Holiday essentials

[HampshireMummyof2]

Got our first proper family camping trip booked in August. (Can't wait!!!) Have a list of normal things to get but Can anyone give me any ideas of must haves, hacks or anything off piste that that have found usefully.
Thank you in advance.

Brillianr tips here, I doa quite a few of them!

A large piece of cardboard is a brilliant inside doormat- soaks up water and mud and you can recycle it when needed.

We have some sheap solar powered garden lights (those with spikes) and find they give just enough light at night for children to be comforted/see the loo etc.

An umbrella ready for loo trips in the rain, much easier than wrangling a coat.

If it does rain and it's warm, wear shorts as legs can dry easily with a towel or flannel, wet clothes are more of a pain.

I agree with the hoover. We vacuum pack our sleeping bags and pillows as well as hovering out the tent before coming home.

If you take a fridge make use you utilise the space in it during travel, take stuff for emergency repairs, we have patches and reselling spray as well as gorilla tape just Incase and extra ropes.

Whats your sleeping set up? Being cold is the worst, so make sure you have sleeping bags (They are warmer than duvets) and if you have blow up mattresses (or SIMS) I would make sure you have something to insulate the bottom.
Cool down your cooler box before you put your food in it (basically you bring the temperature down in the box with frozen water)
Food wise, we have a cadac safari chef 2 and can pretty much cook anything on it (including pizza)
Bring Gin and Port

Loving all the ideas!! Not get electric hook up so fridge is out but good shop on site. Camp beds with bags and blankets, I hate being cold. Need to look into a small stove to boil water for coffee in the morning ☕️.

No one's mentioned the most important thing yet... A corkscrew! Just in case the only wine you can find in the local shop doesn't have a screw top lid!

You've mentioned that you don't have electric hook up so not relevant to you, but one of our neighbours on a site in Wales who did have it had brought an electric blanket which didn't seem to do the site electric supply any harm and worked fine.

How much do you want to spend on a cooker? I love my Cadac Safari Chef 2, but its only one plate. Are you allowed open fires? And if so, what clearance off the ground do they need to be?

2 years ago when camping in August it was so cold on 2 nights I wore a woolly hat and gloves as well as being in a sleeping bag with a blanket over it. The skies were clear and the stars beautiful though!

We can have bbq off the ground so I have a fold away bbq for burgers etc but just looking for something for kettle etc

Cork screw Is a good idea but I am more of a coffee/hot choc sort of girl 😁

We have one of these for coffee/Tea in the van: www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15895048/campingaz-cg-camp-bistro-2-mbl-15895048
Its cheap, its lasted us around 8 or 9 years and the canisters are easy to get. Then you want a kettle and an aeropress for the best coffee (IMO)
www.origincoffee.co.uk/collections/brewing-equipment/products/aeropress
You can get an adaptor that does two cups at once

Another small thing that makes a big difference for me is a thermos. That way I can make 3 coffees at one (normal travel cup and two cups worth in the thermos) and then I don't need to boil the kettle again. Its also good in the evening for a hot water bottle

Great ideas for drinks, thanks will look into them a bit more

Those clear storage boxes are great for keeping kitchen stuff organised and transport easily.

Scissors, can opener, dust pan and brush, a bin (I have a collapsable camping bin)

I also store all my camping kitchen/ miscellaneous in a HUGE 20? 40? Litre clear plastic storage box. It doubles as a table and I never unpack any of it once back home

Skewers for the marshmallows
Oven glove and tongs for bbq / cooking

Depending on the age of your children a bucket toilet is brilliant. It's a bucket with a toilet seat and a lid. We use it at night for the kids and me!. But our kids are too big for the potty.

Warm clothes for the children. Onesies, blankets etc

Waterproof shoes like crocs that kids can use and easily washable

Definitely warm clothes for night time with added blankets. Can anyone recommend a picnic set or plate set etc that they use when camping?

Yes to PP who said repair stuff.
Take a bit of string, duck tape, electrical tape and a couple of elastic bands. You can fix most things with that. String can also be used as washing line.

Matches or something to light the BBQ. (Might also be needed for your stove)

I take a small penknife. It has corkscrew, bottle opener, 2 screwdrivers (we need one to connect up our gas bottle) and scissors (though I usually take scissors as I'm not a minimalist camper.)

If you are taking/buying tea bags, you might want a small tub to keep them in.

Head torches to free hands in the dark. A swiss army type multi tool gadget. Waterproof bags for phones. A battery bank charger. Sleeping mats, essential for comfort. Satchess of coffee that contain milk type powder and sweetener. Sweets fir high energy walks or a treat.

About Picnic plate set,

I suggest a dinner plate with edges so sauce doesn't fall off.

Budget option: take all the plastic kids plates and bowls from home. And add what you don't have.

Elite option: go to a camping store and buy the options you like.

Mid-range option: mix what you have already with the summer picnic stuff from supermarkets/home stores. And maybe add a few pieces from a campingshop.

(Are you fussy about drinking tea and wine out of plastic? Do you need pottery and glass for those items?)

Those massive pegs that you see abroad to hold towels down-they are useful for loads of things. Bucket with nappy sack in as a loo. Mini shower gels/shampoo etc attached to a lanyard, and a dry robe. Store matches & tissues in a plastic Tupperware to keep dry. Pack clothes flat in bags as daily outfits. An over door plastic shoe hanger is really useful for pockets/storage. I’ve never camped but use these on our yacht.

Like the things in boxes/bag options. Matches/tissues etc. I want to be organised but not sure if I can achieve it. Not fussed about drinking out of plastic . I have a list of everything mentioned her and am happily planning a shopping spree (as much as you can at the moment). Must admit I enjoy planning for the holiday as much as the holiday itself!

Fleece beanie hat (if you get cold overnight, sleeping is impossible), eye mask to avoid waking up at dawn. Tupperware to keep your matches dry. At least 1 meals worth of easy, warm meals- doesn’t need to be posh or exciting, if it’s cold and wet comfort food is vital.
Cards or similar games (we liked uno when DS was younger). Mozzie repellant, savlon and baby wipes.

Two mallets so that you can both hammer in pegs at the same time. Much quicker.

Very warm sleeping bags as it can get cold on clear sunny days.

I used to take a tin of chocolate Brownies and a tin of flapjack as post walk-in-the-rain treats.

One of the Really Useful boxes with food in. Airtight against insects and doubles as a prep surface.

Crocs and a lightweight waterproof for 3am wee trips (bought a portable loo in the end).

Camping chairs & folding picnic table.

I take a plastic dish drying rack - makes it so much easier to wash up.

Ditto door mat.

Matches!

We have a huge plastic storage box with everything loose in, lanterns, fairy lights, played/cups/mugs, tea towels, sponges, knives, cutlery, pegs, card games, etc and it is just for campingso I don't have to unpack it. It just goes straight into the basement at home.