First ever camping trip- 3 weeks in france- what do we need?

[krisskross]

We are newbies to camping...some of you have replied to my previous posts asking for advice.

Now we have taken the plunge and bought a mahoosive tent (saw it up in the shop today after buying online, its bloody enormous!!).

What do we need now? I know we need sleeping mats and bags, cooking utensils etc, but i'd love it if a clever mumsnetter could give me a checklist of what we need.

Neither of us have a clue of how to cook when camping, use the electricity on site etc etc. Advice about a stove and whats best would be great.

Thanks!

[RaisingSteam]

In France, Shade - an awning or tarp of some sort so that you have an area shaded from the sun to sit. It is really hot and sunny if you go further south than Brittany . Plus a couple of spare poles and guylines to attach it to trees etc. Or choose your pitch to get shade from trees in the hottest part of the day. This is NEVER a problem in the UK!

Small barbecue as the French supermarkets sell barbecue packs and ready to use kebabs and stuff, which are lovely. Bags-for-life (No free carriers).

We have a 12v/24V outwell cool box current version of it that plugs into the van for the journey then into the campsite hookup. We are not big on gadgets generally but it does so help to keep food cool. We have the campingaz 2 ring burner with the big blue gas bottle (but have resorted to going camping in a van rather than a car so don't have a space problem any more!).

Before you go find out where the nearest branch of Decathlon is. That will sort you out with any camping related thing you've forgotten!

Some things for kids to do - a lot of badminton, cards, boules went on at the place we were at last year.

[krisskross]

We haven't booked yet but have narrowed it down to a few eurocamp style....sol y gogo....camping les dunes and a few others. Would you recommend anywhere?

[Ledkr]

It will say on your camp web site, it does vary but we are on a budget and never think its a lot.
You will love it, the sites are lovely.
Ours last year had the pool open till 9 at night which was great, I love taking my toddler to the baby bath room where there are lots of big sinks for them to have their baths.
We are going to the Vendee this year, do you know where you are staying yet?

[krisskross]

Thanks,ledkr......what kind of price do you pay for a fridge per week/ day?

[Ledkr]

I usually hire a fridge in france, book in advance its not expensive, I also have a cig lighter cool box but I plug it into the electric hook up via an adapter you can buy on e bay.
So uses electric rather than flatten your battery.
I like the fridge though so I can stock up but also have a work station on top with my toaster and kettle.

[krisskross]

Thanks badger....were going to the vendee area of France camping for about two weeks caravan for a,week also. It's all a bit new hence the questions!

[badger21]

Stoves ...

we used to have one like THIS. It was ok, lots of people rate them, took up quite a lot of space.

Then we got an awesome Cabanon Biscaya 370 tent, which takes up most of the boot when packed, so now we have two of THESE which fit inside the nesting pans we take.

Never had a fridge, or a plug in coolbox. They seem like a bit of a recipe for flattening battery unless you're moving around a lot.

I'm really lucky that I got one of THESE for my birthday. It's a regular coolbox, but with a lot more insulation. Set out with a couple of bottles of frozen mineral water and it stays cold for about a week (some bags of white wine from inside a wine box will also tolerate being almost frozen - but look for one without sulphites because these sometimes separate out - very distressing). Most campsites will either sell ice, or will freeze cool blocks for you, sometimes for a small fee. Take two or three large blocks and exchange regularly. Keep box closed as much as possible. Also check any supermarket for blocks of ice. I've also heard that it can help to leave a wet tea towel draped over box during the day if it's really hot.

Mostly just shop regularly and eat fresh. Simple life - and awesome once you settle into the camping routine. I find it much easier to enjoy a long trip that a weekend away because I never sleep for the first couple of nights.

Where are you heading to?

[krisskross]

Thanks for the reassuring posts everyone.....I once had a night on a tiny rat infested boat in Vietnam. I lived to tell the tale but if anything it made me even worse,about rodents!!

Can anyone now explain 1) camping stoves.....2) camping fridges / hiring fridges at site/ cool boxes that can be powered by the car cigarette lighter (?)

Thanks all.

