Caravaning Misconceptions

[Longsufferingwifeoffouldsy]

When we told our friends and reles that we had bought a caravan most of them reacted as if we had completely lost the plot. You could tell they were thinking ...poor things....out there in the cold in some muddy field with no facilities and only a gas stove to boil the kettle, whatever has possessed them.

Those that have since visited us in the van have been left speechless at just how civilised, even luxurious caravaning life really is.

My favourite tale is when we invited one of our friends for dinner in the van one evening. She arrived in the visitors car park, threw open the boot and started unloading picnic baskets, cups, plates, cutlery... you name it, it was there.

We gently led her to the van, put a large glass of chilled Chardonnay in her hand and told her she could put the plastic beakers away......

Anybody else witnessed examples of amusing caravaning misconceptions?

 

[Val & Frank]

Yes that it's Cheap !!!

 

[CliveV]

You don't have to pay that much to enjoy what we do. If you want to that is fine - but we have two large dogs, enjoy the simpler sites rather than the expensive "busy" ones and so have a modest caravan that suits us and which we do not mind if it gets muddy when we come in from a long dog walk.

Whatever I own gets used and used well and hard (and no I have never been brave enough to say I "own" SWMBO!) so spending thousands of GBP on something that I am going to tow to obscure places and not worry that much if it gets a bit dirty is not attractive.

Caravanning is just part of our holiday activities. Winter Cottage holiday in Wales is booked for late this year - and so too is a trip to Australia where for part at least we will be hiring a motorhome and travelling up the East coast.

But I agree with misconception that most people have. One of our friends joined us one evening - ready to "mock" - making jokes about us all having to sit up close due to the lack of space!

His wife loved it! - and has been badgering him to buy a 'van ever since.

 

[Vicky_5078445]

You don't have to pay that much to enjoy what we do. If you want to that is fine - but we have two large dogs, enjoy the simpler sites rather than the expensive "busy" ones and so have a modest caravan that suits us and which we do not mind if it gets muddy when we come in from a long dog walk.

Whatever I own gets used and used well and hard (and no I have never been brave enough to say I "own" SWMBO!) so spending thousands of GBP on something that I am going to tow to obscure places and not worry that much if it gets a bit dirty is not attractive.

Caravanning is just part of our holiday activities. Winter Cottage holiday in Wales is booked for late this year - and so too is a trip to Australia where for part at least we will be hiring a motorhome and travelling up the East coast.

But I agree with misconception that most people have. One of our friends joined us one evening - ready to "mock" - making jokes about us all having to sit up close due to the lack of space!

His wife loved it! - and has been badgering him to buy a 'van ever since.

Clive,

Try a place called Maloolaba; if think that's how you spell it, if you're in the Brisbane area. Pretty seaside town and not as commercialised as Surfers Paradise!

Vicky

 

[CliveV]

You don't have to pay that much to enjoy what we do. If you want to that is fine - but we have two large dogs, enjoy the simpler sites rather than the expensive "busy" ones and so have a modest caravan that suits us and which we do not mind if it gets muddy when we come in from a long dog walk.

Whatever I own gets used and used well and hard (and no I have never been brave enough to say I "own" SWMBO!) so spending thousands of GBP on something that I am going to tow to obscure places and not worry that much if it gets a bit dirty is not attractive.

Caravanning is just part of our holiday activities. Winter Cottage holiday in Wales is booked for late this year - and so too is a trip to Australia where for part at least we will be hiring a motorhome and travelling up the East coast.

But I agree with misconception that most people have. One of our friends joined us one evening - ready to "mock" - making jokes about us all having to sit up close due to the lack of space!

His wife loved it! - and has been badgering him to buy a 'van ever since.

I will Vicky - thanks for the tip. We have my nieces wedding to go to in Brisbane (she is marrying an Aussie - sensible girl!) and we intend to spend a good few weeks there.

So a good mixture of hotels and "caravanning" - well motorhoming! - We have to do the later as after a few days we both hate the artificial world of hotels.

Besides - I like the Aussie "Barbie" - but am adept enough now to recognise a raw prawn!

Anybody else with any suggestions - particularly re any vinyards?

 

[Vicky_5078445]

I will Vicky - thanks for the tip. We have my nieces wedding to go to in Brisbane (she is marrying an Aussie - sensible girl!) and we intend to spend a good few weeks there.

So a good mixture of hotels and "caravanning" - well motorhoming! - We have to do the later as after a few days we both hate the artificial world of hotels.

Besides - I like the Aussie "Barbie" - but am adept enough now to recognise a raw prawn!

Anybody else with any suggestions - particularly re any vinyards?

Hi Clive,

We've been to Adelaide 3 times to see my brother-in-law, but went to Brisbane once to see his son... Much much hotter up there than in SA, so pack plenty of sun block and a big hat (corks optional)!

Don't know about in Qlds, there's loads in the Barossa Valley in SA, which is renowned for it's vineyards (Jacobs Creek, Queen Adelaide etc).

You might recognise the prawns, but the sausages are weird, better off with a steak (kangaroo maybe!).

If you can a stopover is always good to TRY to get your body clock sorted; we always stop in Singapore; it's just great!

Vicky

 

[chelsea1]

I agree with the original post, we are in our early thirties and just bought our 1st van and all our friends and family think its hilarious and take the mick all the time, we get the "hello campers" when ever we see them.

Think though now, after they have seen our lovely van and notice that we have been away every weekend and have trips away every weekend till August they are beginning to realise what they are missing out on!

 

[MikeAce]

Caravanning has come a long way, years ago it was a perceived as "slumming it" in the middle of a field in the pouring rain. not anymore though, some of my family think the wife and i are mental.

We have been caravanning for 6 months are are lucky enough to be able to afford a new van and a new (almost new anyway) tow car.

When the wife has unpacked and i have filled the relevant fluids we relax with a nice glass of wine and watch our Sky tv.

The van has all the features and comforts of home. what more could you ask for? its like being at home but each time you open the curtains in the caravan you can be somewhere completely different.

caravanning is far from a poor mans holiday, there is about 20 grand in our set up, how many trips to ibiza could you have for that?

just remind them that you have ten times as many holidays as they do.

 

[Val & Frank]

Caravanning has come a long way, years ago it was a perceived as "slumming it" in the middle of a field in the pouring rain. not anymore though, some of my family think the wife and i are mental.

We have been caravanning for 6 months are are lucky enough to be able to afford a new van and a new (almost new anyway) tow car.

When the wife has unpacked and i have filled the relevant fluids we relax with a nice glass of wine and watch our Sky tv.

The van has all the features and comforts of home. what more could you ask for? its like being at home but each time you open the curtains in the caravan you can be somewhere completely different.

caravanning is far from a poor mans holiday, there is about 20 grand in our set up, how many trips to ibiza could you have for that?

just remind them that you have ten times as many holidays as they do.

Sounds like a nice Van Mike, would that be an Ace you have ?

Regards

Val & Frank

 

[MikeAce]

Sounds like a nice Van Mike, would that be an Ace you have ?

Regards

Val & Frank

lol, yes, its an Ace Jubilee. we love it.

 

[RogerL]

Frank - you're not getting value for money!

Car

 

[Val & Frank]

Frank - you're not getting value for money!

Car