Why are people scared of camping?

[Cathycat]

I'm off tomorrow. I am sooo excited. But if I mention it to some people I get the "ooh, I've always wondered about camping but..." But what?! Am I missing something!? What are people so frightened of? I know that camping has risen in popularity recently probably due to the recession but there still seems to be a bunch of people who would rather do nothing but spend their money on day trips to theme parks all summer rather than go chilling and camping. Is the showers? Would they like to be in a posh hotel or nothing? Very strange! Can anyone clarify? They don't know what they're missing!

FFS

Comfy

Lynette, do you mind sharing where this is? If not, may I CAT you. Sounds just my style!

'I may be biased because having spent years in the military, I spent quite a lot of time in tents, and all this 'roughing it is FUN' malarkey cuts absolutely NO ice with me.'

It was fun wild camping when I was a fit 20-something in stunning Colorado with brilliant weather and no bugs. And tons of homegrown marijuana to while away the evenings.

But now?

Not on your life.

OrmRenewed summed it up with "Bloody hard work"

I'm just too lazy to enjoy camping.

Actually it isn't even the 4am wee call that is the biggest problem. It's when you come back from the pub at 9pm after a nice meal in a warm sunny garden to find a semi-dark tend and rapidly dropping temperatures and realise that sitting around chatting with a whisky or 2 requires thermal knickers and 10 layers. And somehow it seems more important to struggle into a sleeping bag than wait till it gets even colder and darker. So you do. And then you have to get out for a wee.

It's always the lovely relaxed alfresco evenings that don't happen that disappoint me

it's not scary, it's just expensive and uncomfy and last time we went dd screamed her head off every hour which I'm sure was so fun for the rest of the campsite. we're not going again.

I'm too lazy and it's just more stuff you need. More stuff to look after.

And I'm the one who does all the packing and coordinating.

I agree about the al fresco evenings.

Static caravan usually has a little deck area for evening chats after the kids are in bed or to sit and read a book in comfort.

I prefer a tightly regulated site, too, because I don't want to hear music or other people's drunken parties.

A very nice place in Northumberland (out of season)

Last year we managed to find a brilliant Static Caravan park, with pool,wonderful view, and children's playground for just under £300 at the end of the summer school holidays in Cornwall (just outside Rock)

There was a camp-site nearby, and every time we drove past I was like this

Just come back from two weeks in lodges. With verandas.

Hated it.

The sites were dead. There were no kids playing out. DS was boredc and lonely. The lodges were characterless and bland.

And the view from the veranda was a line of empty 1960s style bungalow chalets.

Instead of a line of trees.

Absolutely hated it.

I've lost the link now, expat, (was a random Google search) will search again after I've put DC to bed.

www.northumbrianleisure.co.uk/GoldenSandsHolidayhomehire.html OK, so you have to go in March.

supersalstrawberry, the farmhouse must have had a bath with hot water. My DD would have been joining those boys in their bath that night!

aaah, that's nice of them.

Eeew at cow pat dance though!

But cow pat dances are good! Tehy are an essential part of child hood. Which is exactly why I need to permanently have access to a washing machine!

I've just come back from one week in a Keycamp caravan , followed by another week camping in own tent in France. I am what you call a relucant camper but as DH and DC all love it, I go along with it.

I can put up with the discomfort, sharing showers etc etc and at times do enjoy camping. However, I find it really difficult to sleep when camping and become hugely sleep deprived . Even tried Nytol this time and it didn't work!!! Also, wish that shagging couples would realise tents provide no sound proofing!!

We didn't get a washing machine in our lodges though.

See, sally, that would have given me the boak.

I would not have been amused.

Hence, why I'll not be camping any time soon.

make an exception for keycamp and other such 'tents'. so long as it comes with all mod cons it's ok with me

See, I don't drink. And the last thing I'd want is to be kept up till stupid o'clock by drunks and then woken at stupid o'clock by the kids with a hangover.

Nope. That shower/toilet situation is a dealbreaker for me.