[badger21]

We've camped a lot - all over Europe including some long 3-4 week trips, and I was about to say that I'd never seen any rodents ... then remembered that there was a tiny mouse that appeared under the hedge near our tent a couple of times at meal times last summer in Carnac. It never really bothered me though as food and crockery etc all kept in clipped plastic boxes. Kids thought it was cute and probably scared it half to death chasing it away.

I definitely support head torches - for all, chairs, waterproof picnic blankets - for inside and outside tent, 2x small cooking stoves and moka coffee pot, wine, wine, wine ... and agree with no shoes, food, drinks in tent.

You'll have a great time if you accept that you WILL change your usual daily routine - slow down, let kids do as they will and stay up until they're tired, talk to lots of people, eat local food and drink local wine. If you try to stick to everything you do at home, you'll find it much less fun.

[Jux]

Lots of clothes pegs, too! Immensely useful for all sorts of things.

[potbellyroast]

I've also never seen rodents in all my years of camping but I'm obsessive about keeping food in boxes with lids.

However, I stayed in a huge (there were 18 of us) house in France - very, very nice house with swimming pool etc and the biggest rat I have ever seen ran across our bedroom floor. So tbh you could end up deciding not to camp because of them and end up seeing one anyway!

[IDontDoIroning]

A cadac - like a cross between a barbecue and a stove
www.cadac.uk.com

[RonSwansonsLushMoustache]

Camped for many years, the last two in France, and never saw or heard a rodent.

A stick insect hitched a lift from the South to the North last year though.

Top tip: We saw loads of campers with potted Basil plants last year that appeared to deter mosquitoes. They were sold in the salad section of most supermarkets.

[YoniMatopoeia]

I have been camping in France and Spain for nearly 40 years, and never had rodents in the tent.

[fernley]

I would definitely go for a couple of nights closer to home first. Oh and a washing line is helpful.

[BingoWingsBeGone]

We camp loads (including 3 weeks in Europe last summer) and I have never seen or heard a mouse. Our food is kept in the fridge or a plastic 'trunk' and bin emptied every night.

[Jux]

Hey there KB! I've been thinking about you

No rodent has ever run up my tent either.

Keeping things dry is generally the hardest aspect of camping. Remember the reality of morning dew!! Anything touching the ground will be wet in the morning no matter whether it has rained or not, so make sure everything is off the ground before you go to bed. (Our tent has half an integral groundsheet, but the other half is a separate groundsheet. Jumpers left with a bit of sleeve touching the grass, inside the tent, will be wet in the morning.)

[Karenblixen]

I have been camping once last summer when my exP bought me a brilliant tent by way of paying for his sins (unsuccessfully) and we still have our tent and are planning camping trips for the spring / summer whenever possible.

The kids absolutely loved it, even though the weather was not great.

I have not seen or noticed any rodents then, only seagulls who pulled bags of food out from underneath a neighbouring tent and made a huge mess. I think too that it is important to keep all food in closed containers or a fridge / car fridge and keep the tent as tidy and clean as possible.

I am terribly phobic about rodents and was not even aware of the possibility about them going near tents, but it seems that this is nothing to worry about and we will still go camping.

[smugmumofboys]

We camp loads and have never seen or heard rodents in or near the tent. We did find a small toad in a saucepan when we were in Anglesey though.

Take loo roll. French campsites don't seem to provide it.

[Erroroccurred]

No rodents here. We only cook pot noodles, fried egg/sausage, the odd BBQ and eat lots of great fresh fruit and veg and eat out once a day.

Good chairs, alcohol and ear plugs would be our top tips

[Karenblixen]

Hi Jux reassuring as always!

[Ledkr]

You can hire fridges in French campsites.

[krisskross]

Thanks Wohmum...have you heard them running up your tent???

[wohmum]

We camp loads, probably about 30 different campsites here and abroad over the last few years and I've never seen mice or any other rodents near the tent. Doesn't mean they aren't there, but I've never actually seen one.

[krisskross]

Thanks Jux.....makes me feel more hopeful! I really want to go as I know the DC will love it....,but the thought of mice running up and down outside of the the tent is gruesome.