Camping is an excellent option for a budget holiday if you are ready for adventures and possible difficulties. You can have fun traveling in a minivan, saving on accommodation costs, and opening alternative leisure activities. How do you increase comfort and consider all the little things when preparing for a trip? Below, check simple and practical seasonal camping tips for the warmer months!
Book Early
Rest assured – group camping in summer attracts many people besides you. Therefore, it is necessary to think about your vacation in advance in detail. Some locations are so popular with campers that you should book a year beforehand! Also, some parks do not allow overnight vehicle camping on site. National parks are designed to protect nature, so be aware that exhaust fumes are not welcome there.
There are also restrictions on the type of vehicle. At the same time, car hire opportunities for camping are dwindling before our eyes at the start of the travel season. Hurry up to book the best option among affordable 7-seater vehicles for hire! It is also advantageous for young drivers to check the “Can you hire a car under 25?” aspects in advance and clarify the deal terms.
If you have decided to join a camping group, read the community rules and pricing policy. Chat with the organizers to find out all the details before reserving your spot (including daily parking rates and amenities available).
Food And Drink
The warm season is a period of increased need for water. Avoid dehydration! Consider the individual needs of your travel companions and take enough drinking water for the trip. Heat and humidity are suitable for bacterial growth and, therefore, are dangerous for food storage. Buy a travel refrigerator for summer camping adventures. This way, you can refresh your drinks, avoid overheating, and be calm about the quality of your food.
Save space in your cooler, avoiding perishable snacks. Replace them with safe things to nibble:
- apples,
- hermetically packed cereal bars, crackers, biscuits,
- instant and breakfast cereals,
- nuts,
- instant noodles.
The foods on the list above cannot replace a nutritious diet, so look for opportunities to purchase fresh food close to your campsite.
Proper Tent And Clothing
Consider the climate of the area and analyze the weather forecast in advance. Hopefully, the hot sunny days won’t trick you. Nights in spring and summer are chilly, and heavy dew often falls. The weather in the United Kingdom sometimes surprises even weather forecasters, so always be prepared for excess moisture.
You can spend the night in a car (it is mobile and reliable), but if you choose a tent, pay attention to the material. Ideally, you need a waterproof fabric with mosquito net inserts. Check the structure for strength and evaluate its capacity beforehand.
Sleeping bags or insulating lining are perfect for insulation. The stiff lining will protect your body from uneven ground and add comfort. Take a set of warm clothes with you. Imagine you are left without a functional car in the middle of nowhere – choose clothes accurately for this occasion. It is unlikely to happen to you – but always try to assume the worst-case scenario to feel more confident.
A car roof tent is a great way to protect yourself from predators, cold, and uneven ground. However, for a large company, the most functional are the ground-based options. Sleeping on an air mattress is a suitable variant for an overnight stay in a minivan. However, it is difficult to achieve for a group of more than two people, given the lack of oxygen and space. For example, when organizing vehicle camping for 7 people, do not count on spending the night in the car.
The Draft And Insect Dilemma
Sleeping in a car often becomes a matter of finding a balance between the absence of insects and enough fresh air. Sleeping with the car windows closed is a dangerous idea. Oxygen starvation can be fatal. Minimal consequences are fatigue, headache, weakness, and sour mood – as a result. The absence of a draft leads to increased humidity, which causes discomfort and profuse sweating.
On the other hand, open windows threaten a mess of annoying flies and mosquitoes. Flies are noisy and unsanitary. Mosquito bites can deprive you of sleep and make you furious with endless itching. You can reduce the problem by installing makeshift mosquito nets over windows at night to keep air circulating. You can apply repellents to your skin, but do it outside to avoid breathing in toxic compounds throughout the night. A more environmentally friendly way is to use aromatic oils or other products with minimized toxicity.
Showering While Camping
You’ve just set up camp and are already dripping with sweat. As luck would have it, only simple nature is around without signs of civilization. How do campers even manage hygiene during the warmer months? Centralized camping often requires a dry closet and shower. When traveling alone, recreational vehicle owners install amenities inside.
If you are near a gas station or populated area, – you can shower there. Are you completely off the beaten path? It is time to improvise! Note that swimming in a lake or river does not replace hygiene procedures. Avoid using hygiene products in natural bodies of water to avoid damaging the local ecosystem.
The simplest and most affordable way to take a field shower is to collect water and let nature help you. Prepare a large container with a hose or watering can for your trip. When camping, you should fill a container with water and place it on the roof of your car on a sunny day to heat it. A simple summer shower is ready!
Family Camping Tips
Internet access at a campsite is more of a luxury than a daily occurrence. Think about how to spend time without the Internet connection with pleasure and benefit! Outdoor sports games are an excellent option. Plan entertainment for all fellow travelers, taking into account preferences and needs. For example, board games and books are suitable for less mobile passengers.
You will no longer calm kids’ excessive activity with cartoons. Come up with quests and games for children. Take a ball, a jump rope, a badminton with you – all this will be useful. If your luggage allows you, arrange family spring camping with vehicles.
Conclusion
Thanks to the tips above, camping with a minivan during the warmer months will no longer scare you! A short-term change in lifestyle has a beneficial effect on mental health. Camping will awaken you from your routine and make you feel the alluring scent of adventure. A wide range of possibilities for spring and summer outdoor activities will diversify your leisure time and improve your body health. To organize a trip successfully, pay attention to detail and choose a reliable vehicle at reasonable prices on Rental24.co.uk.