Christmas is right around the corner, and if you’re getting away with the family for an off-grid Christmas break you’re probably thinking about how to embrace the festive spirit while on the road. Getting away for the holidays is a great way to get back to basics, embrace a simpler Christmas and just enjoy the company of those around you.
If you’re an experienced traveller, you’ll know when it comes to packing less is more. So how can you have all the trimmings of a home Christmas without overpacking?
Have a Christmas get together before you leave
If you normally have a big Christmas day with the extended family, having a get together before or after your trip is a great way to feel like you’re still able to see your loved ones for Christmas. This can also alleviate the stress of having to take gifts with you and adding that extra weight to your setup.
Having a Christmas get together before you leave also means that you can also avoid having to cook the usual Christmas feast while on the road. It’s the best of both worlds, you get a delicious Christmas lunch with the family and a relaxing getaway over the holidays.
Gift giving
If you’re trying to pack light, bringing bulky gifts with you isn’t practical. This can be tricky if you’re with young kids who are expecting a visit from Santa. Giving gifts that can be used while camping is a good way to justify carrying the extra weight as well as entertain the kids. Gift cards and small gifts are another great way to save space.
In case the kids are worrying, it’s a fun idea to get them to write Santa a letter explaining that they won’t be home Christmas day and letting him know of their location or explaining they’ll be back after Christmas. If you’ve got some big gifts planned take a photo of the gifts to show the children with a letter from Santa explaining they’ll be waiting for them when they get back. Another idea is to get the kids to decorate the campsite so that Santa can ‘find them’ while you’re away from home.
Decorations
It’s pretty obvious that a full-size Christmas tree won’t fit in your camper trailer, caravan, or 4x4, but this doesn’t mean you have to go without. Miniature table top Christmas trees are a great way to get around the size issue. Or embrace the Aussie Christmas and use a fallen tree branch as a makeshift tree.
Decorating the walls with tinsel, Christmas lights, or paper decorations is a great way to make it feel like Christmas without taking up any storage. Plus getting the kids to make their own decorations is a great Christmas activity. If you’re planning to head off grid, battery powered string lights are an easy solution, are easy to get your hands on and often come in plenty of festive shapes and colours. To help spread the Christmas cheer put a wreath on the door or tie some tinsel to your bull bar.
Food & drinks to make you feel at home
It’s not Christmas without a holiday feast. When deciding to go on the road during Christmas many people assume that they must forgo a delicious Christmas lunch, but nowadays this is not the case. Precooking and freezing parts of the meal can be an easy way to avoid doing all the cooking in your camp kitchen. Having a 12V fridge in your setup means that you can keep precooked food cold or frozen.
Mixing up your Christmas meal and doing something different can be another option for your Christmas feast. Have you considered having a cold Christmas meal with ham and salads? How about a barbequed lunch? Just because you’re taking a trip over Christmas, don’t feel pressured to make a traditional roast.
Another option if you’re heading to a less remote area for Christmas can be booking at a restaurant and letting someone else cook a delicious meal for you. Many restaurants offer set, multiple course Christmas menus which can be a nice change from cooking your own food, and really take the stress out of the day.
Music
Music is an easy way to add a little Christmas spirit to your campsite during the holiday season. Having a capable 12V system in your camping setup you can charge your Bluetooth speakers from your second battery to keep it going while on the road.
Whatever your plans this Christmas, the most important thing is to just relax and enjoy your day. It doesn’t have to be a stressful experience, and we hope some of our tips have made it less-so. For more information on setting up a 12V system in your vehicle and the products you’ll need check out our virtual product tour.
