After the wash out over Easter I'm trying to work out weather to keep my caravan,

We have had the van 2 years now, been to a good few places (The lakes, Fort William, Northern Ireland plus Wales to name a few) Yes I don't mind towing it, and the freelander tows it well,

But Caravaning in the UK is not a cheap Holiday, The site fee's aren't to bad, but when you add it all together ,
fuel costs, depreciation, storage cost, insurance, service costs etc etc. it just doesn't add up
plus the weather can be very poor

Our summer Holiday is now going to be a drive to Italy and France on the way back, (my wife car will return 55 MPG at 85 MPH)
yes I here you all say it will cost more ( your right) but the food, wine and the weather will be worth it !!

And to tow a Caravan to the south of France at today fuel costs would madness , at 22 MPG and 60 MPH plus the extra time taken and ferry costs.

Am I right or wrong, Is it worth it !!!!

Ditch the van - holiday cottages all the way!  Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

You are probably right, you are looking at it from a monetary point of view whereas I don't.
I don't care how much it costs me in fuel, depreciation, storage etc, I bought a caravan for one reason only, because I enjoy that type of holiday irrespective of the cost.
It's certainly worth it to me and I wouldn't think twice of a tour of Europe however much I had to dig into my pocket.

Looks to me our reasons differed for purchasing one in the first place.

Last edited by EYorkshire on 27th Apr 2012 5:00 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Captain Worm wrote:

Ditch the van - holiday cottages all the way!

+1 At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I take the caravan to France every year. My brother refused to take his to France and his holidays were considerably more expensive than ours.

This years holiday to France in the Loire Valley at a 4 star site has cost us £920 for two weeks, that is for everything. The only thing on top is diesel and spending money.

In Picardi in 2010' the whole holiday was £698!

Www.select-site.co.uk Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

We paid less for a gite with swimming pool and private gardens

And we didn't have to pay for a van - we spent less on fuel and crossings and we didn't have to take it home with us!

Also it didn't make an almighty racket when it rained

Do t get vans myself - if you insist on camping - do it in a tent. Else have a bit of luxury!!  Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

The only way a caravan tends to look like a good idea is when it's viewed from inside a tent

Unless you are absolutely convinced that caravaning is completely for you, move on and try something else. The real downside with a caravan (as far as I see it) is that, once you've got one, it's almost impossible to justify taking any other kind of holiday; you've paid for it, you have to store it, you've got to use the darn thing!

jp
I bought the caravan to enjoy it. I bought the FL2 to enjoy it. There are cheaper ways to holiday than in a caravan and there are cheaper ways to travel than in a FL2. Why don't you fly away for your summer holidays and use the caravan the rest of the year.

waaxh03

I agree, caravanning is no longer a cheap holiday. Site costs, fuel costs, plus insurances, depreciation, storage etc all add up. However, we prefer this type of holiday and like the independence it offers. We have tried holiday cottages, B&Bs, hotels, etc but they are not for us. Each to their own. 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

When you add it all up, its quite expensive, but i can not holiday abroad for the same amount of time or the same cost

over here, last year, its cost me something like £900 for sites for 42 nights away, when i priced up a family holiday to egypt it was knocking on £4000 for two weeks, thats more for two weeks than the 6 i had last year

taking loans and insurance site fee storage fees it does add up to a fair bit, but i holiday more and sleep in my own bed

as for the caravan deprecation

My caravan lost less than 50% in 6 years, which is not bad at all compared to what we lose on the FL2 which costs a lot more

£4000!!! Bloody hell, and Egypt! I am going 5 star in Cuba next week for 14 nights for £2000 for me and the mrs! Far better than any vanning holiday and no emptying my own poo

i know, i thought its gone up a lot, and the cost went up again when i search for free kids places

i do like to upgrade my seats on planes though which bungs a fair bit onto the cost

I've got eight days booked in the Loire Valley around Whitsun, costing a fortune, had to book the Tunnel as Mrs Ad doesn't travel on water to well, £360 with site and Tunnel, scandalous

As a caravanner and semi retired, the advantage is simple if the weather looks good and looks like it will stay that way and you can get a pitch sorted then caravanning offers the ultimate in holidaying flexibility. Yes caravan sites can be expensive if you want all the frills like club house, swimming pool etc but for us its just Caravan Club or Camping & Caravan Club sites or the smaller 5 vans only type.
I will admit that with fuel costs, towing etc, the boundary threshold line of what is more cost effective, caravan, B&B, small hotel etc is becoming ever closer to home, but the caravan is a sizeable investment and one has to get your monies worth from it.
The FL2 is a great towcar and with the auto box even more so. NO hot clutches or trying to hold things on the handbrake on hills.