Suitable equipment, familiar daily routine, and age-appropriate activities
A holiday with a motorhome, caravan, or in a tent is an adventure with many advantages for the whole family: you can set your own pace for the day, breaks can be scheduled flexibly, and you can take everything you need with you in the car. Tomas Mehlmauer, head of the Austrian Camping Club (ÖCC), has put together tips on what families should pay particular attention to when camping and tenting.
Subheading: How to make a motorhome holiday a success
* Suitable motorhome: Ideally, every child should have a place to retreat, such as a bunk bed. The vehicle should have seats with a good view and three-point seat belts for all passengers. If there is only a bench seat, ensure that the child seat can be installed there.
* Safety: Pay attention to proper loading and an adapted driving style. A fully loaded car changes the vehicle's characteristics, especially regarding braking and acceleration.
* Valid travel documents: "All travelers must carry valid travel documents for entry into other countries. If grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc., are traveling with minor relatives, they may need a declaration of consent from the legal guardians," explains Mehlmauer.
* Suitable clothing: Camping means spending a lot of time in nature and being exposed to different weather conditions. Rain gear, rubber boots, and sun protection should therefore be included in your luggage.
* Familiar daily routine and mealtimes: Especially smaller children should get up, eat, and go to bed at their usual times. "It is also recommended not to change locations every day so that children can sufficiently adjust to the new environment," says the ÖCC head.
* Entertainment during the journey: Children are usually easy to entertain. Books, stuffed animals, and games make the travel time pass quickly. Mehlmauer: "Practicing expressions in the language of the holiday destination together or following the route on a road map with a finger is often fun for little travelers."
Subheading: Adventure holiday in a tent
* Good tent: A good tent is easy to set up, offers enough space for the family and luggage, and is waterproof. The "water column" should be at least 5,000 milliliters. Note: waterproof tents are less breathable and must therefore be ventilated more frequently. High-quality tents are equipped with double seams and lightweight poles or tubes (inflatable hoses that replace the poles) and are tear-resistant. Opinions differ on the choice of tent shape. Tunnel tents weigh little and offer plenty of space – they are particularly suitable for short trips with light luggage. Dome tents have less interior space but are more stable in the wind. For a holiday with the whole family, it is also worth purchasing a large tent with separable chambers.
* Suitable sleeping pad: "The sleeping pad should keep the body warm and protect it from the cold ground. For parents, back-friendly air mattresses or air beds are suitable. For children, a sleeping mat provides good insulation," explains camping expert Mehlmauer.
* Suitable sleeping bag: The sleeping bag should be chosen according to the temperature. For toddlers shorter than one meter, there are special baby sleeping bags. By the way, babies should always wear a cap at night so they don't get cold. Older children can use adult sleeping bags, where the excess length is tied off or folded over. This keeps their feet from getting cold.
* Clothing: Clothing should be windproof and waterproof. Since wet clothing dries slowly in a tent, it is worth taking enough changes of clothes.
All information about camping and tenting can be found at www.campingclub.at.
For further inquiries:
ÖAMTC | Communication
Victoria Hofbauer
T +43 (0)1 711 99 21218
[email protected] | http://www.oeamtc.at
