15 questions with the Fraser family
Sally, David, Hugo, Oliver Fraser spoke to CampInn about their style of camping and answered CampInn’s 15 questions to share their experience and tips.
Q: Where do you live?
A: Tunbridge Wells, UK
Q: What’s your age bracket?
A: Mid forties with pre-teen kids.
Q: Have you always been a camper?
A: No! I would say we are occasional ‘glampers’ rather than seasoned campers.
Q: What kind of camping holidays do you go on?
A: With friends in the UK where they also have coffee and pizza vans! We also like camping when it’s a small family festival like Chilled in a Field – they are great.
Q: Why do you love camping? Do any specific moments spring to mind?
A: The kids! Seeing them happy and carefree and able to run around freely, also great to hang and chat with friends round the fire.
Q: Where are your preferred places to go camping?
A: Not too far from home in case the weather is bad, with woods and not too big and definitely away from noise.
Q: What do you look for in a campsite?
A: Space, family friendly, relaxed, good facilities in the showers, etc. – not posh just clean and warm with a coffee shop and hopefully good food on site!
Q: What have been your favourite camping holidays in the past?
A: In Kent with pals – no one campsite has blown us away yet!
Q: What potential camping trips are you most looking forward to?
A: We are quite low key campers, preferring short stays, locally, so are not planning any major trips!
Q: Do you have any camping trips booked this year? If so, what and where?
A: Yes we have a few weekends away planned. We are staying in the UK and meeting with groups of friends who are getting together post lock-down. For example we are spending a weekend at Dernwood farm, wild camping In Sussex.
Q: How do you feel about camping this year, given the Covid-19 situation?
A: OK – I am not too worried.
Q: Would you choose camping over a hotel or apartment this year in light of Covid-19? Why?
A: No much prefer a boutique hotel – wouldn’t camp if we didn’t have kids!
Q: What reassurances have you seen from campsites regarding improved health and safety this year?
A: Not a lot in the UK at least.
Q: What are your top pieces of advice to those that might be new to camping?
A: Talk to others who have done it before so you don’t forget what’s obvious to seasoned campers but completely unknown to a newbie – like pack a mallet! Also do not leave your bags of rubbish out over night as the gulls by the sea will rip them apart and throw rubbish all over the place! This happened to us at a campsite in Dover! I also think people massively underestimate the cold at night so it’s good to take many layers! The first time we glamped we absolutely froze and had to do an emergency dash to the local camping outlet to purchase the most pea green sleeping bags ever! They were warm though!
Q: What are your favourite bits of camping kit and why?
A: Brush to keep the tent clean, little lamps and definitely a comfy seat.
Q: Any last tips?
A: Airbeam vango tents are rubbish! The air beams break all the time and don’t last and are very expensive to keep buying!
We would love to publish more of your stories for the CampInn community, if you would like to share your own experiences of camping please contact the team at victoria@campinn.com.