I genuinely love camping. Mainly because I am an avid hiker (think Julia Bradbury!) and cyclist. That said, I promise I won’t harp on about the benefits of enjoying ‘The Great Outdoors’, hopefully you’re already sold on that.
Photo by: ninelutsk/Fotolia
Camping is cost effective and significantly better when the sun is shining (in my opinion!) If you want to explore Europe, whilst staying in a tent, let us guide you through planning a camping holiday in Europe.
1. Pack your tent into hold luggage
(or at least the poles and pegs!)
Buy a tent that is easy to put up and packs down to a small size. If it will fit within your hold luggage in terms of weight and size, then you’re onto a winner.
At the very least, you’ll have to put your pegs and poles in the hold. Either take the tent in hand luggage (if you can) or enquire about having it as an additional piece of luggage.
Take a look at Go Outdoors. They have a great tent guide (including inflatable tents!) and show the weight and pack size of all products.
Why not consider …
A cotton tent! They are heavy, which may cause weight limit issues, but are significantly cooler (in temperature!)
Top tip!
Check airline policies carefully. Budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair may still work out cheapest, but check what’s included in your standard baggage allowance. It’s also worth calling them in advance, just to be on the safe side.
2. How do I choose a sleeping bag?
Besides a tent, you must pack a sleeping bag. You probably already have one, but if not think about:
- The temperatures you will experience (minus temperatures at night?)
- Size
- Weight
Photo by: zavgsg/Fotolia
You can spend as much or as little as you like. Our favourite is the Snugpak Travelpak 2 which costs about £35 at the time of writing (July 2016).
Treat yourself to a Thermarest (self-inflating mattress) too, you won’t regret it!
3. What other essential equipment do I need?
Personal items
Invest in a travel towel. Yes it’s a bit like drying yourself with a shammy leather, but it’ll save crucial space (and they cost less than a tenner.)
You might be going to Spain, but pack your gloves and hat; it can get cold at night. ‘Be prepared’ as the Scouts say and you’ll have a much more enjoyable time.
Consider a solar shower. They work really well in the heat, perfect if you’re camping in a hotter climate. Check out this one from Go Outdoors.
Don’t forget to pack insect repellent to keep those pesky midges and mosquitos at bay. Opt for either a spray, lotion or one of these Mosi-Off bands.
This may seem a little extreme, but pack some ear plugs and an eye mask. This will help to block out the early morning sun and stop you being rudely awakened by any early risers.
Cooking & eating
Pack a few collapsible cool bags. These can be invaluable for keeping things cool in the sun. Remember to take cutlery & plates too. My top tip is to purchase this lunch kit from Light My Fire. It even comes with a Spork!
Buy camping gas when you arrive, which saves any faffing around at the airport. You can usually take the stove in the hold, but check airline policies before you travel. Consider any items that you can buy when you get there to save unwanted hassle.
Lastly, buy a Firesteel and light a fire, whatever the weather! (Make sure you check the campsite rules relating to fires and assess any fire risks).
4. Are you sitting comfortably?
You will likely need something to sit on during your camping trip, unless you want to spend 2 weeks sitting on the bare ground! Consider taking a picnic blanket, packaway/inflatable chairs or an inflatable trail seat/ cushion, or even all three!
Photo by: micromonkey/Fotolia
Top tip!
Buy some tarpaulin when you arrive. Use it instead of a picnic table (which will no doubt be in short supply!) When the temperatures start to rise, you could even create a make-shift canopy.
Why not consider?
If this sounds like a lot of equipment to lug around, take a look at Luggage Mule. They can transport your luggage for you. It may even work out cheaper than airline baggage charges.
5. All sounding a little expensive?
If this is your first camping adventure, try a short trip on home ground before you commit. Investing in good equipment will make your camping experience easier and more cost effective in the long run. But, only if you plan to go more than once!
Now that you’ve got your equipment organised, let’s turn our attention to the campsite itself.
6. Book in advance
Much like hiring a car, if you have a preference, book early. The best campsites get very busy at peak times.
7. Does your chosen campsite actually take tents?
This may seem like a silly question, but some sites only allow campervans. Make sure the campsite you want to visit will let you pitch a tent.
8. What if I don’t want to take a tent?
Many sites offer bungalows or mobile homes for you to rent. Get the benefit of a cheap holiday and all of the facilities without having to organise a tent.
Photo by: NOBU/Fotolia
9. What size hire car should I book?
When choosing a hire car, the vehicle make and model is not guaranteed. You will get a car of a similar size and specification though. Think about hiring an estate car, depending on your party size. We provide a handy guide to luggage capacity on our website too, simply get a quote and take a look.
Top tip!
If the weather takes a turn for the worse and a thunder storm approaches, you can take shelter in your hire car.
10. How can I stop my tent heating up?
As suggested earlier, a cotton tent is worth a thought. They are heavy though, which may take this idea out of the equation.
When putting up your tent, work out which way the sun rises. If you can, pitch it in the shade of some trees to avoid the glare of the morning sun.
Pop a tinfoil blanket over your tent when you go out for the day. You could even remove the fly sheet (depending on which tent you’ve taken) if you’re not expecting rain. Either way, hopefully this will stop you feeling like you’re sleeping in a sauna!
Top tip!
If you are expecting rain and you’re pitched on an incline, make sure the tent opening is facing downhill so you don’t get water logged.
11. Earn some camping kudos
Learn how to use your watch as a compass or simply use the compass on your smartphone. Impress your fellow campers and earn your stripes as a camping demigod!
Share your tips for camping in Europe
Take a look at Eurocampings.co.uk or Suncamp. Eurocampings has this great tool called Match2Camp which helps you discover which campsite is right for you.
This should give you a good basis for planning a camping holiday in Europe. Have we missed anything? Do you have a top tip for camping abroad? If so, please share in the comments below.
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Written by Gemma Russell.
Love the tips. Two things to definitely not skimp on is the tent and sleeping bag. A nice warm sleeping bag does wonders. It’s best to get a double layered tent just in case the weather is terrible and it doesn’t hold up.
Trespass have a good guide that goes through different types of tents, might be worth having a look 🙂 i’ve linked it on the website form not sure how to do it any other way!
Sally