Below are some Common (and not so common) Caravan Problems caravan owners and holiday makers experience. This article does certainly not apply to all caravans and therefore are only provided as a very rough guide...
Caravan Space/Size
Caravans are always limited on space (however large they are). The larger the caravan the more facilities are crammed in, reducing the actual moving around/living space. Always look at pictures/photos of the caravan you intend to be staying in to see how spacious it is.
Caravans have Thin Walls !
Caravan walls tend to be thin. Therefore family members in the adjoining rooms/bedrooms can normally hear most conversations/activities! This can also be said for the bathroom, therefore think twice before ordering in a hot takeaway curry.
Caravan Power/Voltage
Most caravans are limited on power. Therefore you may find that voltage hungry appliances like Kettle, Electric Heater, TV etc… if all turned on at the same time will cause the over voltage to trip the power fuse box. Therefore it is a good idea to locate the fuse box/trip switches upon arrival so you know where it is in case of a blackout !
Caravan Heating
During the winter/spring months, caravans can be a little cold. At the end of the day, a caravan is just a tin box !! Modern caravans are installed with double glazing, central heating etc… so this helps keep the temperature above freezing !
Burst Pipes
During winter, when the caravan is not used, unless the caravan has been drained down properly you may experience burst pipes. Therefore to limit this, pipes underneath the caravan are lagged to protect them from the frost and freezing conditions/temperatures. If the caravan is not used over a prolonged period of time, then the pipes and van should be drained down, removing all the water from the pipes. Once this is done, it is always a good idea to pour anti-freeze down the plug holes so as to line the pipes and any lingering water with anti-freeze and stop the pipes bursting.
Ants
Ants can be a menace to any caravan (regardless of the caravans age). As you know, Ants can pretty much get access to anywhere. A good tip is never to leave out anything sticky or leave open any jars of jam, marmalade etc…
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Buying your own caravan
Below are some pointers when buying your own caravan. This article does certainly not apply to all caravans & caravan parks and therefore are only provided as a very rough guide...
Holidays could never be the same again. The freedom to take as many breaks at short notice as you want, or lots of short breaks with no notice at all.
Holiday caravan ownership is probably one of the most exciting but costly commitments that a family can make after their family home and car, and can be fraught with financial dangers. But don't be put off..... it can be fantastic family fun if you make the right decisions.
With your own holiday caravan you have the freedom to choose unlimited holidays at a moments notice, and you can even make extra money from turning your spare weeks into holiday rental income.
1) Before buying a caravan make sure you know your limits and do your sums.
2) Don't borrow more than you can afford.
3) Avoid buying a caravan unless you intend to keep it for at least 10 years as it devalues fast!.
4) Ask lots of questions from sales people and others.
5) Take time to speak with other caravan owners to learn more about owning a caravan
Holidays could never be the same again. The freedom to take as many breaks at short notice as you want, or lots of short breaks with no notice at all.
Holiday caravan ownership is probably one of the most exciting but costly commitments that a family can make after their family home and car, and can be fraught with financial dangers. But don't be put off..... it can be fantastic family fun if you make the right decisions.
With your own holiday caravan you have the freedom to choose unlimited holidays at a moments notice, and you can even make extra money from turning your spare weeks into holiday rental income.
1) Before buying a caravan make sure you know your limits and do your sums.
2) Don't borrow more than you can afford.
3) Avoid buying a caravan unless you intend to keep it for at least 10 years as it devalues fast!.
4) Ask lots of questions from sales people and others.
5) Take time to speak with other caravan owners to learn more about owning a caravan
Types of Caravans
Caravans that are available today can generally be split into two categories - Holiday Homes and Touring Caravans. As more people become interested in caravan holidays the quality of both types of caravan is improving. Caravans can now be centrally heated with double glazing, and other luxuries you would previously have only expected to find in your home like DVD Player, Freeview, Fridge Freezer, Washing Machine, Dishwasher etc…
Holiday Homes
How would you like to go on holiday, but stay in your own home!
You can when you own one of the new holiday homes on the market. And you don't have to restrict your visits to holiday time - go away for the week-end at a moments notice - no need to book accommodation. Take the opportunity of going away every weekend during the good weather.
