Never Been Camping? Here's What To Get Ready For
If this is your first time going camping, you’ve probably already been through every list of the right equipment you should pack and what kind of food will keep you on your toes.
You’ve probably read a lot of first-time camping horror stories, and then had to quickly close down the tab so you didn’t immediately cancel your reservations! And all in all, you’ve done a lot of research to make sure you’re prepared for slumming it in the great outdoors.
But there may be one thing you haven’t quite put the same time into: researching what to expect when you’re camping for the first time. And as such, here are the kind of things you need to get ready for.
Lots of Rules
Every campsite has them! And every camper who’s booked in for a night or two needs to know them. So when you’re booking your spot on their website, make sure you also double check their terms and conditions and FAQ sections.
You need to know whether or not you can do things like make your own fire, set up a porch from a caravan or RV, or even just when the toilet blocks close for the night (if at all). Expect rules like these, find out as much as you can beforehand, and then you’ll be able to plan much more smoothly.
Noisy Neighbors
Most first-time campers book into well known campgrounds, or an RV park if they’re taking a van with them. And that’s fine - it’s actually possibly the best idea when you’ve never been camping before. Everything you need is going to be around you, and you know there are other people nearby if you need help at any time.
That’s the positive side. On the other side, where a few negative things live, are issues like noisy, inconsiderate neighbours. People who keep their loud music running past curfew hours, and even if the staff have told them off already, they simply dialled it back up a few minutes later.
99% of your fellow campers will be lovely, but be prepared for issues like this, and not just in terms of music either. Some campground neighbors can be a bit intrusive, a bit too chatty, and they might not care whether or not you booked a shower spot first!
Bugs and Bites
It’s not just mosquitoes that bite! Lots of other bugs do. So even when you’re heading somewhere not known for ‘mozzies’ flying about, still take the insect spray or bug repellant cream along with you.
And to be extra safe, make sure you’ve got some itch relief cream in your camping bag as well. Sometimes those bugs can be extra sneaky, and they always find the one patch of skin you forgot to cover.
If you’ve never been camping before now, get an idea of what your camping trip will look like. With this kind of information on your side, you can have a much more enjoyable time.
