InteriorLulu · 08/08/2018 20:00

Used to love camping - did many Glastonbury Festivals (including the mud years and when 5 months pregnant). Loved it. All our holidays were camping for the first 10 years of our marriage and I couldn't see why people didn't embrace it...such freedom.

We stopped when DD was born and upgraded to static caravans Smile. Then a few years ago went back to the tent. Very enjoyable holidays with both DCs.

Until the week we never speak of. It was hell. It rained all week, apart from the first night/day which was hotter than Satan's boardroom. It rained. And rained. And rained. So much rain we were expecting Noah and his boat along any minute. Couldn't get anything dry, everything was covered in mud, kids grumpy, showers cold (solar powered). After two days I wanted to go home, but was outvoted - I will never know why they wanted to stay.

You have my sympathy OP. Alcohol is the answer.

Debfronut · 08/08/2018 20:01

Wine. lots and lots of Wine. Camping nearly cost me my marriage I hated it so much when he made us go as a family ( we took it in turns to choose holidays) so now he takes my daughter and her friends camping to get his fix and I stay at home. It's not and never can be a holiday. I am unsure though what will happen when she gets fed up with it my sons have already stopped going and she is 14 now. He might be the only single bloke on a camp site roasting marshmallows all on his own.....

Singlenotsingle · 08/08/2018 20:03

Caravan is marginally better, but not much. We were paying £30 per night for the tourer, which is only £20 less than a little hotel. I've come home covered in mozzies bites and with a stiff neck from uncomfortable bed.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 08/08/2018 20:04

I love it. Never happier than when I'm sitting outside my tent with a glass of wine.

We were supposed to camp for two weeks this summer but a week in a storm damaged our tent and we had to transfer to a holiday cottage.

The cottage was lovely but I feel cheated out of my second week of camping!

I do have a huge tent and lots of stuff to make us comfortable. I don't do basic camping!

Ignoramusgiganticus · 08/08/2018 20:04

I love camping. Only been to Europe once with the tent but would love to do it again. We did 3 different sites and a couple of hotels.

bobstersmum · 08/08/2018 20:04

I used to love camping, before I was a proper grown up, now, I refuse to do it. Its not relaxing in any way.

FlintyBadman · 08/08/2018 20:05

Has anyone here ever put a tent up in the pitch black and in the pissing rain?

More times than I care to remember Smile

Like Flyme21 though, I had a Quechua pop-up (4 man, quite roomy). I now have a 5 person insta-dome that can be pitched in a couple of minutes.

scrivette · 08/08/2018 20:05

I love camping but I couldn't do three weeks with children. Could you not break it up with a couple of nights in a cheap B&B or hotel?

LighthouseSouth · 08/08/2018 20:06

OP how long have you been there?!

Three nights is bad enough....three weeks?!!

it's not the outside (though the temps would finish me) - it's the proximity to other people. Fine for two nights, but only if ..well, drunk or stoned really.

Applepudding2018 · 08/08/2018 20:06

Sounds a nightmare - how is that a holiday?

Hoppinggreen · 08/08/2018 20:07

YANBU
If it was a camping holiday or no Holiday we would be staying at home.
I loathe everything about it
And as for the pooing, I only poo at home or in a place where I am staying which is effectively my temporary home ( except in an emergency). This is not a choice, it just doesn’t happen

LighthouseSouth · 08/08/2018 20:07

I mean, you must be able to hear people noise 24/7

and how far away are you from the nearest person? I've only ever camped in a very spacious area with other tents pretty far away.

NalderAndCollier · 08/08/2018 20:07

I gave up camping when I left the Scouts. It is a vile way to holiday unless you have VAST amounts of alcohol and travelling around makes it even worse.

berninisbeloved · 08/08/2018 20:08

I would do anything rather than camp with children in strange place for 3 weeks. Do they - children and DH like it? Fake an illness and go home.

Rebecca36 · 08/08/2018 20:09

You're not alone but I think you were mad to do it in the first place quite honestly, No offence meant. A weekend camping somewhere not too far from home would have given you a taste.

No tips for you. I've heard campsites abroad have really good facilities - showers, toilets, laundry etc. Still you have to go somewhere to do all that, not like having an en suite.

Is your husband enjoying himself? Some people take to camping quite naturally and others, like myself, can't even bear the thought.

So commiserations. I wouldn't blame you if you came home.

RhythmStix · 08/08/2018 20:09

Haven't read the whole thread but yes camping is SHITE. I hate it. Never again. Dirty, uncomfortable, rough, no privacy, everyone ends up stinking, arguing and aching.....why would you? WHY????

My motto is Why camp when there are 4 star hotels out there ? Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

LighthouseSouth · 08/08/2018 20:12

oh sorry you said you've done a week

I think you deserve a medal for that.

CoolCarrie · 08/08/2018 20:12

Never seen the attraction of camping for more than a weekend. It’s not a holiday for you, get a b & b ASAP!

PeppermintPasty · 08/08/2018 20:14

YADNBU it is the pits. The only time I can tolerate it is if it's a decent festival and I've psychologically prepped for six months before I go. And the last time I went to a festival and camped was over 5 years ago so that should tell you all you need to know.

I've got some time off at the end of this month. Kids and I are booked into an uninspiring Premier Inn near where we want to explore in Cornwall. Practically everyone has said "Why don't you camp?".

Because I am not bloody stupid.

NalderAndCollier · 08/08/2018 20:14

Tawdry I take my hat off to your DF.

Figlessfig · 08/08/2018 20:16

Every time you camp, you spit on the graves of our industrious ancestors who invented houses, beds and proper plumbing. Camping is the devil’s work. It is the antithesis of a holiday.

Correct. Thank you, kalinka

ShowOfHands · 08/08/2018 20:16

I'm just back from 5 nights camping and having major withdrawal. I love it. Sleeping under canvas, the sound of the zip, children going feral, washing in a bucket, cooking outside. Ohhhhhh it's bliss.