Your holiday home could be in the countryside, or by the sea - the choice of holiday parks available is endless. And the range of luxuries available in the modern caravan is ever increasing. Fitted kitchens (if you wish to cook on holiday!), showers, beautiful furniture and spacious accommodation. You may wish to spend more time on holiday than you do at home!
Where do you have your new holiday home? The parks available range from quiet countryside locations - a base for exploring, to centres with a wide range of entertainments and facilities - everything you need on the park. Ideal for a wonderful family holiday. Well known holiday parks, such as Haven, will allow you to purchase one of their holiday homes so you can enjoy a wonderful holiday whenever you wish, at minimal cost.You could rent one of these excellent holiday homes for a week - but be careful you will soon be tempted to buy one for yourself!
Touring Caravans
With a modern touring caravan you have the freedom to go away whenever and almost wherever you want. You can park your luxury accommodation in the peaceful surroundings of the countryside, or within a busy holiday park where you can enjoy the entertainment and facilities.
You no longer need to book accommodation, just hitch up the caravan and off you go. There are thousands of caravan parks around Britain, many of which are members of The Caravan Club or other recognised Caravanning associations. These are often rated to give you an idea of the services and facilities available on site.
The best thing is that if you change your mind about a particular site, don't worry, just move onto another one. Don't forget though, that you will need to find somewhere to store your caravan when it is not being used.
Holiday Homes
How would you like to go on holiday, but stay in your own home!
You can when you own one of the new holiday homes on the market. And you don't have to restrict your visits to holiday time - go away for the week-end at a moments notice - no need to book accommodation. Take the opportunity of going away every weekend during the good weather.
Your holiday home could be in the countryside, or by the sea - the choice of holiday parks available is endless. And the range of luxuries available in the modern caravan is ever increasing. Fitted kitchens (if you wish to cook on holiday!), showers, beautiful furniture and spacious accommodation. You may wish to spend more time on holiday than you do at home!
Where do you have your new holiday home? The parks available range from quiet countryside locations - a base for exploring, to centres with a wide range of entertainments and facilities - everything you need on the park. Ideal for a wonderful family holiday. Well known holiday parks, such as Haven, will allow you to purchase one of their holiday homes so you can enjoy a wonderful holiday whenever you wish, at minimal cost.You could rent one of these excellent holiday homes for a week - but be careful you will soon be tempted to buy one for yourself!
Touring Caravans
With a modern touring caravan you have the freedom to go away whenever and almost wherever you want. You can park your luxury accommodation in the peaceful surroundings of the countryside, or within a busy holiday park where you can enjoy the entertainment and facilities.
You no longer need to book accommodation, just hitch up the caravan and off you go. There are thousands of caravan parks around Britain, many of which are members of The Caravan Club or other recognised Caravanning associations. These are often rated to give you an idea of the services and facilities available on site.
The best thing is that if you change your mind about a particular site, don't worry, just move onto another one. Don't forget though, that you will need to find somewhere to store your caravan when it is not being used.
History of Caravaning
Below is a potted history of caravaning and caravan holidays in the UK....
Caravans as we know them evolved rather than were invented. It is known that they were used in Marco Polo’s time (13th century), by a character in Charles Dickens’s Old Curiosity Shop (1841) and during the First (1914-18) World War. However, the caravan for leisure use seems to have taken off in the beginning of the 20th century (source W. M Whiteman in ‘The History of the Caravan’).
It was then a pursuit for the wealthy and leisured - Harrods and Fortnum and Mason used to hire them out!
The National Caravan Council was founded in 1939 and caravans were used during the Second World War.
Note: The word caravan does not come from Romany, where they are a relatively recent addition, but from the Persian (karwan). It is the origin of the word ‘van’.
There are nearly a million caravans in the UK. Of the three main types for leisure use, there are:
500,000 touring caravans
330,000 caravan holiday homes
120,000 motorhomes
… a couple of million British people take caravan holidays every year (the Caravan Club alone has 850,000 members). In 2004, nearly one in five (18.8%) of adults whose last holiday was in the UK took a caravan holiday.
