As a child we went camping once but my mum hated it. She was blind though and it did rain constantly.
So we had holidays in static caravans or in a hotel.
When I meet hubby pre children it was camping and I loved it. A small army 2 man crawl in. Life couldn't get better.
But when we had the children we couldn't keep them in the tent long enough to sleep a night (although we still tried the odd night where we took it in turns to keep a watch for them escaping). We gave B&B's a try but that was just as bad and they'd attempt to escape.
Sold my house and had enough for us to have that liuxury holiday a once in a lifetime chance, but I couldn't find anywhere (ok found 1) suitable to meet our needs through all the special needs websites or through the travel agents.
The one we had found was through the charity break that had a chalet for special needs children (behaviour problems was listed). We had needed to know things that don't often get reported, like how the doors and windows are locked, the layout of the place and layout of kitchen (so we could remove things such as the knives and scissors matches etc, so for years that was where we had been going for our annual week holiday. However this year our eldest was doing his GCSE's and that meant we couldn't get a booking with break (as normally only get chance of May or April as get's booked up 2 or 3 years ahead for school holidays. and as it was the only place in the country...you'd take what you can get) and the children have grown and matured so don't need to hide the knives or stay awake all night, so it was a chance to try a longer trip camping.
Did a trial run in April for a week using mirror vouchers camping for a £1 a night so if we had to leave early we wouldn't feel bad about it costing us. It worked out so we've gone for it big this year.
I'm even thinking of camping without hubby, and he has a plan to camp without me backpacking with our eldest. So we'll all be happy.
Before camping, I hadn't had a holiday in over 10 years! Money being the main issue. Hence I decided get camping gear to ensure I could get a holiday without costing me a fortune (other than the gear itself of course). I'd been camping as a kid and loved it, so it wasnt a step into the unknown.
As a child we couldnt afford to go on holiday every year but did get a few trips to Butlins or Static Caravans by the sea.
I met my hubby when I was 18 and we camped for a few years before we had the kids. We first took the kids camping when they were 3 and 5 (now 10 and 12). In between camping trips we have stayed at Haven, done holiday cottages and privately owned statics, Youth Hostels, B&Bs and once or twice a hotel in the UK. We have also had one holiday abroad with the kids.
I must admit when I hear friends talking about holidays abroad I do get a bit jealous, especially as we had rubbish weather for our week away in August but I love camping and always will. Our kids have seen so many different places in this country too.
we went abroad when the kids were little but now they're 13, 13 and 17 we would be looking at about £4500 and I refuse to pay it. We tried Haven and paid £1069 in 2007 for one week in Devon at the beginning of August.
Then we had a brain wave about a tent. Wow that's how it all started This yr we had a week in the Derbyshire Dales at Easter £86, At Whit we had a wk in Scotland £73, In july/August we had 11 nights in Dorset £310, August bank holiday 3 nights in Scarborough £55. Grand Total £524.
Camping rocks and my kids love it. I don't know how but we always get fabulous weather too. I appreciate we have been very lucky though.
When we first started going out together Richard and I had use of the family static. There more or less whenever we wanted it, an hour down the road, just throw a pint of milk and some clothes into the car (well a little more once the kids came along) and go. Arrive on site, switch the water and gas on and put the kettle on. When Richard's parents died we tried camping, which is something that I had always wanted to do, but never had the chance. Due to a strange childhood I didn't have the confidence to go solo camping when I was younger.
There is part of me that misses the static - all the advantages of your own stuff etc with the plus side of not having to set up/take down everytime.
As a child (40+yrs ago) my parents always took us camping with the occasional static thrown in, we had lots of fantastic holidays around Devon/Dorset/Cornwall I always remember being happy and having lots of freedom and fun, but best of all was the smell and warmth of crackling campfires, so many fond memories…….
When I grew up I left camping behind and I went abroad for my holidays or had the odd static for long weekends. But for quite a few years since having my son I have been hankering after a tent although my OH kept putting me off refusing to join us as he is horrified at the thought of sleeping in a field and sharing toilets.
Anyway as my son is growing up so fast and I so wanted to share with him a part of the childhood that I was so lucky to have had, I thought blow OH we will go without him! I took the plunge went to a tent show and bought a tent, porch and all the gubbins that come along with camping (spent far too much!) and have took my son away twice 3nights Woolacoombe and 7nights Holywell Bay. We both had a great time and we’re looking forward to the new season next year, I’m also hopeful that like me he will grow up to have many happy memories of camping and one day want to share the experience with his own family.
Btw OH wasn’t happy at being left home alone and has also agreed to try camping next year so we are forgoing our usual holiday abroad for 10 nights camping next August which I’ve already booked!
When I was living with my parents our holidays were, like many people's either static caravan's, holiday cottages or hotel's. My first camping trip was when I was 11 at Guide camp, went with the Guides twice and then didn't go again until I met my now husband. Most our holidays together have been under canvas. We did a couple of weekend away's in bed and breakfasts.
I'm 43 and besides Butlin's when my baby sister was young we camped mostly as kids, either UK or abroad. When we were teenagers we went abroad on package holidays. As a newly married couple (TWINKies) we did B&B in the UK with the odd trip to France. Then kids came along and it was either hotels in France (self drive) or package holidays, the odd Haven static thrown in for good measure before eventually everything went full circle and we're back to camping again. I love the freedom it gives you, the fact that you know the bedding is clean and the bed is gonna be comfy and you can eat what you like when you like. Even if we won the lottery I think we'd still camp but probably more and maybe the extra package deal thrown in. I did have to think hard though about what we did before camping! It's like nothing existed before lol! x
------------- If you have a problem stressing you, sort it. If you can't, there's no point worrying about it coz it won't make a blind bit of difference!!!! Jules