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How old are your children? Will they be able to help pitch the tent as both tents are very big. I certainly wouldn't want to pitch them on my own. Older children may be able to help, but the tents are quite tall. As an alternative, older children could have their own pup tent, which they could pitch themselves. This would reduce the number of bedroom pods and size of tent needed. A smaller tent would generally be easier to pitch on one's own and would have less problem finding campsites that would accept it.

Advice from a different thread on the forum = "The C&C Club say that all tents 9mX5m will be accepted on their sites at no extra cost but a tent larger than that will be accepted if the site as a vacant pitch large enough, what they do say if you have a large tent it is best to inform the manager at the booking stage, or you may have to pay an extra pitch fee.". The Royal is just over the 5m dimension, whilst the Sunncamp is bigger... Some other campsites have a maximum dimension of 7m.

With the Sunncamp you have the flexibility of removing the annexes and using pup tents or just reducing the size of the tent if not all the children want to come, which could be very useful with the size/pitch issue and as the children get older.
The Royal has a useful annex/porch on the back and zipped out groundsheet, which means that you may not need a footprint groundsheet as you can zip out and pack the tent's own one separately when you decamp for cleaning when you get home, although re-pitching the tent with it out may be harder. The zips can also get a bit clogged and strained, which can reduce their life, but it does mean that you will be able to go to sites that don't allow sewn in groundsheets. The zip off canopy on the 2009 model is also a nice touch.

Anyway, without having personal experience of either tent, they both have a good spec and I guess you have gone through the reviews and are happy with their performance. I am sure that someone with one of the tents will give you some first hand experience.

Good luck with your choice...!

Helen

Thankyou both, Ive kind of set my heart on having a really big tent.  We spent four consecutive weeks last summer in our old tent and although it did us proud I realised how much more space we could do with and due to the amount of rain we seem to get whilst camping, how much we need a large living area and seperate porch. My eldest child is 12 so she could definately help and i quite like a challenge! Since posting my question ive spoken to a tent supplier and have been told the outwell montana and the royal bordeaux zg are both brilliant tents and very spacious so if anybody knows anything of those, again advice would be very welcome.

Also I would love to view any of these tents but we dont seem to have any exhibitions near us in dorset, so if anyone knows of any, I would love to hear about them.

They are correct that the Outwell Montana  is popular. they used to do a 12 man version, but only 6 man now I believe with 2 bedroom pods. We have Vango's equivalent - the Vango Columbia 600 which has either 2/3 bedroom pods (1 divides into 2 doubles). They have an excellent living area that you can add an awning to if you need it. Vango are uping the features on the Columbia even more to what is already a very high spec tent and uping the price to match, calling it the Ituri for 2010, but there are still some around for £275 (RRP £350-400), including new on ebay. You will have to hunt for a 2009 Montana as they are scarce - the 2010 version is a fair bit more expensive and with only 2 bedrooms it may not be that suitable.

For info:- The Columbia 600 has steel poles, 5000HH, 3 double bed pods, large open space, enclosed wet weather side entrance for your wet gear, TBSII (which is an internal bracing system and reduces tent moving during the worst of weather, being steel poled moves far less than fibreglass anyway), groundsheet is sewn-in with 10,000HH, the whole front opens or just part of it. If you add either the Vango wide canopy or the Sungari 600 canopy (2010) you have a massive living space, but don't have to use it if you are just doing a short break. The room inside the normal tent is excellent anyway!!! If you can't get the carpet of footprint groundsheet this year, the Sungari 600 ones for 2010 will fit.

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Vango_columbia_600_Tent__2009_.html

There is a pitching video which gives you a good view of the tent on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-9e1zBD2IY

The advantages of this tent is that it is square and will fit within any pitch, its easy to pitch (watch Yeomans Outdoor pitching the Montana 600 for inspiration) although easier with two people and has an excellent spec and reviews. We have found it brilliant and never needed more room. However, you can add a canopy/awning for more room if you need it (but leave it off if you don't).

Anyway - I wish you luck with your hunt!!!

Helen

PS - we considered the Royal, but when we bought the Columbia there had been a number of reviews saying that the Royal had a problem with the poles breaking, so we left it well alone.

Helen

We've got the Pescara and love it, would def recommend it, we too are a family of five and this tent gives you so much space, the living area is huge with the four bedrooms going off it, the smaller back porch houses our toilet and storage for clothes, you can access this area through a back door so you don't have to carry the toilet thru the main tent.  The smaller 'front room' has our kitchen set up in it and then you still have the front porch on this where you can cook or sit 'outside'. there is loads of storage space.

It is easy to erect but you might struggle with one but it has been done - see the review section on here-

We have had several people come up and admire our tent and even ask for a tour round - Which I'm always happy to oblige - I love showing people our tent -

Go for it , you'll not regret it

Thankyou, its a nightmare buying without actually having seen one up, however I think the layout will be brilliant for us and all the reviews are great. 

Many thanks again.