Top tips for travelling to the campsite

1. Make a checklist of everything you need to do to pull a trip together: site booking, money, driving and car documentation, insurance and so on. Try to keep all your holiday stuff together to reduce the chances of any item going astray. Check the detail as well. Realising shortly before leaving that a passport is about to expire could wreck your plans or cost a packet for a fast track renewal.

2. Reduce the odds on getting lost, the spectre of parental discord and adding hours to the journey by planning your route carefully. Check traffic news before setting off and listening to radio updates makes sense. Tune into 107.7 FM for regular reports in English when driving on French autoroutes.

3. In an ideal world, a car should be whipped into a garage for a full service before taking off on holiday. If that is not going to happen, at least check the oil, brake and transmission fluids, coolant, tyre pressure and screen wash. Make sure you have the obligatory safety, repair and first aid equipment needed in Europe.

4. Regular trips to an ATM abroad can result in an outrageous amount paid for the privilege of accessing your own money. Take some cash, already exchanged for euros, with you, use your debit card for purchases and prepare yourself to be furious about the exchange rate used by your bank on your next statement. Make sure to avoid using the euro ATM at Dover. The only time I used it 40 euros cost £35; it was bizarre to realise that I had mugged myself.

5. Make sure that all the family is secure and comfy. Inflatable neck pillows, small cushions and mini blankets all help to make dozing off easier for passengers in their cosy nests. Avoid packing luggage around passengers, as items that are not secured can become missiles in the event of a collision or even sharp braking.

6. Be ruthless when choosing what to take. It is a holiday and nobody should worry too much about clean clothes every day. Consider a roof box or trailer if you really think that otherwise you will have to pack stuff inside the car. Dressing small children for bed when travelling makes getting them tucked in on site a lot easier. If you know you will be arriving late, pack washing kit and spare underwear for everybody in one bag and pack it last for easy retrieval.

7. Never allow a pet to travel unrestrained. Low speed collisions may injure your pet, passengers or the driver if he or she gets thrown around in the car. Plus, of course, an unrestrained pet could distract the driver with serious consequences – paws over the eyes and other tricks. A good pet box is the best option, held securely in place by a seat belt or other straps.

ON THE ROAD

8. Times have changed from the days of I Spy, sing-along and colouring books. Happily, they still have a role along with comics, games consoles, CDs, audio books, DVDs, MP3 players and all the other electronic wizardry. Take what suits and feed it in as attention spans wane.

9. Try to avoid the wild-eyed, pedal to the metal approach to reaching your campsite. Allow enough time for regular short stops for the loo, stretching cramped legs and running off excess energy and frustration. A Frisbee can transform a break into a fun time.

10. A longer break for something more substantial to eat (be creative and prepare it all at home) helps to break up the journey and can be a highlight of the day rather than a necessity. Avoid a nightmare in a lay-by by making the effort at home to find a decent place to stop.

11. Keep tasty snacks and drinks handy for refreshment on the run, as it were. Preferably, these will be items that will not end up crumbled, crushed and spilt over the seats.

12. A handy bag with tissues, wet wipes, tea towel, antiseptic cream, plasters and “magic make it better” sweets can make parents’ lives less fraught.

13. Well before leaving, see your vet to check that your dog is healthy enough to travel. If you are leaving the UK, then you will need to comply with the PETS requirements.

14. You should consider having your pet microchipped for identification as in all the excitement of a holiday and new territory to enjoy, it is all too easy to lose your dog.

15. Take enough of your dog’s medication as well as any special food or dietary needs; vet care insurance is also worth considering.

16. Check in advance to make sure that your pet is welcome. Don't simply ring them up and ask: "Do you accept pets?" Be very specific – "Do you accept St Bernards?” for instance, rather than risk finding out the site really meant only small dogs.

17. Take some items that are familiar to your dog – a special toy, bedding, food and water bowl.

18. Consider a mini tent for your dog so he or she has a special space on site.

19. As far as you can, keep to your dog’s regular routine for toilet breaks and avoid cutting back on water to reduce the need.

20. Make sure you keep your dog on a lead. With the change in routine, all the distractions and possibilities to explore, it would be all too easy to end up looking for a lost dog.

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