Video Review Of The Mercedes Marco Polo

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By William Coleman

Earlier on this week we did a written review after we spent a week with the Mercedes Marco Polo. We also did a full video review so you can see the Marco Polo in action. The video will visually highlight a lot of the pros and cons of the Marco Polo.

Here you can view the full written review, Mercedes Marco Polo Review

I really enjoyed my time with the Marco Polo. The luxury inside and all the modern gadgets made it a pleasure to drive. Throw in the 360 camera views when you are driving makes this an ideal camper for the newcomers, the veterans will love this too!

With a £70k price tag it could be out of a lot of people’s prices ranges, considering what what is out there from the 35-50k price brackets. The closest to this is the VW California which has a real competitor on its hands in the Marco Polo.

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Weather Warning-Truma Have It Covered

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Dan Cartwright

As the met office issue a yellow warning for the weekend, with the tail end of hurricane Maria and Lee whipping the UK, our friends at Truma want us remind you that you can still get away in your caravans and motorhomes while staying warm and toasty.

Truma supported Bailey of Bristol and ourselves on this years “arctic adventure” and they have just released the short video demonstrating how well their new Combi system helps in up to -15 degree temperatures. The Combi system kept the crew warm, cosy and clean during their stay.

So if the Combi system can conquer the arctic then surely it can deal all year round with our lovely temperate climate. To inspire you here are some things that are better in bad weather;

  • Scuba diving
  • Surfing
  • Jumping in muddy puddles
  • Kite flying
  • Fishing
  • Grass sledging

Alternatively you can curl up a beautiful spot in your motorhome or caravan and watch the weather pass over rolling hills whilst enjoying a hot chocolate and a whole bag of snacks.

A New Golden Age Of Tourism

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By William Coleman

As we enter a new era for Great Britain we also enter a new golden age for UK tourism. Over the past 12-18 months there has been a huge boom in the industry that has no sign of slowing.

Touring holidays, campsites, static sites or glamping. Whatever your preference there is no better time to get involved, if you have not already. It’s no surprise that the impact of Brexit has helped considerably with the boom. The weak pound is making holidays abroad more expensive and the worry of uncertain times ahead are keeping a lot of us home for the holidays. After speaking with a few different people regarding the reasoning behind their choice to stay in the UK for their holidays there were a small amount that were actually afraid to go to certain areas due to some of the events that have taken place in very popular destinations around Europe and the tension in other hot spots around the globe.

In my opinion this is exactly what the UK needs. At a time of slight unrest in the political world we need to look at what positives our country has to offer. And that is exactly what we, as a nation, are doing. July saw record breaking figures for people coming to England for their holidays. Which is amazing news for the economy and our tourism industry. The visitors to England spent £2.8 billion on their holidays in the UK. So not only are we spending more holiday time at home we are also attracting holidaymakers from all over the world. The boom is also being noticed by much larger and international companies too. The Hilton hotel chain has announced plans to build 34 more hotels across the country off the back of the numbers are figures coming from the tourism industry.

I spent every October term holiday in Devon in a static caravan with my family and it was the best. As I got older I went on my own adventures around the UK. There is so much on offer that it becomes quite difficult to chose where to go. Some of the views and landscapes rival lots of destinations around the world. Wales and Scotland for me have to be up there with some of the most beautiful stretches of natural wilderness our rock has to offer.

And we have seen the industry move on so much and evolve in some areas. With the creation of glamping now becoming a massive success which bridges the gap between camping and caravaning. And it is suitable for all ages and people. You can have a get away with your partner or your family.

The caravan and motorhome industry is also growing with a lot of people becoming first time buyers, many of which are a lot younger than what the industry was seeing 10 years ago. With such large investments going into the industry the sky’s the limit for the holidays and opportunities available.

The 2018 Tow Car Of The Year Awards Results

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By William Coleman

Last Friday the Caravan Times were invited to the Caravan and Motorhome Club 2018 Tow Car Of The Year Awards in London. We had a front row seats for all the results and winners. SKODA’s Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4×4 DSG took the top award this year, and also scooped class and category wins in the 2018 award ceremony.

The annual event, now in its 35th year, was hosted at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall. A very impressive venue to say the least. The Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC) clearly spared no expense in presenting a fantastic afternoon for all the guests that attended. The drink was excellent and the three course meal was top notch.

