More Young People Take To Caravans

I was recently contacted by Luke who penned an article for me which I found rather interesting, and wondered if the stereotypical age of a caravanner was in his later years or as Luke suggests getting younger? His article is below:-

Due to recent austerity making the ‘staycation’ popular, as well as the rise in ‘glamping’ as a fashionable retreat, the stereotype of the older caravan user may be out of date. More and more young people are beginning to take to it for weekend trips, as well as their annual holidays.

 Young bloggers, Charlotte (27) and Ben (33) are firm advocates of the caravan holiday. They recently spent 18 months travelling New Zealand in a 2004 Compass Corona, and said that, “we desired the freedom to set up camp and then explore in a car without having to re-pack our camper.

“For us it was practicality. We wanted a home that was mobile so that we could see the vast landscapes of Australia and New Zealand on a reduced budget. Knowing that we could recoup all or most of our money when our visas expired.”

“We were fortunate in that we had savings to invest in a mobile home which would act as our mode of transport and the roof over our head, whereas most young travellers are travelling for a short period in-between employment of education so choose to rent instead.”

Are you also a young person – perhaps with a young family – thinking about trying your hand at motorhoming? Here are some inspirational tips and insights to get you started.

Popular destinations

The great thing about motorhoming is the freedom it allows to travel wherever you want, whenever you want. Here are some great trip ideas for young people:

Outdoor hobbies

If you have a love for the outdoors then a caravan is the perfect companion: 

take it along to your next big hiking or cycling trip and avoid the hassle of having to put stuff on the roof of your car; 

use the extra space to carry more equipment if you’re going climbing;

drive it to the fishing lake where you have the luxury of being able to cook on a real stove.

Music festivals

If you don’t fancy having to deal with sleeping in the mud and the wet whilst at a music festival, then taking a caravan is an ideal alternative. Typically the festival site for caravans will be just a large field, possibly with a temporary hookup and standpipes for water, etc. but the benefits of a proper bed and a stove can never be overrated after long nights of partying!

Vintage camping 

Alternatively if you want to use motorhoming as a chance to get creative in the outdoors then take inspiration from the vintage trend. Bring along some musical instruments to the campsite and you can feel like Mumford and Sons!

Choosing a caravan

The majority of caravans present an expensive one-off purchase, but once bought, the trips themselves are relatively cheap, with the average pitch price in the UK being around £10 a night. 

It all comes down to finding a reliable vehicle at a reasonable price. Caravan dealers are a good place to begin your search, as you will be able to view a good selection and may receive some useful advice about each model on offer. You will also gain an idea of the prices being asked for caravans based on condition, age, size and specification level to help you decide. 

Used caravans may be a good way to go for those on a budget, but beware of extra expenditure. There may be a whole host of essentials to buy on top of the main vehicle, like gas cylinders, leisure battery, fresh and waste water carriers, plus security locks.

Taking young kids

According to a recent survey from the UK Camping and Caravanning Club, motorhoming with kids is a great for a number of reasons:

91% of all children say spending time exploring the outdoors with their parents makes them happy.

80% of children who camp feel their parents are less stressed when they go camping and three-quarters say their parents shout less!

79% of kids who have never camped say they would like to.

73% of adults suggest camping is something every child should experience and half say it should be on the national curriculum.

76% of kids who camp notice that their parents have more time for hugs than usual

It’s well know that camping makes families feel closer and often young children feel most happy when spending time with family and friends. In a world that is more uncertain – both financially and emotionally – people are finding even greater comfort and support in having their families and friends around them. 

Are you also a young caravan user? Please feel free to leave your comments below.