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?

Same would not go lower than gold now.

Nah, I've had some brilliant memories of caravan holidays. Loved them.

I’ve stayed in beautiful pristine caravans that are far cleaner than my home and a few grotty ones, same for cottages - you need to read reviews and if it seems too cheap perhaps that’s why! The worse culprits I’ve had on cleanliness have mostly been holiday parks, but overall it was a hotel at Disney Paris, had to make a formal complaint!

I think some of you have not been choosing the right companies or caravans to stay in. We've stayed in some fantastic caravans - booked through Park Holidays or Haven, mostly. If you book early and can get gold accommodation or higher you should be OK. I think it's unfair to say that caravan holidays are awful just because you've had bad experiences.
The ones we've stayed in have been fantastic -clean, surprisingly spacious etc.

a few years ago we used to stay in a caravan owned by a gentleman loved it but sadly he sold.
chose a caravan at Vale Caravan Park Clarach Bay and it was brilliant. we booked the lower pet friendly caravan got there and they had upgraded to silver for us. we cannot fault the cleanliness or facilities. good price too I would thoroughly recommend them we have been back at least 11 times

We use statics a lot we are on holiday in one now which is lovely yes some are well worn and others have been dirty mainly the dishes tbf which I don't think the cleaners check. We take our own cups, we have always been pleased of how good park staff are if we complained.

Op this sounds like a you thing have you thought about camping then it is your own things.

Same. They're lovely and spotless.

You probably need to read the reviews before going. We've use caravans plenty of times and on the whole they have been much cleaner than some other holiday accommodation.

Have you seen the price of Haven sites in the summer? Not at all cheap. But usually cheerful on the occasions we've been able to afford it.

If you want to stay at home with your pristine standards but want to travel (on a tight budget) something needs to be prioritised. You could save up and only go away every 3 years to somewhere nicer or you could try to take a few deep breaths, remind yourself why you are doing this and pack some antibac wipes. I also pack a sponge for washing dishes (often sponges are left for months) and a travel bottle filled with Fairy, so I know at least the dishes are hygenic. What you don't know won't kill you!

I think it’s likely a you issue to be brutally honest. It’s an unusual thing to want everything to be new or yours. The most beautiful hotels have had thousands of guests that’s just a normal part of life.

Im guessing you also buy everything new and don’t use charity shops or Vinted etc? Was your mum the same? Seeing germs everywhere?

My cousin was a single mum for several years. We're talking about 25+ years ago, the only holiday that they could afford was a £10 one when you collected coupons from a National newspaper - remember them?

Friend & DS had several lovely holidays in caravans. The caravans were well situated on a site within easy reach of a beach & town for supplies, clean, with everything that we needed for self catering. The sites that they chose had swimming pools, kids clubs, kids discos etc. All for £10.

They wouldn't have had a holiday without it. It also meant that they were able to take their tomato & veg seedlings with them - much to the amusement of the site staff.

edited for typos

They were " Sun " holidays and whilst advertised as £10 once you added entertainment passes,they were more than £10,still.very cheap though.

We went on the Sun holidays when DS was little in the mid to late 90s, they were very good value and very popular

You lost me at not being able to walk on someone else's carpets, sorry..

Of course proper grimness needs complaining about.

Hotel etc sheets get washed hotter than you would at home

Yes we did , it was great value and a haven is a haven its geared up for kids and it meant we could get away.

I think you need to unclench. However, I don’t stay in caravans so can’t say if they tend to be dirty. I guess you get what you pay for?

We always stay on Haven sites but opt for Silver or Gold standard caravans. Never had an issue. In fact this year we bagged a brand new caravan so new that nothing had been used

Before that however all beds have been spotless, under beds clean, kitchen and sofa cushions clean.

I always book higher standard caravans purely because I don't cope with 'smells'

We have stayed in a privately owned one once and never ever again.

We are off in a signature caravan soon. They tend to only be a maximum of 2/3 years old before they get downgraded. You get what you pay for when it comes to certain things. Obviously older sofas may well have marks even if they are steam cleaned every so often once they age. Dog caravans are likely to smell a bit doggy.

So we always pick top grade no pets and you have to not be afraid to call the cleaners back.

I don’t think the OP was at a park. Sounds like a private individual renting one out. Often the problem there is they never see it, and have no idea what’s going on. Cleaners brought in.

stick to reputable parks where you have come back if standards are poor.

book well in advance. Places like haven etc inflate nearer the time.

Currently at a caravan site in Wales it's horrendous! I cleaned with disinfection wipes but the carpets the seats the smell. I could have cried I was looking forward to a nice break. It's meant to be a silver plus. I complained but I fear they will all be the same. The whole site is not our cup of tea the people staying here are really rough. It very noisy! I will never stay at a caravan site again it's to hit and miss.

Oh no 🤦‍♀️, can you tell us which park please? was thinking of Wales stay..

Caravan holidays are awful full stop.

I used to be taken away in a caravan as a young child, one of the small touring ones. It is an experience I have never repeated as an adult. Recently I spent one night (under duress) in a larger static van for a trip to a specific location for a specific reason and it was awful. Sleeping in a tin box, in a bed so small my feet hung off the end. Never again.

Camping and caravanning evangelists are weird.

I've taken caravan holidays with my dogs twice a year since 2009. What I found in the past was that hiring a caravan rented out by an individual was never a good idea. They weren't clean and were older with less insulation and mod cons. Since then, I've only rented the site owned ones (Parkdean Resorts.) Yes, they're more expensive but they are always immaculately clean and modern.

I prefer caravans to hotels, at least you can take your own stuff and no one comes in poking about during your stay (by which I mean cleaning).