What's your best camping tip? (LIST OF TIPS NOW ADDED!)

MrsWassire

Thank you again everyone! I picked up some bargains today. At Lidl I got a camping stove with 2 cylinders for £9.99, as seen here:

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-57299ECB-9EBFB469/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_30173.htm?offerdate=7510&ar2=3&id=90&country=GB&zipcode=DE21+4SY&city=Derbyshire&district=Derby&street=Mansfield+Road&ar=3&nf=True

Lidl also had travel magnetic games (2 sided board games) for £2.99 so picked up two of those.

Then on to Pound World/Discount UK where I got:

2 x folding water carriers (5l each) - the kind where you can just push down on it and water comes out.
3 x picnic blankets (1m x 60cm) - may possibly get more of these?
1 x mess tin (should get another I reckon)
1 x camping mug (so I don't have to worry about breaking one of our mugs, and can heat it up on the stove if it's just me wanting a hot drink!)
1 x spare tent pegs
1 x frying pan
1 x set of travel bottles (one with squeezy pump), we already have some with shower gel etc in for our swimming bags, but these can be for washing up liquid + whatever else!

Total £10 at PoundWorld! And £15.97 at Lidl. I think that's a bargain.

arbroath_lass

MrsWassire wrote: »

We're on the east coast so don't tend to be that many midgies, though I was going to take some citronella candles! It can be pretty damn cold here at night, and I've heard that air mattresses can actually make you colder? (Because your body has to warm up all that air as well!) I was thinking space blankets on bottom, air mattress on top, duvet on top of that, sleeping bag with me in it then duvet on top of me as well!

If a space blanket is one of those "foil" emergency blankets it is better on top of the airbed. I always take my duvet as well as sleeping bag.

I've found a double height airbed much warmer than a normal one but using that obviously depends on your tent.

shortdog

We don't bother with sleeping bags, we take loads of duvets, some under us, some over us, and sleep like that - much warmer all cuddled up together. Depends how old the kids are though, don't think teenagers would be pleased about sleeping in with mummy!
The glow sticks that you get for parties are great too - poundland do them in packs of 20, snap a few and hang them round the tent - they give off loads of light in a tent, and means when the kids wake in the dead of night you are not fumbling about in pitch black for a torch. Again, depending on the age of the kids, you can give them a couple each to wear (not for kids who might chew them, as the contents are toxic - my daughter got a nasty chemical burn on her lips and chin a couple of years ago).

Charbum2210

Check out intertent.co.uk also if you live close to reading the Thames valley tent show is also on

dazzer68

Get a number of the nearest bed and breakfast or travelodge, just incase.if the weather turns absolutelty awful, you might need it! I run a b&b not far from a campsite, sunny days, cold wet nights, are our busiest times!

vax2002

You can always spot a new camper, they are scrubbing mess tins most of the day at the sinks, the more experienced take the pans from home that food does not weld itself to.

BusinessStudent

Where are you thinking of going camping?

You could cut costs down by using public transport instead of taking the car i.e. using National Express / MegaBus and Megatrain.

A few months ago me and friend drove from Birmingham to North and South Wales (staying at 2 different campsites) - petrol was around £90ish. This time we are taking a Virgin Train from Birmingham to the Lake District costing just £4 each to keep the costs down!

You could also buy a cheap guidebook on the area you are staying in. I usually buy a 2nd hand lonely planet guidebook from Amazon Market place for less than £3 before I go camping. The guidebooks are great because they provide you with maps and great information to ensure you have a fun time camping!

MrsWassire

I did wonder about that, vax2002, the only problem is all my pans at home are very thick-based (and large) expensive pans that take a while to heat up. I'm wondering if it would take too long on a wee camp stove?

MrsWassire

BusinessStudent, thanks, but I live in North East Scotland, little public transport options! I could take the bus there, but it would cost far more than the petrol, plus I'd never manage to take all the stuff I don't think! And when I got there, we wouldn't be able to go to any of the things there are to do as they all require driving.

Mojisola

BusinessStudent wrote: »

You could cut costs down by using public transport instead of taking the car i.e. using National Express / MegaBus and Megatrain.

Mum would look like a packhouse, carrying everything for three people!