APPROXIMATELY 4.5 million of us plan to take a break in the UK this year. And according to The Caravan Club, bookings on their sites are already up by 40 per cent. What's more, year on year their membership continues to increase.

The National Caravan Council says half a million touring caravans and 164,000 motor homes are in use in the UK – and this upward trend in caravan popularity is also reflected in sales at Silverdale-based dealership North Staffs Caravans.

Managing director Tim Keats, says sales of touring caravans are up around 10 per cent on last year, which he puts down to a number of factors.

"Locally there is a significant upturn in caravan sales purely because it's good value for money," he says.

"When the pound is so weak against the Euro making foreign holidays expensive, people are looking for alternatives and caravanning is one of those options.

"For six, seven or eight thousand pounds people can buy a great used caravan, and at the moment we are just as busy as ever, especially with the holiday season coming up."

Nikki Nichol, at The Caravan Club agrees.

"Last year was a great year for caravanning in the UK, but this year our bookings are already up 40 per cent and occupancy for January was up 22 per cent. But it's not just the price that attracts so many people to holiday in this way. The beauty of our countryside and the vast improvements to caravans in general are also appealing.

"People can't afford to travel as much so they are falling back in love with the UK," she adds, "and it doesn't matter whether you want a city centre break or a couple of weeks in the countryside, caravanning offers it all – it really is a home from home."

Caravan facts:

There are more than one million caravans in the UK including 500,000 touring caravans, 330,000 caravan holiday homes and 135,000 motor homes.

In recent years the UK has become the largest market in Europe for touring caravans, with the West Midlands having the highest level of ownership.

This year it is estimated approximately 13.75 million bookings will be made for caravan holidays in Britain. Two million more than 2007.

The UK caravan industry is estimated to be worth in excess of six billion pounds per annum.

Caravans date back to Marco Polo in the 13th century, and are referred to in Charles Dickens's Old Curiosity Shop of 1841.

Source: thisisstaffordshire.co.uk

Park owners are experiencing a boost in the number of bookings they are taking for the summer season.

Many are attributing the rise to an increasing number of people opting to holiday at home to save money.

Caravan parks also reported full houses over the Easter holiday, with visitors coming from across the country for a long break.

Dennis Smith, who owns Hillhead Caravan Park at Kintore, Aberdeenshire, said an increasing number of families were buying caravans and storing them on his site.

The 120-vehicle storage area is at capacity and has a waiting list of up to a month, which is a 30% rise in figures from last year.

“There has been an influx of caravans being stored here this year,” he said.

“That has been doing exceptionally well this year.

“I would say people have decided that caravan holidays are cheaper and less stressful than going abroad.

“Many of them want to try the freedom of caravaning.”

The largest vehicles available are being quickly snapped up by enthusiasts who reject the tradition of buying a small secondhand caravan and regularly upgrading it, he added.

The warden at Aboyne Loch Caravan Park on Deeside, Trisha Anderson, said a lot of young couples and groups of young people were choosing to camp.

She also reported more people choosing to book their caravans in for the whole season.

The season started early for Burnside Caravan Park at Fochabers because of the high numbers of visitors looking for somewhere to park their tourers.

A spokesman said bookings for the summer months were coming in “thick and fast”.

“It is just the cost of going abroad,” he said. “People are getting a bit fed up and are preparing to stay at home.”

He predicted that the number of foreign visitors would also rise this year.

“It is more favourable to them now with their exchange rate,” he said. “For the last couple of years it was not cost effective for them but now it’s equalised.”

The story is not positive for everyone. John Campbell, who sells static caravans at Thurso, said sales had dropped dramatically since the recession set in.

“We don’t have a lot of sites up here for putting static caravans in,” he said.

“We sell to people building houses who put the caravans on the site.

“We have hardly sold anything since December.

“The year before there were quite a few going, but people don’t have the money now. There are some people building but not the same extent as was happening before.”

Source: pressandjournal.co.uk

As the Easter holidays come to an end, Pembrokeshire Tourism, which represents 500 holiday businesses said it had seen a "huge upsurge" in late bookings.

North Wales Tourism said better than forecast weather over the bank holidays helped boost trade.

The Caravan Club also said it has seen a 40% increase in bookings this year.

A key feature that also seems to have emerged in the rise in the use of the internet to grab late bookings.

Barry Chapman, manager of the Hotel Plas Hyfryd at Narbeth in Pembrokeshire said: "Although traditionally its never a really busy time of year for us, this year broke the mould.

"With leisure guests up by over 50% and a number of guest booking for the whole three night period, we are delighted with the results of our new on line marketing campaign."

Nick Evans, chairman of Pembrokeshire Tourism added: "It's encouraging to see more market confidence from a high percentage of our members across the tourism spectrum."

Sunshine

Mr Evans counterpart at North Wales Tourism, Chris Jackson, was a little more cautious, but agreed that there had been a positive start to the tourism season.

