FROM THE NATIONAL CARAVAN COUNCIL
Below are just a few of the reasons why buying a touring caravan or motorhome could be good for you.
1. Be kind to the environment You may think caravans are usually white – but in fact, they can be green! Emissions for a
sample 1,100 mile journey from with a family of four in a family saloon towing a small touring caravan produces only 38% (0.36 tonnes) of the C0² output of a similar distance flight, which would produce emissions of nearly a ton (0.96 tonnes). When staying in a motorhome on a touring park, the daily C0² output is around 5 kg per person, whilst in a hotel the C0² value would be between 12.5kg in the summer and 17kg in the winter*.
1. Be kind to the environment You may think caravans are usually white – but in fact, they can be green! Emissions for a sample 1,100 mile journey from with a family of four in a family saloon towing a small touring caravan produces only 38% (0.36 tonnes) of the C0² output of a similar distance flight, which would produce emissions of nearly a ton (0.96 tonnes). When staying in a motorhome on a touring park, the daily C0² output is around 5 kg per person, whilst in a hotel the C0² value would be between 12.5kg in the summer and 17kg in the winter*.
2. Be good to your pocket Touring caravans and motorhomes are an investment in your future holidays. The cost of pitching a caravan or motorhome on a park starts from around £5 a night - and is frequently less than £20 a night. Substitute one or two family holidays in Europe and buy a touring caravan instead and you are set up for economical short breaks and summer holidays for years to come.
3. Connect up the generations There’s something about caravanning that appeals to all ages. For some it is nostalgia for childhood holidays, for others it is connecting with the outdoors; for kids it is doing something different. The Caravan Club even has research to prove that children are more likely to shower unasked(!) and to help with the washing up when on a caravan holiday. Choose your park carefully and …
4. … See the best of Britain … Explore the UK from coast to coast. There are more than 2,000 parks that will accept touring caravans and motorhomes, from the wilds of Scotland to London’s suburbs, and from rural retreats to family-friendly full-on entertainment centres. Pitch your holiday home in some of Britain’s most beautiful spots. And when another destination beckons, move on..
5. ‘Buy British’ The idea might have originated in the 1960s but it is as sound an idea now as it was then - buy British and support British jobs. Around 95% of caravans on UK roads and the 65% of motorhomes are actually made in Britain (unlike many manufactured items, which have clocked up ‘air’ or ‘sea miles’ before reaching the end user). Caravanning also supports rural economies, by increasing spend in local shops, pubs, restaurants, petrol stations, post offices etc.
6. Gain the freedom to go as you please One of the beauties of having a tourer or motorhome is the spontaneous holiday. Fancy a weekend away? Just hitch up/drive off and you have an instant adventure. It’s particularly good if you have a sport or hobby– from walking and bird watching to surfing or sailing – a caravan or motorhome provides an ideal base.
7. Meet other people (or get away from it all) When you ask caravanners what they like about their hobby, they’ll say one of the best things is meeting like-minded people. But if getting away from the rat race is your priority, choose Certificated Locations (CLs). These are small, five caravan sites that are usually picturesque rural settings and informal relaxed atmosphere. There are around 2,500 CLs across the UK - each is unique.
8. Eat, drink and be merry with a built-in kitchen Caravans and motorhomes are great for self-catering. They now have well-equipped kitchens with ovens, hobs, fridges, freezers and surprisingly good storage space. So if you want to control costs, cater for babies or faddy eaters (or just be assured of a good cup of tea or coffee in the morning), a caravan or motorhome is ideal.
9. Pet subjects Most touring parks will accept pets, so there are no worries about leaving your hound behind. Many parks have specially-created dog walking areas for canine companions.
10. Relax and take your home comforts with you Just because you are in a caravan doesn’t mean that you have to forgo the things you enjoy and rely on at home. Apart from the above mentioned kitchen, there’s comfortable beds, efficient showers and loos, TV points, electrical sockets and so on. Caravans can be fitted with aerials, digi-boxes, MP3 connectors, while wireless internet access is frequently offered in parks now.
 
Source The National Caravan Council
* Data from www.greencaravanning.co.uk/ verified by Transport and Travel Research Ltd and the CIVD/Institute for Applied Ecology in Germany.
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