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Just got back from our first 2 nights away with mixed feelings!

Took just under 2 hours to erect tent. But that was with threading a wrong pole in and having to get others to help put the fly sheet over, and stopping every 5 mins to read instructions! Think we could get it down to an hour with practise. The worry is that me and my son can't get the fly sheet over on our own plus he had to stand inside and hold the inner tent up and without other help it would have been impossible. Very easy to take down though and got it all back into the bag!

It was officially the biggest tent on the site and we had lots of admiring glances.

Now I'm thinking maybe we ought to get a smaller one for weekends. My OH will come next year when we have week long holidays but for weekends it will just be me and the 3 kids. next year my son is 18 and might not want to come with us too often!!! I would never manage with just my 2 daughters. I don't want to get rid of it cause once it was up it was great.

It only just fitted on the pitch and we couldn't put the porch doors up!

Can anybody recommend a good weekend tent for the 4 of us thats really easy to put up but one that we won't be in each others way all the time? I wondered why lots of you had more than one tent! Well, looks like I'm going to join you!

Weather was fantastic. Dog was brilliant. Kids argued constantly!! Man in the next tent farted all night!! Exhausted now! When can I go again!!!!

Kate

Sounds like you went to a bit of a prison camping venue! - "only just fitted on the pitch" - did they paint lines!

As for a cheapish small easy 4 person tent - there is the ever popular Vango Venture 500.

The divider can be unzipped to make one whole bedroom. Living area is great, can't touch the ceiling in it! Lots of space.

And YES there were white lines. Pitch measured about 12 sq metres. While we were putting it up site manager kept popping up to make sure we didn't go over the lines. I couldn't do the guys properly as this would have taken it over! he even charged me for another child even though I didn't have my other half with me! I'll learn!!!

There was a Vango Venture 500 opposite us and it looked good. I did go around and have a peep at most tents trying to decide. There were loads of great ones.

Have managed to put a photo on now.

Kate

We had a similar problem with our Royal Andorra 6 - great tent but far too much hassle for just 2 nights.  We ended up buying a Gelert Cadiz 5+2 for myself, my wife and the 3 kids (all under 6) - the kids use the 5 man dome plus all our gear and we get all intimate in the 2 man bit.  It goes up in about 20-30 mins (ooer) and I can do it single handedly - great while my wife takes the kids off to explore the site.

Very good quality tent with a bit of porch space as well for sitting in if the weather's bad.  I even broke my own golden rule in really bad weather and cooked in it - removed the 2 man bedroom and stapled the kids to the floor in the 5 man bit - I could sit on the groundsheet while the stove sat directly on the grass - check my profile for images.

That sounds good too. i if'd and are'd between the Wynnster Orion 7 and the Gelert Quebec 8. Don't think I made the wrong decision just that I need them both!! I did say at the time. Now just got to convince oh we need two. He's not convinced on this camping lark yet!

Weather has been fantastic so a lot of our stuff was outside, I think thats why the tent seemed huge!

I've now got a long list of things to get including warmer sleeping bags, it was bloomin cold at night!

Even the dog shivered!

kate

Quote: Originally posted by Katyloo on 16/7/2006

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And YES there were white lines. Pitch measured about 12 sq metres. While we were putting it up site manager kept popping up to make sure we didn't go over the lines. I couldn't do the guys properly as this would have taken it over! he even charged me for another child even though I didn't have my other half with me! I'll learn!!!

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Yikes, sounds like the kind of camp site I am happy to have avoided.

"Battery chicken camping", thankfully not all sites are run like an army camp.

We went there cause it was close and our first time so knew we could run home if need be!!!

It did have a small outdoor pool which was lovely, immaculate wash rooms, but we were definately crammed in. Our dog wasn't impressed with the dog walking area, a field full of prickly weeds and her being small didn't like them at all!

Will go further afield next time.

Kate

We have the Vango venture 500 and it is a great weekend tent.

Ali

We have a Sunncamp Odyssey XL which is so easy to put up but roomy enough for a weekend away. T'other weekend I put it up without any probs with a 10 year old who'd never been camping before - it has 3 colour-coded poles which spring together then we thread through the holes in the tent and the boy held it while I pegged it. He was a real star and helped peg the rest of it out.

Bought it a few years ago but is still being sold - here it is http://www.camperlands.co.uk/store/erol.html#11082x0&&http%3A%252F%252Fwww.google.co.uk%252Fsearch%3Fq%3DSunncamp+Odyssey+XL%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26start%3D0%26sa%3DN

There's plenty out there so sure you'll enjoy choosing one.