"Operators are reasonably happy. It's the start of the season in north Wales and we have benefitted from good weather - much better than the weather forecasted," said Mr Jackson.

"There has been some last minute bookings and the visitor attractions have done rather well."

But Mr Jackson said his members were "not throwing their hats in the air" just yet.

He said many were hoping that the recession would see more people looking to holiday closer to home, and that the industry was "looking ahead cautiously".

One part of the tourism sector that definitely appears to have benefitted is the caravan park operator.

'Value'

According to The Caravan Club, which owns and operates 200 sites across Britain, it has seen bookings for 2009 already up by 40%.

It said its network of parks in Wales were at 90% occupancy for the Easter holidays.

"I think people in the current climate are looking where they get real value and are making the most of their own time," said the club's spokeswoman Fiona Bewers.

"New families are taking up caravanning as a fun option, it gives them flexibility to go when and where they want."

Source: BBC

As spectators gather around the caravan a driver revs his car in the distance and then he's off.

The small car charges towards the caravan at great speed and smashes through its side.

The car shoots straight out of the other side of the caravan and even manages to stay in one piece.

Here is the video:

Park owners say they are fully booked over the Easter school holidays and have seen a boom in trade since the credit crunch began as people favour cheaper breaks.

At East Midlands Airport, 9,000 fewer passengers flew off on holiday, compared with the same time last year.

Lesley Kind, who runs Whetstone Gorse Fisheries and Caravan Site, in Whetstone, with husband, Martin, says they have been booked up for the Easter holidays for more than seven weeks.

The site has room for 26 vans, a converted barn with a bar and stage and a licence to hold up to 400 caravans at special events.

She said: "We're in a very good location and a lot of people like to come here to fish.

"We're also noticing that more and more people are booking spaces with us.

"Over the past nine months, we've seen bookings go up. I think the fact the exchange rate is quite poor at the moment is making people think twice about going on holiday abroad."

Diane Swain, manager of Quorn Lodge Caravan Club, on Loughborough Road, Quorn, said they were busier than ever.

She said: "We're finding that more people want to caravan in the UK rather than driving down to France or Spain.

"Petrol prices are an issue and the fact the pound is so weak is meaning people cannot afford to go abroad so they are going to local caravan sites instead.

"We're booked up over Easter, mostly with people who are travelling here to spend time with family members living close by."

Steve Tizzard, general manager of The Caravan Company, on St Margaret's Way, Leicester, revealed that sales were up by 25 per cent on last year.

He said the average price people were paying for caravans at the moment was about £6,000.

He said: "Caravanning is becoming more and more popular.

"A lot of people are buying caravans for the first time because it's far more expensive to holiday abroad these days.

"The pound is so weak against the euro right now and people are realising they can buy a caravan which they can keep forever, for the same price as a family holiday abroad.

"This is traditionally the busiest time of year for us as well because we're approaching summer and a lot of people traditionally have their first caravanning holidays around this time of year."

Source: thisisleicestershire.co.uk

Flintshire Council's executive member for regeneration and tourism, Cllr Mel Higham said the county was well prepared to welcome an influx of holidaygoers eager to avoid the strong Euro and take advantage of the attractions on offer here.

He said: "We're finding that people are definitely looking to stay at home rather than venture abroad for their holidays." We've seen a big leap in caravan bookings so far this year. The fact that the facilities in Flintshire have improved greatly in recent years is also a factor."

The National Caravan Council says its member sites are seeing bookings grow by between 20 per cent and 50 per cent on last year.

With top attractions including Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, Moel Famau and Talacre beach, there is a feeling that Flintshire is poised to become a Mecca for credit crunch-aware tourists.

Easter fell three weeks earlier last year, in March, and Cllr Higham said warmer weather, coupled with the fact that English and Welsh schools are on holiday at the same time this year, could provide a further boost.

He said: "The number of people coming in has definitely improved and it can only have a good effect.

"Early indications show the weather forecasts are better than last year too, so let's hope we have a good summer."

A spokesman for Greenacres Caravan Park in Gronant said: "We are getting a lot more calls than usual, but unfortunately for them we've been fully booked for a couple of weeks.

"Maybe people are leaving it to the last minute having realised a bit late that it will be cheaper to stay at home.

"There definitely seems to be a greater interest this year."

Source: eveningleader.co.uk

Families living at Haven Village, Brightlingsea, formed a defensive shield around Jonathan Edwards’ caravan, after they claimed park managers tried to move it from the site.

Mr Edwards, a 58-year-old father, was on holiday in Cornwall when residents called him to say park officials were trying to move his mobile home off the site in Promenade Way.

It follows a four-year legal battle between residents and caravan park managers Brightlingsea Haven Ltd, and Hamerton Leisure Ltd, over money and housing rights.

Steve Foster, chairman of Haven Village Residents’ Association, said: “They just turned up and took the doors off so they could get inside and turn the electricity off.

“We all stood in front of the caravan and they started to drive it towards us.

