Brand advice

King of the campsite: royal living under canvas

Forget any preconceptions you might have about camping - soaking sleeping bags and noxious toilet blocks can all be a thing of the past if you know where to look. In fact, kitting yourself out with a tent, some smart kit, and the right pitch might just solve all of your needs for a holiday this year: civilized adventure, low carbon footprint, and fun for all the family.

And if you are starting to think now about what your summer holiday will be in 2010, it could well pay to give camping a serious thought, because you can tick all of these boxes without breaking the bank. Once you've invested in the essential equipment (something a small personal loan could cover) you're set for years of low cost holidays.

We've come a long way from either the bawdiness of Carry on Camping or the stiff upper lip self-righteousness of Nuts in May. These days, camping can be both fun and even up-market - the so-called 'glamping' experience and the new attitude typified by Cool Camping.

So, read on to get the best out of your luxury camping holiday.

Posh campsites
Sure, a field with a bit of space and what amounts to a brick outhouse will do the job.

But, to paraphrase King Lear, man is no better than the beasts of the field if you stick to the bare minimum. Wise words, because - let's face it - if you're out camping, you're not going to actually want to live like the cow in the next field.

To help find the right place, Enjoy England has an accommodation search function, and also has ratings for campsites, ranging from a lowly one star ("simple, practical, no frills") to a towering five stars ("exceptional, with a degree of luxury").

Luxurious tents
If you are pitching your own tent, there are some great options available. Forget garish colours and missing pegs, and relax in the palatial (well, almost) splendour of these beauties:

Bell tents may have their roots in 19th Century military kit, but these days they double as an "open-plan bedroom or party pad", according to the makers. Despite the elegant, traditional shape, the waterproof material can be rolled up from the bottom on nice days, allowing the breeze to circulate.
Europlus has a massive range of tents, from the practical to the extravagant, and everything in between. Wigwam anyone?
OK - they're possibly not what you would expect to be pitching in a howling gale in the Lake District, but If you want to go totally bananas, take a look at these ultra-luxurious African tents from Exclusive Tents.

Clever gadgets
Now you know where to go and what to sleep in, you need to pack some of this smart kit:

With all the battery-reliant paraphernalia you are likely to take into the great unknown, a solar-powered recharger for phones, camera and radios is essential. The cheeky Freeloader Globetrotter could be just the job.
Need light and to circulate a bit of air? Then the UFO tent light and fan should do nicely.
OK, everyone needs to go, and maybe you don't fancy the walk to the toilet block in the middle of the night, so why not indulge in a luxury camping toilet? If money is no object when spending a penny, try the Thetford Porta Potti 465.
And just because you're in the backwoods, doesn't mean you can't be comfortable - take the weight off with a Lafuma recliner.

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