Does caravanning have a future in this age of global travel?
- Friday, 4 April 2008
- 10 Comments
The Big Issue image of Punch and Judy
YES, SAYS FRANK GROVE
Personally, I can’t think of a better time to take up caravanning. The world is now full of people bemoaning global warming rising if we don’t all get rid of our cars, stop travelling by plane and boat and retrench into a life where our horizons reach no further than we can walk!
While I fundamentally disagree with the doom mongers, people are coming round to the idea that we should limit the number of long-haul holidays that we take. It also seems that the ever-increasing cost of fuel will have some effect on holidays, so I can foresee many people deciding to look for more economical holidays in the UK. But hotels are often more expensive than their foreign counterparts without necessarily providing better services.
In considering how to solve the problem I have no doubt that some of them will start looking at caravanning and what it has to offer. And when they do, they’ll find out what we already know – it’s a great pastime which allows us the freedom to go when and where we like and do our own thing, unrestricted by hotel hours and regulations. But if everyone starts caravanning, there won’t be enough pitches for us all in high season!
NO, SAYS ANNA GOODMAN
Years ago we invested in a small, well-used van and set off adventuring in Britain. Today, young couples won’t even look at ‘shabby’ – they want brand spanking new. That’s thirty grand before you start, for a family van with all mod cons, along with the Chelsea tractor man enough to tow it. Then there’s £1000 per year in insurance, servicing and storage, plus the cost of running a huge wagon not otherwise needed.
So where’s the attraction, when you can get a family’s worth of flights for the annual expense of the van alone? And how many youngsters hanker after Bognor? Exotic locations are no longer the province of the rich.
All right, you can take your outfit across the channel, then drag it down to the French Riviera. But how many days does that take? How many hundreds of pounds does it cost? Ryanair will get you there in three hours for 30 quid. Few have the patience for the slow plod – an immediate arrival and sunshine is what they crave.
Caravanners are an ageing population – just look at the sales of two-berths against family caravans. When we go, what then?
Reader comments
Add your commentsApril 07 11:40
Lynn Wood
Surely caravanning is a million times better for the environment than flying in a plane? Even someone with a vague grasp of environmental matters can see that if we all holidayed nearer to home – caravan or no caravan – then the amount of pollutants in the air would decrease. Get out there, life's for living!
April 07 11:42
Tony Christopher, Lincs.
I don't really think the argument that caravanning is old hat necessarily holds any weight. If everyone were to take it up then the amount of traffic on the road would be horrendous, and doubtless very bad for the air quality in the countryside. And besides, isn't the best part of our hobby getting away from it all?
April 07 11:43
Bill Torbell, Brighton
We've been holidaying in various vans for nearly 40 years and are pleased that people are now seeing it as a greener alternative to jets. It was once about freedom, but the world is pretty much on a plate these days. We should be doing what we can to encourage youngsters that there's as much on their doorstep as in the far corners of the globe.
April 07 11:43
Leo Kenwood, Charlbury
I think that, like many of the concerns of this age, only time will tell how long the caravanning hobby can go on for. I'm sure that many older folks will not be around in fifty years (or perhaps twenty!) but I always see younger families out on the roads, and those kids must be inspired to follow in the parents steps, as indeed I was.
April 07 15:01
Martin
Heavier 'vans and lighter cars pose a far greater threat to our hobby than cheap flights. A quick scan of the weights of new vans in the current copy of "Caravan" showed that, if I did not want to change my current "tug", the VAST majority of 'vans listed are far to heavy to be towed legally by me. British makers are the worst offenders!
April 10 19:53
Barbara Dunthorne
We have been caravanning for 20 plus years and before that camping with small children. It is great to get away at the weekends in the caravan. Whatever the weather there is always something you can do, whether walking, cycling, visiting other towns or just reading in the van if weather is not so good. It is far better for the environment that flying everywhere. It is also a cheaper way to take holidays and most of the sites we have visited have been good.
April 17 19:41
Richard Brough
The bigest threat to the caravanning community has to be the Chancellor, with ever increasing fuel duties at a time of high prices of oil. Family caravans need strong cars to tow them safely, consequently a lot of 4x4 owners like myself are penalised for the size of our tow car. It is easier to jump on a plane and pay the small flight duty tax compared to having to own a tow car.
This is the biggest threat. Caravanning is not seen to be green, and unfortunately, like it not, this is the selling point of all political parties and Europe. We need to lobby these communities otherwise we could face been priced out of our caravans and on to the planes. Not a great idea!
May 02 13:23
kim cammidge
We have 6 young children between 8 years and 4 months so having a family day out can be very expensive! Caravanning for us is great as we get quality time with the children and we can go away for a long weekend for less than a trip to a theme park.The kids love the freedom caravanning gives them.This year as we have a small baby we have a seasonal pitch,but we are looking forward to touring the country (and abroad) when they are a bit older. I think getting kids off the couch and into the fresh air definitely has to be a good thing.
May 25 18:30
Peter J Pink
Yes! Caravanning really does have a good future ahead - the opportunity to roam all over the UK and the freedom it gives in doing so. Who, these days, can afford hotel charges for regular visits around the country when retired? We have camped and caravanned for some 50 years now!
Despite rising fuel costs, caravanning enables my disabled wife and self to enjoy the delights of the out-doors, at our own liesurely rate, also, occasionally, on to the Continent or Ireland, again enjoying the sheer freedom of movement.
After all one hears about the stress of air travel and the associated baggage problems, I feel I'm due to caravan as long as I am able.
YES! Caravanning is definitely a must for the future !
November 16 12:43
Stuart Gardner
People in general do not like to be told when to do what, they much prefer to take their time and have the freedom to do it when and where they please. Caravanning is probably the only form of holidaying where that can be done, from the time you leave the house to the time you return.
Caravanning will always have a future, many things within the hobby will change, maybe not all for the good of everyone, but its future is not in doubt, its here for good.