They had to stop, otherwise they would have run us over.”

Mr Edwards said: “The first I heard of it was when my neighbour phoned to say someone is moving your caravan.

“I’m surprised they did this. I think it’s disgusting.”

Last November, residents won a legal battle to live in their mobile homes all year round.

Jacqueline Morris and Stephen Foster said they bought their homes on the understanding they could live there permanently, even though the caravan park is closed from December to February.

But park managers told them they were breaching the site licence, and applied for an injunction to prevent them returning to the park in the day during the closed season.

However, residents were told they should be allowed to occupy their homes until 2019, when the company’s lease runs out.

Both sides will reappear at court in June in a bid to resolve the remaining issues, which includes planning and financial matters.

The Gazette tried to contact Brightlingsea Haven and Hamerton Leisure Ltd, but no one was available for comment.

Source: gazette-news.co.uk

With a less than favourable weather forecast over the next few days, tourism leaders here are divided over the prospects for the Easter break, but all are agreed the biggest winner will be the caravanning sector.

With the pound continuing to struggle against the euro – yesterday one euro cost 90p compared to December 2004 when it was worth just 69p – holidaymakers are looking to cut back on the costs of travel.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has said the economic crisis means that the 3% to 4% growth the foreign holidays market traditionally achieves in favourable economic circumstances is unlikely to materialise this year.

The National Caravan Council says its members are seeing their bookings grow by between 20% to 50%.

Here, director of Pembrokeshire Tourism Bobby King says reports suggest some caravan parks within the county are seeing bookings shoot up by 60%.

And chairman of the Wales Tourism Alliance Julian Burrell said holidaymakers are not all looking for cheap and cheerful alternatives to trips abroad – some are booking stays in the luxury end of the caravanning market.

Windmill Hill Caravan Park, in Pembroke, is fully booked for Easter and August, and they attribute their success to the strength of the euro.

A spokesperson for the site, which can accommodate up to 30 touring caravans, said: “I think it’s down to the euro being so expensive – that has a huge influence on things.”

Mr King said, based on forward bookings, the county’s operators as a whole expect their business to improve by a third on last year over Easter and during the summer. Easter fell three weeks earlier last year in March and Mr King feels the warmer weather April might bring has produced a surge in bookings.

Also last summer was a disappointment for many tourism operators because of the disastrous weather.

Mr King, who runs the Jalna Hotel in Saundersfoot, said those families who have not been affected by the recession are very reluctant to give up their breaks.

“Forward bookings-wise we’re about 30% up on last year so the coming season is looking quite vibrant.”

But Mr Burrell offered a more cautious view of the prospects for Easter and summer.

He said the evidence shows many families are not booking ahead and it’s only the caravanning sector that expects to prosper.

Other operaters would be happy simply to match what they achieved last year, said Mr Burrell.

He added that the outcome was likely to be determined by the weather: “For the people who are undecided, if the sun shines they will come and that would make the difference between it being nothing special and a good Easter.

“But the one sector that has said it’s doing better is the caravan sector.

“I think it’s the top end of the caravan market – the holiday home parks that are doing well.”

Mr Burrell says this year’s Easter holidays have fallen in the same two-week block, unlike in 2008 when schools in England and Wales returned at different times.

He believes this should work to the industry’s advantage, providing a concentrated boost over the next few days.

Spokesperson for the National Caravan Council Louise Wood said the sector has moved upmarket over the last four years.

As a result, she said, it was now better suited to the tastes of those used to continental luxury.

She said: “Now they’re often marketed as lodges and some of the very smart ones in the best situations can change hands for significant amounts of money – for a really good development it could be £250,000.

“But something like that could have a jacuzzi, fabulous views, a long lease, fantastic leisure facilities with an on-site golf course and an upmarket spa and swimming pool.”

For those who decide to take an Easter break, the RAC is predicting traffic levels will be lighter than in previous years as many families are planning to stay at home.

According to research from the RAC, 60% of Brits plan to stay at home this Easter – twice as many as last year.

The main factors influencing the return of the ‘stay-cation’ are people having less money coming in (40%), the cost of fuel (26%) and the anticipation of bad weather (19%).

The M4 in Cardiff between junctions 28 and 30 has been named as one of five hotspots to avoid by the motoring organisation.

Source:walesonline.co.uk

Due to economic conditions we are having more holidays in the UK and Easter bookings at the Caravan Club sites have increased on last year. If you’re lucky enough to have booked into a site, consider travelling at off-peak times and take some provisions with you.

There are some glimmers of hope though. The Highways Agency (HA) will suspend 73% of the roadworks on motorways and A-roads, and you can plan your journey with up-to-the-minute info at the AA or HA sites, or by listening to your local radio station.

The weather forecast is good compared to last Easter when snow caused road problems, so the roads should keep moving. Meanwhile, to keep your own van on the move check the tyres for cracks and ensure the pressures are correct.

Source: caravanmagazine.co.uk

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