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Christmas

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Original poster

In a tent at Christmas?

275 replies

OhFortheLoveOv · 15/11/2021 22:25

Would you, could you and ultimately should you?
Short story long… we are hosting two elderly relatives (70’s) this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They both need their own room and our home is teeny meaning we are out of bed space …we have as I see these options;
Us in tent in garden
or
the teenage kids in tent I don’t relish either but out of ideas. What would you do?

OP posts:
Sauvignonandlemonade · 16/11/2021 06:29

Mattress on the living room floor! I have fond memories of clambering over various relatives to get to the presents on Christmas morning.

WildStallyn · 16/11/2021 06:41

We had more guests than we could comfortably fit ome Christmas so we paid for my parents to stay in a local hotel. They loved it, said it was really comfortable and they got a great breakfast. It was only a mile or so away so DH picked them up after breakfast and then we got them a taxi back in the evening. I don't recall what we paid but it wasn't a fortune.

Iloveacurry · 16/11/2021 06:45

Do they have to stay? If they live close by, can’t they go home?

Beautiful3 · 16/11/2021 06:53

No.way it's freezing. It wont be fun, at all. Trust me as we often camp as a family, but never in the winter. That could make them feel quite ill.

Welcometothejingles · 16/11/2021 06:54

There's a youth hostel nearby me which is open over christmas booked by people looking for inexpensive accommodation.

www.yha.org.uk/

There's plenty of time to book a cheap premier Inn, premier lodge, B&B type place before Christmas.

Definitely not a garden tent particularly if the weather gets really bad. Do any of the elderly relatives have a larger house than yours? Can you switch venues and you do all the hosting/cooking but in a larger house?

Whatinthelord · 16/11/2021 06:57

Way too cold for a tent in winter. Cant they sleep in the living room on the floor? If there is literally no other option it should be you and not the kids.

BasiliskStare · 16/11/2021 06:58

If you have a garage it can surely be only the work of a moment to install a couple of those hyper sleep pods a la Sigourney Weaver in Alien(s) Grin

When we downsized - we decided a reasonable local hotel & cabs was a more economical option than paying for spare bedrooms which were used infrequently

purplesequins · 16/11/2021 07:08

tbh I would put dc up in my own bedroom on airbeds/camping beds.

do you have an attic?

careerchangeperhaps · 16/11/2021 07:11

Hell no, it'll be freezing.
Can you / the DC 'camp' in the sitting room? It would be lovely by the Christmas tree / fire snacking on the Christmas chocolates

speakout · 16/11/2021 07:18

A tent is a bad idea- for anyone in December, unless you have adequate winter camping gear- clothes, good sleeping bags mats etc.
To keep warm in a tent in december will cost ££££££ - much more than a Travel Lodge.
I agree a blow up matress- anywhere in the house, living room, a hallway, even kitchen will be preferable to a tent.

expatmigrant · 16/11/2021 07:22

If there are children or young people in the house just get some blow up beds. They are quite comfy and fine for a couple of nights. Just let them down and pack away in the morning.
I keep a couple up the loft just in case the DS decides to bring half the rugby team for a sleep over...which seems to happen regularly.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 16/11/2021 07:25

Why can’t the kids sleep on your bedroom floor?

Capferret · 16/11/2021 07:29

We always had a houseful growing up.
It's great what you're doing and a good example to your teens.
Christmas is supposed to be about caring.
A few pp's on here would do well to embrace Christmas spirit.

LakieLady · 16/11/2021 07:31

I would have loved camping in the garden at Christmas when I was a teen. I also know some diehard campers who go camping in the Christmas for fun! Shock

If you have decent kit, eg good sleeping bags and beds, fleece pyjamas, and foam-backed picnic rugs to reduce heat loss into the ground, they should be warm enough. Unless you're in the north, it's unlikely to be cold. We haven't had a cold Christmas in Sussex in all the 30 years I've lived here.

I think it sounds like great fun.

TicTac80 · 16/11/2021 07:31

Hardened camper here. No way would I camp out in December (in UK) at home. And I have really good camping gear (4+ season stuff, that's taken me years to save up for). If you can't get warm, it's a miserable experience.

My house is tiny as well, so if we have lots of people staying over, I use my camping bunks for my kids (the bunks will fit adults too), and then use my SIMs/camping mats for me/guests/whoever is happy to use them, and we just bed down where there is floor space. I remember doing similar as a child, when we had lots of family staying over (I've got a massive family!). Hope you find a good solution!

Disfordarkchocolate · 16/11/2021 07:32

Sofa bed in large hall?

I think if you go too basic your guests may feel uncomfortable.

Gilly12345 · 16/11/2021 07:33

This is no way I would have any family member of mine in a tent in December.

If you have a teeny house why are you having extra guests if you are so short of space?

Can’t your guests stay in a local hotel and just sleep there and spend the majority of the time with you?

User2638483 · 16/11/2021 07:36

I find it hard to believe there’s not a patch of floor inside the house equivalent to 2 air mattresses where the dc or you could kip down. What a weird thread!

FritataPatate · 16/11/2021 07:41

Another thought: elderlies might be frequent loo users during the night (if there's a tent in the hallway).
What a kind person you are, OP ! Flowers

NotMeNoNo · 16/11/2021 07:45

After many years of making do, my parents stayed over in or local Premier inn the last Christmas they visited. It's only 5 minutes away and everyone was comfortable. Obviously for more than 1 or 2 nights that gets expensive.

If we were stuck DH and I would give the guests our bed and put the sofa cushions or our camping mats/ sleeping bags on the lounge floor.

NotMyselfWithoutCoffee · 16/11/2021 07:45

Lots of options.
You book B&B for yourselves if you don't think elderlies will enjoy it.
Teens sleep on floor, lots of duvets to make floor comfy, pillows, this is normally workable in most homes as doesn't take as much space as a blow up bed.
Alternatively 1 on sofa, 1 on floor or blow up bed if you have the space (normally they are cheap).
Tent you would spend so much money buying thermals to make it hypothermia proof better off spending money on B&B.

NotMeNoNo · 16/11/2021 07:47

Ok read back properly. You would have to displace the teenagers. Will they fight or just see it as preparation for future sofa surfing?

ApolloandDaphne · 16/11/2021 07:48

One oldies in each of the children's bedrooms and the D.C. bunk down in your room or the hall. Or give the DC your bed and you sleep in the sitting room on a blow up.

hellcatspangle · 16/11/2021 07:49

Do you not have a living room floor?

Beamur · 16/11/2021 07:51

If you already have good winter camping kit, and the kids like the idea why not. If you only have summer kit and think an extra blanket will suffice maybe not! My DD winter camps and has a down sleeping bag and thermals and is toasty. Some of her friends have 3 season bags and are always cold.