These awards are so important to the industry and consumers. It is hard to find honest and relevant information when buying a vehicle that you know will be towing along your caravan. You cannot exactly tour around your local car dealers and ask to test the towing capability of their stock.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club have 350,000 member who have a lot of confidence in the information and opinion that CAMC provide. And the news and results that come from the show helps thousands of people make the right choice when purchasing their next tow car.

Here are this years winners;

Vehicles priced under £24,000. Class winner SsangYong Korando SE 4×4 MY17

Vehicles priced £24,000-£26,000. Class winner Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport SRi NAV 1.6 136PS Turbo D ecoTEC

Vehicles priced £26,000-£30,000. Class winner SKODA Octavia Estate Scout 2.0 TDI 150PS 4×4

Vehicles priced £30,000-£33,000. Class winner Volkswagen Golf Estate Alltrack 2.0TDI 4MOTION 184 DSG

Vehicles priced £33,000-£38,000. Class winner SKODA Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4×4 DSG 190PS;

Vehicles priced £38,000-£50,000. Class winner Volvo XC60 D4 Inscription

Vehicles priced over £50,000. Class winner Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Momentum; also voted category winner of All-Wheel Drive Over 1800kg
Pick-Up Category. Winner Volkswagen Amarok Highline 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION 224P

Overall Winner. SKODA Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4×4 DSG 190PS

Tourist Chief Shuns Tax For Motorhomers and Caravanners

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By William Coleman

The tourist chief for the Outer Hebrides has publically shunned the plans for a tax of motorhomes and caravans as “ill-advised”.

There has been widespread backlash against the idea of taxing tourist who travel to the Outer Hebrides with motorhomes and caravans. The tourism leaders have said that the idea is wholly unacceptable to suggest that we want to tax any of our visitors before they come here on holiday”

Last week the SNP MSP Alasdair Allan went to the Government and asked them to consider a “motorhome levy”. The proposal, should it go through, is to help locals to better handle the increased vehicle numbers that the island has seen recently. Mr. Allan explains that the number of motorhomes that visit the island has shot up dramatically in the last 10 years. Although this is great news for the island, the extra traffic has had a knock on effect. The ferries that bring across the tourist have become extremely congested and has caused some infrastructure problems.

Although it was explained by Mr. Allen that the tourists are more than welcome he has said that with the resources available they are not enough to provide suitable sites and lack the waste disposal points .
The concerns are quite clear and have been made public by the Outer Hebrides Tourism (OHT) who have said that the tourism industry they have brings in £2million per year to the local economy. The OTH conducted a study over this year’s summer that showed that visitors would spend an average of £500 per trip. This money would be spent on food, drinks, fuel, goods and meals throughout an average 7 day trip. OTH added that tourism contributes £50million to the economy and sustains over 1,000 businesses.

The body said: “It is an enormously successful industry and critical to the islands’ financial sustainability. We are renowned for our people, landscape, hospitality and the warmth of our welcome.
It is completely ill-advised for our MSP to suggest we impose a tax on these visitors – his proposal would put at risk an annual spend of £2million and the financial stability of our islands.
“Motorhome visitors are highly flexible in their holiday plans, so are most likely to choose another destination in the face of discriminatory taxes or levies.”
There are some real concerns following this announcement. Extra tax on tourists is something that would put someone off of visiting a location. But if it goes towards strengthening the sites and facilities available would that be so bad?
The alternatives would be to crowdfund it from local businesses who would more than likely not be overly keen on that. Should the latter be an option it may force local businesses to raise their prices which in turn would end up being a form of tax in its own right as visitors are having to spend more when visiting. Is there a way to do this without financially impacting the community and visitors?

Mercedes Marco Polo Review

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By William Coleman

This week I had the pleasure of drive the new Mercedes Marco Polo around London and spend an overnight in the campervan to see what you get for £70,000.

Exterior

The Marco Polo does not look like a camper van or any other recreational vehicle. It has the appearance of a modern high end people carrier. Something you’d expect to book ahead of a trip to the airport. The stylish design makes it stand out from the crowd and will certainly turn heads. Driving around London the Marco Polo fit in just like any other Mercedes-Benz would. This really is a high end vehicle. If you can imagine a top spec brand new Mercedes that just happens to be attached to a camper conversion.

