Have you visited a UK camp site recently? In many senses, such sites seem to be rather stuck in the past.
This is a real shame, particularly when you compare standards to those found in other European countries.
Campsite owners might argue that you can't expect much more when prices are so cheap.
But is this necessarily the case? Indeed, we may even question whether prices really are cheap.
Pitching a tent is still likely to cost you considerably less money than staying in a quality hotel.
There's no doubt about that, but it's equally clear that campsite prices have been increasing over the past few years.
Given this picture, it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect that the quality of facilities should also be improving.
In particular, is it really too much to ask that we should be able to have a warm shower and to make use of hygienic toilet facilities? It certainly seems as though far too few campsite proprietors are prepared to provide such basic amenities.
What can be done about this situation? If you're staying out of sight where the facilities simply aren't up to scratch, then it's certainly worth while complaining.
If you don't do so, then it may be that the campsite owner will never be aware that customers aren't happy.
If this is the case, they may never make improvements.
Such complaints will not always received a positive response.
So what should you do if you're not happy with the response that you receive? You should certainly avoid that site in future and should tell all of your friends and family to do the same.
This is a classic case of where we can make a difference by voting with our feet.
Sometimes, you'll find that you're intending to stay at a site that you may have relatively little previous knowledge of.
As a result, you may not know what to expect in terms of the toilet facilities.
In such situations, it makes sense to take your own portable camping toilet.
By doing so, you can make sure that you don't have to rely on the facilities that would otherwise be provided.
Fortunately, modern portable toilets are often considerably more compact than older models.
You can also buy toilets that avoid the use of chemicals.
Don't settle for poor quality toilet facilities.
Take the necessary steps to help the situation improve.