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Yes, I must agree it is expensive getting started!  We used to caravan back in the 70s/80s so had a fair bit of equipment, but we had to get the towbar fitted to the car and buy the water and waste containers, steps, battery and a few odds and ends, it never really stops!!

Then we decided to get the porch awning, and 3 years later the Fiamma, and a gas BBQ.

Luckily we got a very good discount on the van itself as we had no trade-in.

you was lucky i must admit i did go into this blind but my eyes are wide open now i wish i found this site before i bought mine, then may be i could be on holiday. ive got to get a towbar yet for ours to. im sure if most people would have given up by now!

my list just keeps growing...

how many years have you been caravaning jennifer?

cazanne

We started in 1971, using my parents' van, they had a camping equipment shop (tents not caravans) and had tent exhibitions for about 2 months in the summer so my dad used to stay on the site in the van. Before that we had a tent.  We had our honeymoon in a tent in 1969!

 We got our own van in 1972 and had it till 1983.  Then we were building our house and finishing it off and landscaping the garden, and could not afford hardly any holidays (neither time nor money) from 86 to 97. We got our present van in 1998.

Wow Jennifer you have been doing it for some years, i bet you got some stories to tell! So what is it that makes you still go caravaning?

My reason is i have the grandchildren in the six weeks hoilday and i thought about taking them away well after adding everthing up i came up with a brain wave why not buy one, so we did, i am a bit worried as i am disabled and i was worried about getting up the steps, i saw a alarm that went on the door which also was a grab rail but silly me did not add it to my favorites, now i must try to find that.

I have stayed in many static caravans and loved them so i hope this will be the same.

cazanne

Yes, we have been around a bit!  Our first van we used mainly here but we had it twice to the north of Norway, OH is Norwegian and all his family are there.  First time we went up through Sweden as the roads are better, second time took ferry from Stockholm to Finland and up through there.

Present van we have had once to Norway, crossing Dover/Calais then through France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, over to Sweden and up north to cross into Norway. Coming back it was south in Norway via Trondheim and Oslo, into Sweden, over to Denmark, south to the islands then ferry to Rostock.  Drove to Berlin then back across Germany and Belgium  to Calais. 

First year we had it we were just in UK.  Started off in Blair Atholl then up to Inverness, Wick, along to  Durness, and down to Inverewe and Kyle of Lochalsh/Skye.(2 weeks)  Then a 2 week trip to Castle Douglas followed by Kelso. A long weekend in Aberdeen in September, and the October week at Windermere.

2nd year was the Norway trip (6 weeks),3rd year we had 3 weeks in France (Paris, the Loire,Brittany and Normandy)  and 2 weeks in Wales (Snowdonia and the south coast).

  Year 4 we crossed Hull/Rotterdam and went to Luxembourg, Germany and Austria for 3 weeks, and a second trip of 2 weeks in Norfolk and London.  Year 5 was 3 weeks in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, and 2 1/2 weeks going round Ireland.  Year 6 we again crossed Hull/Rotterdam and headed south into Germany, Austria and down to Lake Garda.  Then on to Venice, San Marino, down the east side of Italy to Bari, over to Taranto, up to Pompeii and Naples, then Rome, Pisa, Milan, and north through Switzerland, Germany and Holland.(5 weeks)

Then our daughter started Uni so we had to cut back a bit!!  Year 7 we were 3 weeks in Oxford, Isle of Wight, Brighton and Cambridge.  And 2 weeks just the 2 of us in Aberdeen and the Cairngorms.

Last year we had 3 weeks at Wrexham, Chepstow, Longleat, Chatsworth and Windermere, followed by 10 days in York later on.(just we two)   This year we headed north to Inverness then a week on Orkney.  Daughter went home then as she had a summer placement, we continued along the north coast and down the west.  And now we two are just back from 2 weeks in Wales ( Swansea, Aberaeron and Anglesey).  Since we got the van it has done 25554 miles!

We love seeing new places, but I would hate to live out of a suitcase and sleep in a different bed every few nights, so caravanning is ideal. Everything to hand and your own bed! My dad was in Scouting and used to take me camping, then I was in the Guides and loved the summer camps. So what with that and my parents owning the camping shop, and Mum and I going camping in the summer holidays, the outdoor life must be in my blood!!

 When we had our first van our son was little (born 1970) so it was ideal for him too.  Then OH's work (18 months in Italy) got in the way , and we found that as we could not keep the van at our house (steep driveway and too little space) we were not really making full use of it, so we decided to let it go.  Then our daughter (finally!!!) came along in 1985, and the house building followed that.

