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Original poster

Campsite must haves???

109 replies

Iwannalivebythesea · 27/04/2011 16:46

my dh has dreamt forever of owning a campsite and now finally we are in the position to move forward and actually maybe do it!! its all very exciting and will be a drastic change of living for us if it happens.
But I was just looking for some general opinions/advice about what would be your campsite must haves. We would be a family run campsite aimed at families.... what would you want or need in a campsite??? Pool? Kids club? Bar/resturant etc etc??

A million thank yous in advance for any help!!

OP posts:
DuplicitousBitch · 27/04/2011 17:13

where?

i don't really care about a pool in britain but in france yes.
free showers, space, good landscaping, away from roads. close to beach or cycle paths basically nice to be able to do stuff without driving. well stocked shop. not fussed about restaurant or bar. clean clean clean clean clean.

Original poster
Iwannalivebythesea · 27/04/2011 17:15

Oh thanks for the reply, yep in the UK hopefully South West....cornwall perhaps??

OP posts:
notwavingjustironing · 27/04/2011 17:15

Clean, hot free showers, washing up area. Basic shop. Locally sourced products (farm eggs, meat, etc)

Children's play area

Pool not a necessity - might encourage rowdy teens

Decide who you are aiming at - you can't be all things to all people.

Agree with Duplicitous actually!

therugratref · 27/04/2011 17:17

Places where you can have a proper campfire- you can make money selling wood!
Decent showers.

JustcallmeMummyPig · 27/04/2011 17:40

love campfires but rare to find places that do...

clean toilets
washing up area
kids playground
walkable to things...

when we want pools/kids clubs we do centre parks,butlins,parkdean,park resorts etc...

flaime · 27/04/2011 18:07

Play area and space for football/kites - zip wire always a bonus to our kids
nice clean warm shower block & toilets
shop which sells fresh local produce
Electric hookup and plenty of water taps
CDP for those of us with vans/motorhomes
best sites I've been to have had nice shrubs between the pitches which stop you feeling really crowded.

Slubberdegullion · 27/04/2011 19:00

Same as DB and notwaving. Clean loos and showers is a deal breaker for me.

Freezers(s) for non ehu folk to freeze iceblocks.

Play area less important for us now, but a nice big grassy open area for kids to run around in is good. We love sites that have the tents pitched around the outside of a field so the kids can mess about, fly a kite, ride bikes whatever, in the middle - makes it much easier to keep and eye on them and less likely they will be hit by some moron driving like an arse around the site.

No cars would be also be great Grin

We would actively avoid campsites (in the UK) that have pools, bars, kids clubs and all of that.

A well stocked shop is always nice but not essential. What was VERY nice at the Eskdale campsite was you could buy local ales individually from a fridge in the shop. Made dh v happy having properly cold local beer. I liked the local pies too.

DuplicitousBitch · 27/04/2011 19:02

i dislike lots of rules everywhere, on little notices that have been laminated via the owners tightly clenched buttocks. caravan club campsites are notorious for this

Slubberdegullion · 27/04/2011 19:03

Oh and I have always wanted to say this to someone setting up a campsite.

get your dishwashing area right.

Have a draining board on either side of each sink so you can plonk your dishes on one side, wash up in the bowl and than drain on the other side. Makes the whole experience much quicker and easier. Draining boards that DRAIN are also good plus a bin in the dish washing area to throw away slops.

I think about these things whilst stood in the queue.

Slubberdegullion · 27/04/2011 19:05

Me too I dislike laminated rules.

But I do like a quiet after 11pm please rule, but said discreetly with a firm smile.

Hooks on the backs of the doors of the loos and the showers. Lots of hooks. As many hooks as you can get. Make each cubicle a cornucopia of hooks. You can never have too many hooks.

DuplicitousBitch · 27/04/2011 19:08

i once stayed somewhere that had laminated new testament quotations at every turn. revelations (17:1-18) is distracting when trying to poo

Slubberdegullion · 27/04/2011 19:11

ROFL

I bet it is

littlemisslost · 27/04/2011 19:14

camp fires, plenty or play space, decent clean showers and toliets and a little shop with luxuries for those cold morning when you wish you were at home-fresh bread, scones, jam and stuff also a decent coffee bar/machine for a hot chocolate and cappucino

littlemisslost · 27/04/2011 19:15

also dont pack too many people in so you are tripping over tent wires and hearing people fart!!!!!! HATE that lol

DuplicitousBitch · 27/04/2011 19:16

being able to order croissants and bread for the morning is good and you can pretend to be in france.

Slubberdegullion · 27/04/2011 19:20

ooooh get you DB with your fancy croissants.

next you'll be wanting a rotisserie chicken. Do they still do those on French campsites ?

yy to not packing people in. i concur littlemisslost

DuplicitousBitch · 27/04/2011 19:22

oui, also frites a emporter are v. good accompaniment to a cadac bbq

Slubberdegullion · 27/04/2011 19:29

are they

how nice

naughtymummy · 27/04/2011 19:38

Agree with much of the aböve, when dd was a baby ,we stayed at some sites in france with a built in baby bath in the shower block , in a little room. It was brilliant being able to give her a bath, I find it realy tricky with babies in the shower. Warm shower blocks are a godsend in the uk. Another campsite in france that we visited as children had a trampoline, that was brilliant, probrably outlawed now, health and safety.
I think pools are lovely in sunny climes but a bit of a pita on english sites. Perhaps your shop could sell wellies and raincoats ? Would make a fortune I bet :)

doozle · 27/04/2011 19:45

My wishlist would include: -

campfires allowed
curfews (if a family site)
small site
decent washing up and shower block facilities
communal grassy area in the middle for the kids to play in.
safe camping area away from road. (Blocked off access to roads)
ability to buy wood for fires on site.
sheet guides for short walks nearby
info about pub/places to eat/visit nearby

Good luck!

hpsaucy · 27/04/2011 19:48

I love the smaller sites and agree all with doozle but I would also love use of a tumble drier. Worst bit about camping is damp towels!!!

Maryz · 27/04/2011 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BluddyMoFo · 27/04/2011 19:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SparklyCloud · 27/04/2011 19:53

These are things that put a LOT of people off - charging for dogs, and charging to stay til 5pm or whatever.
So, if you allowed dogs, did not charge for them, and had a 'leave when you like' policy, you would attract lots more campers :)

hotandhappy · 27/04/2011 19:55

clean immaculate loos and showers defo for me. a loo of the year award is a plus point! No clubhouse but a well stocked shop that sells booze is good. Spaced out with ehu - not massively spaced but with a few metres between rule being enforced and above all a curfew - not just mention of one but one thats actually mentioned on booking and enforced. I like to camp around a field with hedgerows to pee in behind us Grin.