UK Caravan holiday’s, affordable fun or the pits?

We have been on a number of caravan holidays - I think they are great, especially if you have children or a dog (or both)! We tend to do a mix of self catering and eating out/takeaways. Now that the children are grown up we go and stay mid-week. Even if the weather is not good we always find plenty to do (being National Trust members). Out of season you can easily get four nights for less than £100.

I loved them as a kid.

my kids loved them when small. Very child friendly holidays especially if close enough to a beach that you can pop out to the beach and back multiple times in one day.

we’ve actually got a caravan holiday booked for Easter on the Norfolk coast - I do a lot of walls swimming and love the idea of being able to swim every day by just walking (wheelchair ing) down to the beach and my mum is looking forward to all the bird watching. Dd is planning on lying on the beach in the (hopeful!) sunshine.

we’re actually considering buying a static.

I never went in a caravan holiday growing up but I did go through an approximate five year phase of taking my DC on one each year for about 5 years. We went on lots of other holidays and then added a caravan (Haven ) holiday. They were fun, we were fortunate to have a big budget for activities, days and dinners out and we’re mostly lucky with the weather in a UK summer type of way.

I can’t think of anything worse - even as a kid I would have hated that kind of environment.

What sort of prices are you paying for a week? I’m not a caravan person and prefer a basic s/c holiday in France. You can find small houses for c€500/week. Ok you’ve got travel costs too.

Love Porthmadog and Pwllheli. Our oldest is trying to convince me to cancel our man holiday booked to go back again this year 😅

I've been on three caravan holidays...

One as a child with my family, freezing cold in Ilfracombe at Easter, fog and nothing to do. Couldn't wait to go home.

One as a student with 11 other students. Cold, wet but brilliant

One as a group of friends in my late 20s, Glorious weather, horse riding in the New Forest, again brilliant

Affordable fun!although we stay in the higher end accommodation at Haven a few times a year so more amenities such as washing machine.You get a larger caravan too.

It's ok if you get the double bed. The tiny singles are alright for small children but no fun as an adult.

I can't lie - we absolutely love our Haven holidays in Porthmadog.
We opt for the best grade caravan we can (opted for Gold this year and paid £15 extra so that we can have a washing machine in the caravan - I'm a bit of a laundry freak and love doing the washing, plus it means coming home with clean clothes ready to put away) and we don't bother with the play passes as we always find loads of things to do off-park such as days on the beach, exploring caves, country drives, visiting castles, the harbour etc.
Just returned from a 3 day break in Pwllheli and we're off to Porthmadog for a week in June and then again in September - I just love the easy drive, no passports, no waiting around terminals, no delays etc.
I think I was put off going abroad because every time I used to, there were always delays regardless of how we travelled and I'm an impatient sod.

Our dc loved a haven holiday back in the day. Dh and I booked a last minute break on a holiday park last year. We booked a lodge style caravan. It was huge and had everything you could need including a dishwasher and washer dryer. Full sized bath and walk in wardrobes. It’s just the constant noise on these parks that’s the problem but to be expected. We are going again this year though as it was really good value for money

My kids love staying in a tourer on holiday parks with their grandparents. Cleethorpes and Thornwick Bay are big hits. Probably because grandparents book them in to loads of activities, climbing, water sports, take them to the beach, treat them to sweets and ice creams and then make a big deal of the evening entertainment…grandma loves a dance!!! Completely not my thing, but even at 10 and 12 they’re already looking forward to this years summer trip! We have a motor home so do trips several times a year but typically stay on less commercial sites and do beach days, walking, biking, sightseeing type day outs, with a focus on being outdoors and enjoying nature.

My teeth are itching reading the title.... someone please come and remove the apostrophe for me

Well our caravan holiday has just cost us £870 for the week, that’s absolutely ridiculous!

I did one last year and honestly, we were both bored and very underwhelmed. There wasn't enough to do and it just seemed a bit like being at home, but away. The caravan itself was OK. The bed was lovely, really comfortable (odd to go on about that, but it was amazing!).

It was near a few beaches so that was nice. But other than that, I wasn't overly impressed. The on site pub was eye wateringly expensive for what it was and there wasn't really a cafe culture sort of scene in the town. Also no particularly enticing places for eating out in the evening, which meant that we had to cook.

I wouldn't do it again.

I’ve not stayed in a tourer. I’ve done camping and statics.

Though I wouldn’t say they are cheap these days unless your going bare essentials.

I looked at a campsite earlier this year that has nothing at all apart from showers, toilets, sinks and electric hook up. It was £660 for a week that’s there price peak or not peak. Looked at a fancy place and was getting near 1k for a tent pitch.

Our haven holiday in a “gold” static is coming in at over 2k for a week as well. Cheerful but not cheap.

Great when you have small children but not much space in the caravans once they get older.

Always look at privately owned caravans on the sites. Ukcaravans4hire is just one website to search and book. Usually better quality inside and better spots on the sites owned by haven and others.

I'd never book directly with haven etc now after using the private ones.

Id rather go to work unpaid for a week than spend a week on a uk caravan holiday.

Why do you all go to bed early?!

I’m in Seal Bay in Selsey at the moment for an event and it’s actually such a nice site!
I wouldn’t really have considered coming to a caravan park for a UK holiday but seeing the facilities here I am reconsidering.

We're looking at one for May half term...only ever done them abroad before (DC love them).

Does anyone have any good recommendations in the South/South West. DC care more about the pool/sports type stuff than any evening entertainment.

We love them, generally do one every year either during Easter hols or October half term. DS is 5 and loves the play parks, swimming pool and entertainment. We are planning to have a European AI/HB holiday most years too to make sure we get some proper sunshine as the weather on our UK breaks can be unpredictable! We like Haven as great activities/ents and also go to the John Fowler one in Croyde as I’ve been going there since I was a child.

We got to Haven every year.. Adult dd's still love coming and now bring bf's..
We don't do any of the evening entertainment things though. Swimming and some of the paid pre booked activities..
Early to bed and pool first thing when it's very quiet!We also take full food shopping and meal plan. Cash is for amusement arcade and sweets /Millie 's cookie shop!
Booked 2 caravans next to each other last year and had a great time.. Booking for this year also.

I remember watching a documentary about Colleen Rooney. She said they’d been on holiday all over to the world’s most luxurious resorts but her children’s favourite ever holiday was Butlins.