When we decided it was time to start taking holidays again we first thought of a motorhome, but soon realised they were WAY too expensive!!  So Instead we got a towbar and a nice van with a lovely end bathroom!  And at this house we have a good driveway and no restrictions on keeping a caravan, so it is ideal.

So now we are seeing new places and revisiting old favourites.  Next year OH retires and we are off on a 3 month trip to visit the family in Norway, but first we need a new car as the present one will be 13 and OH refuses to go all that way (5000 miles)  in an old car. Daughter still has 2 more years at Uni, so we are in the process of remortgaging the house to tide us over untill we get the lump sum from OH's pension plan.

We really want a fixed bed van, but that will have to wait untill 2008 and we see if we have anything left over after repaying the mortgage!!!!  At least by then daughter will no longer be a money pit!  And we still have the option of downsizing to a smaller house to fall back on, once daughter leaves home this one will really be too big.  But we love it, we designed it ourselves so it is 99% perfect, so moving will be a last resort, only to be considered when the money starts running out!

Our first grandchild arrived last March, maybe in a couple of years we can introduce him to caravanning.  His mum and dad have a share in a holiday house on Islay and go there quite often, but we would hate that, going the same place all the time!  We obviously have itchy feet!

My ideal life would have been to visit many different countries, spending maybe 6 months to a year in each, but that is incompatible with providing continuity of schooling for children.  Hopefully we will enjoy good health long enough to see a bit of the world in our retirement.

We have some friends, a good bit older than us, who are always off here and there.  They said, "Well, we looked at our bank balance, then we looked at our birth certificates.  Then we decided to book another holiday!"  So we are going to do much the same, after all we cannot take it with us so we might as well spend it!

WOw what a great story, and what fantastic memorys you must have, thats what i would do after all, we came into this world with nothing, might as well go the same way!

You make it sound so good, ive got Courtney 6yrs Rianne 5yrs lewis 4yrs, Nathan 2yrs, owen 9months and next one due feb next yr, as you can see i got a few Grand children, so we are really looking forward to taking them away, must find some good places to take them i got a book with lots of sites mind blowing stuff.

Can you just turn up on sites or do you always have to book?

cazanne

It depends on where you are going and what type of site you are looking for.   Have you joined either of the Clubs?   We are in the Caravan Club and in UK try to use their sites as far as possible as you can be sure of good clean facilities, plenty of space and a reasonable level of peace and order. Most provide play areas for children, maybe a ball games area, but otherwise you need to make your own entertainment. They have about 200 sites.  However if you are taking several children along it can work out quite expensive as they charge per person as well as a pitch fee, and everywhere costs more in the school holidays.

For example, for the site at Battle, near Hastings, the peak season rate for 2006 is £7 for the pitch, £5 per adult, and £2 per child (5 to 16).  Under 5s are free.  Non members pay an extra fee so it is well worth joining if you want to use their sites.  Fees are lower in less busy times and there are also mid-week discounts on some sites. However there are no extra charges for awnings or hot water.  Sites in less popular holiday destinations are cheaper.  Being a member also lets you use the Certificated Locations which are small 5 van sites.  Many of these have no toilets/showers, but there are plenty with at least EHU and toilet, and quite a few also have showers.  A good one with facilities usually costs about £7 to £10 per night.

There is also the Camping and Caravanning Club, which has similar facilities.  I'm not sure exactly how they charge, but they do offer an off-peak discount for the over 55s, so we may also join them soon!

Commercial sites vary, some have a flat pitch fee that covers everything, others charge per head and add loads of extras, so you need to be careful.

30 years ago we never booked anything, just set off and looked for a site at about 4 o'clock.  Out of the school holiday periods you may still be able to do this, but we always try to book as the CC sites are VERY popular.  Some get booked up months ahead.  If you are using the small 5 van sites it is usually possible to find somewhere on the day as there are about 2000 just in the CC network.  Some commercial sites do not accept bookings, you just turn up.

Lately we have been taking a 3 week trip in June and a 2 week one in September. This is a popular plan with those who don't have to stick to school holidays, so we still find it safer to book. For school holidays I would say it is essential to book well ahead.

The CC have an on-line booking system, as do the C&CC, but at present the CC do not ask for a deposit so you can book well ahead and cancel without losing money. If you did book and were unable to go then you must let them know.  There is so much demand for the sites that there are often waiting lists, so "no-shows" incur members' wrath!!  The C&CC do take a deposit.  Both Clubs give you a sites handbook every second year with updates inbetween, and they also do lots of other stuff such as insurance, breakdown cover and ferry bookings.

Do you have all the grandchildren at the same time?  That's 5 at present!  You are very brave!  I don't think I could cope with more than 2 at a time!

