How can I convince my wife to give camping a go?

[johnnybuoy]

I would like to go camping with my wife and 2 kids (boy - 2 years and 3months, girl 3 months).
Neither of us have ever camped before and I know my wife will be against it on the grounds that it will be cold, wet, uncomfortable and the campsites will have dirty toilets & showers.
How can I convince her otherwise?
I know people suggest going to those places with a tent already in place but they seem to cost as much as renting a holiday home!

Also if I do convince her to go away for a few nights how much is it going to cost to get up and running?
Is this reasonable?
Tent off Ebay £80 ish
airbed(s) £50 ish
We have sleeping bags somewhere and could bring duvets.
I'm sure we wouldn't attempt cooking the first time, fish suppers and sarnies would do for a few days!
Pitching tent charge £20 - £30

Is it feasible to get up and running for £200?
It would have to happen in the summer as I'm sure she won't go any other time.

Sorry I'm with your wife here - my husband has been trying to do the same, but I think we've now decided that camping will be something he does with our two boys when they're a bit older. I know that's lame, but I've done it before and absolutely hated it. They'll have a great time and I can have a break inside my nice brick house!!!!

johnnybuoy, a trip with your eldest son would be a good idea to get started. Perhaps when the dcs are a bit older you could book a caravan and take the tent with you, allowing yor wife the comfort of the caravan and you could take you eldest into the tent?

Johnny - glad you've seen sense!! I'd suggest a tent with a sewn-in groundsheet. We have a Coleman Weathermaster which has been brilliant. There was one for sale on Ebay (2nd hand obviously) for about £20, so if I were you I'd do some homework and then search ebay for 2nd hand bargains, rather than buying a new flimsy one. Vango, Outwell, Gelert, Khyam, Royal, Coleman and Wynnster are all decent makes. A 2nd hand one of these in good nick should be quite reasonably priced. Most have separate bedrooms inside, which also have sewn-in groundsheets so should keep all the bugs out! Hope you have a good trip with your son.

mazzy that sounds fab - have earmarked their web site as we are in north yorks

I love camping and I fully intend to take my LO next year (it's due in November!)
BTW Hello KazzaL that camp was great and looking forward to next summer!

I would definitely say try to borrow kit and go for one night only to try it out over the summer. Most tents have sewn in groundsheets these days so you're not as likely to get unwelcome creepy crawlies.

Make sure you test out not only putting up the tent but also the airbed before you go. Personally I prefer foam mats and loads of blankets to airbeds which generally go down overnight!

Good luck!