In a tent at Christmas?

[OhFortheLoveOv]

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?

Beamur I agree- but winter camping kit is not cheap.

I had to buy winter campin stuff for my DD doing her Duke of Edinburgh expedition.
The sleeping bag alone cost £120.

You can't get away with using a duvet or couple of blankets.

Travel Lodge can be very inexpensive over Christmas, the teens might enjoy it for the novelty?

So good to get everyone’s thoughts on this. The layout of this housers the really well thought out as we initially thought … it works well if we only have one guest or a couple stay but really isn’t suitable for more. But in circumstances this year Christmas has to be an exception. Living room is tricky for sleeping as it’s open plan living/kitchen and dining which seemed like a great idea at time we moved in reality it’s not that ideal as it is only real living area in the place save the hall. If can’t source camper to hire the Hallway is where I am now thinking that me and DP stay … though it won’t be the most private or relaxing experience as to get to the living / kitchen there may be some climbing over have to over a blow up bed to get through but it could would work for few days

Decent quality blow up air bed with electric pump available on Amazon for the cost of one night in a B&B or Premier Inn, probably less at Christmas rates. Sleep on the living room floor.

Just book them a disabled room at a hotel with breakfast so it has grab bars, walk in shower, assist button etc. And then pick them up after breakfast bring to your home, and then in evening take them back to the hotel. They will probably appreciate no stairs, no shared bathrooms, the chance to retire early and not be kept up half the night by teenagers, and civilised breakfast every morning.

Very sensible post indeed. Do this.

Good god no. I love camping but wouldn’t before June purely because of the cold nights, even when it’s lovely and warm during the day.

Even in the height if summer, unless it is those rare balmy nights, it’s a sleeping bag, thick cardi, socks and an extra duvet on top of a blow up bed.

I once spent a night as a child in a caravan over Christmas, with all the other kids. We ended up sleeping on the lounge floor in our sleeping bags as it was so cold in the caravan.

Don’t discount camping if you have money to throw at the problem. A local bell tent hire company is hiring their lovely tents over Christmas. They do all the set up/tidy up and supply fur rugs for the floor, raised beds, bedding suitable for winter conditions, fairy lights, mini Christmas tree etc, plus an electric hook up and heater. It would be magical, although bloody expensive!

We have camped in the snow before, but with an electric hook up so we had electric under blankets on the (then toddler) DC’s beds and a heater to warm the tent before getting up in the morning. I wouldn’t recommend doing it yourself unless you already have the equipment and, most importantly, have an indoor space like a garage to dry it all before packing it away.

It's not just the cold.
Dealing with packing up a very damp muddy tent after Christmas would not be fun

Can you not put a pop up tent in the corner of your open plan living room?

Living room is tricky for sleeping as it’s open plan living/kitchen and dining which seemed like a great idea at time we moved in reality it’s not that ideal as it is only real living area in the place save the hall.
But surely it’s ok for a couple of nights and a blow up air bed for the kids or you and DP? Blow up at night, down in the morning to be slung back in a cupboard, everyone’s in bed so you’re not needing the living area for anything during the night surely? Tent inside really isn’t needed.

Airbeds in the living room/hall/wherever or the sofa. We've managed in previous years with people sleeping where there's room (so the guests have bedrooms) and it's part of the fun! No-one's going to work so doesn't matter if people are a bit tired. There seems to be difficulties with most people on here about being a bit uncomfortable for one or two nights.

Far too cold. Your visitors need to book a hotel or get some blow up beds. Did they invite themselves?

I still don’t understand, even given the open plan set up, why you’d rather sleep in the hall than in the living area of the open plan downstairs?

Put relatives in local hotel and either pick up and drop off each day or use taxis.

Children stay in their rooms but sleep on the floor with relative in the bed? All sleep in your room? otherwise I think your living room will be best. I can’t see any advantage to sleeping in the hall and having items obstructing a walk way is potentially dangerous, especially for the less mobile guests. What happens when they stumble out of their room half asleep looking for the loo, drink of water etc?

Surely if the relatives can cope in your house including climbing over a mattress in the hall, they can cope in a local Travelodge or similar? They'd probably be much more comfortable in a ground floor hotel room with an en suite, or even a higher floor as there will be lifts.

I’m a hardy camper and it sounds fun but unless you have the right gear: no. But I think that’s the conclusion you’ve come to.

It’s almost never actually cold these days 😂
Kids could have a whale of a time.

We’ve booked the premier in down the road for the in laws though so they get own space / bathroom and everything is on the level.

Extension lead and a heater, plus warm clothes and bedding- you’ll be fine. Might be easier to just bed down indoors and get up earlier though.

No to tents a Christmas, anything rather than that!

I also think a hotel would be the best option. You know your relatives but I would be very embarrassed to arrive for a visit and find that people had been turned out of their beds for me and wouldn't be able to relax during the stay. Have you warned them about the arrangements?

Nearest Premier Inn.

Friends did a holiday near north Norfolk, coast for Christmas recently. They were 60yoa, in an old badly insulated caravan. That was in a field for three days but it had elec and loo nearby. We visited them.
You will only need it to sleep for a few hours then back indoors for bathroom, kitchen etc.
Have you asked the teens if they would like to try it soon so they can make up their minds? Could be fun.

Any neighbours or friends nearby who might be going away over Christmas so their house will be empty?

If you have three bedrooms, give the two elderly relatives the small children’s rooms and you and your husband stay in your room and put two blow up beds on the floor? Surely that’s the best option?