Camping - Ready Erected

Specialist Reports Holiday by Accommodation Camping - Ready Erected 

It's been said before but camping holidays are not nearly as uncomfortable as you remember them. If you want to you can still rough it, but if it's comfort you seek, ready-erected tents and mobile homes both offer creditable approximations of home away from home - particularly creditable considering the price.

Mainstream ready-erected operators report a growing preference for fly-drive rather than self drive, particularly to those destinations served by no-frills carriers. They are also seeing a trend away from tents, and in mobile homes towards more luxury and space. However, a new development is what you might call luxury basic ? Featherdown Farms offers what is in effect retro cottage accommodation under canvas.

Pros and Cons

Pros
 It offers a real change in lifestyle - which is refreshing.
 You don't have to worry about children being cooped up in a small room when you just want to relax (though your own personal space is not generous).
 There is no having to get up for breakfast or back in time for the evening meal - for which children have to be cleaned, properly dressed and then behave themselves.
 The environment is pretty safe. Pools are generally patrolled by lifeguards, and couriers may be available to help a child.
 If you pick a large enough site, there's something to suit all ages of child.
 If you drive there you can pack most, if not all, the toys the children want, their bikes, preferred foods and more. (However, if there are a lot of Brits at the site the shop may well sell baked beans and the like.)
 Taking your own car you can travel at your own pace.
 Accommodation standards, particularly in the mobile homes, may be higher than in some self-catering, and will usually be away from the road, unlike hotels and apartments.
 It's a lot cheaper than much self-catering and particularly good value when compared to other beachside accommodation.
 It's especially good value for larger families with accommodation often free for up to four children.
 If you are planning more adventurous family trips, camping can be a good way of introducing a less familiar lifestyle, especially if you start young.

Cons
 Being an outdoor life, you are subject to the vagaries of the weather. Further south hotter weather is pretty much guaranteed over the summer months, but it's a long drive with little ones. Further north if it does rain you need some kind of fallback activity. Wherever you go it can get cold at night.
 Tanning/burning is more of an issue with this kind of semi-permanently outdoor lifestyle.
 Cars do move around the sites at all times of day and night, so you can't leave younger children to wander.
 Big sites in popular locations can be extremely crowded in high season, giving the impression of holidaying in something not far off a car park.
 You do still have to take your own bedding, though where indicated items like pillows and blankets may be provided.
 A tent is not as safe as a building if you have a child who is determined to get into trouble, for example first thing in the morning before everyone else is up.
 If your kids are noisy they will disturb the neighbours - and vice versa.

What to Expect

 Ready erected camping seems to get more comfortable every year. Just as a basic, beds are no longer inflatables. Some are foam, others with sprung mattresses - though as yet most operators do not provide bedding.
 Tents feature separate bedrooms (including integral ground sheets and zip up doors), lots of head room, transparent window panels and tent sides which can be opened up to create extra ‘living space', electricity (two bulbs) and full-sized fridges.
 In most mobile homes there are showers and WCs, fitted kitchens and heaters. Some offer en suite showers and options like hair dryers and CD players.
 Outdoor seating is provided, sometimes with a sun umbrella as well. All gas and electricity is included in the price.

Tips

 Take a decent first aid kit [see Health] as being out of doors means extra exposure to sun and heat, which can trigger minor upsets.
 Take insect repellent and an after bite product [see Health].