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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Are people seriously paying this for a caravan?

65 replies

goodnightgrumble · 07/03/2022 21:32

Just looked at booking a cheap week away in August for the kids and they love caravan parks. Had a quick look at Haven in Wales or the lakes and they are 2k plus.
The cheapest one started at 1300? For a week!
I was expecting to pay up to a grand for one of the better caravans but 1300 for a basic one?? Looks like I had better dig out the tent for a UK holiday!
I cannot imagine them getting any bookings!
Who on earth pays this amount?

OP posts:

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 07/03/2022 21:36

In august on a park with lots of facilities/entertainment when many demand is high due to people not wanting to go abroad, I wouldn't be surprised at 2k. Some of the higher end caravans are really nice too. If your alternative is staying in a tent then just go for a basic one.

bagelsandcheese · 07/03/2022 21:44

Find a haven with camping. That's what I do in the six weeks holiday. Mega cheap. You've got all the entertainment and when your at the tent kids are playing out on bikes, making friends ect, and living their best life.

A580Hojas · 07/03/2022 21:51

I wouldn't. It usually rains solidly throughout August in the UK.

CBFA · 07/03/2022 22:13

Look for privately owned and rented out caravans, usually a lot cheaper and on the same sort of sites

vickyc90 · 07/03/2022 22:15

Haven site fees have sky rocketed this year so I'm not surprised people have put their prices up aswell

Africa2go · 07/03/2022 22:18

Maybe it's timing - we booked for Cornwall for this August last September.

scoobydoo1971 · 07/03/2022 22:27

I have inherited a family holiday rental business. We have chalets in the West Country. Loads of former customers are calling to book (I am not taking bookings yet) because they have looked at park prices for holidays. The chalets are on a Haven style park and we usually rent them for less than the park do. Lots of people are telling me absurd rental prices they are seeing for caravan and chalet accommodation during school holidays. I think there are many factors involved. Cost of living has gone up so more staycation budgets where families cannot afford to fly away, Ukraine fear of flying, Covid worries and procedures etc.

Dawnofthefed · 07/03/2022 22:39

We have a caravan that we don't rent out as we want to be able to use it when we can but I can see why people may charge these prices. On some sites the annual fees are crazy, £8k/£9k before other bills and the caravans themselves can cost £80k and above to buy. £1300 a week over the 6 week summer holidays and half that for May, June and September may not cover expenses even with full occupancy. It isn't actually the profit making venture you would expect.
I would probably look for a caravan on a site without entertainment. The annual fees are much smaller so people hire them out for less and you can always use the local entertainment.

RayofFunshine · 07/03/2022 22:42

£2k for a week in the UK??
Jesus! We've paid less than that for two weeks in Spain in June.. no way would I spend that amount to sit in a poxy caravan park (or a holiday cottage for that matter) with our unpredictable/miserable weather!

Dogmum40 · 07/03/2022 22:46

I own a lodge on a holiday park and as a PP said our site fees are astronomical but I definitely don’t charge that amount, some other owners on my park charge treble to what I do and they get bookings! I’d never ever do that to guests especially in the current climate, it’s absolutely crazy and greedy!

I charge the minimum to cover bills and make enough extra to just pay for the ongoing maintenance ( a few hundred) it’s not a business for me, it’s our second home so we don’t mind charging less

Itwasntmeright · 07/03/2022 22:46

You’ll almost never get one of the better caravans for a grand in the school holidays. You’re lucky to get one of the skanky pet friendly caravans that stinks of dog for less than £850, and that’s if you book really early. They gouge the prices outrageously in school holidays, just look at the price drop when the kids go back. To be honest it’s cheaper to take them out of school for a week and pay the fine.

transformandriseup · 07/03/2022 22:49

It's a silly price but I remember trying to book a caravan with friends to stay in Newquay in 2005. It was £1000 per week then.

Simplelobsterhat · 07/03/2022 22:58

We usually have British caravan holidays and they are more expensive than you would think, and it's got worse since covid (but still cheaper than going abroad in school summer hols as far as I can find!). However, we never rent direct from haven or similar. Renting privately usually cheaper and you tend to get nicer, better equipped caravans in better spots in my experience. There are loads of websites advertising these, plus some bigger parks have specific websites and facebook pages dedicated to owners renting out their caravans. You do have to be careful to check if you need to buy a pass to use the facilities and factor that cost in though.