And if all the touring caravans in Britain were put end to end, they would stretch from Land’s end to John O’Groats three times (3,000 miles).
Caravan parks vary from huge centres with on-site entertainment, leisure centres and multi-sports courts to tiny Certificated Locations (CLs) where there may only be running water and a stunning view. When you ask caravanners what they like about it, they say that it is the freedom and meeting similar minded people that attracts them.
Caravans as we know them evolved rather than were invented. It is known that they were used in Marco Polo’s time (13th century), by a character in Charles Dickens’s Old Curiosity Shop (1841) and during the First (1914-18) World War. However, the caravan for leisure use seems to have taken off in the beginning of the 20th century (source W. M Whiteman in ‘The History of the Caravan’).
It was then a pursuit for the wealthy and leisured - Harrods and Fortnum and Mason used to hire them out!
The National Caravan Council was founded in 1939 and caravans were used during the Second World War.
Note: The word caravan does not come from Romany, where they are a relatively recent addition, but from the Persian (karwan). It is the origin of the word ‘van’.
There are nearly a million caravans in the UK. Of the three main types for leisure use, there are:
500,000 touring caravans
330,000 caravan holiday homes
120,000 motorhomes
… a couple of million British people take caravan holidays every year (the Caravan Club alone has 850,000 members). In 2004, nearly one in five (18.8%) of adults whose last holiday was in the UK took a caravan holiday.
And if all the touring caravans in Britain were put end to end, they would stretch from Land’s end to John O’Groats three times (3,000 miles).
Caravan parks vary from huge centres with on-site entertainment, leisure centres and multi-sports courts to tiny Certificated Locations (CLs) where there may only be running water and a stunning view. When you ask caravanners what they like about it, they say that it is the freedom and meeting similar minded people that attracts them.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Ways to ruin your holiday
Ways in which you could ruin your caravan holiday....
Don’t forget where you booked your holiday/caravan
Yes, you booked with Haven Holidays, but which site was it again ?? Doh ! You don’t want to turn up to the wrong holiday site.
Don’t book the wrong size caravan
Don’t turn up expecting a 3 bedroom, 6 berth caravan and finding you have booked a 2 bedroom, 4 berth caravan by mistake! 6 people into a 4 berth caravan just does not work !!
Don’t lose the Caravan
Make sure your children know the location and caravan number you are holidaying in. Some caravan sites are large with over 2000 caravans sited on the same park/complex. It is amazing how similar caravans look. This rule applies to Grown-Ups too !!
Don’t lose the keys
Keys are released to holidaymakers in lots of different ways, i.e. via the main holiday park reception, via the owner themselves, via an on-site agent or another owner or even in a combination box outside the caravan. If you lose the keys, a charge is normally raised which you will have to pay in order to get the keys replaced.
Don’t forget your passport
If the holiday park you are staying at is near the south coast, why not pop across on the ferry to France for the day. If you have this in mind, don’t forget your passport (and remind other family members to take theirs too) !! There is nothing worse than having to stay in the UK while the rest of your family go hopping across the channel.
Medication
If you are on any kind of medication or suffer from asthma etc… make sure you take all the medical items you will need for your holiday stay/period. Having to go to a doctors surgery while on holiday or even A&E is the pits !!
Home Alone
In the rush to pack for your holiday and get on the road early in the morning to miss the holiday traffic, don’t forget your kids !!
The In-Laws
Why not leave them at home this year !!
Don’t forget where you booked your holiday/caravan
Yes, you booked with Haven Holidays, but which site was it again ?? Doh ! You don’t want to turn up to the wrong holiday site.
Don’t book the wrong size caravan
Don’t turn up expecting a 3 bedroom, 6 berth caravan and finding you have booked a 2 bedroom, 4 berth caravan by mistake! 6 people into a 4 berth caravan just does not work !!
Don’t lose the Caravan
Make sure your children know the location and caravan number you are holidaying in. Some caravan sites are large with over 2000 caravans sited on the same park/complex. It is amazing how similar caravans look. This rule applies to Grown-Ups too !!