Beds and Sleeping

The Marco Polo is listed as a 4 berth, I feel that you will struggle with getting 4 people in here comfortably. The first bed is located in the main body vehicle. The two passengers chairs can be adjusted totally flat and then moved to the back of the van to connect to the other half of the bed. At first glance you’d think that you’re going to be lying across two different surfaces, half of which are the upholstery of the leather chair. But Marcedes provide a very firm and comfortable mattress topper style layer. Once this is rolled out across the bed it makes for a very comfortable sleep. With such a high price tag, Mercedes has ensured that there are as many electricity powered gadgets as possible to make your experience easier. I am not sure that being doubled over for quite a while holding down the buttons to flatten the seats is easier than a simple fold out. I found that the bed narrowed slightly at one end and with two people it could be a tiny bit too small and stuffy during the warmer months.

Bed Number 2 is located on what you could call the second floor. This bed it a lot easier to deal with. A full electrical pop-up roof that forms into a nice secluded double bed. This easy-up bed can be electrically controlled from the comfort of the drivers seat. One button that is an arms reach away. A few moments later and you have the bed ready without having to move seat and roll out mattress toppers. The pop up bed would be my first choice. It is a lot easier to set up and a lot more private and secluded.

Interior

When sat in the driver’s seat it is hard to differentiate between the Marco Polo and a Mercedes S-Class. There was every mod con available. The full display screen came equipped with a sat nav and full bluetooth connectivity. All modern day Mercedes have toucher sensitive dial and steering wheel controls, the Marco Polo is no different. What stood out to me was the 360 parking cameras. For someone who may not be a comfortable parker, especially in a motorhome, these cameras actually make parking a pleasure. There was one thing that totally surprised me and I thought would never been in a vehicle that is available to the public, a bird’s eye live stream of your Marco Polo. Put the van in reverse and one of the options on the screen is a satellite image of you car moving. You can even see people walking past if they are close enough.

The passenger and drivers seats are heated captain chairs with full leather and a great lumbar support. One of the more comfortable Mercedes chairs I’ve sat in. The leather does not stop there, the two passenger chairs in the back of the van are also full leather and 100% controlled by electrics. The chairs can be adjusted to any position including flat out that forms part of a small double bed.

There is a good amount of storage inside as well of a cold water tap, double hob and a small fridge. Maybe not enough to store food for four people for a weekend stay. A supply run half way though would need to be done if you wanted to have enough refrigerated food for 4. All the sides and cabinets are solid and very well built. When driving there is not a single noise or shake from any of the fittings, a very solid interior design. There is a fold out table that can seat 4 people (with the two front chairs span round). The two back chairs can be moved to any part of the car so there is a lot of flexibility for room but it will be tight for 4 adults, especially when preparing food and or drinks.

Driving

When it comes to smooth and soundless engines you do automatically think of motorhomes or camper vans. I took this van around London and some surrounding suburbs, with country roads, to see how it was fair in a city environment. After I while I forgot I was driving a camper van. With such smooth power steering and a quiet engine you only realise there is a camper van behind you when you actually turn your head and look.

Summary

For £70,000 you certainly do get quite a lot. I wouldn’t really want to spend too much time away in the Marco Polo with 4 people as I feel it would get a little too crowded, So a weekend for away with 2 will be perfect. The features that come with the campervan are great but may be a little too much as Marco Polo tries to do everything for you. This leisure vehicle is some serious competition for the VW California but with such a large price tag you could find something similar with a smaller cost. But if you do have £70,000 burning a hole in your pocket this purchase will certainly get you your monies worth.

The 2018 Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Awards

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Tomorrow afternoon the 2018 Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Awards will take place in London. The annual event will be held at The Royal Autocar Club, Pall Mall, and Caravan Times will be in attendance.

The award ceremony is to find out what the best car, across several categories, is the best for towing your leisure vehicle. The categories that are tested are: acceleration, brakes (including parking brake), reversing, driver ergonomics, hill start, visibility, traction and stability of gear box. Each car is put forward by the manufacturers and judged by caravan journalists, national motoring journalists and club members who provide an informative examination of each vehicle.

The 2017 awards saw top three brands take awards home in all different categories. BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes all won awards. With VW taking the top award at the event, being labelled The Towcar of the Year. The VW model that won was the Volkswagen Passat Estate Alltrack 2.0TDI 4MOTION 150PS

This year will be the 35th anniversary of the awards and looks to be the biggest yet and we will be there to give full coverage. Stay tuned for all the news from the show.

The West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Show

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By William Coleman

Have you ever wished to be a caravan or motorhome owner? Ever wanted to just jump in your VW Camper and run away for a weekend retreat? Well now is the time to make dreams come true. An exciting 10 day show in Shrewsbury has been designed to make your dreams a reality.

