Ex caravanner!
in [UK Drivers]
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From: Ret. on 22 Jun 2010 08:32 Adrian wrote: > bod <bodron57(a)tiscali.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much like they > were saying: > >>> I thought caravans were for people wanting a holiday on the cheap. > >> Some folk prefer the freedom etc. Each to their own. > > "Freedom"? > > Apart from the inability to use many back roads, there's a lot less > caravan sites than there are B&Bs in touristy areas. My wife hates using B&Bs - she just feels very uncomfortable lodging in a stranger's home. -- Kev
From: Adrian on 22 Jun 2010 09:26 "Man at B&Q" <manatbandq(a)hotmail.com> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying: >> >> I thought caravans were for people wanting a holiday on the cheap. >> > A common fallacy and misunderstanding. >> Ok, fair enough. I'd rather rent a cottage or stay in a hotel or guest >> house. > And you think that would work out cheaper than a 'van when comparing the > same number of nights away? > > One weeks rent of a cottage could easily exceed one years depreciation. > Factor in multiple trips per year and the 'van very soon starts to look > a lot cheaper. With all the other costs included? The capital tie-up, maintenance, storage, extra fuel, site pitch etc etc? Now remember that Kev's planning on changing the R75 to a smaller, cheaper-to-run car, since he doesn't need such a large one any more - so include the extra running costs of the larger car for the rest of the annual mileage. I suspect it comes in a chunk closer than you think, unless you use the caravan a LOT. Especially don't underestimate the cost of the pitch - a quick google finds that a "touring pitch" caravan site close to Stratford upon Avon (random location - I'm heading near there in a few weeks) costs £80 for a bank holiday weekend (three nights), or £46 for a normal summer weekend (two nights). Checking the first result for B&B in Stratford, you could be staying in a rather lovely looking thatched cottage for £75/night for a double room. So that's a difference of ~£100 for a two night stay. And somebody else makes you a big fry-up for that...
From: Man at B&Q on 22 Jun 2010 10:15 On Jun 22, 2:26 pm, Adrian <toomany2...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > "Man at B&Q" <manatba...(a)hotmail.com> gurgled happily, sounding much like > they were saying: > > >> >> I thought caravans were for people wanting a holiday on the cheap. > >> > A common fallacy and misunderstanding. > >> Ok, fair enough. I'd rather rent a cottage or stay in a hotel or guest > >> house. > > And you think that would work out cheaper than a 'van when comparing the > > same number of nights away? > > > One weeks rent of a cottage could easily exceed one years depreciation. > > Factor in multiple trips per year and the 'van very soon starts to look > > a lot cheaper. > > With all the other costs included? The capital tie-up, maintenance, > storage, extra fuel, site pitch etc etc? Now remember that Kev's planning > on changing the R75 to a smaller, cheaper-to-run car, since he doesn't > need such a large one any more - so include the extra running costs of > the larger car for the rest of the annual mileage. > > I suspect it comes in a chunk closer than you think, unless you use the > caravan a LOT. Kinda silly to have a caravan and not make use of it. > > Especially don't underestimate the cost of the pitch - a quick google > finds that a "touring pitch" caravan site close to Stratford upon Avon > (random location - I'm heading near there in a few weeks) costs £80 for a > bank holiday weekend (three nights), or £46 for a normal summer weekend > (two nights). Wee-ell... Even during Regatta week it's only £20/night for two adults inc. hook- up, at Swiss Farm in Henley. You can stay for a lot less than that as well at various sites all over the country. I can guarantee my usage pattern (if I had a caravan) would make caravanning a lot cheaper than B&B or renting. MBQ
From: Ret. on 22 Jun 2010 10:32 Adrian wrote: > "Man at B&Q" <manatbandq(a)hotmail.com> gurgled happily, sounding much > like they were saying: > >>>>> I thought caravans were for people wanting a holiday on the cheap. > >>>> A common fallacy and misunderstanding. > >>> Ok, fair enough. I'd rather rent a cottage or stay in a hotel or >>> guest house. > >> And you think that would work out cheaper than a 'van when comparing >> the same number of nights away? >> >> One weeks rent of a cottage could easily exceed one years >> depreciation. Factor in multiple trips per year and the 'van very >> soon starts to look a lot cheaper. > > With all the other costs included? The capital tie-up, maintenance, > storage, extra fuel, site pitch etc etc? Now remember that Kev's > planning on changing the R75 to a smaller, cheaper-to-run car, since > he doesn't need such a large one any more - so include the extra > running costs of the larger car for the rest of the annual mileage. > > I suspect it comes in a chunk closer than you think, unless you use > the caravan a LOT. > > Especially don't underestimate the cost of the pitch - a quick google > finds that a "touring pitch" caravan site close to Stratford upon Avon > (random location - I'm heading near there in a few weeks) costs £80 > for a bank holiday weekend (three nights), or £46 for a normal summer > weekend (two nights). > > Checking the first result for B&B in Stratford, you could be staying > in a rather lovely looking thatched cottage for £75/night for a > double room. So that's a difference of ~£100 for a two night stay. > And somebody else makes you a big fry-up for that... We last used the 'van in April for an eight night stay on a CL near to Church Stretton. The cost was £100 exactly (£12.50 per night). That fee included electric hook up. We recently considered a four night stay in a Premier Inn in Nottingham just for a short break. The cost (even with staff discount because we have a relative who works for Premier Inn) woul have been £220. That £220 included continental breakfast - but no other meals. So more than double the price for half the length of time... For many people, caravanning is not just 'accommodation' - it is a hobby and an interest and they enjoy the whole experience. -- Kev
From: Ret. on 22 Jun 2010 10:34
Man at B&Q wrote: > On Jun 22, 2:26 pm, Adrian <toomany2...(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> "Man at B&Q" <manatba...(a)hotmail.com> gurgled happily, sounding much >> like they were saying: >> >>>>>> I thought caravans were for people wanting a holiday on the >>>>>> cheap. >>>>> A common fallacy and misunderstanding. >>>> Ok, fair enough. I'd rather rent a cottage or stay in a hotel or >>>> guest house. >>> And you think that would work out cheaper than a 'van when >>> comparing the same number of nights away? >> >>> One weeks rent of a cottage could easily exceed one years >>> depreciation. Factor in multiple trips per year and the 'van very >>> soon starts to look a lot cheaper. >> >> With all the other costs included? The capital tie-up, maintenance, >> storage, extra fuel, site pitch etc etc? Now remember that Kev's >> planning on changing the R75 to a smaller, cheaper-to-run car, since >> he doesn't need such a large one any more - so include the extra >> running costs of the larger car for the rest of the annual mileage. >> >> I suspect it comes in a chunk closer than you think, unless you use >> the caravan a LOT. > > Kinda silly to have a caravan and not make use of it. > Which is one of the main reasons we have decided to give it up. We are child-minders for our grand-daughter two days a week and that has seriously affected our ability to just shoot off. >> >> Especially don't underestimate the cost of the pitch - a quick google >> finds that a "touring pitch" caravan site close to Stratford upon >> Avon (random location - I'm heading near there in a few weeks) costs >> �80 for a bank holiday weekend (three nights), or �46 for a normal >> summer weekend (two nights). > > Wee-ell... > > Even during Regatta week it's only �20/night for two adults inc. hook- > up, at Swiss Farm in Henley. You can stay for a lot less than that as > well at various sites all over the country. > > I can guarantee my usage pattern (if I had a caravan) would make > caravanning a lot cheaper than B&B or renting. I agree. Site fees vary a lot and CLs (even those with full facilities) can be a lot cheaper than main sites. -- Kev |