My only experience of spending any significant time in a caravan was when I was far too young to remember it.
Apparently my parents took my sister and I to Wales and rented a static caravan. From the contorted looks of horror on their faces as they re-tell the tales of that fateful few days, it was obvious that it was an experience we, as a family, would never be repeating.
Flash forward to my teenage years and my best friend used to regale me with tales of her Dad’s snoring while on holiday in Cornwall in their caravan. Although I used to be quite envious of the cosy little living room and kitchen of their mobile home parked in their driveway, her stories were enough to keep me at bay.
But yet, somehow, in the last few years, caravanning has made a significant comeback in the cool stakes. I doubt caravanning owes much of its success to The Inbetweeners, where the guys all notoriously spend a weekend in Jay’s parents’ caravan in the hopes of hooking up with girls, only to find themselves at a family disco and languishing in despair at Jay’s Dad’s flatulence.
The fact that caravanning even gets a mention in a primetime comedy TV show just shows how much a part of British culture the good old caravan is and how likely that is to continue.
While travelling around the North Island of New Zealand last year, we hired a campervan and spent our days driving the winding roads and our evenings parked up at fully-equipped campervan parks. It was actually a very liberating method of travel and allowed us to see a lot more of the country than we otherwise would have done. Not only that, but it was also a lot more modern and convenient than I could ever have imagined.
After such a positive experience, I would now definitely consider a caravan holiday at home in the UK, but only in one which was mobile. It would definitely be a cost-effective and fun way to see more of my home country.
The Benefits
- If you do plan to get a caravan, you will have to buy a separate insurance for the vehicle as you car insurance doesn’t cover the caravan.
- You can choose exactly where you want to stay, instead of being restricted by the location and price of city-centre hotels
- You get to take all of your stuff with you – this is great for someone like me, who is terrible at travelling light. It’s like travelling with a small section of home, including all of the home comforts.
- Some caravan parks even have swimming pools or offer great views – you don’t always get that with a hotel or B&B
- There are caravan parks all over Europe, meaning that you don’t just have to be restricted to the UK. No more adaptors or lack of decent teabags when you travel!
- You can cook if you want to. This is especially true for me, as I love to cook, but not all the time. If I have a small kitchen, I can choose which meals to cook and which to eat out for, meaning that I can save money and enjoy the odd splurge.
The Downsides
- Caravan parks can be so popular, especially during school holidays, that you may have to book your space very far in advance, which doesn’t allow much spontaneity. This is probably especially true for those with great views or pools, as mentioned above.
- If you have a dog, like we do, a caravan can be quite restrictive on space and not always ideal for a pet to sleep in. On the flip side, you are normally so close to nature that you can take them on some great walks, you just need to be aware of other residents and ensure your pet is safe and secure if sleeping outside.
Photo credit: caravan
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