Camping Holidays

Everyone deserves a break, and that includes you….have you considered taking camping holidays?   Take the much needed time off from work or school or domestic responsibilities – you absolutely earn it! It’s your time to unwind and get away from it all, even for just a short while. These are ideal vacations for someone who wants to relax in the Great Outdoors.

Unlike before consisting of your good ol’ tent and a cracking campfire, a camping holiday nowadays has come a long way. There are camping holiday resorts offering a wide range of fun activities that the whole family will enjoy. This includes swimming pools, fun rides, sports facilities, and some resorts even have access to the beach.

Choosing a Camping Holiday Destination: Getting It Right

Camping holidays are supposed to be fun, relaxing, and a source for a wealth of memories – and to make that happen you have to choose the perfect camping holiday destination for you and your family. Now here comes the things you need consider when choosing the destination of your next vacation.

1. Age appropriate for your children – If you choose the wrong place, chances are, it’s going to be a short vacation or a long, dreary holiday. The kids will be cranky and they’ll be bugging you all the time. Select a campground which allows the children to roam freely and safely, with less supervision from the grownups.
2. Recreational activities available on-camp – Kids get easily bored and they need activities to use up all that energy. Again, your children’s ages need to be considered. Teenagers, middle schoolers and toddlers, all have different ideas on what makes up for a fun vacation. Before making your reservations, check the sites first for the available recreational activities that will keep everyone busy and happy.
3. Camping costs that are within your budget – Taking a holiday means you may need to save up in the prior months. However, camping holidays don’t need to take a good chunk out of your savings. There are many ways that you can cost cut your vacation without sacrificing its quality. So don’t just book your vacation with the first campgrounds you learned about, do a little research yourself, ask around, and pretty soon, you’ll have a list of likely sites to spend your next vacation.
4. Put it to a vote – Make sure you’ve asked everyone for their opinions regarding your camping holiday destination and the activities you’ll be doing once you get there. After all, everyone is going so it’s only fair that each one gets to say his or her piece of mind. Nonetheless, it’s hard to please everybody, so you might as well put it to a vote and reach a compromise.

Types of Camping Holidays: Take Your Pick

Did you know there’s more to a tent, a campfire, and the backcountry nowadays? Camping has become quite luxurious, to say the least, in the last two decades or so. Not everyone wants to sleep on the ground with only a few layers of waterproof and not-so- comfortable materials in between. Some people want to experience the Great Outdoors by being more than just comfortable and more like being glamorous. Read on to know more about the different types of camping holidays and try to take your pick, one which suits the needs and wants of your family as well as your budget.

1. Luxurious Camping or Glamping – This is the new trend in camping that has swept the US and Europe. Glamping is a new term coined from glamorous camping. When one goes glamping, you can kiss the idea of pitching a tent, making a fire, and all the unglamorous things that must be done when you go camping the usual way.

In glamping, you can still sleep in a tent, but it’s a designer tent will all the comforts of home and the luxuries of a hotel. You get to enjoy all the exposure to nature and experience the Great Outdoors very much like the way you would a traditional camping trip with all the added perks to boot! But of course, there’s a catch. When you go traditional, you’ll only be spending a fraction of what you’ll be paying when glamping.

If budget is not much of an issue, then looking at the summer night skies and sipping a cold beverage whilst lying on a hammock outside your yurt camp may just be the next thing on your vacation list.

• In Canada, the popular glamping destination is the WildExodus Glamorous Camping in Ontario. It highlights an authentic, nature-based encounter and, at the same time, a cultural and learning experience. There are four prospector-style tents and 2 teepees, each with elevated wooden floors as well as equipped with heating and electricity. Each also have an indoor toilet and bathroom fitted with hot and cold water. You get access to  trekking, canoeing, angling and photography in Ontario’s wilderness.
• Europe has seen a lot of camping holidays and glamping is certainly on top of the favorite activities. Spain, Portugal and Ireland are three of the most well-liked glamping locations. Aside from the breathtaking sceneries, most campers are going to be treated to a food and wine experience as well. More than just the luxury of staying in a upscale and well-equipped campground, guests are given the chance to enjoy the sumptuous local cuisine.
• Romantic Italy is another favorite among glamping enthusiasts. In its hillside setting complemented with the panoramic view of Tuscany lies Camping Le Pianacce. Choose your pitching spot from over 50 different types of trees and enjoy camping in luxury and style with its upscale accommodation and amenities. It features lodge tents with wooden flooring, private bathroom, a fully fitted kitchen, and a private terrace.
• Frantic in France for a plush camping accommodation? Lucky for you, France is a top European glamping destination. Tipi Holidays in France provides a glamorous camping experience without the troubles associated with traditional camping as well as an eco-friendly and sustainable vacation. Each tipi can accommodate a family of four and has solar lighting, fully equipped kitchen, and a breakfast made from local produce.
• A vacation in Africa is a holiday well-spent if you stay at the Serengeti Migration Camp in Tanzania. Witness the spectacular mammal migration if you come during the migration season. The camp is strategically located at the starting point of the biggest overland migration of mammals in the world. Each of the 20 lavish safari tents features electricity, warm water, room service, and private decked verandahs.
• The United Kingdom has perhaps the most number of glamping destinations. The selection is truly extensive, and with a bit of research, you can try glamping even with a modest budget. The Trellyn Woodland Camping in Pembrokeshire offers a unique experience. Each structure is located in its own space within the 16-acre campground and done so with environment preservation as priority.

