Choosing the right accommodation to suit your needs can make or break a family camping holiday. There is no sadder sight than seeing a family of four squeezing into a small “4-man” dome tent with only standing height for a six-year-old on a wet day!
You have a variety of options, the main ones being;
Take your own tent
If you haven’t bought one already I would suggest you get one that you can all stand up in, has separate bedrooms for at least you and the kids
and preferably a large internal living area that all of you could sit around a table and eat a meal.
What you get will depend on what budget you have but also consider how long it will take to erect, there is nothing worse than arriving at a campsite after a day at work and a couple of hours drive to then fight with your tent (and sometimes partner?) while keeping the kids entertained.
Having a family tent for weekends away is a great and cheap way to get some quality time together in the fresh air. If you are not sure whether it’s for you try and borrow a tent from a friend. Go for one night, or a weekend if you’re feeling brave, to a campsite close enough by to come home if it doesn’t work out and when the weather forecast is good.
Stay in accommodation provided by the campsite
If you haven’t got a tent or don’t want the hassle of packing it/ taking it down (especially when it’s wet), there are many travel companies that provide the camping experience without the need for the ‘hard work with a range of options to suit your families needs;
Classic Tent
These are usually large 6 berth sturdy tents that usually and bigger than your standard family tent and include camp beds, electrical hook up with Fridge and lights and all the camping equipment you need (cooker, table and chairs, pots and pans etc.)
Glamping options;
Safari Tents
These tents wouldn’t look out of place on an Africa safari, have wooden floors and usually a veranda giving a cover outdoor dining area and include everything you need for a self-catering holiday.
Yurts
Yurts are Round tents used by Nomadic tribes in central Asia. Depending on the size they will be a single room for sleeping and living although larger ones sometimes have separate bedrooms.
Tipis
The iconic Glamping tent, the Tipi is the fashionista of the camping world but actually provides a fairly basic camping experience in that you are usually all in one space but if getting some great snaps this is the one to be pictured by.
Geodomes
These space aged insulated domes provide the latest in campsite accommodation. The specification will vary between sites, but many include individual en-suites with flushing toilets, sofas, wood burning stoves, interconnecting rooms, wood fired showers or baths and regular beds with luxury linen
Campervan hire
If you don’t fancy staying in one place too long then renting a campervan can be a great option. You can hire anything from a ultra-cool VW camper to huge Winnebago (think Breaking Bad)
Still not convinced?
If the thought of sleeping ‘under canvas’ makes you shrink back under your warm duvet you can still provide the kids with a campsite experience whilst enjoying the luxury of solid walls, your own flushing toilet and hot shower along with most creature comforts of home including microwaves, full sized ovens and even a TV (if you must).
Holiday Homes
Many campsites and holiday parks also have Holiday homes (AKA Mobile Home or Static Caravans), which typically sleep 6- 10 in 2 or 3 bedrooms. Some sites also offer lodges, chalets, Apartments, Beach Houses and summer houses and even tree houses!
Many offer their accommodation with a view so make sure you check out if they offer a Lake or Sea view when booking. Also, consider where you want to be on the site – near or far from the toilet block, kids playground, stream, beach, bar etc.
When booking always check what is and isn’t included as this may vary from site to site or operator.