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Subject Topic: Help a newbie :-)
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Personwakey wakey
22/3/2014 at 9:38am
 Location: Rugby
 Outfit: Vango Maritsa 700 & Vango Albany 600 View wakey wakey's Profile View Profile   Reply to wakey wakey Reply   Quote wakey wakey Quote  
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Personally I wouldn't pitch for one overnight when doing that distance, it's not just the actual time to pitch but if space is tight in the car it's the whole issue of finding what you need and repacking everything in the next day. We did the first time, but it wasn't enjoyable. Now we book into a cheap hotel and pack an overnight bag for the bits we need. It's even easier with kids your age as the choice of places where you can all fit in one room is greater. Ours will be 14 & 11 this year which reduces the choice a lot. Staying in a hotel means you can check in and then head out for a bit of an explore of the local area within fifteen minutes if you like. Also means you can leave in just the time it takes to get dressed and pack a few bits & pieces.


Personjelboy53
22/3/2014 at 9:52am
 Location: Cumbernauld Scotland
 Outfit: Monty 6Icarus 500 Halo 300 View jelboy53's Profile View Profile   Reply to jelboy53 Reply   Quote jelboy53 Quote  
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I wont confuse you further by recommending yet another tent or bits of equipment..You will have a fair idea of what you need in those departments...All I will advise is take a measuring tape when you go to view some display tents....And in among all the excitement of viewing try and measure(as near as possible) the sleeping pods..The living area etc to make sure things like beds/chairs/tables that you choose will fit...Its so easy to get caught up in the actual viewing and forget to take into account things like sloping walls/roofs on the sleeping pods/living area buy the tent and find nothing fits...

That's my mantra for any newbies thinking of buying a tent....Take your time...And measure....measure...measure...Remember...All tents look bigger inside when your viewing them with no equipment inside...Seen far too many folk getting caught up in the colour scheme of tents..The hanging pockets etc...Without giving consideration as to weather the kids will actually fit in the bedrooms with their beds and "stuff"....

Recommend test pitching whatever tent you buy ASAP too for all the reasons already stated...

Jelboy.

-------------
Campers of the storm,Into this world are born

Some days are Diamonds...Some days are stone...


PersonMenalitus
24/3/2014 at 6:21pm
 Location: Peterborough
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Thanks for all your comments guys, I will definately try and get over to Crowland as that is nearest I think. Also the suggestion of using a Hotel on the way down and back is a good one, my only thought is what about the car full of kit when we are in the Hotel? Are we likely to find a hotel with secure parking that is reasonably priced?

Cheers

Mike


PersonJohnnyLarge
24/3/2014 at 6:23pm
 Location: Chesterfield
 Outfit: Hi Gear Kalahari View JohnnyLarge's Profile View Profile   Reply to JohnnyLarge Reply   Quote JohnnyLarge Quote  
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We bought a full s/h Hi Gear Kalahari 8 package with porch, groundsheet and carpets last year. There is me and the Wife and two kids aged 12 and 8. We are all a good size as well and the tent is perfect for us.
You MUST do a practice pitch though. You can go to Go Outdoors and see one already setup and I believe they do it in green now. Ours is blue.
If you look in my profile, you will find my photos I put on of our first camping trip.

They will give you a good idea of size as our car is at the side of the tent.


Personmorepints
24/3/2014 at 7:56pm
 Location: Dartford Kent
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Quote: Originally posted by Menalitus on 24/3/2014Thanks for all your comments guys, I will definately try and get over to Crowland as that is nearest I think. Also the suggestion of using a Hotel on the way down and back is a good one, my only thought is what about the car full of kit when we are in the Hotel? Are we likely to find a hotel with secure parking that is reasonably priced?

Cheers

Mike


From memory, the B&B chain have keycode gates link; other motel-type chains (such as Kyriad Campanile etc) in practice, tend to be on trading estates away from humanity, and seem fairly safe to me, though I do understand your worry. I do try to park where I can see from the room window. More variable is the Logis group, a chain of independants; worth checking out.

You'll have a great time - always an adventure.


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PersonMenalitus
27/3/2014 at 5:35pm
 Location: Peterborough
 Outfit: None yet View Menalitus's Profile View Profile   Reply to Menalitus Reply   Quote Menalitus Quote  
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Thanks again for all your tips, ok next question. We are driving down from Peterborough to Folkestone then on the tunnel early doors. Gonna drive down on the east side of france to Agde (just to the left on Montpellier) as this looks like a good route (open to suggestions to the contrary).

With this in mind, where would a good stopping point be. We are travelling with freinds in their own car and headed for the same site but they will be on site one day earlier as they booked before us and we couldn't get a suitable pitch for the same dates as them.

We need to have an overnight (either campsite or hotel but hotel with secure parking preferred) that suits them for going on to the site the next day, we will be staying 2 nights so somewhere inetesting would be nice.

Looking at the map I was thinking either Dijon or Lyon but as I haven't done the journey before I was hoping that someone might validate my thought or set me straight.

Aplogies again for another slightly rambling post :-)

Mike

Post last edited on 27/03/2014 17:44:09



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