Home or away?

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Having a caravan is great; it offers so much freedom and is a source of endless trips and holidays, a chance to relax, experience different places and create precious memories. Although you may take regular weekend trips in the caravan, for many, their main annual holiday will also be taken in their leisure vehicle, so choosing where to go is of utmost importance.

There are so many places to choose from - the sky’s the limit! But before you get into the nitty gritty, you must first ask yourself: home or away? UK or abroad? You may not have given much consideration to going abroad in your caravan, but you should! It opens up endless possibilities and could give your caravan holiday the edge you’re looking for.

It will of course mean a few extra things to get in place, but with a bit of forethought and organisation, this won’t be a problem. You’ll need to ensure everyone has a current passport, get travel insurance and price up and book ferry crossings. Other than those things, there’s not much else to worry about so don’t let the unknown stop you!

5 reasons to stay at home

• It’ll cost less

Staying in the UK will undoubtedly cost less than going abroad. You’ll avoid the costs of travel insurance, passports, ferry crossings and will probably spend less on fuel too. Also, because you know England, you know the best places to shop and eat out cost effectively whereas abroad you may not and may unwittingly go to places that are more expensive.

• Less travel time

If you decide to opt for England, it’s likely that your travel time will be less so you’ll be able to get to your destination a lot quicker. As the Portsmouth to Caen crossing is nearly six hours alone, once you add in travel to Portsmouth, waiting at the ferry port, then travel time the other side to your final destination, it will be a long day. Staying in England will mean you could be at your destination in just a few hours.

• Appreciate what’s on your doorstep!

We’re so lucky to live in England! It has so much to offer; stunning scenery, lovely coastline, rich heritage and bags of stuff to do with the kids. Many of us jet off on package holiday deals year after year and never explore any of our own country. Caravanning in England is the ideal way to explore it and discover all the hidden gems you’d overlook on other types of holiday. Plus you’ll be supporting the UK economy!

• Hassle-free

It would be easier to stay in the UK as there would be less to organise and think about. You wouldn’t need passports, travel insurance or have to worry about getting ill in a different country. You will also avoid any language barriers which can sometimes be tricky when going abroad.

• Extra trips

If you choose to stay in England for your main holiday it will cost less which may mean that you can afford to go on more than one holiday. It’s always great to have multiple breaks to look forward to and in England you’ll be spoilt for choice of places to go! Browse Pitchup to see what caravan parks there are and what the availability is.

5 reasons to go away

• The weather

With the infamous Great British Summer, going abroad might be a good option if you’re looking for more reliable sunshine and blue skies! Weather on the continent is usually a lot warmer than in the UK and most of us Brits love a bit of sun!

• More of a break

If you get on a ferry to Europe it may feel like more of a ‘holiday’. The process of crossing water makes it more exciting somehow! You will be going to a different country and that is an experience that cannot be replicated in your home country.

• Lots of countries within easy reach

When we think of caravanning abroad, France is the obvious choice that springs to mind. But there are actually many countries that are within easy reach. You could get a ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao in Spain, to the Channel Islands or from Harwich to Hook of Holland. Or you could get a ferry to France and drive. Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany are easily doable and you could opt for Switzerland or even Italy if you don’t mind a longer drive with a stopover en route.

• Explore a foreign land

You’ll get the chance to explore a different country! And with all of your home creature comforts around you! Research what there is to do in your country of choice and perhaps make a list of the places you’d like to visit and things to do while you’re there to get the most out of your trip.

• Experience a different culture

Going abroad will give you the opportunity to experience a different culture which can be fascinating. You can see how people live in cities, towns and villages and soak it all up. This is especially good for children to give them an insight to life outside of the UK.

If you’re looking for a middle ground between home and away, read our Across the borders blog - this will provide guidance on caravanning in Wales, Scotland and Ireland - so you’ll be in a different country but also still in the UK!

Pop into the showroom to browse our fantastic range of new and pre-owned caravans and motorhomes. Or just drop in for a chat with our friendly and knowledgeable team about caravanning home or away. Our well-stocked accessory shop has everything you’ll need for your upcoming trip so why not take a look...

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