We use proper plates in the caravan as melamine is a waste of money as they scratch easily. Also tea tastes better in a proper china cup than a melamine. We have proper glasses as beer or wine taste awfully in plastic overpriced glasses. Most stuff you see in a caravan shop is well overpriced and the proper stuff can be a bought for a fraction of the price at a local supermarket!
beware of OCD (Obsessiver caravan disorder) this is when you are in every supermarket, pound shop or caravan shop and you buy something as that can be handy for the van
as for plates i started with heavy normal ones but felt they made the food cold too fast so bought a cheap melamine set for £10 does the job, set of arcrylic wine glasses for £2 out of woolies, set of cutlery for £5 in asda, asda value saucepans as the vango camping ones werent non stick plus i wanted to keep the camping kit seperate from van kit. it is the wee odds and ends you buy
beware of OCD (Obsessiver caravan disorder) this is when you are in every supermarket, pound shop or caravan shop and you buy something as that can be handy for the van
Oh dear, I've just been diagnosed! I even look at the websites of places like Aldi and Lidl to see if their weekly "special buys" might come in handy. Actually, they often do!
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
you say you've got pots & pans from camping days. In addition to these we keep the following in the van all the time.
Kettles, one 240 & one for gas. Water containers, fresh & waste. Spare bulbs, Bottles of chemicals & tissue for the loo. Shower stuff. Make sure you've got gas. Pump for air beds. Tins of food & tea bags/sugar etc at least for couple of days. Torch. Fan heater. We leave the Beauclaire in the caravan along with 12 volt col box.