To ask how to go camping and enjoy it..?

[Alittlenonsensenowandthen]

Just come back from camping and yet again feel like it's more a test of human endurance than a holiday. I see others on the campsite seemingly enjoying the torture. What am I doing wrong?!

I've come back with spots on my skin, extreme tiredness from not sleeping and a boot full of muddy things for processing.

Let's be honest I'm never going to enjoy it, but I am genuinely curious for those that do enjoy it, what am I missing?

Dump the tent
Get a hotel
Problem solved

I don’t enjoy it either! Its miserable, generally cold, uncle and bloody hard work!!

I although feeling safe on a campsite have to admit I wouldn’t camp on a holiday park like a haven/park resorts etc.

One on those sites the sites don’t tend to care about the campers as much, since you don’t bring in the cash but also because the caravan people anit campers and thus it’s like a no laws thing. Where as campers as someone else said are all equally vulnerable

*uncomfortable not uncle!! 😬

If sleep is an issue what causes it?

Would a better bed, sleeping bag etc help? Or eye mask and ear plugs?

I always recommend booking an extra night or a late stay as then packing up can be done at your leisure rather than in a rush before check out time.

Baby wipes or similar - great for a quick freshen up during the day if you don't want to have 42 showers 🤣

glamp!

I only go camping with very good friends who I don't get a chance to see much otherwise.
We cook as little as possible. Maybe heat up some frozen tagine and boil kettle for cous cous so little washing up. Drink wine earplugs eyemask and early night to ensure you get some sleep.

I love being in nature so a 6am cup of coffee listening to the birds in the sun is very special

I like the stripped back life element surrounded by nature. I adore a campfire.

We tend to pick coastal sites to avoid the midgies. They struggle against the sea breeze!

I’ve only ever camped once. I barely remember it! It all sounds like an absolutely huge amount of effort.

redheadrage its like anything, the first few times you do it will feel really odd and insecure and a bit scary. After that you probably won’t care or even think about the apparent lack of security.

Until some weirdo unzips your tent and climbs in which is what happened to me at 3am while camping.

you need to take the right stuff with you - live the camping life, don't try to live the same life you would either at one or in a hotel. for example: no make up; don't change your clothes every day; eat camp food (sausage and beans/fried egg rolls/chilli/stir fry); drink loads of alcohol; spray yourself from head to toe every day with mosquito spray; don't wash your hair. FREEDOM!!!! It's amazing!!! oh, and get yourself a Duvalay - you deserve a good night's sleep!

I do think you need to enjoy physical labour to enjoy camping. It’s s definitely hard work. I like that as I have a sedentary job but others may feel differently.

I think people who genuinely love camping are a minority. You don’t see many humans actively choosing to live in temporary structures, carrying water and cooking on fires if provided with alternatives, do you?

But the price of 1 night in a hotel can be the equivalent to 5 nights camping.

I’m not a martyr. I’m poor

I never book camping in advance. Always last minute as the weather dictates.

I’m lucky though that I don’t work sch hols, so have a bit more freedom

Spend more-lots more- money on your sleeping mat. If space is not an issue, take a duvet and pillows not a sleeping bag. Unless it's just you and children, under no circumstances put up or take down your own tent. Have plenty of collapsible plastic boxes and be strict about keeping things in them- tidiness is crucial. Have a good awning. Wear a onesie to bed. Have crocs.

Go with good friends.

Only go to a site that allows real campfires, hires out firepits and sells wood and kindling on site. It must also have a shop to buy fresh milk.

Allow a free day's annual leave before you go to pack at leisure.

Have a big porch / gazebo / event shelter for cooking, and for sitting relaxing out of the sun and rain. (Too much hot sun is not fun).

Wind is worse than rain - don't go if strong wind is forecast.

Absolutely minimal cooking - cereal for breakfast, salad or sandwiches or wraps for lunch, packet of ready-meal quick-cook pasta or rice or couscous or noodles for evening, or go out to eat a proper meal, or get a takeaway. Have loads and loads of crisps, fruit, biscuits and cereal bars ready for snacking. Not chocolate-coated if the weather will be hot.

Always wash up before bed so that you have stuff ready for the morning.

Take proper mugs and glasses, not plastic or metal 'camp' stuff. Ditto proper pillow. If you are getting older and/or a bit stiff, have chairs and a table.

Pegs to dry things on guy ropes.

It gets cold at night - wear warm clothes and woolly hat around the fire, even in summer, and sleep with lots and lots of layers (either wear clothes in bed or double up blankets/sleeping bags).

Bucket for night wees, or pitch close to the loos.

Accept you will be wearing smoky grubby outer clothes during the day, but keep some 'fresh' ones smoke-free to change into for days out or evenings off site.

Wellies, as the grass is usually wet with dew first thing even if it doesn't rain.

Don't rush anything - take it easy and slow down.

Go for at least 6 or 7 nights, or all the effort won't seem worth while.

Under no circumstances even consider having sex

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There's some kind of irony in having to put up with all this crap for longer or else you won't enjoy it!

I must admit a weekend for all my gear would be more hassle than worth. I don’t mind slumming in no electric for a weekend just with dh but not with the kids.

I meant the effort of packing, pitching, and packing up again to go. Once your site is set up, there is little effort and lots of relaxing.

Are the kids old enough to bivvy? Less work, less stuff to manage, just easier somehow. I much prefer it unless I’m glamping.

unfortunately my kids are still small enough that it’s not an option. I reckon we might try around 7 or 8.

Maybe go to a festival.

Where you dont have to worry about cooking.

Glamping pod??? Buy all the food.

Make sure the weather is good.

Oh crap all these posts about allowing a day to pack are panicking me. We are going tomorrow morning and I've barely started packing yet! Got out all the camping cooking stuff from the shed and run it through the dishwasher, and packed a load of snacks, that's about it!

After spending a weekend camping with people who had a caravan, I would say get a caravan.