Hi to all and merry Christmas and happy new year all have a safe a good holiday period, now back to more mundane things, cost of holidays and as indicated above "Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday from an expensive hobby" We are a family of four, caravanning now into our 4th season (2012) Since turning to the tin top side from the luxury of aeroplanes and swish hotels we have never looked back. Looked at going to our usual overseas destination i.e. Venetian Rivera (Venice) total cost 2 adults 2 kids summer holidays due to school etc £4300.00 excluding spends and holiday clothes. Way this up against 8 trips for 2012 in the van with two weeks in the summer hols (£400.00 cc site) total £782.00 for 8 trips. Take out food expense as we have to eat anyway either home or in the van. other cost is fuel which equates if anything like this year to £300 for the year towing. Have noticed the sites have gone up between £3 -8. But still much cheaper than just two weeks away once per year. We bought the van brand new so over the past 3 years we feel it has paid for its self several times over with the amount of holidays away it has given us each year on average 7 - 9 trips out over the whole year not just the April-October season. If anything it is the cost of Storage which gripes me as we store on a Cassoa Gold site £480/year, however insurance is much reduced. So all in all for us we find it to be a cost effective way of holidays, although this view will not be liked by all. This is just my view and we love it roll on 2012.
all have a good one rgds chris W
I'm sure the caravan club only offers 5 or 10% discount for cassoa gold site, why not look at cheaper storage sites, mines just outside of manchester near Bents garden centre on a cassoa silver for £303
I wasn't wishing to get into any arguments about EHU, I was just interested in what people used it for that couldn't be got from the 12v or gas system. & of course my question; If you found your most idyllic site & they didn't have EHU (or perhaps had ran out of EHU points) would you manage without or go somewhere else?
It's surprising how well you can get along without it, I also use a small inverter to charge my laptop, which is something I couldn't do without (these can be bought quite cheaply).
I'm not anti-EHU, especially in caravans, which are very much equipped for it. But I never wish to tie myself to it. I rarely book my holidays very long in advance, so often end up in situations where there is no points left. a bit of that adventure that Jeff was on about (I'm on my own, so no one to disappoint or annoy with my "adventures" )
We could manage a night without EHU in an emergency, but our van does use quite a bit of battery power so we prefer to have EHU.
Mainly we need the battery for the mover, the water pump, the central heating pump and a few lights. Mains power otherwise is not essential, but we do need to be able to keep the battery charged up. Without 12v power our gas fridge would not work.
I think about 80% of CLs these days have EHU, so it does seem popular. We are not bothered with site toilets or showers, would not use a clubhouse or bar. We prefer quiet sites away from busy roads.
If we are away over a school/BH period, we generally use a CL to keep the cost down, otherwise we weigh up the cost of a CC site and decide if we want to pay the higher price to have a hardstanding (good if it's wet) or a laundry room (essential now and again for washing bedding).
Every trip is still an adventure for us, there's always new things to see and do. We have travelled the UK, visited the furthest north, south, east and west points, and seen a lot of Europe, from the southern tip of Italy to the North Cape in Norway, but there's still a lot of places we haven't visited, plenty new adventures waiting.
Good for you, sounds like you've been to some very nice places.
I guess the EHU question is a bit redundant these days anyway. Most, sites have at least a few points these days. I've gone to quite a lot of trouble to make sure I can do without it, & that is mainly to keep costs down as well, but it is a bit of a faff, would certainly be easier to just plug in & forget it. But I'm quite a technical/mechanical person, so it's all part of the fun for me.
i dont think fees are high ,we will be away a week to the beach and a week away fishing in august to cc sites grand totsl £260 where would you get two weeks holiday for that anywhere else !!!!
We would like to go to Northern Scotland but this puts me off. We have been to Ullapool and stayed on the expensive (IMO) site there, but would like to go further up. Not been to the Aberdeen area yet so will have to make do with that I think.
The CC site outside Aberdeen is very nice, good for sat TV too! There are quite a lot of other sites in the area too, inc. CLs with EHU.
Inverness area is fine too, plenty of sites. Going further up it thins out a bit, the CC site at Dunnet Bay is almost right on the beach, and there is a no facilities CC site at the very remote Altnahara.
To the NW, there is a good site at Scourie, lovely sunsets. Further south there are good CC sites, but more expensive than the CLs of course.
You will find CLs with EHU, just not a huge choice.
Can't see me getting that far up country. My car's nearly 30 & the caravan's over 21 years old, I don't think either would be very happy to be towed such a distance, don't think my bank balance is up to it either. Shame really.
I've kept a few of my favourite tents for my further-away camps next season, the 'van is supposed to be for the more local stuff, but I'm getting quite used to having hot running water & my own toilet, so I expect I will stretch the boundaries of what is to be considered as "local".
Mind you, my camping buddies will never let me live it down if I give up on tents altogether! The names they will call me . Especially as I am single & still in my 30s (they & my brother consider caravanning to be for the.....erm.... more mature camper. )
Quote: Originally posted by wynnie69 on 22/12/2011
i dont think fees are high ,we will be away a week to the beach and a week away fishing in august to cc sites grand totsl £260 where would you get two weeks holiday for that anywhere else !!!!
We have around 13 weeks booked for 2012 at around £1000 which is about £76 a week for two people. Seems cheap IMO
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
My favourite CL/CS is a farmers field with a cold tap and a hole in the ground for "waste". No EHU.
There are 3 ponds to fish in, free of charge and just total peace and quiet.
This costs the princely sum of £4 a night.
I think that a EHU is essential for early and late season camping, but in the summer I would rather do without.
------------- Work is the curse of the camping classes!
Hi jennifernn, Have you looked at the Ardmair Point Caravan Site, 3 miles past Ullapool, it’s a smallish site right on the waters edge of (I think Annat Bay), Prices were a bit cheaper than in Ullapool, not sure if still the same price wise, it has EHU.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Sites booked
(I'm on my own, so no one to disappoint or annoy with my "adventures" 
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