Over the past few years there has been a huge boom in the UK leisure and tourism industry with a lot more couples and families opting for staycation holidays. British people are now realising that the drop in the pound is making holidays abroad a lot more expensive. So instead of spending thousands at a time for a week or two away they are investing in motorhomes, caravans and camper converts.

The West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Show, which will be on from September 30 to October 8, is going to be a great place to go and see what the industry has to offer in their 2018 range. The innovative designs on offer are sure to inspire you and get you going for a potential new purchase.

The annual show will have a whole host of attractions including family entertainment and will feature around 150 new models at Salop Leisure’s sales center which is located alongside the Shrewsbury bypass at Emstrey,

One of this years highlights will be the UK launch of the iconic American brand Airstream. The brand will be presented by Swift at the show who are one of six dealerships who are exclusively appointed to sell the Airstream models in the UK. The models that will go on sales in the UK are the Colorado, Missouri and the Yukon. These icon models have a unique shape and are instant eye catcher with their “silver bullet” exterior.

Mark Bebb, Salop Leisure’s managing director, said: “We are delighted and proud to be selling Airstream, probably the most iconic brand in the leisure and recreational vehicle industry at our premises in Shrewsbury which adds to our expanding offer.”

The show will have around 70 new caravans, motorhomes and luxury lodge models on display, some of which have been exclusively made for Salop Leisure.On top of all the attractions at the show you can also make huge savings on 2017 models. The savings can be anywhere from £500 to £5,000!

As well as displaying the Airstream range, Swift will also be displaying more than 30 new touring caravans and motorhomes. Anyone who wishes to make a purchase at the show will also get free delivery show from Salop Leisure during the show.

The West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Show is a free event, which attracts thousands of visitors from across the UK and aims to be a one stop shop for existing owners and first-time buyers. There will also be a range of pre-owned caravans and 10% reductions on awnings that cost £500 and above.

For the first time buyers who will attend the events there will be a team of experts on hand the guide buyers through the buying process to ensure that the customer journey is perfect. They will be able to handle any and all questions as well as break down the flexible finance packages available.

For those who are interested in finding out what the UK has to offer for staycations there will be a park finding zone which will have a choice of more than 200 quality parks throughout the country. The area will be run by park representatives who will have all the information you need to choose the right park for you.

Family entertainment, a climbing wall, falconry displays and face painting will be available during weekends of the show and Love Coffee café/restaurant will be serving up delicious snacks, meals and drinks.

Admission to the show and parking are free and tickets are available to download at www.caravanevent.co.uk.

£5.5M Resort Attracts 20,000 Guest This Summer

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By William Coleman

Summer 2017 has proven to be an absolute blockbuster for Shropshire’s new £5.5 million caravan and glamping site that opened in May. The successful opening saw a staggering 20,000 guests visit since May. And the booking just won’t stop!

The early expectations for success were high, but the managers at Love2Stay at Emsrey, Shrewsbury had no idea that the summer opening would bring such a massive amount of bookings. The public response to the new holiday resort has been overwhelmingly positive. Not only was the sight a great success but the activities provided were also a smash hit. With guest booking up because of the wide range of activities on offer.

The resort site has 124 touring caravan pitches for those wanting to visit on their staycation and a village of 11 luxury glamping lodges that were officially open for bookings in August. All 11 of the glamping lodges comes with its own private hot tub and fire pit for those evenings that need to be appreciated under the stars.

The holiday resort is aiming to set a new high end standard for holiday resorts across the UK, and 20,000 visitors in a matter of months is certainly a bar raiser. One of the UK’s top tier caravan and leisure companies, Salop Leisure, developed the resort which offers visitors an impressive and luxurious natural retreat.

Laura Plumridge, who manages the site with her husband Geoff, has said “The response has been absolutely phenomenal. We opened the weekend before the Whistsun and the resort has been full every weekend since.”

The site offer a wide range of activities that has been a major attraction for the resort. “One of the things that has surprised us most is the demand for activities. We had no idea just how popular they would be – our record to date is 220 children in one day and we had 60 children on the lake raft building and problem solving.

“We arrange up to 12 activities a day and have families staying with us just to participate. Our guests have really embraced the ‘back to nature’ ethos and there is a hunger for parents to be able to facilitate that for their children.

When visiting you can learn bushcraft and survival skills with their in house forest ranger. A perfect way to keep the children entertained. The site makes the most of its surroundings and bases a lot of the activities on the outdoors. Instead of iPad and tablets the kids can get fully immersed in the great outdoors with fishing, building a woodland hideout and swimming in the centerpiece of the site, the natural swimming pool.

