AIBU to not understand the appeal of caravan holidays?

[Pegasuspicious]

This is not aimed at people/families who can only afford a caravan type holiday. Or have young children who like to visit the beach, amusements etc.

I have a few friends and colleagues who absolutely love going to the caravan for a week or weekend. A colleague has one in a non-touristy area and says her and her husband (husband is retired, and their kids are well into adulthood) love going every other weekend. They don’t go to the beach or out and about, they stay in the caravan the whole time!

I just don’t get it. I find them pokey, uncomfortable and when you need to use the bathroom it’s like showering/shitting in a cupboard. Am I missing something?

One of our favorite holidays was in a (very basic) caravan in France. The campsite was 5-10 min from beautiful, but not busy beaches and had water slides and mini golf. My DC still talk about it 8 years later!
Tbf the actual caravan wasnt great but everything else about the holiday made up for it

I wouldn’t mind staying in a caravan if it wasn’t surrounded by lots of other caravans. And having ‘entertainment’ laid on sounds truly horrific.

There are sites with Butlins style entertainment but those are for other people. You can find quiet secluded caravans which are so peaceful and you're on a blue flag beach after just a short excited run over some sand dunes. It really isn't how it was when we were young.

Each to their own. I know someone who goes to big all-inclusive resorts in Turkey 3-4 times a year. That's my idea of hell! I'm sure they don't like the holidays I go on. We do what we enjoy.

We bought a tourer last year to try it out.
I had no idea how much I was going love it.

We can tow it anywhere we like. Sometimes to the seaside, sometimes near fell walks. A festival.
We always pick a campsite with no on-site entertainment, but a pub nearby. Other campsite users are generally very respectful and quiet I tend to get really good night sleep in the caravan, much more so than any hotel I’ve ever stayed in, which are always too noisy (and too hot).

I hate hotels; the idea of sleeping in the bed that loads of people slept in is really horrible. I know bringing your own bed on holiday is a little bit extreme, that’s essentially what we’re doing.

And someone earlier mentioned it being like a Wendy house, that’s exactly what it is! It’s so fun. Going out for the day then coming back to your own space is heaven.

That's it exactly. Pick and choose what works for your family. Do your research.

We arent fans of evening entertainment so avoid the sites where that is a feature. I'm not fussed by a beach but like a seaside town.

We have stayed in campsites in Spain and Italy but keep going back to France because it gives us what we like.

I can totally understand if you have a big, comfortable mobile caravan the appeal of touring around Britain and staying in gorgeous places without having to book or spend money in hotels.

A small, poorly furnished caravan not so much.

Static caravans in theory I could get behind but very often they are in grim campsites where you are surrounded by other static caravans as far as the eye can see.

DS11 and I have a caravan holiday every year! We stay 4 nights with Hoburne and their caravans are spotless. If you book in January you get 30% off so I always upgrade. We’ve been doing this for 5 years now :-)

I think the appeal of a static caravan is exactly the same as the appeal of a holiday home in the countryside. I know a few people who have one, and go most weekends in season.

They feel they can go, and immediately switch off. Where at home, they always have a to-do list to worry about. They also feel part of the community, and have a sociable set of fellow minded neighbours there.

A private static caravan is likely much more comfortable than a holiday park one, with everything the owner needs in it.

It is just a more affordable way to get away from it all, at the drop of a hat.

DH and I stay in a static caravan every year - we are middle aged, no children.

They're designed to sleep six or eight depending which one we get, so it's spacious and perfect for us. We have a room with a double bed and there's a spare bedroom with small twin beds where we put our cases and use it as a walk in wardrobe. The bathroom/shower is small and cramped but adequate. There's all the seating you could need and more for two people.

Kitchen is also perfectly adequate for the quick and easy meals we want on holiday if not eating out.

You get amazing views out of the many windows and that camping-like atmosphere (we used to camp in a tent when we were younger) but with a proper bed and facilities. It feels like being on holiday.

