Previous Next

Advice for Virgin Campers

WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE 2009
Submitted By: Sherwin Mapanoo

With forecasts of a long hot summer, the UK is enjoying an unprecedented surge in popularity as people turn to camping and caravanning to keep their holiday costs low, and this Bank holiday is likely to be more popular than ever. According to the Camping and Caravanning Club advance bookings are already 27% higher this year.

"Camping and caravanning represents a cost effective holiday option for many people this year, as well as being great fun," says Stephen Ebbett at Protectyourbubble.com. He goes on to offer a word of caution: "There are going to be a lot of first-timers hitting the sites as well as many who haven't been on an outdoor adventure for years, so it's important that they plan their trip to make sure it's a success."

Ethical insurer Protectyourbubble.com offers some handy hints for people considering camping or caravanning for the first time:

1. Park your caravan or pitch your tent somewhere safe: away from rivers to avoid flooding, away from tall tress as they can attract lightening and at least 6 metres away from any other tents or caravans to prevent fires from spreading.

2. Take a good first aid kit with bandages, insect repellent, sunscreen, aloe vera lotion and allergy tablets.

3. Take plenty of warm clothes, food and water especially if you are going to a remote location.

4. Be careful with bottled gas. It is highly flammable and a tent can be engulfed in flames in 60 seconds and a caravan only takes a few minutes longer. Do not light flames near the tent. Take a fire extinguisher and fire blanket.

5. Make a plan of where you are going, how long for and book sites in advance. Never go camping alone, especially if no one knows your plan.

6. If you are caravanning, ensure the towing vehicle is adequate for the job. The engine needs to be a suitable size and the breaks powerful enough to bring the trailer to a stop.

Protectyourbubble.com also warns that tents and caravans are not as secure as a home, and so it is important to take sensible precautions with valuables such as iPods, cameras, laptops and mobile phones – all very tempting for an opportunistic thief.

Ebbett concludes: "We would advise campers and caravanners to take as few valuables as possible and lock them up in their car out of sight when they're not using them. And don't forget that most travel insurance policies cover holidays in the UK as well as home so check your policy to see what you are and aren't covered for."

Source: www.prlog.org

Previous Next