Caravans.

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

I think we may have to. For next year.

I love my weekends away but the weather is too unpredictable. We get too cold in the evenings and cooking outdoors in windy cold weather is not fun.

But I'm unsure about a caravan. I am prejudiced perhaps. Aren't they a bit, erm, well, erm..... common?

So, are they?

[alypaly]

if you can afford some of the luxury vans that are available then you are certainly not common. It used to have a stigma attached to it years ago and i thought the same thing. But i bought one and i have met some of the nicest ,most kind people ever...love it as a break at the weekends to get out of my four walls

[Millimat]

Yes DH would DEF be the worst telly watcher

[Oblomov]

No no no, no tv watching for the children !! tee hee.
Seriously we sat outside every evening. I bought large plastic wine glasses especially for this very reason. But 2 nights it really was too cold to sit out. My dh said so and he is never cold. So we jumped into bed and watcheda bit of tv together. It was lovely.
Ds (5.7) is a tv addict. But never asked to watch. He was always of riding his bike or down at the playarea.
It was us, ya know !!

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Actually to be fair, I think DH would possibly be the worse culprit. There'd be some sport or film which he'd insist on watching.

[dogofpoints]

My kids have had loads of holidays with their granny in th caravan and they don't sit and watch telly all the time. No sirree

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

That's so true about kids just wanting to watch telly if it's there.

I have to say, I don't understand those people who sit there inside their caravans of an evening, watching telly. Even when it's good weather and so peaceful and warm outside. Must be like sitting at home only in a cramped environment. I think even if we got a caravan, I'd still want to sit outside in the evenings.

Heated, thanks for that.

[Millimat]

MMOC I agree about the TV. DH wants one but I refuse point blank. DCs would want to watch it instead of playing outside

[Oblomov]

Storage in Blandford, Dorset = £220

[Oblomov]

No tv ? What seriously. Oh you are one of those who just like to 'ruff it' then ?

[Heated]

There is no legal requirement to insure your caravan against damage or theft. But the law says you must insure yourself against third-party liability when you tow your van on public roads. Most car insurance policies include this provision. Even so, tell your insurer that you intend to tow a caravan and obtain written proof of third-party liability cover. Again home contents might cover the contents of the caravan.

Most people I know however insure the caravan specifically with a caravan insurer to get cover for damage and theft which are the 2 main reasons to make a claim. But to claim against contents as well as the caravan you need to photocopy receipts (since they fade) otherwise a lot of companies won't pay out.

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Hmm.

Thread was largely prompted by the prospect of 10 nights camping in mid August but we had such a good time and we were so astonishingly lucky with the weather than I'm off the idea of a caravan again.

However, reading this again now, I do think we'll need to revisit the idea next spring.

I am not having a bloody telly in it though. There I draw the line. I like holidays without TVs.

Heated, is insurance compulsory? is it like car insurance?

[Flutterbye]

Millimat it's the Bailey Ranger GT60 500/5 (5 berth), I'd like one a bit more swanky but our current car can't tow a heavy weight one. Good for a couple of years me thinks, see how we go.

[Heated]

Agree with Pointy, they are an expensive big hassle but the dcs have had the most fabulous holidays in one. I veer between selling it or booking 4 holidays for next yr.

We pay £210 for gold Cassoa caravan storage £250 for insurance & £160 yrly servicing.

We stayed near Hope Cove, Devon at a 5 van site with individual water supply for 10 days cost us only £80 & 2 wks at the very chilled Clippesby with outdoor pool for quite a bit more - you can have whatever type of holiday you want really. We have also done a rally with the ILs, once was enough.

[Millimat]

Flutterbye - so sad but i need to know whaich one you have gone for? I'm soooo nosey I can't help but look at every caravan out there

For all you with caravans - we need some flooring for our awning. Its big as we have 5 berth Bailey which is very very long for a single axle, so have looked at various types of carpets, locking foam thingys etc.
What can anyone recommend?

[hocuspontas]

I'm ideally looking on the Herts/Essex border or 20 mile radius. I'm probably not going to be very lucky!

[bramblebooks]

I love caravans. I have just been rescued from a drowning tent by a friend with a caravan with 3 dry spare beds for me and my boys. I heart her so much.

[flossie64]

We are in lincolnshire, our storage is 6 miles away in Notts. We live right on the border of the county.I do know of a place that has spaces there.

[hocuspontas]

Those of you with cheap(ish) storage i.e. under £300 - are you in the home counties? Desperately do NOT want to renew our contract at current storage place but only have a month to sort it out. Places around here are far and few between. V.expensive and the 2 or 3 smallholdings that did storage have shut due to the hassle of insurance/permission etc

[flossie64]

We are in the caravan club although we have a campervan. We also go on rallies, I don't think we're common, and its great cheap weekends away ,where all the kids play together . My dd has made tons of friends . We pay on average £30 for the weekend on a rally.
On the subject of storage ,we pay £275 per yr,for undercover secure storage ,as it is not allowed for anything like that to be kept on our driveway. Its in the deeds of the property, so always best to check. Proper storage places have a licence from the local authority and insurance.

[Flutterbye]

We just ordered our first caravan this weekend, for next season, had 2 years of tenting hols with wee ones, and it's cold and grim. Friends & family have caravans so have thoroughly nosed around theirs and queried them on awnings, etc. We've plumped for a basic(ish) new Bailey. V. excited, now, roll on Feb 2010!

[EleanoraBuntingCupcake]

we considered a caravan but we would have to pay for storage and thought it would be an enormous hassle to pop off for a weekend. so we have a wee camper. it is fantastic.

we accidently joined the carvanning club (meant to joing the camping and caravanning club) we have been to 3 site and they were without exception horrible. it was like camping in a caravan showroom. lots of gravel and the only views are off other caravans. also lots of signs everywhere warning you not to do things. the magazine is hilarious.

[Oblomov]

We bought our 5 berth caravan from our neighbours. 5 years old. Awning. Kitted out with microwave and everything you could possibly need.
Cost ? £200. My friend thinks it is worth £1000's, especially seeing as an awning can cost £600 or £700 on its own.
There are bargains to be had. If you search hard. What is there not to like ?
Common ? No , it is common sense, as far as the cost of an actual holiday.

[Oblomov]

Just come back from our first caravaning trip.
2 weeks in August. Yes, august I tell you. You can't count on the bloody weather in august these days, can you.
Dh felt it was too cold in the tent for ds(5.7) to sleep. so we all slept in the caravan. It was so very very comfortable, I was surprised. Toasty warm.
Do it. You know you want to.

[troutpout]

Mary ! noooo don't do it!
Don't move over to the dark side!
The force is strong within you...fight it