{"id":5978,"date":"2025-01-03T13:03:13","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T13:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.campingireland.ie\/?p=5978"},"modified":"2025-07-02T12:14:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T11:14:13","slug":"top-tips-and-handy-hacks-to-make-your-caravan-camping-holiday-easy-part-1-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.campingireland.ie\/nl\/top-tips-and-handy-hacks-to-make-your-caravan-camping-holiday-easy-part-1-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Top tips and handy hacks to make your caravan & camping holiday easy \u2013 PART 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Part 2 of our hand hacks and little tips to make your caravan & camping holiday even better, if that\u2019s possible!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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We have covered storage and we have covered cleaning now it\u2019s time to get to the fun part – Little quirky tips and hints to make life easier.<\/p>\n

I hope these ideas and tips will help you to have a great trip.\u00a0 Before we go any further one very important tip is to book ahead<\/strong>.\u00a0 With Camping Ireland\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> new website you will find information of over 100 quality approved caravan & camping parks throughout the Island of Ireland.\u00a0 From Donegal<\/a> to Cork, from Antrim<\/a> to Waterford and Galway<\/a> to Dublin<\/a> there are great places to pitch up for a few days.<\/p>\n

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Now for the tips & advice.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Practise makes perfect<\/strong> – <\/strong>do a trial run in their garden before you go.\u00a0 It\u2019s not as embarrassing to make mistakes in your garden as it is in front of other well seasoned campers!\u00a0 This is also really important if it\u2019s before your first trip of the season.\u00a0 You\u2019ll notice if you are missing any items or if anything is broken and needs replacing.\u00a0 Nothing worse than a burst airbeam or bent tent pole when are on your holidays!<\/p>\n

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Packing your car\/caravan\/motorhome<\/strong> – make sure the things you will need first when you arrive on site are easily accessible.\u00a0 It\u2019s stressful enough trying to set everything up without having to empty the contents onto the grass to find something at the back, particularly if it\u2019s raining.\u00a0 Also, might be worth investing in a small kart on wheels.<\/p>\n

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Set up in daylight<\/strong> – always arrive at your campsite a good few hours before it gets dark. That way you can find your pitch and have plenty of time to set up before night fall. Scrabbling around in the dark trying to pitch up is no fun for anyone and you’re more likely to do something wrong.<\/p>\n

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Setting up your tent<\/strong> \u2013 always zip up doors before you put your tent up.\u00a0 If you leave the doors of your tent unzipped when you pitch it will be pulled so taut that zipping the doors up will be difficult, causing tension that could damage the zips.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t push in pegs using your feet<\/strong> – The easiest way to bend pegs is by attempting to push them in with your foot. If the ground is super soft, you might get away with it, but in normal conditions, you\u2019re more likely to bend the pegs rendering them unusable.\u00a0 Always use a mallet.<\/p>\n

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Look before you pitch<\/strong> \u2013 Pitches can vary a lot within a site.\u00a0 Always take a good look around to make sure it is suitable for you, particularly from a safety point of view if you have small children with you.\u00a0 Also, you may want a quieter spot away from families or want to be close to facilities.\u00a0 If you have specific requirements always make sure you talk to the owner when booking.<\/p>\n

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Wet shoes<\/strong> – As you\u2019re going to bed, take the insoles out of your wet shoes and stuff the shoes with newspaper. By morning they should be nice and dry.\u00a0 Always pack some of the small plastic shower caps which you get in hotel rooms.\u00a0 They are ideal to put shoes into, particularly dirty or sandy shoes<\/p>\n

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Sealable sandwich bags<\/strong> are great for storing any small electronics when the rain starts pouring\u00a0or to put your phone into when you are out and about.<\/p>\n

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Heat getting to you<\/strong> – <\/em>Hang a cold damp towel over a fan to cool the air down before it circulates.\u00a0 This is a handy tip for anytime not just camping time.<\/p>\n

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Toiletries <\/strong>\u2013 some people suggest you buy travel size toiletries as they take up less room.\u00a0 However, these can be costly and need replenishing regularly.\u00a0 Take the ones you use at home. Simply cover with cling film under lids to avoid spillages and store in a ziplock bag.\u00a0 You can also buy small travel size containers which you can fill with your own toiletries.<\/p>\n

