To wonder why people enjoy camping

[SirJamesTalbotAndHisSpeculum]

I can't think of anything worse. I know people enjoy it but I can't understand why anyone would want to be nowhere near a bathroom or kitchen. or anywhere comfortable to sit. Not only that, if the weather is awful you get cold. Or wet. Or far too hot. I just don't get it.

Tell me why I'm wrong.

Most campsites have toilets and showers and often places where you can wash dishes too.

We tend to opt for no electric!

I love camping. I love the smell of canvas in the morning and sitting g outside ,y tent with a glass of wine. My ideas of hell would be a 5* hotel - feels institutional, a cruise - just horror, or a the park- so many people.

Iove how much the children love playing freely, i love the nature and i love how it slows life down. I actually like the no kitchen. Im not that keen on it in the uk unless its dry but for me it means i can go to see all sorts of places abroad that i wouldnt get to see otherwise.

I can see why people like it, the outdoors life, the fresh air and so on. I gave it a go because DH loved it, but I loathed every minute. It was too hot, the mattress deflated overnight, the man in the next tent snored all night, everyone having a poo next to each other in the morning (the smell ), hair in the shower, no comfy sests to sit on. It really wasn't for me.

Give me a motor home or a narrow boat every time. All of the advantages and none of the disadvantages

But what about (ahem) going to the toilet in the middle of the night?

I would not feel secure. There is a bad world out there with baaaad people too, and honestly the security of a room in an hotel, b+b, whatever trumps it for me, as opposed to a tent that is quite vulnerable really.

I am certain that I am not alone thinking this. Quite apart from the inconvenience of camping in the wild and having nowhere to wash, pee, poo, within a couple of metres ugh.

It's definitely a Marmite thing.

I have always liked a nice self catering place. Not a hotel, not camping, and certainly not AI. Come and go as you please, eat when you want. Comfy beds, all mod cons and wifi.

I live in Spain. I camp in Spain. I wouldn't camp in the UK. We camped last month near Girona (Banyoles, amazing), and soon were going up near Pamplona near another lake. Few hours' drive, 1 hour to set everything up when we get there, ds off on his bike to explore the site and make friends.

Showers are always clean, sites safe enough to walk around at night for a wizz. We pack light, have the essentials. DS is knackered everyday.

At the end of September during a local holiday we'll be going to an air bnb for 3 nights so dog can avoid the noise of fireworks, drums etc (schools are off), do we don't camp every holiday. The last site we booked the night before going as we ummed and ahhed between places, one place the dog went free camping is cheap as chips now we have a tent!

I love camping! We have a big tent, with 2 bedrooms, and a huge lounge area. We can go from arrival on-site to sitting outside the tent, everything done with a beer in hand in 45 minutes. That includes lighting the fridge and inflating the mattresses.

It's relaxing and a good way to switch off.

We love it but we have a very expensive inflatable tent that stands up to all weather and a very good mattress, sleeping bags and tent carpet. All makes the difference

My friend was telling me about her tent carpet, I resisted asking if she took her Dyson with her too. She probably does TBF as she's very houseproud.

I love camping. We normally go a few times a year with friends and all of our dc. Havnt gone this year as DP hasn't been well and genuinely missed it.

I’ve got to have a comfy bed (outwell 10cm dream catcher SIM with cotton-lined extra wide and very cosy sleeping bag), and somewhere for the night time pee (kampa khazi) plus a comfy chair.

Also a large pitch with hedges so you are not on top of other people.

Then and only then is it fun for me!

Oh my pillow from home of course

Real life is hard enough. When I go on holiday I want to be comfortable and do nothing that resembles work at all.

Carpet ?

I love camping! Have a campervan with no shower or toilet but pick sites that have basic facilities. As I type I’m sitting under my awning gazing at the blue sea of N Devon, beer in hand. Bliss!

It's not for us either, our friends have bought a caravan and are trying to get us into it but it seems like an expensive faff. Give me travelodge over that every time.

Camping is definitely not for me but the mortgage is paid off in 3 years and then we're going to buy a campervan, and I can't wait!

I used to camp out in the garden with the kids when they were little and used to absolutely love it. Of course we could come in to use the loo when needed and get a shower as usual. I don't think I'd like it for more than a night or two if I were to go further afield (excuse the pun, it wasn't my intent)

I love camping, I love getting back to basics. Just chilling. I love cooking over an open fire.

But I find modern life and all the gadgets and expectations very overwhelming.

My idea of hell would be staying in a hotel for a holiday. No way.

I hated it. I never slept, was always freezing and, as someone who needs the loo a couple of times a night anyway, I spent he whole night trying to convince myself i didn’t need the loo, only to then have to flipflop my way over there, whilst jumping at every shadow at least 3 times a night (the more you try not to go the more you have to go)

DS LOVED IT! The freedom of unzipping the flap and running around the campsite with other LO (small safe sites) making friends and playing. He has many happy memories. I on the other hand have cooked our dinner on a camping stove under an umbrella whilst gazing enviously at the caravaners. The final straw was waking up one half term morning to SNOW on the canvas. I made DH sell it after that.

I can't understand why people go on cruises on those hideous floating blocks of flats! We're all different, it's what makes us interesting.

I do think by the time you are carpeting your tent and installing a sofa you've moved into having a canvas bungalow.

My friends have all this gear, there's a camping expo in about February I gather that's a licence to print money, so then they needed a brand new van to transport it all. Cheap option it ain't.

I love camping, but we do have a very expensive inflatable tent, like a PP. It's made of polycotton, so it is heavy, but cooler in the sun and warmer at night. We also have a Kampa Khazi (loo) and very expensive Thermarest Dreamtime mattresses...I'm not exaggerating when I say they are as comfy as our bed at home (they have a memory foam top layer).

I also like clamping in posh tents that belong to someone else, and also going to campsites in France but staying in a mobile home type thing (with air con!).

And we do festivals, usually a couple a year.

DD is 6 and loves the freedom. She makes friends, enjoys nature, gets to stay up late a bit. I love being outside and we always pick sites that are peaceful.

That said, I do also love a good theme park as well....

Lady I'm sure they cannot be, but they look awfully top-heavy and liable to go over.

I suffer from sea-sickness, but I'd like to to the Norwegian fjords from a cruise ship.