Camping doesn’t have to be all about ‘roughing it’ and going back to basics. These days, more and more sites are all about ‘glamping’, so here’s a guide to camping in style.
Camping in Europe
Camping in Europe offers some quality campsites with entertainment, a la carte restaurants, in-season cabarets. Fully functioning and ultra-clean shower and ablution blocks, equipped with hairdryers and cabinets for privacy. Still cheaper than spending a week in a hotel, there should be no need to sacrifice standards and comfort.
Choosing the right site
Before setting off on your camping expedition, carefully choose a site that meets your demands. A heated pool, sauna and quiet areas to relax, followed by location and position of restaurants, scenery and areas for children and animals to play and exercise well away from the pitches and plots. It is possible to have a massage, reflexology, beauty treatments, and hair coiffured on some sites. Who said that camping was ‘roughing it’?
Choose your season carefully
Admittedly camping isn’t as much fun if you don’t good weather and a good nights sleep. The first can be minimised by only camping when the sun shines, hold your head up high and never be ashamed to admit you will only get under canvas if the weather is hot, sunny and stable. If you find yourself in a period of inclement weather, pack up and go home!
Sleep
For the second, ensure that you have a thick mattress so that any indentations stay in the ground and not your backside. Kids who fold out foam chairs used in their rooms on sleepovers are ideal and fit into the back of a family estate. Try to organise your camping gear so that everything fits into the car; this challenges skills (learnt playing tetra) and yours in creating a capsule wardrobe that meets camping requirements and maintains your self-esteem.
Packing the essentials
Only pack the essentials, a self-contained wicker picnic basket with all the cutlery, crockery and glasses you will need for the evening aperitif—a cool box for milk, cheese, wine and champagne. No more than a two-ring stove, the idea of camping is to save money on the accommodation so you can indulge in eating out every night! Candles for ambience are essential, so it is a good torch to see you to the ablutions in the middle of the night.
Sensible footwear for forays into the night and a stylish set of pyjamas that can be worn on the beach, a couple of kaftans and clothes that can be rolled and need no ironing, along with three swimsuits are, in my view, essential. Feeling good and looking great will enhance your mood and keep the whole experience of camping positive. He can indulge his hunter-gatherer instincts (yes, finding fine wines and good food does count), build a bonfire, and you can maintain the standards of civilisation and indulge in the warm afterglow of his approval for going camping!
Great post this! I often say to the wife I’d love to just hire a VW Campervan for a week and go off camping all around Europe!!
I have seriously been pondering the idea of hiring a motorhome and doing a road trip but I’m not sure how well that would work with 6 of us?
I’d love to go camping in Europe – I hear it’s amazing. We are going camping on the last day of term and can’t wait!
Oh wow, that’s great. We have a few more camping trips to look forward to and are looking forward to them too 🙂
Camping isn’t as rough as some people think. There is so much equipment now and lots of sites have great facilities to use.
Exactly, camping is very different from that of my childhood 😉
I wouldn’t even know where to begin with finding the right places to camp but thanks for the tips
There are so many great sites and camping groups now that you would be spoilt for choice 🙂
I really wish we could go camping but not being able to drive makes it so hard.
My friends go to Ready Camps which can be booked for short weeks and long weekends so you would only need to take your clothes 🙂
Aw looks like you had a fab time camping. We have not camped in yearsss so may have to give it a go xx
We always enjoy a good camping trip, obviously, the weather can spoil it a little but you have to make the most of it x
I have to confess, I have never ever been camping before. But not I have two boys who keep begging to go camping, so I may need to bite the bullet.
Camping is such a great way to bond as a family x
Great tips. We love camping and I agree a mattress is a must so you don’t get those indentations x
Camping is such a lovely way to holiday as a family x