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Quote: Originally posted by sarah42g on 11/4/2011

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I just don't understand the people with brand new caravans who let them sit on the drive for 51 weeks of the year. Must be an expensive week away.

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Here here and if this was the case I would not have one myself

All in, including buying the van, insurance, storage, site fees, servicing etc... we'll be on £340 per night for the 30 nights we'll do this year

But if you spread it over 3 years (the time we're likely to keep the current van) & assume it'll still be worth £6.5k when we sell so take that out, it comes down to £72 per night.  Can't think of any way a family of 5 could have 30 nights per year holidays with self catering accomodation & the freedom we get in our van for any less than that. 

Plus I have this thing about being in apartments or hotels & not knowing who slept in the beds the week before

bought and sold/scrapped units over the years and at present this unit stand me in about £450.00 thats prev spends and money got back from other units.

so I work it out at added fuel to get to a site with caravan, site fee, Gas, and top up items to van around £50 a night. compare that with a family room in B&B or other at around £90 a night then we would have to spend on lunch, evening pub/food, a save of £60 a day min,

over 21 nights booked so far this year so van will stand me in almost nothing by years end. and next year all free except for site fee and the extra fuel. (about 40%)

storage is at home so thats a big save and as car is needed in its size and is used little each day so thats not an expense.

way to go !

but in reality its around £800 a year (based on a £2.5k caravan) costs to most folk spread over five years to owning and having a caravan, plus storage. more for those who insist on having a large new one.

add large car needed, fuel, fees, storage, gas, extras, and then cost of van over five year.  OUCH  !  but still better than leaving it to the children or cats home.

it costs about £150 a day to go out with three children on average when you add fuel, entrance, treats, food, couple of drinks each. and spends for three children. more if you go to thorpe park etc. yes you can take sandwiches etc I know.

Quote: Originally posted by rushallmanor on 11/4/2011

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This is not a "cheap" holiday, it is an expensive hobby.

the real offset to the cost is the pleasure that you cannot put a price on.

In my case the ability to get away from a pressure job for the weekends.

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I like this post and captures the ethos of the whole thing, Not only that is is a better way of looking at the expenditure and justifying it all to ones self

Hi just worked ours out for a 34 night break this year so far we are totalling an all in cost of £61.00 / night, however that excluded the cost of the van and food ( we would have to spend this at home anyway), but does include storage, insurance, service, fuel. Still its still much cheaper than 14 days away one a year to sunny climates. i.e. Italy £4.5K for a family of four for two weeks in summer hols.

Like people say a cheap holiday for an expensive hobbly. We try to use our van as much as possible as i dont like it sitting doing nothing for 47 weeks a year. But work and available holidays and schools make it difficult.

However the pleasure and relaxation and watch the young one learn to ride his bike is worth every penny spent. Will have to go with a few curries on saturnday night this year though!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Chris W