Caravan holidays are awful unless it's your own caravan

[landhill]

Not long home from a weekend stay in a caravan owned by an individual but let out as a holiday rental, this is not the first time we've booked one but it will be the last. It was dirty, smelly and gave me the ick just knowing others had stayed in it. Does anyone else struggle staying in places that are well used? I took my own bedding and towels but it still felt yuck.

I didn't feel clean after showering and was sure to have sliders on and not walk on the carpets but honestly it was not enjoyable. The reviews and photos were all positive yet it was old and not that well cleaned. Have we just had bad luck?

We've stayed in cottages too and I've found them just as bad. I do not like staying away from home so maybe it's me that's the issue but I miss my clean home, I miss having all my stuff and just need sleep as well or feel that relaxed when staying elsewhere.

I'm trying to give my children experiences and make memories and they really enjoy it but I just spend the whole time wanting to be back home. Am I a rubbish traveler? Am I doing it wrong?

It sounds like travelling just isn’t for you and you enjoy your personal home comforts, there’s nothing wrong with that at all.

A minging caravan is grim tho. We tend to do Haven caravans but opt for Gold/platinum standard and have always had lovely clean vans.

First of all, if you go on holiday and find that the caravan is dirty, then go straight to reception and complain. Ask to be moved.

Same with a holiday cottage: contact the owner/company and complain. Most will be happy to help.

We're currently away in an immaculate house. Much cleaner than mine! 😂 And that's what I expect on holiday.

But if you don't like being away from home, maybe rethink holidays. What has been your best holiday so far? Can you go there again?

Have you thought about getting a touring caravan? You can pick them up for a couple of grand and make it your own and have all your own stuff. They're great

Awh I feel you! I am like this anywhere that is not my own home! We are currently away in our own touring caravan...I have to use flip flops in the public showers and don't even get me started on swimming pool floors! 🤢

I believe the issue lies with me being a clean freak rather than public areas/hotels/b&bs being substandard. If I have ridiculously high standards I will be uncomfortable anywhere!

So I do think it is a change that I need to consciously make - to not be disgusted at relatively clean/satisfactory places that most people can tolerate.

In saying this..If somewhere is particularly dirty and you've paid to stay there, you're well within your rights to make a complaint...just balancing up what is acceptable and what isn't.

My particular top hitters that get my skin crawling are...those throws on hotel beds that definitely don't get laundered between each guest. You know the heavy thick ones? Locks and handles of public toilets!! 🥴🥴🥴. Microwaves and Fridges used in communal spaces 🤢

There's ways of coping...and I just choose to do that rather than not heading away with the kids. I'll do a bit of a clean before I start. I'll always wear sliders/flip flops as you say!

Totally disagree. We have stayed in static caravans at flamingoland and wood leisure in Scotland. Both clean and well equipped. The one is Scotland was pristine.

Weird thread title. You've made it look like a statement of fact?

Either way, there are millions of caravans and cottages up and down the country that are very very clean.

Obviously.

I’m exactly the same, wish I had an answer to manage it better.

I feel your pain as I am also a clean freak with ridiculously high standards. Ended up buying my own caravan it's bliss 🙌

This is definitely a you thing. Are you the same with hotel rooms?

I've recently been on a caravan holiday, the caravan was immaculate, and luckily the weather was fantastic. Obviously caravaning isn't for you

Having stayed in all manner of 'caravans' with a toddler/young dc - it is true that some are minging - and therefore a request to be moved is quite in order - and some turn out to be wildly beyond expectations.

Having also before, and since, widely travelled with and without young dc I can hand on heart categorically state that static caravans are the best. You take the dc back home for the rest of the year without having to worry about what to do with the caravan all year after you've disconnected it from your family vehicle.

I do agree that staying in a caravan is not for me, unfortunately we can't really afford much else. I use air B&Bs and check the reviews and photos and go with the best I can find but everyone we've ever stayed in had been iffy at best and horrid at worst.

I am very clean and know my standards are high. I do like to be at home but also want to be able to travel.

I find hotels quite a challenge too. It's the thought of others having slept in the bed and shred the pillows. In my teenage years, I was a chambermaid and the cleaning was substandard. Like washing the crockery in the basin in the room, no soap etc.

I don't much like using buses or trainers either nor public loos. It's definitely me that's the issue. I guess I need to try and find ways to manage better or earn more money to enable a higher standard of holidays.

I agree if a caravan, hotel/bed and breakfast room/holiday cottage is 'well-used', it's gross. But I have stayed in one or two completely lovely Haven caravans, and am fine with them.

I do always take my own slippers (washable ones so I can wash them when I get home 😉) though, because I don't like any carpets which are not my own, even if they were in the penthouse suite at the Savoy.

I struggle with this too and travel lots of work.

I prefer it when we camp as it’s all our own bedding etc

You’ve been unlucky OP. I stayed in a 3 bedroom caravan in Northumberland via Airbnb with my 4 grandchildren last year. It was fab. I’m not exaggerating when I say the quality of fittings, bed linen, fluffy white towels etc were beyond 4* hotel quality.

The entire caravan was spotless. Fully equipped kitchen with every imaginable item you’d want. A welcome pack including a bottle of Prosecco, cookies, kids treats. I didn’t want to come home!

Get a hotel room?

It's either bad luck or you as I've had no issues, especially privately owned ones

Aaah yes - the insight of a teenaged chambermaid and their standards can be enough to make one doubt the actual cleanliness of anywhere - having been one myself at a similar age.

The solution I suggest is to take your own cleaning kit (possibly even bedding/towels) and clean your holiday accommodation to mature chambermaid standards.

Your dc will love you even more for it as you're taking them on holiday - yay!

We used to stay in Hoseasons static caravans and they were absolutely spotless and in good condition when we turned up. It was great.

We are just coming to the end of a week in a haven caravan it is gross. They changed the bedding but have not washed the actual duvet or pillows so the beds stink in fact the whole van stinks of BO and smoke no amount of airing has shifted it. Food wrappers under beds it is truly awful. I find the best thing usually is to have a clean around yourself taps light switches etc this place is way beyond that tho!

I'm now at a point where I don't want to go on shit holidays and to pay to stay somewhere that is worse than my home. Hence I'm not going away this year!!

Love a caravan holiday just back from Craig Tara Haven and loved my caravan (pet friendly) was very clean already booked for next year with dogs and kids

That sounds utterly disgusting 🤢
Did you complain while there and did they do anything to improve the situation?

When I think of Haven sites I think 'cheap and cheerful'. Maybe they save money but not cleaning well/enough?