No we try not to two is more than enough at any time. we have talked about insurance but it looks like a mine field, what sort of things should i look for? we have checked with the RAC and if my car breaks down they will tow my caravan as well back home but if its somthing to do with the caravan they said i would have to pay for them to take it away, what would you recommend?

i hope you do not mind me asking all these question but you have been so helpful!

cazanne

Hi there, taken a while to get back to you, been busy this weekend getting ready for some work we are getting done on the house.  Supposed to start tomorrow but haven't heard anything so getting worried now!!!

Insurance..............tell your car insurance you are towing, won't cost any extra and will cover the van 3rd party while attached to the car.   You should probably insure the van itself too.  That will cover it for damage and theft, and also if it does any damage to anyone/anything else, e.g. if it runs away on site and crashes into another van or, heaven forbid, injures someone.  There are plenty of insurers, shop around, some ideas on here.  We are with the CC, not cheap, but good.

For breakdown insurance we are with Mayday from the CC, operated by Green Flag.  But I must admit I have not checked out what happens if the problem is with the van rather than the car.  I will need to check that out!!

The most common problem is probably a puncture, do you carry a spare wheel and a suitable jack for the van?  If there was a problem due to damage to the van, I would assume the van insurance would cover recovery of the van.

Good Morning Jennifer i hope you had a good weekend, i do hope they turned up to do your house, what are you having done?

my husband and i have been doing the templates for the caravan front and ive been putting wood treatment on them its slowly coming back together.

We have to buy a spare wheel and get one more as the other side keeps going down we have been looking around one caravan shop said he would sell us one for £50 does that sound right?

thanks for the info on insurance.

cazanne

Hi there, we are getting a leaky terrace above our garage enclosed to make a conservatory type area, and a new "dangling" balcony in front of it so we can get to the glass to clean it, and have a small area to go out onto.  It has taken us 18 months to get to this stage so we are getting a bit weary!!  Builders not coming today, phoned to say it will be maybe Thursday.  They are very busy, I am hoping this means they are in demand as they are so good!!

We ordered our spare with the van so not sure what it cost.  I would take along one of the existing wheels if possible to be sure you get the correct type of wheel.  Caravan tyres are usually heavier duty than car ones, so be sure to check that out, it will depend how heavy your van is.  They also deteriorate with age so if they are over 5/6 years old you should consider replacing them, we had to change ours when they were 6 years old.  It was 2 years ago, but I think we paid about £30/£35 per tyre.

Hope your "rebuild" is coming along well, it will all be worth it in the end!!

your work on your house  seems to be taking a long time, it must be near to finishing?

My husband will have a good shop around but it seems all the caravan shops seem to be up north oh well we found one in hernbay, i do like going to places like that so i can get ideas.

thank you very much Jennifer for all your support! i do hope i did not bug you to much!

cazanne

Unfortunately the work on the house has not even started!

We had the house built 18/19 years ago and this terrace has always been a problem area.  It was all redone about 13 years ago under the NHBRC 10 year warranty, and we got a 10 year guarantee on the floor (roof of garage), but that has run out.

It was March last year when we discovered the problem and started trying to find a solution.  Water (as you know!!) can be coming in one place and appearing another, so there were lots of possibilities.  In the end we found we had a dodgy flat roof type situation, a leak at the drain, lack of mastic to seal up, and wood starting to rot, so a major repair.  We consulted a friend who is an architect and he confirmed our suspicions, and suggested we might also consider enclosing the area.

We decided to remortgage the house and go with this as it will (hopefully) increase the value of the house a bit and provide a permanent solution.  Then we had to get Planning Permission and a Building Warrant, that took several months, but finding a builder was the worst.  Although we started out with prices from 2 builders they pulled out in the end so we had to find another.  Then they were too busy to start until September, and now they have delayed itagain.   So it has been a long haul!

We too have noticed how many caravan dealers etc there seem to be in the Midlands/North compared to Scotland.  Our closest one is a good 45 minutes drive to the other side of Glasgow, but we do have a very good wee place called "The Caravan Shop" only 15 minutes away.  He has an amazing array of spares and accessories crammed into a tiny shop and will order up anything he doesn't have, so that is handy.

When we are away we keep an eye open for dealers so we can have a poke around in the accessory shop!  Last year one tried really hard to sell us a new van as we were looking in them too!  It's great fun isn't it?

oh bless you, sounds like a lot off trouble ahead still, be you wished you never started now?

i want to find some more to look at i went to eastbourne a few weeks ago to stay with my mother inlaw and there was on down near her so that was good, but we found it a bit more expencive then the one near me, i say near its about 45 mins away or more i think! they had lots of new caravan in to nice to have a good look in them and DREAM!

cazanne