RV Camping – Now, there’s another way to enjoy your camping holidays without burning a hole in your wallet. Have you ever tried RV camping? An RV is a recreational vehicle which can be the key to a very exciting and memorable experience.

If you’re new to RV camping, you may opt to rent a mobile home for your first camping excursion. This will give you an idea of what you want to have, what you can live without as well as discover your comfort level when it comes to driving, parking, and living in an RV for a some time. The outright price tag of buying an RV may also seem unpractical especially if you’re someone with a limited vacation time. You will also be paying for the license, insurance, storage and ongoing maintenance fees of your mobile home. However, once you’ve decided to do most of your camping holidays with your RV, then getting one may prove to be less expensive in the long run.

In the meantime, the following are top 7 tips that you may want to keep in mind the next time you plan to go RV camping:

• Use checklists. You’re bound to forget something so it’s better to get them into a list and tick each one off as you go along.
• Know the best RV parks. The best RV camping parks are those which are free. These are usually public lands, which oftentimes are also off the beaten path of RV camping.
• Check each tire’s pressure before the trip. It can be quite a challenge when you’re on the Interstate and then suddenly feel something odd. You may also want to have the number of a roadside assistance handy.
• Conserve water as much as possible. Wipe the plates off before washing them in a dish pan. Take showers Navy-style – get wet, turn off the water, wash yourself, and rinse.
• Regularly check for leaks. When you find one, fix it there and then, don’t procrastinate the task.
• Have at least 2 spare batteries, preferably more in your Rig. You may also want to install solar panels on your roof.
• Get a reliable surge protector. Power does vary from park to park so it’s a good investment to get a good surge protector for the RV to protect against possible surges and to boost commercial power as well.

Tent Camping – The oldest and, most likely, still the best way to experience the Great Outdoors. Nothing can beat the flickering of the campfire, the countless number of s’mores consumed while listening to the thrill of the camping stories, all these with the crickets and other nocturnal noises at the background.

Unlike glamping which is almost like staying at a hotel or RV camping which has some of the basic comforts of home, camping holidays spent in a tent is totally different. You have more responsibility towards the environment and you must follow every camper’s credo – leave no trace.

Tent Camping Checklist

Tent camping begins with your checklist. Make sure everyone going is involved in making your camping checklist. A checklist helps you make packing organized and, more importantly, avoid that, “Oh no, I forgot to bring…” scenario.

• Tent (poles and stakes included, of course)
• Lantern (with extra batteries or fuel)
• Compass and Map or a GPS
• Tarps
• Ropes
• Multipurpose knife
• Sleeping bag and pad (for each member of the camping party)
• Portable grill and camping stove
• Plenty of extra fuel for your stove
• Cookware (skillet, Dutch oven)
• Knife, chopping board, ladles, can opener
• Plates, cups and bowls (not disposable please)
• Cutlery
• Paper towels, trash bags
• Cooler (with plenty of ice)
• Dish pans
• Plenty of food and water
• First aid kit
• Toiletries
• Rain gear
• Appropriate clothing (with a few extra)

This list are the bare necessities; you can add your personal needs and preferences as you go along. Double check everything before heading out from home.

Tent Camping Setup

With proper planning, you must arrive at the campgrounds early in order to be able to scout around for the ideal pitching spot. There are also several considerations when it comes to setting up camp. Remember, you will be building your home for the duration of your stay, so it better be a really good place.

• Location is the primary concern when you set up camp. It must be elevated to avoid the mess and miserable moments when it starts raining and your tent is slowly taking in water. You must have some natural buffer against the wind like a bunch of trees of bushes, but don’t pitch directly under a tree. Never dig trenches around your tent. It damages the campsite.
• Proper food storage is another aspect of camp setup. Store your food away from your sleeping area. Better yet, hang it at least 12 feet off the ground. Make sure everything is sealed and packed. To prevent unnecessary food waste, plan your camp menu ahead of the trip and bring along only what’s needed. However, pack an emergency food kit just as well.
• Designate your washing, toilet, sleeping and cooking areas. The toilet and washing areas must be at least 200 feet away from any body of water. Your cooking area must be at least 30 feet away from the tent and preferably away from prevailing wind. Pitch your tent on elevated ground, away from strong wind, and if possible, facing the morning sun to encourage an early start.

Your well-deserved time off are opportunities to relax, spend quality time with your family, travel and gain new experiences, as well as encounter novel places and people. They don’t need to be expensive to be fun and memorable. Although, of course, if you can afford it, then by all means splurge on a glamping vacation in France or the UK.  Take some time and Camping Holidays to be well researched and organized for it to be a success, you earn it so go for it!