Sheeeesh Clive, you're not supposed to agree. It looks like we are the only ones on here and what's a person to do with nobody to debate with. Be a jolly fellow old bean and retract your post - go on be a good sport what ho.
Caravan Hobby Too Expensive
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- Mar 14, 2005
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Don't get me wrong as my wife and I still enjoy the freedom of this type of holiday and all the unfortunate expences associated with it have got to be accepted. The point I am trying to raise is that we, like many of you, have over the years traded up and reached a comfortable standard regarding both the van and the tow car. How do young families with high mortgages, etc. manage to purchase an outfit and the accessories that go with it and still enjoy the freedom of caravanning? Have my wife and self been too prudent over the years and scrimped and saved whereby we should have thrown caution to the wind and enjoyed ourselves when younger and worried about the money side as and when it cropped up?
We have recently (last year) returned to caravaning and I was surprised at how much the vans have changed. I suppose it is only natural to want to improve on what you had before and modern vans seem to be crammed with so many gadgets that they are not only more expensive but also heavier and require more powerful towcars. I have been shouted down once before on this forum for suggesting that, perhaps, caravaning is one case where "less is more" so I probably will again but if you have all the comforts of home with your satellite telly etc do you even know you have been away? We decided to try caravaning again last year and bought an excellent 2 berth for
We have recently (last year) returned to caravaning and I was surprised at how much the vans have changed. I suppose it is only natural to want to improve on what you had before and modern vans seem to be crammed with so many gadgets that they are not only more expensive but also heavier and require more powerful towcars. I have been shouted down once before on this forum for suggesting that, perhaps, caravaning is one case where "less is more" so I probably will again but if you have all the comforts of home with your satellite telly etc do you even know you have been away? We decided to try caravaning again last year and bought an excellent 2 berth for
It is not the cost of the outfit you have - any individual can cut their cloth to suit their needs in that department.
What surprised me was the amount of restrictions placed upon us on a camp site (which we did not use in the end) plus the charge per adult, per child, per dog, per awning, per gazebo, per visitor, per car, per visitors car, and of course per caravan, per day!
It added up to more than the cost of a luxurious cottage just outside Looe in Cornwall that had a four poster bed in one bedroom, three bedrooms altogether, lounge, dining area etc etc. The propritor was great and noting was too much trouble.
I fail to see how being charged to do anything and everything whilst using your own accomadation having towed it their in the first place can make sense?
What surprised me was the amount of restrictions placed upon us on a camp site (which we did not use in the end) plus the charge per adult, per child, per dog, per awning, per gazebo, per visitor, per car, per visitors car, and of course per caravan, per day!
It added up to more than the cost of a luxurious cottage just outside Looe in Cornwall that had a four poster bed in one bedroom, three bedrooms altogether, lounge, dining area etc etc. The propritor was great and noting was too much trouble.
I fail to see how being charged to do anything and everything whilst using your own accomadation having towed it their in the first place can make sense?
The sites I wont even give a second thought to are the ones which up their prices adding
- Jan 19, 2008
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Remind me Clive, have you been to Cornwall recently in a cottage - heheheh! just kiddin' mate ;O)It is not the cost of the outfit you have - any individual can cut their cloth to suit their needs in that department.
What surprised me was the amount of restrictions placed upon us on a camp site (which we did not use in the end) plus the charge per adult, per child, per dog, per awning, per gazebo, per visitor, per car, per visitors car, and of course per caravan, per day!
It added up to more than the cost of a luxurious cottage just outside Looe in Cornwall that had a four poster bed in one bedroom, three bedrooms altogether, lounge, dining area etc etc. The propritor was great and noting was too much trouble.
I fail to see how being charged to do anything and everything whilst using your own accomadation having towed it their in the first place can make sense?
- Mar 14, 2005
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Let's consider this for a minute. I will use my arrangements as an example of the cost-efficiency of caravanning.
Caravan: Cost
Caravan: Cost
G
Guest
- Mar 14, 2005
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- Jan 19, 2008
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Add to the above you have the freedom to choose where you go, what time you get up in the morning, no regimented hotel mealtimes and the kind of site you prefer to pitch at. If we totalled up our days away this year at B & B rates, let alone hotels, it would be astronomical.
- Jul 29, 2005
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Dont know why you think this is not a hobby for the working man, i until this year have never had a caravan over
Personally I think that Caravanning has totally changed my family lives for the better, if we didn't have the van our weekends would be the same as 9/10 peoples in Britain i.e. supermarket, shopping, watching television decorating and the odd day would be a rush because of where we live.
