Can anyone recommend a tent setup for this camping virgin?

[mmmmmchocolate]

DP got made redundant not long ago so even a caravan hol is probably out of our means for this year :( but I have a bit of money from my birthday so I was thinking of getting a tent and just camping for a few days/week. I've seen the packages that contain tent and airbeds and sleeping bags for about £100 but are they any good?

It needs to fit me, DP and a 5 and 2 year old, And I would stretch slightly for quality. TBH I just don't know where to start and what I'd need to buy but I figure that it's a one off cost and subsequent trips would be very cheap!

The sleeping bags in any such package are inevitably going to be pretty low quality and you will half freeze in them. Not really worth the money. The tents in such packages are often unbranded and lowish quality as well.

If I was going to do this (providing I had a car) I would throw as much money as possible at the tent aspect. As a really good tent will last and last you, but no point in wasting money on one that will collapse, and some freezing sleeping bags.

The tent reviews on ukcampsite are a good place to start, also look for good deals on amazon right now and search the net for reviews on each tent if there are no customer reviews. Amazon has a tent finder where you can search by 2 man, 3 man etc, and they have some bargains just now as camping season is upon us! Once you have a list of say 5 tents you really like and would be happy with that have good reviews, shop around the net and ebay to find the best prices.

Once you have a decent tent, work out whether you prefer airbeds or self inflating mats (thinner foam mats which have a little air in too) and buy the best you can afford. Then take loads of duvets, pillows, and warm clothes from home and you should hopefully be sorted.

I'd second the idea of getting a good deal on a tent and then taking as much as you can from home in terms of equipment. can you borrow any cooking equipment or get a single suitcase burner to keep things simple and cheap on the cookng front - pasta & sauce sprngs to mind. Take pans & crockery from home, fold up chairs if you have them and a few plastic boxes - ideally with lids to store things in.
Something like this tent would be ideal for you - if you can go and visit tent shows then you'll really get an idea of what sort of tent you'll like.

try to look forward to your camping career as a fabulous family experience rather than as a last resort - your children will love it - guaranteed and imo camping (in the sunshine) is the ultimate in relaxing which it sounds as though you all need.

What about ebay? If you look for ones local to you with pick up only they often go cheaper.

I don't know if you have a B&M's near you or home Bargins shop as the both have cheap airbeds or self inflating mats(bit warmer less comfy)

Thank you for those links I'll have a read of them when the tantruming child DDs are asleep later! I take your comments about spending the money to get something lasting. I did get one from eBay a few years back, it was huge an arse to put up and broke on its first outing. Which is why I'm reluctant to buy through eBay again as with a shop if it breaks I have rights..

Fair enough, you can avoid ebay and still find some fab bargains. Some sellers on ebay have warranty with new items so worth checking.

Wouldn't touch the camping starter kits with a bargepole personally, cheap and nasty not cheap and cheerful!

How about asking around family and friends to borrow the gear rather than buying? Someone was asking on our Freecycle for camping bits and pieces, don't know how successful they were but worth a try maybe.

I'd second the others who said to bring stuff from home, duvets and everyday plastic plates etc, you don't need dedicated camping things for a one-off trip (assuming you have car space!)

If you're near the North West we have a spare tent which I'd happily loan you (might be a bit big at 8-berth but we found it easy enough to put up when we'd never camped before.) I keep meaning to ebay it but I'm too sentimental to get rid of our first family tent it might come in handy

Bless you nonny! But we're in the midlands and would probably not go far so that petrol didn't cost much. I don't have many 'outdoorsy' friends unfortunately and really want our own tent. I like the idea of just being able to get off on a moments notice whenever I have a few days off work.

Thanks hep. I probably will check eBay I am addicted to it anyway and see if there's anything from a business seller.

Do you have a Decathlon nearby?

www.decathlon.co.uk/seconds-family-41-tent-id_8171126.html

Aldi are having camping gear in from the 31st May. Their SIMs are great - we have a couple. If you can wedge duvets and blankets into the car, then you can manage without sleeping bags to begin with. I always think its really important to get your sleeping arrangements right - a bad nights sleep in a tent is a miserable experience. We once had 1 awful night, freezing cold on a leaky bloody airbed and it was dreadful and put the whole family in the foulest mood the next day.

Ah well, Midlands is bit far to be worth it, and it is good having all the kit ready to go on a whim (we're away next weekend on our 6th camping trip so far this year, it's fair to say we're slightly obsessed :o house is a pigsty cos we're never home, luckily we're never home to worry about it!)

Hope you love it as much as we have, it's really opened our eyes to what a beautiful country we live in, camping in the UK is really not the duff option :)