If you aren't bothered about facilities and entertainment, you may find it better to look at small sites, or even compare house / cottage lets.

I would say that in a decade of family holidays in UK summer, I don't think we've ever had one where rain has spoiled more than a day or so (and then not really spioled, just changed our plans!) So I wouldn't let negative comments about weather put you off! You could be unlucky of course, so don't plan to laze on a beach every day!

CJay81 · 08/03/2022 05:38

Tell me about it. For the first time ever we are staying in the most basic caravan Haven are doing. At that time of year we don't need central heating(hopefully lol). We are going 29th August to September 5th. Our schools are back on 5th, so kids will miss 1 day of school(hardly a ig deal), but it saves a bit at £700 odd for the week. We are there to meet up with family who live far away and my kids enjoy the activities too, so I'm hoping it'll be OK.

MinnieMountain · 08/03/2022 06:12

It’s crazy. We’ve been to a particular holiday park a few times since 2018. It has good facilities. Used to be reasonably priced, now a decent lodge costs the same as Centre Parks.

anotherbrewplease · 08/03/2022 06:25

£2k for a week in the UK??Jesus! We've paid less than that for two weeks in Spain in June.. no way would I spend that amount to sit in a poxy caravan park (or a holiday cottage for that matter) with our unpredictable/miserable weather!

We had our best ever holiday on the Pembrokeshire coast in a large holiday cottage next to a river (took our 3 teenagers and 2 dogs). Went horse=riding. Had a day out on a boat and saw dolphins and seals. Weather was around 25 degrees c every day. Did some lovely coastal walks and a river walk every morning. Fantastic!! oh - and didn't get in a plane to contribute that bit extra to global warming.

It cost around £750 for the cottage rental, but we do book ahead.

Sleepingboynexttome · 08/03/2022 06:56

@anotherbrewplease

£2k for a week in the UK??Jesus! We've paid less than that for two weeks in Spain in June.. no way would I spend that amount to sit in a poxy caravan park (or a holiday cottage for that matter) with our unpredictable/miserable weather!

It cost around £750 for the cottage rental, but we do book ahead.

That’s lovely, but it could have been pissing down solid for the entire time. You were only lucky.

Sirzy · 08/03/2022 06:59

For haven it’s always best to book ahead. We have a 5 day break at Easter for £500 and that’s in one of the best caravans they have.

Squidinkk · 08/03/2022 06:59

I booked a caravan for a few nights in August. I was shocked at the prices direct from the caravan park but then i had a look on airbnb and found a privately owned one on the same park which was half the price and we still get the same access to all the facilities.

anotherbrewplease · 08/03/2022 07:13

That’s lovely, but it could have been pissing down solid for the entire time. You were only lucky

Yes indeed - it was lovely. And yes - we were lucky!

Yayyyy - go me

Simplelobsterhat · 08/03/2022 07:28

I think some people are comparing school holidays prices in the UK with June prices in Spain so not like for like at all.
Yes weather is a risk in UK but you'd be very unlucky to have rain every day in the summer. Just need to have appropriate clothing packed and some activity ideas for the days it is raining.

Hopefully prices will start to come down a bit as travelling abroad gets a bit easier and more people are confident to do it.

Eatglass · 08/03/2022 07:34

We stayed in a lovely 3 bed caravan in Camarthernshire on the coast last august - it was £750 for the week i think, we stayed 3 nights. Booked privately through holiday homes uk facebook page. Had to buy entertainment passes separately though.

WildWombat · 08/03/2022 08:07

That does seem insane for a caravan. But I guess you're paying for all the facilities as well as the caravan itself? We usually stay in cottages and go out and about during the day. This year we're paying just under 800 for five nights, which is more per night than we ever have paid before, even on our honeymoon! Crazy times.

Original poster

goodnightgrumble · 08/03/2022 08:08

But these are not private owners. This is Haven itself. Just had a look at private owners and they are a lot cheaper yet they are the ones with the price hikes in site fees. I would rather support an owner than greedy Haven.

OP posts:

WildWombat · 08/03/2022 08:10

Four nights, rather. Not five.

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