What we have done this year to please everyone as we have a teenager, a 4 year old and a 1 year old is combine our holidays with a mixture of basic no facilities sites and all singing, all dancing sites as we mainly tour round and rarely stay at one place for more than a week. We have combined all these types of sites into our tours/
It is getting expensive and we did give up our caravan last year and bought a motorhome, but we did get rid of one of the cars too as I was only using it once a week
Now when I need the car, the OH takes the motorhome to work as she has plenty of space to park it, and she is loving not having to ice scrape early in the morning as I leave it plugged in with the heater on!
We now only have 2 insurances instead of 3 (2 cars and a caravan) and the motorhome is actually cheaper to insure than the car, We can now also get a lot more one nighters away as its quicker to set up. Although I know this wouldn't suit everyones lifestyle for us it definitely works.
If we didn't get away as much or use it all year round there is no way I would keep a caravan or motorhome. A cheap old folding camper like a pennine pullman would be what we would use, they are easy to store, easy to tow, not very heavy and a doddle to put up, you also don't have to put the awning up like you do with some trailer tents and are quite spacious.
In the last 11 years we have had tents, trailer tent, folding camper, 4 caravans and now a motorhome and yet somehow I still have never managed to persuade the OH to buy my dream V-dub camper!
I hate hearing of people having to give up their treasured units but I suppose its each to their own and whta they feel is right for them and their family.
------------- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Its getting very expensive. I am a lone camper so the costs aren't split. I don't have a hefty 4x4 but as the car is 2.0l and im in my early 20's the insurance take a massive chunk of my money each month. Im lucky that I can afford to go away almost every weekend atm. However I fear that in a few years the caravans going to have to go as I can't live with my parents forever. Sadly my wage won't stretch to a car, caravan & running my own home and there is no sign of a Mrs coming along anytime soon. :(
Quote: Originally posted by MattCharlie on 20/1/2012
Its getting very expensive. I am a lone camper so the costs aren't split. I don't have a hefty 4x4 but as the car is 2.0l and im in my early 20's the insurance take a massive chunk of my money each month. Im lucky that I can afford to go away almost every weekend atm. However I fear that in a few years the caravans going to have to go as I can't live with my parents forever. Sadly my wage won't stretch to a car, caravan & running my own home and there is no sign of a Mrs coming along anytime soon. :(
Stay single Charlie, a Mrs will only drain your resources even more!
(I thought I was the only young solo caravanner as well!)
I agree, caravaning is an expensive hobby and when you take everything into account it probably works out more expensive than stopping in Travellodges/B&B's. Some sites in Devon this summer are charging £50+/night for the family (3 kids) and 2 dogs. Personally, Iif the weather is good I enjoy caravaning as much as going abroad.
We purchased the van so we could get away when we wanted as we have 2 dogs. Prior to having the caravan we would get away twice a year at a push.
I suppose everybody's situations different but I'm willing to pay the money for my quality of life.
I really miss my caravanning days .. We had so much fun .. We joined rally's and made lifelong friends .. Eventually we drifted off rallies to quiet cc sites and left the van on a pitch for most of the year only taking it away to do a seaside holidays .. The kids loved it right up untill they had kids of their own .. Only for us to have to sell .. Not want to sell as the grandchildren came along ... So now with them being tha age of 6 and under we are taking up camping so at least we can get away on occasions and let us revisit our caravanning days with them .. Roll on the fun and laughter
------------- Coming home back to a caravan
2013
Whit week Kelpie Manorbier
July/Aug Carpenters Farm Isle of Wight
Thats it then, our Bailey Ranger has left our driveway First chap that came to see it bought it !! Fond memories as I watched it disappear down the road
Great camping is still possible - all you need is the tent of your choice, a chair, bedding to suit, a radio and a one ring gas stove. Stay on the smaller CL type sites and eat local. B.L.I.S.S ....