No interest in staying in a hotel - I associate them with work travel and dreary evenings having an overpriced room service meal on my bed with only the TV for company while I'm boning up for some meeting or other.

Not a fan of holiday cottages either, had enough of those as a child as my parents always took us to them. I don't want an entire house to clean and tidy while I'm away, The compactness of the caravan means it takes minutes to tidy up or wipe down.

DP and I go away for a long weekend in a static caravan as an annual reset. Countryside, limited wifi, local pubs etc, board games, walks, reading. We go on far fancier holidays but it is bliss to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Well, don't choose a site with entertainment then! We stay on one that's very quiet, there's a little pub nearby but that's it. Sites without entertainment tend to attract other people looking for tranquillity so there's no rowdiness, all night parties etc.

You might be surrounded by other caravans, but there aren't many holiday options that aren't surrounded by others unless you can find an isolated cottage somewhere or you want to 'wild camp' in a tent or tourer.

You're further away from others in a caravan than you would be in a hotel. If you rent a static they usually have more space around them than you'd get on a touring pitch, especially if you choose a small, quiet site where the statics are dotted around rather than in regimental lines.

And that is probably exactly what they love about it. I'm not an experienced caravanner but I have enjoyed the very infrequent stays I've had. I've never stayed in one in a holiday park type situation though because I would absolutely hate that. I want peace and quiet when I'm away from home. Well, I want peace and quiet when I'm at from home too!
What kind of holiday do you like?

The best holiday we had,was a Haven caravan in Spain,near the beach, little garden,BBQ, somewhere to hang wet clothes..much preferred that to the hotels on the 4th floor,tiny balcony.

we have always been lucky
never been surrounded by other people so that you could hear them
you dont have to go to the provided entertainment
i mean an isolated cottage is lovely but a lot more expensive

You're not being unreasonable at all. I grew up with caravanning parents, the tow it yourself kind, not the static.
They loved it. As kids, we loved it. As adults not so much. I've never liked static vans much, don't see the appeal. At least with a tourer you can use it for cheaper holidays, see different places etc. These days, it's easy enough to do a touring holiday and book hotels online as you go so I'd rather do that.
But each to their own. As long as they enjoy it.

I guess there are less things that you could be/ should be doing which will make it very relaxing for some people

personally I prefer a van as a base not staying there all day - but some people watch tv all day or so each to their own

I do like the aspect of having my own familiar space rather than random hostel or hotel rooms is much more relaxing and calming

We go once or twice a year to a caravan, we take the dog, we like them we can come and go.as we please, they are not as expensive as holiday cottages or air b&bs, i don't think they are pokey either, it is a cheaper UK break for us we pick sites that are near the beach.

We love touring the UK during the summer, lots of walks and pub lunches, then sitting out in the evening with a drink to chat to whichever friends we are with, then in the winter we go abroad.

I think I'm traumatised from living in one for 18months (think grand designs "Susie and Ned are facing another Christmas in the caravan" rather than gypsy weddings). I hate the things.

I enjoy a tent though, so horses for courses.

I would love it. I dream of having one then we retire. At the sea.

I love the outdoorsiness of camping in a tent, and in tiny, quite wild campsites. It's hard work packing up/ down and setting up/ down though.

I can imagine enjoying decorating my own caravan and having it set up ready for trips. I don't mind tiny spaces when I'm with my husband or children, and we're mostly outdoors anyway. And as for loos - how much of a holiday does one spend on the loo?!

Unfortunately i hate the idea of driving with a caravan or keeping one in the driveway!

It sounds like your friends just like a bit of peace and quiet and each others company. And the caravan helps them achieve that.

It can feel very relaxing just to have a change of scene and get away from the demands of the week.

I liked it as a child with my grandparents, but now as an adult? No.

I grew up with caravan holidays and that's why I don't go on them as an adult! We couldn't afford anything else when I was young, I can now so I see them as avoidable