Does anyone else HATE the packing away at the end of a camping trip?

[MinimalistMommi]

Just got back this morning.

I love the planning of the camping trip and packing isn't too bad but when it comes to taking down the tent and rolling the SIMS up and packing the sleeping bags away and filling the car and unpacking it at the other end...it just seems so much to do!

Surely I can't be the only one to feel this way?
The DC's had a great time making friends though
Maybe camping is like childbirth, you forget the pain so that is why you do it all again.

I just wish it was easier. Maybe minimal camping is the way to go...

Yes. So much so we put our family tent on ebay the day after we got home from France. We have everything organized in boxes and one of those plastic drawer sets but it still takes forever to load the car up.

We'll only camp in the UK for one or two nights in our pop up from now on. We got camper van envy on our trip so we're going to give that a try next.

Oh Quenelle - be careful which one you choose. We had an old VW camper for years and, whilst lovely, it was a money pit and by the end, we rarely made it anywhere under our own steam. Our road recovery payment was the best money I have ever spent on anything.

That said, I believe Bongos are brilliant.

As to packing and unpacking - I loathe it too. All our stuff from the weekend is still being washed or waiting to go in the loft. I am thinking of getting a large plastic shed for the garden (one which comes with a bottom to avoid too many creepy crawlies getting in) so we can just take everything from the car to the shed and out again. It will save endless lugging stuff up and down our dodgy loft ladder. I might keep the bell in the loft though as I would worry about damp.

Oh, for a house with a garage....

We have a bongo. I'm not sure if I find it much easier tbh.
Still requires erection of an awning groundsheets etc.
Still take a lot of stuff.
Quite juicy on fuel and old so needs work often.
Cosy and soundproof at night though which I love.
Annoying to have to unhook awning and put seats back up for a trip out too.
Brilliant for festivals tho.

You're both going to hate me. We're getting a Transit. Substance over style (most definitely) I'm afraid.

On our last holiday in France 7 out of the 14 nights were overnight stops. Even using the pop up and SIMs and taking just the bare essentials out of the car we just spent too long pitching and striking camp every day. We would watch people arrive in their campervans at the same time as us and they would literally just park and get their chairs and tables out, then spend the next half hour watching us scurrying about whilst they sat in the sun sipping glasses of chilled wine. Then next morning they would be up and gone in minutes.

As someone said upthread, like childbirth, we would probably forget the pain and book another big trip next year, then remember what a PITA it could be. It's time for us to try something new. And we have to do it while DS is still small enough to sleep in the van with us.

Oh I think a Transit is a great idea Quenelle. Reliability and fuel-efficiency would be what I would look for if we ever went for a campervan again. As it is, to avoid all the overnighters you mention, DD and I are flying to and from the South of France while DH drives 900 miles with one overnight stay in a hotel on his own. We are also doing one night all three of us in a hotel and I am sure it is costing a fortune - I haven't dared add it all up yet.

So it may be that another van is in our future too. The chairs and table out, straight into the wine scenario you describe is VERY tempting.

And Transits are a bit bigger, with three seats in the cab. We're actually going to convert our own because we couldn't afford even the oldest, most smingey of readymade conversions.

The thing is, I prefer a few nights on the road. We stayed at one site for 7 nights this year and it was too long for me. I was ready to move on after 5.

Have a wonderful time in the South of France MummyPig. Can I be nosy and ask where you are staying?

We've do e a couple of overnighters but yes it's tricky (did anyone see my thread last week on my terrible tummy upset shits in a friggin service stop over?)
Are you going to convert it yourselves?
We were thinking we might.
My brother has lived in vehicles in Europe for 20 yrs now.
He has a truck complete with solar panels wood burner and running water. It's git a high double bed with a sofa bed underneath, how I would love that!

X post!
We have been here (carnac) for 10 days. Another four to go.
Last year we did three travelling to the south but the weather was so good we made a last minute decision to opt for a shorter journey.
It's been lovely tbh dd1 met a group of friends and there's lots to do here for everyone without being too full on.
Fab pool open from 9-9 which is great as we can just pop in and out as we please without having to lug stuff down to the pool for the toddler ie snacks n stuff.

Of course you can, Quenelle . We are going to near Perignan and staying here: www.brasilia.fr/uk/. It looks to be an all bells and whistles type site (which I would avoid like the plague in the UK) but DD (and we) will love the slides and pools. I will report back on whether it is as nice as it should be for the price looks.

Hopefully we will also do a bit of culture and visit Carcassonne while we are there, and maybe even a day trip to Barcelona.

Can't wait!

P.S. I am very jealous of you getting a van and converting it yourself. I would love to do that but sadly am much too lazy and would end up chucking a couple of airbeds in the back and calling it converted.

MummyPig, I am DYING, literally dying of jealousy, re your site.

We have an oldish caravan, sited in Dorset. Dh says it is too old to tow to France, Spain. Plus the driving for him, the tolls, the nightmare of getting there = just not possible.

So, we put up with british weather. In dorset. The site is fab. 2 miles from the road, and the kids run wild, they only back for their dinner !!
But, it has pissed it down on us so often, for the may bank holidays and week in august, that I begged dh for sun. Ibiza, Spain, anywhere.

The weather is getting so bad, it is killing the site in Dorset. People are cancelling left right and centre.

I don't know what to do.

But am hoping that our 10 days, in a couple of weeks time, remain 'fair', atleast. And does not piss it down.
One year, we came home early. And dh went back and shut up shop, on his own. It was THAT bad.

I don't know what you guys think about UK camping, but I think that the weather means that it is surely in decline and may struggle to survive.

Looks fab. And just the type of place DS is going to love in two or three years time mummypig.

Yep, doing the conversion ourselves, except the windows. There's loads of info and clubs online devoted to the subject, as there is with everything nowadays.

Oblomov is the weather bad there at the moment? I was thinking this summer has been good for UK camping so far, and camping is becoming more popular again. I hope it stays nice for you.

Oblomov, one option for the South of France is to get a ferry to Spain and to think of it as part of your holiday (because it can be quite pricey). Then there is a lot less driving to do to the site. But we are too stingy for that (or I am at least). So DH is very kindly driving all that way on his own. However, he does have the advantage of nothing to tow.

I must admit, in about May/early June this year, I did think the outlook for UK camping was very bleak indeed. However, since then we have camped several times in Kent in differnet places and the weather has been amazing each time and the sites busy and so I am now more hopeful.

But then that is weekend camping. You are only there a couple of days and don't have to go if things look grim. Holiday camping is a different matter and I agree it is a long time to be stuck in caravan or tent if you get sustained bad weather.

And that is why our 12 day holiday will be in France and not Cornwall where I would otherwise love to go.

Would it be an option to keep your caravan for weekend trips and just take a tent to the South of France or Spain or wherever? Then it would not be such a nightmare for your DH?

Yes. don't really bother with weekend trips now s it's just too much hassle, only break out the tent for 3 or more nights.

Bongo-er here too...absolutely LOVE our Olly! Still a faff packing up mind lol ...