Tuesday 19 August 2014

I am going camping. Advantages and disadvantages for the different camping options

Either for a long weekend or for a long holiday many travelers decide to camp.
Spain is a country where camping  is very successful. You can go to a rural campsite in the mountains or you can visit a camping in Benidorm and enjoy the beach or you can go to a campsite near of a theme park such as Parque Warner in Madrid.
Travelers have different options to choose from when they go camping, each one with its advantages and disadvantages, so they can enjoy their rest.


Tent, the cheapest option

For the youngsters or the beginners on "the camping adventure"

Advantages
  • The initial budget is the cheapest one of all. It may seem that you have to buy loads of things to have a comfortable stay, but nearly all of them are quite economic and you can buy them second hand if you want to save a bit more money.
  • More contact with nature.
  • More freedom to look for a camping site due to the cheaper reservation fees compare to the ones for caravans or if you rent a bungalow.
  • Normally, the zone for tents is the closest one to the common areas, which will be an advantage for us to enjoy all the facilities from the campsite if we are travelling with children.
Disadvantages
  • Setting up can be complicated if we have not to learn to do it before.
  • The tent is more uncomfortable to sleep in than a bungalow or a motor caravan.
  • The tent will obviously get damage (zip, floor, etc.) easier than a motor home.
  • Shower and toilet. You will have to use the common areas in the camping site, so you have to consider the inconvenience that this will cause you.

Caravan/motor home

It is normally the next step that all the campers take from the tent option.

Advantages
  • Comfort. In a caravan or motor home you will have the same facilities that you will have at home: toilet, kitchen, wardrobes, beds, etc. And you do not need to set up when you arrive to the camp site.
  • Better protection against the bad weather than the one you get with a tent.
  • Less space problems, because you do not have to worry about fitting everything in the car boot or in the tow storage box.
  • Easier to travel, you do not have the inconvenience of dates for planes or to check in with luggage. You will have everything you need with you, so you will only have to worry about finding a nice place to put your caravan on.

Disadvantages
  • The price. A caravan, even a second hand one, is going to cost you for sure more than all you may need to travel with a tent.
  • Maintenance. To be able to have a nice journey every time you want to use the caravan it will need some repairs done (electrical items, tyres, humidity problems, etc.).
  • As it will happen in a tent, the limited space can cause you some inconvenient.

Bungalow

Mainly all the camping sites offer to their clients the option of renting a bungalow, that will give you the facilities you will get in an apart hotel and the freedom of being in a camp site close to nature.

Advantages

  • They are normally for more than 2 people, so they will be perfect if you are travelling in family or with children.
  • Although they are more expensive than a tent, they are still cheaper than a motor home. If you look for it with time, you can find some offers, more than anything if you travel in group.
  • You do not have to worry about the bad weather or the things you are travelling with.
  • You do not need to set up anything, so you will 'save on time'.
  • If you are travelling with children, they will be more comfortable to sleep and to have something to eat.

Disadvantages

  • They are normally in the farther end of the campsite.
  • As they are bigger than a tent or a caravan, you will have to spend more time cleaning them.
  • The price could be far more expensive than the one you will pay with a tent, if you want to get good prices you have to look for the offers or reserve with plenty of time.

Camping Villasol
http://camping-villasol.com/camping-in-benidorm.html