Camping Newbie

jetplane

Hey I just noticed my ridiculously long camping list doesn't include flip flops for the showers ... urgh an absolute must :rotfl: I use an old pair of crocs cos they're multi useful

cubegame

It's quite expensive but you get a lot for the money with this tent:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-Waterfall-Five-Man-Tent/dp/B001P80GMS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328984061&sr=8-1

It has a single compartment bedroom which is what you wanted.

We recently pitched one of these at work (we make waterproofing products) for testing and it has stood for three weeks now in the rain, wind and snow.

It does leak from new though (as do most tents) so I would recommend waterproofing any tent you buy.

tbs624

You may want to look for a tent that erects fly sheet first - makes camping life with small kids and damp weather more tolerable.

Have a look at the camping and caravanning club site - membership gives a good reduction on club site fees plus access to Dist Association meets and low priced temporary holiday sites plus directory of smaller certificated sites.

Use eqpt that can have more than one use - we travelled round Europe in a smallish ridge tent when ours were babies. Have used plastic storage tubs and even the roofbox lid as a baby bath if site facilities busy/fair distance from pitch. Small inflatable paddling pool also used as bath and for kids to sleep in, once lined with a blanket - pool edges prevented too much random rolling around the tent inner.

Kids had fleece sleep suits and a sleeping bag that had a sort of vest top.

Would always have windbreak, not just for privacy & keeping wind to a limit near tent entrance but also for safely coralling crawlers/toddlers

GreenSaints

I did my first camping trip ever last June (I'm 27!) however, me and my BF cycle toured, so we had to fit all our stuff in two pannier sets.

I definitely recommend taking an electrical hookup. I'd also take more groundsheets then you think you would need. They are great for just laying things out on, airing etc.

If you forget anything, you can always buy things on route. Have fun