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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this the camping trip from hell.

212 replies

Redgreenfroggy · 27/08/2024 20:30

Just want to start by saying we camp 2 or 3 times a year and have loved it. Don’t know if we have been really lucky with campsites.
yep there has been the odd annoyance but on the whole great.

Arrived at a campsite yesterday and the family in the tent next door just seem to yell at each other all the time. If they are not yelling at each other they are yelling at the dog. The adults are constantly swearing at each other and the two little girls just seem to scream

To make it the 2 girls aged about 5 kept running in our tent laughing and running out again. At one point when DH and DS had bobbed to the campsite shop and I was looking for something in the car I looked back at the tent to see both girls coming out of our tent with one of my sons board games. I stopped them and said they should not take things that dont belong to them and to stop coming in our tent. All I got in return was them both sticking their tongue out at me.

When my DH came back he went over and had a word but they parents could not seem to grasp while we didn’t want their little darlings on our tent and said they would only be borrowing the board game.

Woke up this morning at 6 to the girls running around our tent screaming and shouting for my son to wake up. My son is 12 and wants nothing to do with them. Luckily it stared raining so they went back to their tent.

Later this afternoon came back to the campsite after a day out and not only has a new family pitched their tent right up next to ours so we could literally reach out and touch their tent from standing inside ours, they have pitched over were the car is meant to go.

all the tents are pitched so there is a tent and then a car on the right hand side but they have 2 cars and have just taken up their pitch and half of ours. I did point out this to them but I just got a shrug of the shoulders.

We did mention to the owners of the campsite this had happened and they did say they would have a word if we really wanted them too but could we just put our car by reception. We got the feeling they did not want any confrontation. So our car is now by reception. Not a huge deal but still a bit inconvenient.

i am now in our tent listening to an argument from the family next door. The kids screaming and the dog going bat shit barking. Plus the ones that are right up next to us the bloke keeps hacking at the time.
So you get that massive hack noise as if he is trying to bring something up. The women with him had a cackle laugh that would put Amanda Holden and Alisha Dixon to shame.

My DH has gone out to get ear plugs

OP posts:
Redgreenfroggy · 27/08/2024 20:54

We usually have a good time because I read reviews carefully and only pick camp sites that rules are enforced. I have epilepsy so I need a good night sleep. Now I am looking back at the reviews a lot seem to be written in a similar tone that makes me think it’s the same person writing the good reviews. There were very few bad ones

OP posts:
Irridescantshimmmer · 27/08/2024 20:54

Just a suggestion, if you or your son put games in your car because of the thieves in the tent next door. Then lock them back in the car afterwards.

I went camping once with friends in the New Forrest where a. Mare and foal came into our tent. I would have that anyday rather than a feral child.

Oblomov24 · 27/08/2024 20:57

Sounds bad. You should've said yes to owner to complaining more forcefully.

HelloDaisy · 27/08/2024 20:58

That sounds awful, I’d be packing up and leaving too!
We camp a lot and luckily have only stayed in one site like that. We did pack up and leave early as it definitely wasn’t a holiday. Was probably the same site you are in now!

Definitely ask for a refund, especially as you can’t put your car by your tent so the tents are breaking fire regulations….

Wineat5isfine · 27/08/2024 21:00

Camping isn’t shit. Done properly, you can have the most amazing holidays 🙄

It sounds like the campsite owners are crap. They should have insisted that the family who have infiltrated your pitch should have moved immediately.

This isn’t acceptable. In this scenario, insist that they allocate you a new pitch first thing tmrw morning and ask for a per refund for the inconvenience.

Good luck…and I hope this doesn’t affect your views on camping ❤️

Justmemyselfandi999 · 27/08/2024 21:00

The other tent pitching so close to you is a fire hazard, campsite should be insisting they move

Goldbar · 27/08/2024 21:02

Before you go (preferably when getting into your car about to drive off), take a picture of your neighbours' numberplate and report them to social services. Those parents sound horrific and it sounds like a domestic abuse situation for this kids.

Dotto · 27/08/2024 21:03

Leave. You are literally paying to have a terrible time - edit - glad you're leaving!

