Like others, by having a van we spend more time together as a family at weekends going somewhere different. If we were at home, my teenager would be head-down on his phone or shut away in his bedroom...
As far as cost are concerned, I've now started to disregard the fuel costs as an irrelevance. When we head off to France for the summer, the extra fuel used amounts to just £40 each way (700 miles). That's less than the cost of taking the family out for a meal on a Friday night back home.
Really good thread. I think someone on this site a while back said Caravanning is an expensive hobby that gives you cheap holidays. I probably spend a similar amount of time each year cleaning, polishing and maintaining it as I do in it and love most of it.
We find ourselves sat regularly on the drive in it with a mug of coffee each chatting about the next break sad as we are.
The cost per night is driven very much by how much you use it, we managed 43 nights last year, and 46 the year before. We're on track for about 56 this year. Total cost including absolutely everything is around £2700. Our last foreign holiday for 14 nights cost us for our family of four around £4000 including spending money.
We could cut the cost down by about £500 per year, but are happy with the lifestyle and financial saving the £2700 per year offers us. Our kids spend every school holiday climbing hills, riding waves, running around with pals and cycling cycle paths while other parents we know spend the time at home saving for their next fortnight in Turkey.
We've never looked back since starting this hobby, can't see why anyone does anything different.
Quote: Originally posted by Tony B52 on 09/6/2013
Really good thread. I think someone on this site a while back said Caravanning is an expensive hobby that gives you cheap holidays. I probably spend a similar amount of time each year cleaning, polishing and maintaining it as I do in it and love most of it.
We find ourselves sat regularly on the drive in it with a mug of coffee each chatting about the next break sad as we are.
The cost per night is driven very much by how much you use it, we managed 43 nights last year, and 46 the year before. We're on track for about 56 this year. Total cost including absolutely everything is around £2700. Our last foreign holiday for 14 nights cost us for our family of four around £4000 including spending money.
We could cut the cost down by about £500 per year, but are happy with the lifestyle and financial saving the £2700 per year offers us. Our kids spend every school holiday climbing hills, riding waves, running around with pals and cycling cycle paths while other parents we know spend the time at home saving for their next fortnight in Turkey.
We've never looked back since starting this hobby, can't see why anyone does anything different.
Tony.
That's a brilliant post tony,really is
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
I've got a old van (96) and an old tow car (2002). Depreciation on a new caravan is very similar to a new car and is likely to be aroud 1k per year. What you need to remember though that this is for the first 10 years. After that the depeciation is negligible if the caravan is kept in good order.
Last year we purchased our first caravan to try out caravaning. I paid £1000 and we had 3 full weeks and several weekends away in it. I then sold in earlier this year for extra the same ammount and it sold in a few days. No depreciation there!
Upgrades to a bigger twin wheel van with more mod cons. Paid £2600 and expect it to be worth a similar amount next year.
I do all my own servicing and store the caravan for free so no extra costs there.
The wife has a brand new car. I think it's a waste of money the same as buying a new caravan. Better to let someone else have the depreciation bill. Also I like the old van/car as I don't have to worry so much about wear/tear/damage from my 2 young kids.
Having just bought a brand new caravan (8th June 2013), and its my first . I say you only live once . I have 3 children ages range from 4 to 10 , it would cost me at least 3k plus for 11 nights in Spain etc and the memory from that would be photos ! camping trips will be remembered for a lot longer.
Also when abroad you always feel you have got to go here go there etc and the euro is crap now so it's very exspensive out there. and if you want to go to Florida it's over 3k just for the flight :0. To me it's a no brainier.
I have had a tent etc for last 4 years and my kids have enjoyed every moment even in the rain ( I didn't lol), the only gripe I have now is the cost of pitch prices, I feel some places are getting greedy now.
I say enjoy it . If you worry about the cost etc it is pointless buying a caravan :( .
------------- Loads of CC sites to many to mention.
In answer to your question, it can cost as much or as little as you want it to.
I own a very small, old caravan that is towed by a very small, old car.
I have no storage costs and all maintenance is done by my OH who is a mechanic (my van has no gas so no annual checks needed)
So far this year I have already had 22 nights away, with another 42 nights planned. Average nightly pitch fees are just £10 per night as I tend to rally or use CS and CL sites meaning I spend less than £650 per year on trips away in my caravan.
Personally I would say that is excellent value for money and I am sure not many people have the opportunity to spend 2 months of the year on holiday that a caravan offers!
Great comments. Would agree with lots of what has been said. A caravan does not automatically give access to cheap holidays all in all. We are lucky that we are teachers so longer holidays allow us to use it more. We probably have around 40 nights away in it each year. Couldn't possibly afford that without the caravan. Also buying an older van will still give you this without the depreciation.
Lifestyle choice is another thing that will make you decide is it worth it.
Many a time we have sat outside (or inside on a cold evening) looking at mountains, lakes or seas and commented how we could never afford to stay at the hotel that would be built on the same place.
For families who like being outdoors then as long as you get good use out of it then I couldn't think of anything better,
Just because some one owns an old caravan doesn't mean that they should not bother with insuring it. After all if the caravan happen to catch fire and damage the caravan parked next to it, the insurance company will come after that person with the uninsured caravan to pay costs.
Add site fees on top and we average about £55 per night. That's B&B/Travelodge territory, but you get much more freedom and see more.
We bought a three year old caravan 8 years ago and averaged about 35 nights away a year, including a fortnight in France annually. The £30 is the deprecation, servicing and insurance divided by the total nights away.
Our site fees are £2300 per year (inc water and electricity). A lot of money! We are there nearly every weekend/school holidays, well over 150+ nights a year.
Off to Sitges, Spain in 5 weeks for 11 nights, £100 a night accommodation, flights £170, spends £1.5K each.
For our 3 year old van I have been quoted in the region of £6000 to upgrade to a new one so that is £2000 a year so far. Granted this will reduce markedly for the next 3 years. I am assuming it will be down to around the £1000 mark per year.
Storage is around £500 pa, servicing about £250 & insurance around £300.
So from now on it will be £2050 per year before it turns a wheel.
But a 8 days in the Lake District for the 3 of us during the summer holiday less than £210.
Usually we do over 30 nights a year away, less this year because we are doing a cruise as well as the caravan holidays.
Using the 30 night per year as an average, it makes fixed cost of around £68 a night.
All in the realistic cost of 8 days in the Lake District is around £750 for the three of us & our dog. I can live with that.
We have a relatively new van and its not the cost of keeping it that matters to us its the value of extra enjoyment of life it has given us and kids over the last few years.
But generally its about £25.00 / night stay most places. We don't take into account food or fuel expense, because if we were staying at home they we would do days out, and of course the obligatory curry one evening, and normal food rationing at home. Scarborough this year 2weeks £320.00.
Says it all really, as going to Italy like we used to do, is £4300.00 for 2 adults and 2 kids in same two weeks, No brainer really.
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: How much does a caravan cost to keep
