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

Original poster

Do I want a caravan?

10 replies

ninja · 28/04/2010 12:43

DH and I were talking about how with 2 dd's now the idea of staying in the UK for holidays is more attractive.

I said that it would be good to have somewhere to pop to at the weekends (my friends have a static caravan less than 2 hours awayand they use it LOADS

He came back from football yesterday saying that his friend is selling a 5 berth caravan for £7000 as it's too big for them. It'll be in good condition, his friend is very fair (we've had cars from him in the past).

We can afford it as my Gran left us some money (about this amount recently) that we hadn't spent yet.

But .... would we actually use a caravan. It means having to book/decide on a place and so in many ways isn't any easier than just deciding to go and stay somewhere for the weekend, and just a bit easier than taking a tent.

On the otherhand it would mean we could leave holiday stuff in it and we'd have a shower and a kitchen.

Anyone have a caravan and have never looked back, or have one and wish they didn't?

Thanks

OP posts:
blowbroth · 28/04/2010 17:21

Absolutely go for it! I always caravanned as a child and now we have one and my dd loves it. Join the Camping and Caravan Club or the Caravan Club ,or both, and you'll get all the info as to where sites are.
You don't even have to go far from home at weekends, we often go only 10-15 miles away but it feels like a break. Because all the stuff is in the van you only need to load up food and clothes.
I tow ours down to the South of France (1000 miles!) for the whole of August so you're not just stuck with UK holidays.
Go for it!
What caravan is he offering btw? Just being nosey!

bacon · 29/04/2010 22:30

Try it and see but I wouldnt spend 7k - invest some and spend 3-4 at the most. You can still get a really smart one (we have just sold ours now).

We had so many happy holidays as children but it just doesnt suit us now. Hubby is self employed and works all the time hence, we just cant stand the stress of organising the van and driving somewhere in the rain. The whole process has me in tears!

With me constantly cooking I also got fed up making fry-ups and rattleing up another BBQ. It just wasnt a holiday for me.

Yes it is so much better than a tent as you can leave so much of the stuff in there.

It also depends on how much movitiation you have 'get up and go' as a great weather forecast would mean you have to use the van that weekend without making excuses.

It isnt cheap either, with petrol and fuel economy. Pitch fees can be shocking.

It is lovely as long as the weather is good too.

£7k is hell of a lot of holidays too.

babyOcho · 29/04/2010 22:32

Do you have somewhere safe to store it when you're not using it?

babyOcho · 29/04/2010 22:32

And can your car tow it?

hf128219 · 29/04/2010 22:42

Buy a Mazda Bongo. Brilliant.

Original poster
ninja · 30/04/2010 07:37

Thanks for all the replies - yes I think the car can tow it, but I should make sure.

We do have somewhere to keep it.

I was wondering about the cost, as you say you could just decide to get up and go and stay somewhere for the weekend without a caravan.

I might see if we can borrow itfirst

OP posts:
johnnienobed · 30/04/2010 22:16

Do it, Do it, Do it!

We all love ours and you will get the £7000 back if you don't take to it and decide to sell it on.

Original poster
ninja · 02/05/2010 21:57

Thanks - I have to say the idea of having our own portable holiday home quite exciting.

Do you use it at weekends? Do you book places in advance or just turn up at the same spots?

OP posts:
milkybarsrus · 03/05/2010 14:06

I have gone from camping in a tent to buying a caravan and I love having a caravan. There is no way though that I would invest 7k in one no matter how nice it is. It's a lot of money that you would be spending on something that you may not enjoy as much as you thought you would? Some people hate towing a caravan so you need to see if this is something thats ok for you. Also, caravans lose value every year, so if you pay that much would you be greatly dissapointed if you didn't recoup the money if you sell it? My caravan cost half that and is great! It's now paid for itself by the amount of times we have used it. Yes, you do have to be organised, but you can go when and where you want to at a fraction of the cost of static holidays or cottages. "just a bit easier than taking a tent", no its a lot easier! half hour set up on site and same when you leave!

Original poster
ninja · 03/05/2010 16:20

Thanks - I didn't really know what was good value for a caravan and resale etc, I need to look into it.

OP posts:
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