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Give the kids jobs to do<\/strong> – Whilst you are busy pitching and setting up, children can sometimes prove to be a bit of a distraction. Give them jobs to do so they aren\u2019t under your feet and they feel like they are helping. Delegate easy jobs like blowing up air beds and setting up simple camp furniture so they feel involved and are kept busy.<\/p>\n

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Trees –<\/strong> The shade of a tree can look appealing, but the grass is often poor because it\u2019s protected from the rain, trees can drip sap and birds have a habit of roosting and leaving little presents on your lovely unit beneath.\u00a0 Rain will also drip from trees long after the rain has passed.<\/p>\n

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Fuel for cooking<\/strong> – Take extra fuel for cooking.\u00a0 You might get through more than you think and not every campsite has a camp shop.\u00a0 There is nothing worse than being in the middle of cooking dinner and you run out of gas.<\/p>\n

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Gas cylinder<\/strong> – To find out how much gas you have left in a bottle, pour warm water down the side. The water turns cold where the gas starts<\/p>\n

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Cool Box<\/strong> \u2013 Freeze as much as you can before you pack it, and if you can\u2019t freeze an item, at least make sure it is chilled, rather than at room temperature before you place it in the cooler. Remember too that the fuller your cool box is, the more effectively it will keep the contents cool.<\/p>\n

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Keeping things cold longer<\/strong> – Rather than filling your cool box\/bag with ice, freeze bottles of water instead. They can take a long time to thaw out and should keep your food nice and cool. Then, once they do thaw, you\u2019ll have plenty of fresh drinking water available.<\/p>\n

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Water carrier –<\/strong> A collapsible water carrier is very handy, particularly one that also dispenses water and then can be folded away when not in use.<\/p>\n

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Staying warm when sleeping<\/strong> \u2013 This can be difficult, particularly with the Irish climate.\u00a0 Put an extra blanket or even a picnic blanket underneath air mattresses as another layer of protection from the cold ground.\u00a0 Invest in good sleeping bags and air mattresses. Take pillows and extra blankets or duvets to stay super cosy.\u00a0 Cold feet?\u00a0 Fill your water bottle with hot water, make sure it is closed tightly and slip into your sleeping bag as a heat pack<\/p>\n

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Zips<\/strong> \u2013 Whether it\u2019s the zip in your tent or the zip in your sleeping bag they can often come stiff and difficult to open.\u00a0 Rub an unlit candle over it.\u00a0 Also, sometimes little fingers find it hard to grasp the zip so attach a large keyring to make life easier.<\/p>\n

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Sleep aids<\/strong> – Earplugs also come in handy in case of nearby snorers and noisy nocturnal wildlife.\u00a0 Also, eye masks will limit the glare of the early morning sun<\/p>\n

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Glow sticks<\/strong> \u2013 <\/em>Hang them outside your unit so that you can easily spot your pitch when you are coming back in the dark.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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The dreaded insects<\/strong> \u2013<\/em> Inevitably there will be insects flying around.\u00a0 Some people will escape but for many others the Irish blood is very tasty for these insects.\u00a0 If sitting outside keep a citronella candle burning or dilute a few drops into a spray bottle and use it to spray around your area to keep the insects at bay.\u00a0 Also, through some sage into your fire.<\/p>\n

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Pool noodles<\/strong> have many uses not just swimming aid. They can be cut into small sections and placed over guy ropes to make them stand out against grass to prevent anyone tripping.\u00a0\u00a0 Also, place a pool noodle in the corners of a pop-up or canopy to keep rainwater from pooling around the supports.<\/p>\n

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Repair kit<\/strong> \u2013 Always have a full stocked repair kit. It should include at the very least duct tape, cable ties and extra pegs.<\/p>\n

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Mealtimes<\/strong> \u2013 <\/em>We all have to be fed and one of the great things about going camping is cooking outdoors.\u00a0 It is wise to plan ahead, prepare as much as possible at home and if possible pre-cook things so that you won\u2019t be wasting precious time from your holiday cooking.<\/p>\n

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Here are a few handy tips on feeding your family on holidays<\/strong><\/p>\n

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