Don’t let it be said that I’m getting cranky in my old age, but if there is one thing that I can’t abide by, it’s badly-behaved boomers on the road giving the rest of us a bad name. There, I said it! Of course, most grey nomads know the rules of the road – both the official ones and the unspoken ones. They’re a delight to share a yarn with around a campfire.
However, there is always one bad egg that spoils things for everyone, and if you know what to look for, you can usually see them coming from a mile away. Want my advice? Avoid the following types like the plague!
The Overzealous Happy Hour Enthusiast
Happy hour can be one of the highlights of the day whether you’re away for the weekend or doing The Big Lap. As the sun goes down on another day, fellow travellers congregate in one area of the campsite, generally a communal camp kitchen or around the best fire, and trade road stories and tips over a beer or a glass of wine. It’s a great way to meet new and interesting people and discover not-to-be-missed locations that you haven’t heard of. The issue is that for some people, this social event can devolve into some antisocial behaviour as they get roaring drunk, lose all capacity to moderate the volume of their voice and keep their neighbours awake into the wee small hours. If you are in a tent or a pop top caravan that doesn’t block much noise, you’ll want to park as far away from these types as possible, particularly if you plan to set off again the next day. Nobody wants fatigued drivers on the road!
The Blowhard
The blowhard is the easiest to spot. They usually arrive in the biggest, fanciest RV, take up too much room and are generally unfriendly and oozing with their own self-importance. During the day, you’re lucky to get so much as a smile or a nod of acknowledgment from them. If they do deign to join happy hour or make conversation, it’s usually just to brag about all the whizz-bang functions of their RV, how it’s superior to everyone else’s, and what you really should have looked for when buying a caravan. Unsurprisingly, these types are universally loathed by fellow travellers for their capacity to instantly kill the vibe and ruin a good night.
As the young folk would say… “don’t be that guy!”
The Impossible-to-Please 1 Star Reviewer
Lastly, there is the impossible-to-please nitpicker who revels in leaving scathing reviews of perfectly nice campsites. You know the type. They’ve been living in their own filth and barely washed for four days, but a smudged mirror in the shared facilities will earn the caravan park a blistering 1-star review, and a verbal slating to anyone who’ll listen. Reviews are a useful tool for fellow travellers as they can help uncover hidden camping gems – and provide warnings about places that don’t live up to basic standards. Is it too much to ask that we use the tool wisely – and fairly?
Caravan Park Etiquette Rules
If you want to avoid being the object of other travellers’ scorn or annoyance on the road, it is wise to follow these caravan park etiquette rules.
- Respect quiet hours when neighbours may be sleeping.
- Keep your site tidy and free from litter and avoid leaving food outside that might attract local wildlife.
- Respect personal space and refrain from encroaching on your neighbour’s site.
- Ensure that you are not blocking access to anyone’s site.
- For the safety of all guests, especially children, observe speed limits and safety rules.
- Wait your turn to use shared facilities and clean up after you’ve used them. Be mindful that other people may also be waiting to use the facilities and refrain from monopolising them.
- Respect the natural environment in your campsite by leaving plants and natural features undisturbed, and refrain from feeding or approaching wildlife.
- Don’t enter someone else’s campsite without being invited.
- Familiarise yourself with the campsite’s fire safety rules and adhere to them. Never leave a fire unattended.
- If you need to arrive late or leave early, inform park management in advance so any inconvenience to other guests can be mitigated.
