10 Good Reasons to Enjoy a Motorhome or Caravan Holiday
Below are listed ten good reasons why buying a touring caravan or motorhome, or by hiring a motorhome or campervan, could be good for you, the environment and others around you.
1. Be kind to the environment
You may think caravans are usually white, but in fact, they can be green! Emissions for a sample 1,100 mile journey from with a family of four in a family saloon towing a small touring caravan produces only 38% (0.36 tonnes) of the C0² output of a similar distance flight, which would produce emissions of nearly a ton (0.96 tonnes). When staying in a motorhome on a touring park, the daily C0² output is around 5 kg per person, whilst in a hotel the C0² value would be between 12.5kg in the summer and 17kg in the winter*.
2. Be kind to your pocket
Touring caravans and motorhomes are an investment in your future holidays. The cost of pitching a caravan or motorhome on a park starts from around £5 a night - and is frequently less than £20 a night. Substitute one or two family holidays in Europe and buy a touring caravan instead and you are set up for economical short breaks and summer holidays for years to come. Another option to consider is hiring or renting a motorhome. Motorhome City (http://www.motorhome-city.co.uk/) has a wide variety of motorhomes located throughout the UK, to choose from. We categorise all motorhomes into 4 price brackets, based on the age of the motorhome, its value, condition and any extras fitted, so you could either pick up a bargain or drive off in a modern luxury model. Fancy a cheap or a bargain holiday?
3. Connect up the generations
There is something about caravanning and motorhoming that appeals to all ages. For some it is the nostalgia for childhood holidays, for others it is connecting with the outdoors; for kids it is doing something different. The Caravan Club even has research to prove that children are more likely to shower unasked (!) and to help with the washing up when on a caravan or motorhome holiday.
4. See the best of Britain
Explore the UK from coast to coast, east to west or north to south. There are over 2,000 caravan parks that will accept touring caravans and motorhomes, from the wilds of Scotland to the suburbs of London, and from rural retreats to family-friendly full-on entertainment centres. Pitch your motorhome in some of the most beautiful spots around. When another destination beckons, simply drive on.
5. Consider Buying British
The idea might have originated in the 1960s but it is as sound an idea now as it was then - buy British and support British jobs. Around 95% of caravans on UK roads and 65% of motorhomes are actually made in Britain (unlike many manufactured items that have clocked up air or sea miles before reaching the end user). Caravanning and motorhoming support rural economies by increasing spending in local shops, pubs, restaurants, petrol stations, post offices etc.
6. Gain the freedom to go as you please
One of the beauties of having a caravan or motorhome is the spontaneous holiday. Fancy a weekend away? Just hitch up/drive off and you have an instant adventure. It is particularly good if you have a sport or hobby, from walking and bird watching to surfing or sailing. A caravan or motorhome provides the ideal base. If you do not own a tourer, then seriously consider hiring one, even for just a short break to see if this is the life for you. Sometimes renting or hiring a motorhome may be a cheaper option than buying. You do not have the maintenance and running costs, insurance bills or storage to consider, and you can let someone else deal with these matters.
7. Meet other people (or get away from it all)
When you ask caravanners and motorhomers what they like about their hobby, they will say one of the best things is meeting like-minded people, either caravaners, motorhomers or people who enjoy being out and about. But if really getting away from the rat race is a priority, choose Certificated Locations (CLs). These are small, five pitch caravan sites that are usually located in picturesque rural settings with an informal and relaxed atmosphere. There are around 2,500 CLs across the UK and each one is unique.
8. Eat, drink and be merry with a built-in kitchen and loo
Caravans and motorhomes are great for self-catering. They have adapted from very basic accomodation on wheels to modern luxurious home from homes. They now have well-equipped kitchens with ovens, hobs, fridges, freezers and surprisingly good storage space. They can have double glazing, heavy insulation and hot blown air systems to keep you warm as toast at night. Modern motorhomes will have a loo and a lot of models offer shower rooms too. So if you want to control costs, cater for babies or faddy eaters (or just be assured of a good cup of tea or coffee in the morning), a caravan or motorhome holiday could be the ideal holiday solution for you. When you are considering your holiday, especially for families, have a look at the exceptional value that renting a motorhome offers. Prices may seem a bit steep on first glance, but for a 6 berth motorhome, divide the daily price by the number in your family, and you will soon work out the value on offer.
9. Pets can go too
Most touring parks will accept pets (most insist on them being kept on leads), so there are no worries about leaving your pet behind. Many parks have specially-created dog walking areas for canine companions. All of the motorhomes advertised for hire on Motorhome City display whether they allow pets in their vehicle or not (with any additional charges shown). We have many motorhomes that allow pets so have a look at our website at http://www.motorhome-city.co.uk/.
10. Relax and take your home comforts with you
Just because you are in a caravan doesn’t mean that you have to forgo the things you enjoy and rely on at home. Apart from the above mentioned kitchen, there’s comfortable beds, efficient showers and loos, TV points, electrical sockets and so on. Caravans and motorhomes can be fitted with aerials, digi-boxes, MP3 connectors, while wireless internet access is frequently offered in parks now. Motorhome City vehicles show exactly the items that are fitted to the vehicle as standard, so you don’t have to pay a penny more for lifes little luxuries.
*Data from www.greencaravanning.co.uk/ verified by Transport and Travel Research Ltd and the CIVD/Institute for Applied Ecology in Germany.
(Issued by the National Caravan Council, 2009 and adapted for Motorhome City)
