Trouble is - when you've got the week plus set-up, you realise that you need a weekend setup too or even an overnight one for stop-offs on the way to the main camp - all with different requirements. Although, a bit of planning first and not too many of the luxury accessories could mean that most of the stuff will do all trips...
We've spent the equivalent of 1 holiday abroad (for the 3 of us) over the last 3 years on upgrading from couple camping to family camping, but have had at least 8 weeks of camping in return and I could sell 2 of our tents secondhand for more than we paid for them...
------------- Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!
We have spent over £1,200 getting set-up from scratch. Possibly a week in the sun, but NOT when you factor in our "week int he sun" now has to take place in School Holiday's which means a week for 3 with added extra's costs over £2,200.
Our week (hopefully) in the sun next week is in Paignton and costs £180, with indoor pools, outdoor pools and good neighbours. I can have 10 of those next year, and still spend less than a single week abroad.
We just cannot afford a holiday abroad, not done that since our honeymoon, we have been doing the sun haven holidays but TBH I get fed up of stinky, unclean accommodation. I haven't camped since I was a girl (girl guides) and its not something my parents ever did with me, but I am hooked, we borrowed stuff for our first trip and we have gradually been buying things as I have seen them on offer.
We have a fremont 4 which would be too big for me to pitch on my own, so I'm now after a Bell Tent so that I can take the smallest 2 away for the weekends on my own.
I would never have imagined I would want to own 2 tents or even try camping on my own !! When I think about the amount of holidays we can have I get quite excited plus seeing places I have never been to, nothing gets better than that !!
------------- Carley x
Aug 2011 - Brighouse Bay
Aug 2011 - Wild Rose Park
Sep 2011 - UKCS Meet Skipton
April 2012 - Charity Farm
May 2012 - Primrose Valley (Caravan)
July 2012 - Nantcols
Problem I have is that the lovely new tent that "will last for years" looks out dated when the new season kit comes around and then you see something and it looks really nice.....
------------- *** A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on***