With the van we would manage weekends away something we didn't used to do and have more short breaks of 4/5 days which we wouldn't have afforded if staying in a hotel. We still have two main holidays but our choice of location is massively increased.
What I would also point to is that us British make it more expensive than it ought to be with bigger vans and newer cars than our continental cousins seem to.
Monkey
With the van we would manage weekends away something we didn't used to do and have more short breaks of 4/5 days which we wouldn't have afforded if staying in a hotel. We still have two main holidays but our choice of location is massively increased.
What I would also point to is that us British make it more expensive than it ought to be with bigger vans and newer cars than our continental cousins seem to.
Monkey
I totally agree with your comments on weekends as there is nothing worse than plastic bag carrying.
During my working years when my son was between 3 and 14 we camped and vanned most weekends from early march to mid october. these in my opinion were his formative years and we had a cracking time exploring town and country and I think his perspective on life in general was assisted by vanning.
of course he did'nt want to go with us "oldies" after that age, but he still visits us when we are away locally.
All I can really say keep getting away with your family as much as you can and encourage them by participating in their interests, and you will find out how much you will enjoy it.
IMHO
During my working years when my son was between 3 and 14 we camped and vanned most weekends from early march to mid october. these in my opinion were his formative years and we had a cracking time exploring town and country and I think his perspective on life in general was assisted by vanning.
of course he did'nt want to go with us "oldies" after that age, but he still visits us when we are away locally.
All I can really say keep getting away with your family as much as you can and encourage them by participating in their interests, and you will find out how much you will enjoy it.
IMHO
- Mar 14, 2005
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Shiraz,
my sentiments exactly,best kind of holiday you can have,totally independant, go where and when you want.
Also as has been said ,easily done on a tight budget.
my sentiments exactly,best kind of holiday you can have,totally independant, go where and when you want.
Also as has been said ,easily done on a tight budget.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Colin - it all depends on how you measure "expensive" Yes the initial outlay is high - especially if buying new. In the last 20 years, since we started vanning we've bought 4 vans which collectively cost
Did I tell you we have just been to Cornwall?Add to the above you have the freedom to choose where you go, what time you get up in the morning, no regimented hotel mealtimes and the kind of site you prefer to pitch at. If we totalled up our days away this year at B & B rates, let alone hotels, it would be astronomical.
LOL!!
Loads of postings confirming all the reasons we love caravanning and will continue for as long as we can.
I do find it strange tho that the cost of renting a patch of grass or hardstanding for me to place my own accommodation, having towed it there at my own expense worked out more expensive than renting a cottage?
What got me was the cost for this and the cost for that compared to the single price and bring what you want and who you want attitude of the cottage proprietor.
Such a difference from the sucking of teeth and general "if you must" attitude of some sites when you tell them you have dogs, visitors, an awning, a gazebo, a car, a visitors car! oh! and of course a caravan.
It's not that any of cannot afford to use these sites - they all look pretty full.
Some sites - certainly Billing is a good example and Sandy Balls in the New Forest another where cost is a reasonable and facilities excellent. But others just seem to delight in making a list of every thing we might have a sticking a daily rate on it.
I do find it strange tho that the cost of renting a patch of grass or hardstanding for me to place my own accommodation, having towed it there at my own expense worked out more expensive than renting a cottage?
What got me was the cost for this and the cost for that compared to the single price and bring what you want and who you want attitude of the cottage proprietor.
Such a difference from the sucking of teeth and general "if you must" attitude of some sites when you tell them you have dogs, visitors, an awning, a gazebo, a car, a visitors car! oh! and of course a caravan.
It's not that any of cannot afford to use these sites - they all look pretty full.
Some sites - certainly Billing is a good example and Sandy Balls in the New Forest another where cost is a reasonable and facilities excellent. But others just seem to delight in making a list of every thing we might have a sticking a daily rate on it.
very interesting how many people count in the full cost of the tow car, surely the only extra cost is if you buy a bigger car than you used too. In my case my Mondeo is more than capable of towing the van I bought so the only extra cost was the towball.
Even if I count in the full cost of the car and van plus all the kit it only comes to around
Even if I count in the full cost of the car and van plus all the kit it only comes to around
- Mar 14, 2005
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Can't agree I'm afraid. My wife and I have just had a two night weekend break at a private hotel in the New Forest. The hotel alone cost
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