Quote: Originally posted by MattCharlie on 20/1/2012
Its getting very expensive. I am a lone camper so the costs aren't split. I don't have a hefty 4x4 but as the car is 2.0l and im in my early 20's the insurance take a massive chunk of my money each month. Im lucky that I can afford to go away almost every weekend atm. However I fear that in a few years the caravans going to have to go as I can't live with my parents forever. Sadly my wage won't stretch to a car, caravan & running my own home and there is no sign of a Mrs coming along anytime soon. :(
Live in the caravan.dont get a wife get a puppy instead. already got a fur coat and wont answer you back.
Just worked out our 10 week holiday including = camping costs + fuel + food it will be about £250 per week for two adults.This is an outside over the top price.In case the fuel goes up further.
When we spent 3 weeks hols abroad in Lanzarote or Tenerife it cost us over £3000 and that is without getting to the airport and back and the pressies & couple of bottles we bought back and actually night time spending and they said it was a cheap one then.
I consider saving up for our 10 + 6 weekers good value for the two of us. As long as I could get a bed about 2ft,6ins off the ground and Bob could still get down to put the pegs in, before we gave up, I would go back to the tent
.But never will I give up camping. We cannot take it with us, we are leaving nothing behind as been told already to spend it before we pop our clogs. So we are going skiing.We will enjoy it no matter what the weather. I love being in the outdoors should of been born a gypsy one with itchy feet, I want top go now but it is a bit too cold for us at this time.
Quote: Originally posted by mandk_surrey on 17/1/2012
Hey all, decided that its time to sell our Bailey Ranger 550-6.. Been caravanning for almost 4 years now and its been a blast, met some great people / friends and loved every holiday. But the rising costs of fuel, insurance, site bookings weighed up against the likes of Euro Camp / Key Camp etc its cheaper to sell up and pocket the money for a rainy day. We will be looking at buying a tent as we'll still look at the odd weekends away with friends etc.
If anyone is interested then feel free to drop me a PM, its advertised on various sites and also here in the
classifieds.
ATB
Mark
Hey, don't be embarrassed about getting a tent! The most important thing is still being able to get away, and enjoying life. It won't be worse in a tent, just a different way of doing things.
I think it all comes down to the expectations of the individual and what you are hoping to achieve from your caravaning.
We had tents up until last year but we became fed up with the putting up and taking down scenario especially in the rain.
Fuel costs are high but if you compare a week in the tourer in a nice costal resort to that of a week in a static or log cabin then it is still a very economical alternative.
We are planning one long haul this year to Gt Yarmouth and several weekends away. Our weekends are more local affairs and we try to stick to sites around £20 a night for the four of us.
We are enjoying our caravan lifestyle and we are seeing bits of the countryside that we would never have dreamt off seeing without the caravan.
We sold our Bailey in 2010, had a trailer tent and a tent since, but its just not the same I hate the hassle of putting them up or down, over night stops are more a less impossible, we go to France and after a long drive the last thing you want to do is start rumaging round the boot to unload everything!
As soon as finances allow it, we will be back to a little caravan!
We sold our Bailey in 2010, had a trailer tent and a tent since, but its just not the same I hate the hassle of putting them up or down, over night stops are more a less impossible, we go to France and after a long drive the last thing you want to do is start rumaging round the boot to unload everything!
As soon as finances allow it, we will be back to a little caravan!
To be honest that is what put us off a TT in the end and why we ended up with a FC instead. We knew we would want to do plenty of short breaks including possibly overnighters on way to / from Europe and Fc gives that option.
Saying all that not a cheap option unless you go very old of course. As someone else said its the being in teh great outdoors that is the important thing whatever is above your head - tin or canvas!
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: Oh Well, it was fun whilst it lasted
First chap that came to see it bought it !! Fond memories as I watched it disappear down the road 
as we'll still look at the odd weekends away with friends etc. 
The most important thing is still being able to get away, and enjoying life. It won't be worse in a tent, just a different way of doing things.