Don’t lose the keys
Keys are released to holidaymakers in lots of different ways, i.e. via the main holiday park reception, via the owner themselves, via an on-site agent or another owner or even in a combination box outside the caravan. If you lose the keys, a charge is normally raised which you will have to pay in order to get the keys replaced.
Don’t forget your passport
If the holiday park you are staying at is near the south coast, why not pop across on the ferry to France for the day. If you have this in mind, don’t forget your passport (and remind other family members to take theirs too) !! There is nothing worse than having to stay in the UK while the rest of your family go hopping across the channel.
Medication
If you are on any kind of medication or suffer from asthma etc… make sure you take all the medical items you will need for your holiday stay/period. Having to go to a doctors surgery while on holiday or even A&E is the pits !!
Home Alone
In the rush to pack for your holiday and get on the road early in the morning to miss the holiday traffic, don’t forget your kids !!
The In-Laws
Why not leave them at home this year !!
Items not to forget !
Going on a caravan holiday is a lot different from going on a package holiday or staying in a hotel. There are a number of essential items you need to take with you to the caravan, but are not always the most obvious....
Linen – Not all caravan holidays include linen. Therefore find out before you leave home. If linen is not provided, you will need to find out what beds are in the caravan i.e. 1 Double Bed and 2 Singles, 2 Double beds etc… so that you can take the appropriate linen with you.
Loo Rolls – The worst thing is arriving at your caravan, desperately needing the loo and then finding the loo rolls have run out or been used up by previous occupants. Take at least 1 loo roll with you just to make sure you have supplies for immediate use !
Tea & Coffee – After a long drive to your caravan holiday destination, there is nothing better than having a nice cuppa. Make sure you take a few Tea Bags or Coffee with you.
Milk – Most UK Tea Drinkers add a drop of milk for colour. Take a carton of longlife milk with you so that it doesn’t leak on your journey to the caravan holiday park.
Small Heater – Caravans may be warm during the day but however much heating the caravan has, it is always good to have an extra heater as, at the end of the day, a caravan is a metal box and as such will lose its heat slowly as soon as the sun goes down ! You have to be careful about the wattage of your heater as some caravans will not cope with the extra voltage needed to run your heater, plus the kettle, TV, Lights etc….
Travel Iron – Not all caravans have ironing facilities, therefore a travel iron is always a good item to take with you. You want to look your best when going to the on-site entertainment complex in the evenings !
DVDs / Videos – Most modern caravans have either a DVD Player or Video Recorder added for your convenience. But, the caravan owners aren’t going to supply you with any good films to watch. Why not take some with you !!
Music CD’s – What’s the point of having a CD player/Midi System in the caravan without anything to play on it ! Take some of your favourite music !!
Linen – Not all caravan holidays include linen. Therefore find out before you leave home. If linen is not provided, you will need to find out what beds are in the caravan i.e. 1 Double Bed and 2 Singles, 2 Double beds etc… so that you can take the appropriate linen with you.
Loo Rolls – The worst thing is arriving at your caravan, desperately needing the loo and then finding the loo rolls have run out or been used up by previous occupants. Take at least 1 loo roll with you just to make sure you have supplies for immediate use !
Tea & Coffee – After a long drive to your caravan holiday destination, there is nothing better than having a nice cuppa. Make sure you take a few Tea Bags or Coffee with you.
Milk – Most UK Tea Drinkers add a drop of milk for colour. Take a carton of longlife milk with you so that it doesn’t leak on your journey to the caravan holiday park.
Small Heater – Caravans may be warm during the day but however much heating the caravan has, it is always good to have an extra heater as, at the end of the day, a caravan is a metal box and as such will lose its heat slowly as soon as the sun goes down ! You have to be careful about the wattage of your heater as some caravans will not cope with the extra voltage needed to run your heater, plus the kettle, TV, Lights etc….
Travel Iron – Not all caravans have ironing facilities, therefore a travel iron is always a good item to take with you. You want to look your best when going to the on-site entertainment complex in the evenings !
DVDs / Videos – Most modern caravans have either a DVD Player or Video Recorder added for your convenience. But, the caravan owners aren’t going to supply you with any good films to watch. Why not take some with you !!
