Be a better caravan site neighbour

Most campsite visitors are friendly, well-behaved and considerate to their fellow campers, but it only takes a little thoughtless or inconsiderate behaviour to change the dynamics.

But establishing what is acceptable behaviour on a caravan site is not quite as clear-cut as you might think – one person’s fun evening with friends could be another’s disturbed night’s sleep.

And while you might not enjoy the sound of children playing outdoors, no campsite can be expected to have library levels of noise. Nobody likes dogs barking, smelly food or banging doors… but a lot of us aren’t that crazy about the imposition of rules, either.

Two words worth keeping in mind are ‘tolerance’ and ‘consideration’.

We should all be able to tolerate fellow campers being a little noisier than usual on a Saturday night and hopefully, we can put up with a bit of barbecue smoke or even the occasional barking dog!

By the same token, show consideration for your neighbours and remember that campers are by nature early to bed and early to rise. Amplified music, raucous laughter and traipsing over other pitches can be disturbing and rude and should be avoided, especially late at night. In addition, remember to keep your driving speed within park limits at all times and to dim lights and torches at night, when other people are trying to sleep.

But first things first – begin by picking a caravan site that best suits you. Don’t like being around children? Then choose an adults-only park; there are plenty of these available. Not crazy about dogs? Then look for parks that are dog-free or have dog-free areas. The same goes for space – look online or phone the site to find out how big the pitches are and if there are any limitations on party sizes or the use of additional gazebos.

Many sites prefer not to accept larger groups – if that’s you, find a site that caters for larger parties. The same goes for fires and barbecues: some sites encourage the fun, communal element, while others recognise that other residents might find them disturbing.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that you should never camp with children or animals, given some people’s reactions, but if you do, plenty of sites welcome them! Look for parks with playgrounds, children’s activities, football fields and so on.

And if you’re touring with a pooch, a site with a dog shower and dog-walking areas is going to be more suited to you.

Dogs should also be tethered, where site rules require, and of course, you should clean up any mess immediately. But if you find campsite rules too limiting, perhaps think about going off-grid instead?

‘Campers are by nature early to bed and early to rise’

Looking to be a bit more adventurous in your touring choices, but feeling a little nervous of travelling on your own, or unsure of where to go and what to do?

An escorted tour could be the answer. Throw in the camaraderie of travelling with a group of like-minded companions and you have a great recipe for a fantastic caravanning adventure.

Essentially, escorted tours are organised trips in which you follow a set itinerary, travelling independently but meeting up with a tour leader at designated parks.

The tour leader will also be contactable should you have any problems.

What’s included will depend on the trip you book. Often accommodation, a guide and a comprehensive travel itinerary are included in the price. Day trips, food and drink, ferry crossings and insurance may also be part of the package.

Ultimately, an escorted tour is there to take away any organisational headaches. Your tour operator should be booking you into the best and most suitable sites for your tour, using the most appropriate routes, and your tour leaders should be knowledgeable about the area you are visiting and caravan touring in general.

Making new friends

The real joy of these tours, and the reason so many people return to them year after year, is the opportunity to meet people and make new friends. Caravan holidays can be a real bonding experience, one that is only amplified when the group is travelling further and for longer.

Several companies offer escorted tours for motorhomers, but there are fewer options for caravanners. Nevertheless, the CAMC has an excellent choice of European trips available.

This year, it has 20 escorted Continental tours to destinations including France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and the Netherlands, with five new tours for 2024, such as Paws on Tour Loire Valley, Solo Cycling in the Loire and Balkan Adventure.

There are also several special interest options, such as cycling and wine tours. For more details, see caravanclub.co.uk/ overseas-holidays/tours/european-tours.