Canvas/Keycamp etc - The Definitive Hints & Tips List

[ChippyMinton]

mildmanneredjanitor asked for tips for this type of holiday (she's off to Italy, I'm off to the Vendee) so i thought I'd start a new thread.

Please stick all your best tips here.
I'll start:

Take clothes pegs and a bath mat
Pack lightly as you may spend most of your time in a swimming costume
Other people will let their children stay up late - adjust your bedtime accordingly.

for the shower (well that's what i use it for)
You will be constantly sweeping the van floor if you are houseproud don't want sand in your bed

Good tip about the bathmat, thanks.

We'll also be taking:

• plastic picnic plates & bowls (as Canvas ones are crockery so can't take them off site)

• shopping bags - handy for packing squashy stuff in car/roofbox plus French supermarkets charge for bags

• old oven glove otherwise you'll be faffing with a teatowel and burning yourself

• pop up sunshade - good as a playtent by the big tent or shelter down on beach.

• coloured pencils and paper for journey/rainy days. Also pop a couple of favourite games into ziplock bags (to save taking boxes which take up space and get squashed/soggy).

• Duplo is a fab toy to take: indestructible, waterproof, and loads and loads of play value from just a few little people and bricks.

Happy camping! We're off to La Grande Metraire(sp?) in Brittany next week yippee!

Our must haves include uno (card game) as the kids can play it and then the adults can play a slightly drunk, vindictive version later on. Yahtzee is good as well. As is a small box of knex or lego. If only to keep the kids quiet when they wake up at stupid o clock.

As we stay in one of the eurocamp tents also take my own sharp veg knife, peeler and a small chopping board. Torches for going to the loo at night as well.

A box of grip seal / sandwich bags are good for storing odds and ends in the fridge. If you can't be bothered to keep getting up to refill your glass a couple of big wine glasses / pint glasses are an idea.

I also take small tub of easy packet foods like pasta n sauce, couscous and tinned spaghetti so that I can do quick , familliar meals when the kids are tired and grumpy.

We have a set of digital walkie talkies (£30 from Aldi) that are invaluable. If only to let each other know if the takeaway queue stretches back forever or if one of you gets to the pool and have forgotten something. We also give one to DS if he goes to play at someone elses tent just so that we can check he is ok every so often .

Sorry if that's a bit long, Niki

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keep a 1 euro coin for shopping trolleys, and take your own bags or be prepared to buy some at the checkout.

WW - have a look on the other thread about your ferry home here

We took various spices in little sealable bags when we went to Cote d'azur last week, and made things like chili and spag bol. We went to La Baume in Frejus with Keycamp.

If you're driving through France and going through/round Paris - IGNORE YOUR SATNAV!!! It goes haywire due to the tunnels - although you may prefer to spend a very tense hour or so going around in circles, while small children become increasing restless and adults bicker about whose fault it is!

Take BBQ utensils.

Take your own sausages.

Do not have a 2 yr old who refuses to walk on sand when all the play areas are sandy and you're hoping to spend lots of time on the beach.

have you just come back? good trip?

Hi Chippy - yes just got back at 11pm last night! Had a great time apart from aforementioned unintentional Paris trip! And ds2's bizarre sand phobia! There was lots of rain, but 3 or 4 sunny days when it was perfect.

Dp is already talking about venturing to Italy next year!

When are you off on your hols?

Do the pre-made tents come with plates and cups and stuff?

And water containers? (I assume they don't do sinks even though they somehow seem to do electricity?!)

I seem to have asked the daftest question so far

Chippy - have you found yourself a wheeled bag yet? Got the idea from you, and just found this from Lakeland. Wondered if you had come up with anything better?

This thread has made me soooooo excited! I am wondering how we'll manage having for the past 3 years brought a biggish car and this year flying ryanair

unquietdad - they come with plates, suacepans etc. If you go on the eurocamp website there is an inventory somewhere which tells you exactly what should be in each tent.

They don;t have sinks but do have a full size fridge with small freezer compartment. Generally, you go over to the sinks by the loos to do your washing up.

I don't remember getting a water container but we tend to buy the huge 5litre bottles of water from a hypermarket for drinking / cooking. Wouldn't want to risk the little ones getting a gyppy tummy when your in a tent with only basic laundry.

Thanks! Glad my question wasn't so daft...

aha - thanks!