Rainbowstripes · 27/08/2024 21:04

I've worked on a campsite and 100% would prefer you come and complain so it can be dealt with asap rather than you say nothing now but expect a refund tomorrow without giving them a chance to do anything about it. On the campsite I worked at they would have had a warning and then been asked to leave if the behaviour continued but it's unlikely we would have refunded someone if they didn't tell us about the problems at the time. I know you said you spoke to them about parking but from your post it doesn't look like you said anything else?

Redgreenfroggy · 27/08/2024 21:04

i am seriously thinking of social services and also rspca as DH saw him kick the dog hard.

DS is adamant that he has 3 lots of sweets missing.

OP posts:
cardibach · 27/08/2024 21:05

Wineat5isfine · 27/08/2024 21:00

Camping isn’t shit. Done properly, you can have the most amazing holidays 🙄

It sounds like the campsite owners are crap. They should have insisted that the family who have infiltrated your pitch should have moved immediately.

This isn’t acceptable. In this scenario, insist that they allocate you a new pitch first thing tmrw morning and ask for a per refund for the inconvenience.

Good luck…and I hope this doesn’t affect your views on camping ❤️

No, it’s shit. You don’t have walls. Or a shower. Or a toilet. Or any ability to have any privacy. And you sleep on a shitty mattress on the floor (at best). It’s crap.

BetFreda · 27/08/2024 21:05

Please do share the campsite name so the whole of MN can avoid it like the plague 😀

Cattery · 27/08/2024 21:05

cardibach · 27/08/2024 20:32

Camping is shit. It’s even shitter with bad neighbours, but in a hotel they’d be less of an issue , so it boils back down to camping being shit.

Yeh. I’d rather shove a cactus up my arse

Doyouthinktheyknow · 27/08/2024 21:07

I stopped camp'ing because of a similar awful experience!

There just isn’t enough insulation in a tent for noisy sites! Like you we used to choose carefully but still got it wrong from time to time!

Glad you are leaving, life really is too short!

You couldn’t pay me to camp now, I would rather have a shorter holiday or no holiday!

Starlingexpress · 27/08/2024 21:08

This is just one of a list of reasons why I don’t camp.

Redgreenfroggy · 27/08/2024 21:08

As I said we have had amazing holidays before camping. We did mention to the owners about the girls coming in our tent and waking us up in the morning on purpose. Again he did not seem to want any confrontation.

OP posts:
SpanielPaws · 27/08/2024 21:09

There are no sound defences when you're camping.... it's like a form of slow and gradual torture that you get the pleasure of paying for.

Anjo2011 · 27/08/2024 21:10

The words camping and holiday do not belong in the same sentence. Can you ask to move to a different pitch? Or go elsewhere ? Or pack up and go home?

Redgreenfroggy · 27/08/2024 21:10

Omg now they are playing pepper pig at full
volume. Time for the eye mask and ear plugs.

Ds is out for the count, really early for him but I am glad he is.

OP posts:
cardibach · 27/08/2024 21:10

I don’t believe anyone has amazing holidays camping I’m afraid. Amazing considering it’s camping, yes. But amazing compared with staying in a building? Not a chance. I have camped where buildings aren’t an option (back of beyond in a South Africa for eg) but the camping is always a bit shit and uncomfortable.

SaltAndVinegar2 · 27/08/2024 21:11

The family sound like a nightmare but the campsite is also badly run. Good campsites have strict rules about spacing and noise. If there was any space on the campsite I would ask to move to a different pitch. If they don't allow it say you are leaving and ask for a refund. If there is theft call the police.

OhshutupBarry · 27/08/2024 21:11

Cattery · 27/08/2024 21:05

Yeh. I’d rather shove a cactus up my arse

Stop the press...People like different things shocker!!

AuCo44 · 27/08/2024 21:12

This is why we have a campervan. We're insulated against the noise and we can lock the door. We can also drive away if the site is shite. I've never stayed on a campsite where the tents are pitched so close together though. I'm sure that's against fire regulations.

Mumistiredzzzz · 27/08/2024 21:12

I feel sorry for the kids next door to you to be honest, they're stuck with the shit parents.

MelainesLaugh · 27/08/2024 21:13

When I used to go I had a combination padlock on my tent. Not brilliant security wise but it did stop annoying little kids wandering in.

I’d be so annoyed at be selfishness