Where to begin planning a camping holiday: Camping can be a great way to go for your family holiday, but only if you are well prepared, it does take a bit more thought than just rolling up to an all inclusive holiday resort and walking up to the poolside.

1. tent or caravan or motor home
While caravans offer more of the luxuries of home, they are quite an investment. Most people will start camping in a tent. However, there are alternatives such as using a site caravan or a camping barn that will get you started on camping. You can look at investing in your dream motor home when you know you will enjoy using it.

2. Choose your gear
Camping kit such as sleeping bags can cost anything from a few pounds to hundreds. It is always a good idea to get the best you can afford, and the most suitable for the trip you plan to take. Don’t get summer weight sleeping bags for a camping holiday in France in October. If you plan to do a lot of camping outside of the hot summer season, you may find a caravan or motor home more to your taste than a tent.

3. How will you cook?
Some options for camping such as a motor home come with cooking facilities, in others you will have to sort this out for yourself. There is a wide range of cooking options available to suit every budget.

4. Choose your site carefully.
Don’t roll up at a no dog’s site with your pair of excitable Labradors, or expect a really quiet week at a family orientated holiday park. Most sites have restrictions on camp-fires and large single sex groups. You need to investigate these restrictions to make sure the camp-site you choose is suitable for your group. The facilities at sites vary wildly. A small family run site may give you a quiet week of idyllic rural life, with only the basic washing facilities and a swing set for the kids. A large site may give you kid’s clubs, sports facilities, swimming pools, evening entertainment, on site shops and a minibus to local tourist facilities. It will all depend on what you want and what you are willing to pay for.

5. Don’t forget the extras
Plan ahead and take kit that can help you out if you holiday isn’t exactly as planned. This is particularly important when camping in a tent and considering wet and windy weather preparation. Extra pegs and guy ropes, waterproof bags to store spare clothes, an extra blanket if it gets cold.

6. Pack an extra torch.
If you’re used to well lit streets, it can be a shock to find how dark it can get when you’re trying to find your tent after going to the loos at night. A torch in your coat pocket can save a lot of embarrassment.