9 mistakes that ruin family camping holidays

Family camping holidays can offer great memories, but dealing with Mother Nature and being away from the comforts of home can make for the camping the holiday from hell if you're not prepared.

For a happy, not hellish, experience here are nine common camping mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Not having a reservation

Always reserve your pitch at the campsite. There are few things worse than arriving at your destination, after hours of the kids continuously demanding "are we nearly there yet," to find the place is full.

Need we say more? Avoid this and book one of our best campsites for families now.

2. Not being prepared for bad weather

Considering our usual weather in Britain, the tendency to get over excited by the prospect of a few sunny days can leave campers ill-prepared.

Even if the forecast predicts sunny highs and blue skies that go on forever, you won't regret taking spare layers and waterproofs for all the family. Plan a list of weather-friendly backup activities (indoor cart racing, swimming or a trip to the cinema), and be sure to pack books, cards, and games to keep everyone amused.

Go prepared and you'll avoid any sulky afternoons in the tent on nasty weather days.

3. Equipment failure

Whether you are dusting off your old camping gear or splashing out on new kit, it's always a good idea to amuse the neighbours by turning the back garden into a trial centre.

That way you'll discover whether your tent leaks, or your camp stove is a weapon of mass destruction, while you can still retreat safely indoors and do something about it.

4. Forgetting the first aid and repair kits

If you're an accident prone individual, you'll appreciate the need to pack a well stocked first aid kit and repair kit. Without one to hand, the chances are that you'll trip over the guy rope on a midnight toilet excursion and cause both human and tent casualties.

Prevent minor issues from becoming major problems by taking rope, duct tape, plasters and anti-septic.

5. Not taking enough food!

Campsite cooking is a difficult art to master.

Take extra supplies so that no one has to worry about running out of food after losing or burning another sausage. Extra supplies will help spice up the standard baked bean campfire recipes, and encourage the kids to get involved with the cooking.

Anything that can be skewered or slapped on the barbeque is a winner, as is a chilli or casserole. Grilled bananas and s'mores make excellent snacks.

6. Badly thought out storage

Keeping all of that lovely food in properly sealed tupperware or a cool bag (even in the car) will stop unwelcome wildlife from raiding the tent. Surprisingly, the same rule applies to toiletries - as scented soaps smell just as appealing to animals and creepy crawlies as they do to humans.

Which might make for an interesting shower...

7. Not showing respect

Treat your fellow camp neighbours as you would want to be treated, or suffer the consequences!

Keeping noise to an acceptable level (tent walls are not as sound proof as you will be used to at home) will avoid embarrassment, and a tidy pitch will prevent an all-you-can-eat buffet of choke hazards for other campers' dogs and the local wildlife.

If you have a dog yourself, remember that not everyone is as fond of our canine friends as you are! Always bring a pooper scooper and keep your dog under control.

8. Pitching up in the dark

Visit any camping shop and it'll seem like every tent has an 'easy to assemble' sticker, but very few of them are if you're pitching them by torchlight. Tent rage will surely explode if you're having to grope around the pitch in darkness for elusive tent poles, while the dog runs wild and the kids cause havoc!

Arrive with plenty of time to set up camp before sunset. If arriving late is unavoidable, pack hands free lights (lanterns and head torches) or use the car headlamps to help you see (without upsetting the neighbours if possible!).

9. Forgetting your creature comforts

When choosing what to take camping, as well as packing all of the usual essentials from your checklist, don't overlook any extras that help keep morale high.

Let teens bring their mobiles, and kids their teddies and toys (ditto for pets). Anything which keeps them amused during the journey and once they reach the campsite is a good thing.

Glow sticks are a great way to lighten the mood for any children that don't like the dark and marshmallows for the campfire are a sure winner.

 

Take this advice onboard and you'll be ready to kick back and relax, safe in the knowledge that your family camping holiday has avoided the 9 mistakes that could have been its downfall!