Music CD’s – What’s the point of having a CD player/Midi System in the caravan without anything to play on it ! Take some of your favourite music !!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Caravan Holiday - Top Tips
Below are some Top Tips to make your stay in a caravan more pleasurable.
These tips may not apply to all caravans and therefore are only provided as a very rough guide...
Caravan Warmth
If you think the caravan will get cold while you are out during the day (especially when the weather forecast is not for a sunny day), why not leave one of the caravans heaters on in the caravan on a low setting. This depends on whether you are paying for electricity or if it is included in your caravan hire price. Do not leave anything on which could be a fire risk and make sure they are not covered or near any furniture/fabric/clothing etc….
Caravan Shower
Think about who is in the caravans bathroom/shower when turning on any other tap in the caravan. If you turn the cold water tap on, the shower may suddenly become very hot. The opposite may also apply if you turn a hot tap on as you may give a family member a cold shower !!
Extra Double Bed
You may find that if the caravan you are hiring has a twin room (with 2 single beds) that they may be free-standing and thus can be pushed together to form a Double bed. Remember to put the caravans single beds back as you found them upon leaving the caravan at the end of your holiday stay.
Sticky Substances
Do not leave any sticky substances on caravan work surfaces or tables. This may attract Ants which are unwelcome visitors in any caravan.
Keys
Ask the holiday park reception if there are 2 sets of keys available for your use during your stay. This will help if your family/friends get split up and do different things through the day and thus will arrive back at the caravan in the afternoon/evening at different times. 2 Sets are not commonly available but there is no harm in asking !
FreeView
Look out for caravans that have FreeView installed. This will mean the TV picture is far superior and digital. FreeView will only work if the TV Aerial signal is strong, therefore caravans that do not have it may not have a decent picture for normal TV either.
On-Site Shop
Make sure that you do not need an entertainment pass to get access to the on-site shop. Some parks locate the shop within the main complex and you may then find that if you do not have entertainment passes, you may not be able to get access to the shop to buy food/essential supplies.
These tips may not apply to all caravans and therefore are only provided as a very rough guide...
Caravan Warmth
If you think the caravan will get cold while you are out during the day (especially when the weather forecast is not for a sunny day), why not leave one of the caravans heaters on in the caravan on a low setting. This depends on whether you are paying for electricity or if it is included in your caravan hire price. Do not leave anything on which could be a fire risk and make sure they are not covered or near any furniture/fabric/clothing etc….
Caravan Shower
Think about who is in the caravans bathroom/shower when turning on any other tap in the caravan. If you turn the cold water tap on, the shower may suddenly become very hot. The opposite may also apply if you turn a hot tap on as you may give a family member a cold shower !!
Extra Double Bed
You may find that if the caravan you are hiring has a twin room (with 2 single beds) that they may be free-standing and thus can be pushed together to form a Double bed. Remember to put the caravans single beds back as you found them upon leaving the caravan at the end of your holiday stay.
Sticky Substances
Do not leave any sticky substances on caravan work surfaces or tables. This may attract Ants which are unwelcome visitors in any caravan.
Keys
Ask the holiday park reception if there are 2 sets of keys available for your use during your stay. This will help if your family/friends get split up and do different things through the day and thus will arrive back at the caravan in the afternoon/evening at different times. 2 Sets are not commonly available but there is no harm in asking !
FreeView
Look out for caravans that have FreeView installed. This will mean the TV picture is far superior and digital. FreeView will only work if the TV Aerial signal is strong, therefore caravans that do not have it may not have a decent picture for normal TV either.
On-Site Shop
Make sure that you do not need an entertainment pass to get access to the on-site shop. Some parks locate the shop within the main complex and you may then find that if you do not have entertainment passes, you may not be able to get access to the shop to buy food/essential supplies.
Welcome to our blog !
Dear All
Welcome to our Blog !
We will be posting articles, information, help and support to our blog over the coming months to help you use our website, book holiday properties and answer your questions.
We hope you find this resource helpful.
Kind Regards
Giles Keen
Book Directly
Welcome to our Blog !
We will be posting articles, information, help and support to our blog over the coming months to help you use our website, book holiday properties and answer your questions.
We hope you find this resource helpful.
Kind Regards
Giles Keen
Book Directly
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