twenty first Jun 2025
Studying Time: 6 minutes
A caravan vacation is an effective way to spend much less in your vacation and is a simple possibility for individuals who want a enjoyable and hassle-free getaway. Kids love caravans too, so it’s a wonderful selection for households.
Why a CHEAP caravan vacation?
Renting a caravan is typically less expensive than staying in a lodge and even renting a cottage.
You could envisage a caravan vacation being very fundamental and never offering you’ll all of the comforts and facilities that you’re used to. Nonetheless most caravans are outfitted with trendy up-to-date fittings and, relying on the place you keep, may be totally kitted out with every part you want together with kitchen utensils, a cooker and a fridge. Haven’s vary of caravans start on the Customary degree which provide options similar to a 32″ TV within the lounge, double glazing and central heating!
On prime of this, caravan holidays present a type of flexibility that many different getaways don’t. Many caravan homeowners are completely satisfied so that you can carry your pets alongside so that you don’t have to fret about getting somebody to take care of them. Most parks settle for as much as two canines per caravan and sometimes have improbable strolling routes to discover.
Plus there are caravan parks not simply everywhere in the UK, however throughout Europe, so there may be loads of scope as to the place you may go. Though, in fact, you’ll have to keep in mind the journey prices for those who’re pondering of going someplace distant.
The place to start and the way a lot it’s going to price
There are a lot of large identify vacation park web sites you could search to discover a whole lot similar to Haven and Parkdean Resorts. If you happen to’re trying to go someplace slightly totally different or have a particular space you want to go to then you may search websites like UK Caravans 4 Rent and pitchup.com.
The price of renting a caravan will depend on the standard of the caravan, the situation and the time of yr you need to hire it. Center of the Summer time in Cornwall goes to be much more costly than Scotland in February.
Even throughout excessive season, in the course of the busiest interval, most caravans hardly ever price over £700 every week and most are typically between £400-£600. Whereas caravans are self-catered and plenty of parks boast amenities similar to swimming swimming pools, tennis courts and play areas, you’ll have to keep in mind that the price of consuming, journey and leisure have to be thought-about on prime of the value of lodging.
Shopping for your individual static caravan
Somewhat than renting a caravan there may be at all times the potential of shopping for one among your individual. You may suppose it will make sense to have your individual caravan which you should use at any time and hire out the remainder of the yr. Nonetheless, while it could be tempting to get your self a brand new caravan for those who can afford one, we’d advocate in opposition to it.
The extra prices quickly rack up, although. Because the proprietor of the caravan you’d be liable for pitch charges that vary from £3,000 a yr to over £12,000 a yr, relying on the situation. You additionally must take water charges, fuel and electrical energy and Caravan Vacation Residence insurance coverage into consideration, which might add 1000’s onto your invoice.
If you’re excited about paying for a brand new caravan (which might simply price upwards of £35,000-£65,000) then bear in mind that static caravans depreciate in worth extraordinarily rapidly. It might simply be dropping 1000’s of kilos a yr, though precisely how briskly it’s going to depreciate will depend on the mannequin.
As a caravan proprietor additionally, you will be on the mercy of the park homeowners so ensure you analysis fastidiously earlier than signing any contracts.
- You’ll have to pay their pitching charge
- it’s possible you’ll nicely solely be allowed to have a caravan below a sure age within the park
- and, when the time involves promote, the park proprietor might need to promote the caravan for you and obtain some fee. While you may refuse this association, the park proprietor can refuse to maintain the caravan on their park website which can make it significantly tougher to promote as different park websites might not settle for it both.
- You have to to pay for caravan insurance coverage as nicely and it’s price utilizing a comparability website to search out the very best deal out there.
There may be the likelihood to get a few of your a reimbursement by renting out your caravan however there are lots of different caravan homeowners doing the identical factor, which is why caravan holidays are so low cost. Some park websites are additionally closed at some factors of the yr and also you received’t be capable to hire it out at the moment (which additionally rubs salt within the wound when you think about the prices you might be paying).
If you happen to purchase a tourer caravan (one you may drive round) you’ll have extra flexibility the place you may go away it and also you probably received’t run up the identical prices that you’d at a vacation park website. You’ll, nonetheless, want someplace to retailer it and a few native councils received’t can help you go away it in your driveway.
Purchase a second hand caravan
If you will purchase a caravan we advocate you purchase second hand (£4,000+ for a touring caravan, extra for a static). The caravan received’t depreciate a lot in worth when you’ve purchased it and there can be much less of a loss for those who discover out caravan holidays aren’t for you.
To seek for a caravan to purchase you can start by searching the caravan Autotrader web site. Bear in mind, some park websites received’t enable older caravans (normally caravans older than 10 years).
Once more, analysis totally earlier than shopping for to ensure you are getting the used caravan at a good value.
Be sure you take into accounts all of the potential prices earlier than you splash out as a result of renting annually could be lots simpler and less expensive than having your individual caravan.
ENSURE YOU INSURE IT
Whereas it isn’t a authorized requirement that you just get your caravan insured, typically even the very best deliberate vacation can throw up sudden issues.
For static caravans, insurance coverage protects the automobile itself, in addition to its parking zone. It is very important guarantee that you’ve got transit insurance coverage in order that whenever you transfer your caravan, it’s also then coated in opposition to accident, harm or theft.
For touring caravans, whilst you automobile insurance coverage might cowl you for towing, it’s unlikely to guard you within the occasion of an issue. The foundations on towing are totally different relying on whenever you handed your driving take a look at. For instance, for those who handed your take a look at earlier than 1 January 1997, you’ll be able to tow as much as 8.25 tonnes most authorised mass (MAM). Nonetheless, for those who handed your take a look at after that, the quantity that you’re legally allowed to tow is smaller.
No matter the kind of caravan that you’ve got, it is very important be sure that its contents are insured. Nonetheless, watch out to not double up on insurance coverage as it will possibly make claiming troublesome and trigger further stress.
Some insurance coverage firms supply reductions on their packages for those who enhance the safety of your caravan. Some easy measures embrace protecting your valuables out of view, however others such because the set up of a Thatcham-approved alarm are helpful investments. One other option to sneak a reduction is to affix golf equipment similar to The Tenting and Caravanning Membership as members get unique advantages similar to Arrival breakdown cowl and entry to a discussion board of likeminded holidaymakers.
For extra assist together with your caravan insurance coverage, get a quote right here.