Camp Bestival - it's this week! Who's going?

[Abgirl]

I'm a first timer with 2DSs aged 9 and 7, and my mum! DH didn't want to come (he's fishing instead) and my mum had never been to a festival and wanted to go. We've booked a beaupad and am keeping a close eye on the weather forecast.

Not started packing yet so should probably get on with that... Any top tips?

I am, first timer so no tips I'm afraid (could do with some!)

Me, dh and ds (2) so it will either be brilliant or total carnage!

Any ideas for no cook breakfasts - so far have gone down the brioche, croissant and fruit route. Trying to think of things that won't involve washing up.

We're in the campervan bit with our Bongo

Breakfast wise you could take some of those individual pots of oat so simple porridge. Provided you can boil water I think you just add that and stir. The packaging can then be chucked including spoons if you use plastic ones. Or you could put individual portions of cereal into sturdy plastic bags and just add milk. Kids need to be a bit older maybe to successfully eat out of bags but as he is 2 you could feed him?

Have you got one of those trolleys you can load with blankets so your ds can sleep while you enjoy yourselves? If not I think you can hide them. Kids headphones are also a good idea.

You will love it.

Hire not hide

Can't boil water , there's no cooking on your pitch and we haven't got a leisure battery yet but the bag idea is great, would never have thought about that.
I bought a pull along cart thing for him, found it in aldi, was so chuffed as the ones I'd seen on eBay were more than twice the price. We'll use it for ds and the cool box. Thought we'd pack the cool box with drinks and food for lunch and then buy cooked for dinner.
Everyone tells me it'll be fine and I'm sure it will be but nervous as we've never done a festival before and have only been camping twice!

Oh we have one of those ALDI trollies (or ours might have been LIDL but same meat different gravy). Fold up yes? They are brilliant and we got loads of admiring comments on ours

I can't believe you can't even boil water on your pitch! Never heard that before but we haven't been to Camp Bestival since the first one (when it was fine) so I guess things have changed.

It really will be fine though - the good thing about CB (and other family type festivals) is they really are set up for families - the loos are nicer, there are places to chill with the children, at CB there is even the WI tent with tea and cakes where we spent loads of time when we went.

Bring plenty of wet wipes and hand sanitiser and there is very little you can't cope with. If your DS is out of nappies, I would also bring a porta potti with the disposable bags rather than a regular potty if you can. Then you can just tie the bags up and put them in the bin rather than having to find a tap to rinse out the potty each time. If he is in nappies then it is probably easier anyway.

Oh, and I would bring a small camping stove and kettle with you just in case if you have room. One thing I have often found with festivals is that the rules on the website can sometimes bear no relation to what is allowed when you are actually there (and that works to both the good and bad sometimes). Obviously CB may be strict on this of course but it does no harm to bring one in case.

Actually we've got one of those little one ring stoves so guess we could sneak a kettle boil on that. I was just going by the rules that said no cooking on your pitch, there are cooking areas set up and I didn't really fancy trying to use them. I suppose the worst that can happen is someone telling put to stop using the stove.
Yes fold up cart thingy, we put it together when we first got it and popped lo in it and he loved it - cried when we took him out, so have high hopes that he'll be happy being dragged around. He certainly loves being pushed around in a wheelbarrow! Still in nappies so that's easier - going for potty training when we get back

We cooked on our pitch last year (in Camping Plus) on a little stove and will be taking it again this year. I think it's more to stop people using disposable barbecues everywhere and scorching the grass/setting fire to things.

Things I learnt from last year: take toilet roll as it often runs out in the portaloos, lots of wipes and hand sanitizer too. The food was our biggest expense so we'll be taking more of our own this time. It's really geared up for families so everything feels relaxed and easy.

We're going (DH and our almost 4 year old DD) and staying in Hotel Bell tent so maybe see you in Boutique Camping Abgirl!

First time for us. Looking forward to it but went to Glastonbury on my own this year so not sure how it will compare :)

I'm very jealous, I can't go this year. My best breakfast tip, I got from another mum the first year I was staying was tortillas and Nutella, not healthy, but it lasts and is very popular! My camping coffee mugs that are a bit like a cafetiere were also popular.

My big hint is, make sure you turn off all the car lights and indicators, and don't knock them on as you are unpacking the car. It can be a long wait for the AA (and it's expensive to join them when you need them) at the end of the festival