1. A torchThe importance of having a good torch cannot be stressed enough. It gets awfully dark in a remote field and so a torch is an essential tool, particularly when trying to find the loo. The wind-up variety are a good bet, as you don’t need

Station. Camping essentials are supplied, so you just turn up en famille with sleeping bags and hit the road. From £500 per week for a family of six. Tel: 01768 780413; www.vwcamperhire.net- For contemporary vans adorned with an array of dazzling graffiti, try

to Cool camping essentials in our Tips & advice section.

exit gives us enough security to let go of pent-up feelings.”Secret hideaways can come in all shapes and sizes. You can create a simple indoor den, with sheets strewn across the sofa and an armchair or a simple makeshift outdoor camp. There are also

that could do with a wash. Perched at a jaunty angle, you could almost be mistaken for Alexa Chung.■ Money bag Mercifully, at family festivals like Camp Bestival theft is very rare. Indeed, with that crowd you are more likely to get your wallet handed in than

), means you’ll be fully covered; travel agents should be members of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). So, where to go and how to get there? Shopping around is essential. This year there is a huge late-booking trend, as people, worried about

, accommodation and some meals, from Exodus.7. Essential JordanWhy? Epic and adventurous, yet small enough to keep long journeys to a minimum, Jordan has cultural and natural wonders that are perfect for budding (five years plus) Indiana Joneses. On this eight

is that family ski facilities get better every year, so it is possible to please the whole family. You just need to keep a few essentials in mind. First, you’ll want to minimise transfer time between the airport and the resort and, once there, you’ll want snow