Caravan lovers over here please!

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So after a few trial runs with the inlaws ancient 2 berth we've decided we think this is the holiday for us and to invest.

I want to know what people like in their caravan.

We have a 4 yo & a 2 yo. This purchase is intended to do the next 10 years holiday.

We can't decide on beds - we want to be able to park up without putting up the awning as we will be using it to split up v long journeys. Any advice?

I'm keen on a full size fridge, are they worth it?

Any other stuff that people love and would recommend?

Hello! We have a 6 berth Bailey caravan, we have fixed bunkbeds but the kids are growing out of them at 12 and 14. For long trips we have a pod that goes in the awning for ds1 to sleep in, ds2 still likes the bunkbeds. For shorter journeys ds1 sleeps on a bed in the van converted from the table! We have two fridges, one intergral and one we put in the awning. I would like more freezer space but it is perfectly fine. I love our caravan!

Polly you have encapsulated our argument! I prefer the six berth with bunk beds and small table. Way I see it it's like a bonus table and seems a better use of space to me. Dh prefers a 4 berth with twin beds.

I think you're right as they get older they can sleep in an awning pod. Do you always sleep in the double in the front?

What's your awning fridge? I've not seen those before

Our awning fridge is just a little fridge we bought, mainly for holding booze but it can be used for anything! I think it was originally designed as a beer fridge actually, think we got it in Arogs. We sleep on the double at the front, it is massive though and has accommodated all 4 of us during a thunderstorm ;)

If you have little ones at the moment then a four berth will suffice. We have a dinette that converts to bunk beds. We've also put older ones in an awning pod. You can get pop up awnings that are quick to erect but obviously are more expensive.
If you want a bigger van check your vehicle is suitable for the weight.

We don't mind spending a bit at the moment - we'd rather feel in a little luxury when away.

Towing isn't such an issue. We have a toureg and a Volvo estate 4 wheel drive thing (can you tell I don't know much about cars!) at the moment. As we're farmers we're always likely to have one big car that can tow anything I think

Shameless bump for the evening crowd

Nothing to add but hoping you get more replies as I would LOVE a caravan

We are currently on our first big trip away in our caravan - we pulled it to France. We ended up going for a 6 birth with a small table and bunks - there are four of us DD -9yr and DS 11 yr It's great. The small table is really handy and the layout means that DD and DS have a bit of their own space.

Get a six berth! As well as the bunks being always 'made up', they are great storage while traveling. We sleep on the main bed....it's HUGE and I always sleep really well.

You could get away with a 4 berth, but, once you are inside, shoes off, coats hung up etc, the walls close in with so much stuff....so, go bigger with kids.

Hi we have a four berth. It has a fixed double bed and the living area seats fold down into a kingsize bed. We always put our awning up its great for extra storage for shoes, coats, bikes, toys etc

We have a small fridge with a freezer compartment and we have never had an issue with space. Will hold a good few days worth of food

We've got the layout you like - six berth, fixed (big) twin bunks (don't get a triple, they grow out of those v quickly), back dinette that the kids use as a play table, and we convert the front to our bed. Very happy with that layout, works really well for us. Our bunks are big enough for adults. Downside is a small bathroom but we're happy to always shower in site facilities. Re a fridge - ours is small but on longer trips we take a cool box too and keep the less perishable stuff in there. It works fine.

We started with 4 berth side dinette which built into bunks as it was only 4 berth our small car would pull and it worked fine for us and DC but we opted for 6 berth which had fixed bunks and side dinette for more room and DC didn't like going to bed at say time so it was more convenient.

We have always opted for end bathroom as we did like to use our shower in caravan so wanted a proper one not side cramped bathroom and find end bathroom spacious
When our DC were around 10/11 we found they outgrew bunks and me and dh were fed up of making bed everyday so since then all the vans we have had have been fixed beds, a 4 birth van and DC when they use to come with us would sleep on the lounge at the front like two singles.

We found with bigger berths more storage space which we always found useful but in all caravans for me kitchen workspace is important

We have had bigger fridge and normal size and managed fine, when we go abroad we take a fridge to have outside in the car but that is mainly for drinks

As for awning we started off with a full size one as when away in UK it gave us more space for us all and we would always eat in the awning, we then had a porch awning and for the most part now just have a fiama awning which is just a pull out roof canopy very easy and great for warm weather abroad, we have purchased sides for the awning to convert it to a full awning so it's a 2 in 1 really !

In terms of storage the fixed beds are great for underbed storage, I think there is a caravan with layout that has side dinnete great little space for kids with nearside fixed bed and lounge at the front
If you have chance would recommend visiting a show to look at all layouts find a perfect one for you, most makes do similar layouts just different styles, colourings. We use our caravan most of the year so for use Aldi heating is essential but this is more common in higher spec models. European brands tend to have more varied layouts, some lack a cooker but the are beautiful vans the issue is finding a local stock list

If you can get hold of a practical caravan magazine they have a section with all layouts and it will show you which models and makes are suitable as well as all details like weights, cost, height, width etc

We love our caravan, it's a new model that we upgraded to and is an Elddis Avante 866 - it's got fab bunk beds for the kids that are like little pods with their own curtains as well as a play table at the back. It has a side dinette that can easily seat 4 people and also converts to a double bed so one of them can use that when they outgrow the bunks and it also has a big front double. It's got a full bathroom which is plenty big enough for us to use - my husband loves this van because he doesn't have to leave the door open when 'using the facilities' just to fit his knees in!! It has a proper shower but we've never used it as we just use the site ones.

We did wonder if it might be too big, but actually it's really easy to tow, apparently a twin axle is better for towing?

What I love is that it works just as well as a weekend trip van as for a long holiday - because we can all eat together without putting any beds away (lazy morning breakfasts for example!) you don't need to put an awning up for a quick weekend away.

Love it and highly recommend it!