The stunning pool, pictured below, has an amazing backdrop and is flanked on three sides by decking and hot tubs. You can take in the view of the area’s picturesque surroundings while floating around in the cool gin clear water. The pool has the look of a nice lagoon that you would find deep in the woods. The water is chemical free and naturally filtered which gives it its crystal clear look.

Of an evening the outdoor area becomes an Italian eatery where you can get a traditionally made Italian pizza that is cooked in wood fire oven. There is also a cinedrome where guest can relax and watch films.

Following the monumental success of the opening the the months following the pre bookings are coming in thick and fast, word is certainly travelling fast about this site. The site is already taking a lot of bookings for the remainder of the year with slots for the October half term, Bonfire night and New Year’s Eve already being booked ahead of time. With the guest who visit having such an amazing time 65% book another visit before they have even left.

The Love2Stay site strive to provide something more than just a Caravan and Glamping site. They are providing services found boutique hotels. There is a separate reception and concierge desk, a food delivery service and a service where you can book your own personal chef for a outdoor meal.

The resort is set in 22 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with panoramic views across to Wales from one side and over to the Shropshire Hills from the other.

Salop Leisure’s managing director Mark Bebb, the driving force behind the resort, explained the thinking behind the resort. “We know that we need to put effort into the re-generation of our industry and it’s our vision that Love2stay will accomplish this,” he said.

This certainly does not seem like your normal caravan escape. If you want the freedom of a caravan holiday with the combined luxury of a high end hotel then the Love2Stay site is the one for you. For more information visit their website, Love2Stay Website

The Camera Van Convert

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By William Coleman

Ever since the dawn of the caravan people have been looking at inventive ways to adapt their leisure homes to a higher standard. Over the years we have seen convert concepts just for fun and some purpose built for business like pizza vans and various festival vendor builds. One creative individual has designed a fully functioning camera using a caravan.

In what started as a giant static camera eventually evolved into the caravan camera pictured in this article. Brendan Barry, who provided these photos via his Facebook, initially wanted to have a giant dark room/camera combination. After some attempts that didn’t go quite the way he wanted he decided to invest in a caravan and the idea snapped into place from there.

One of the early attempts at building his own dark room started with plywood and some black out materials from a fabric shop: ‘I borrowed a 20′ military aerial lens off a friend and took it on the road to Latvia in my camper-van,’ he explains.
‘The problem with it was that I only made one dark slide, and this wasn’t exactly light tight!”

After that attempt Brendan took things a step further and travelled to Latvia for the next stage of his experiment. The basement of a Latvian castle became the new lab due to the darkness that a basement provides: “I could load in the dark, fire flashes to expose and, as I was shooting paper negatives and direct positives, I could develop the print there and then.”

Now that the science behind the idea had been established a casing for the camera was still needed. So Brendan built his new camera inside of a shed. “The [initial] camera itself was rather awkward to use, so when I returned to England I decided it would be easier to build something bigger that I could climb inside and operate from within, so the ‘Shed Cam’ was born.” The only real issue Brendan faced was that the shed was not the most portable of ideas. Once the photo was taken he would then have to transport the photo in a light proof bag to another location to then develop the image.

Then the snappy idea of using a caravan came into play. Brendan took to eBay in search of an affordable caravan that would be suitable for a full conversion. £150 later and the caravan concept was a go. ‘This worked a treat, I could shoot in the shed, put the paper in a light-proof bag and take it to the darkroom at the other end of my studio. The only problem then was, I was stuck inside and confined to the studio (although the camera shed was on wheels, it wouldn’t fit out the door even if I wanted to take it outside!” And just like that the Caravan Cam was born. Not only is the caravan suitable for the camera but the much needed dark room was able to be built inside too. Meaning that the caravan is an all in one camera and development studio.

With such a great idea now becoming a reality it is a winning achievement with wide appeal. Brendan took his newly built Camera Van on tour to and tooks portraits of over 300 people across a long weekend.

This is an idea I really love. I try to take as many pictures when travelling as possible. It’s the best way to capture your surroundings and store great memories. So the combination of the two should go a long way.

Winter’s Coming- Preparing Your Leisure Vehicle

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By William Coleman

As summer starts to wind down the weather goes from bright and sunny to grey and rainy. It’s the time of year we all dread as motorhomers and caravanners, storage season! We all must start to prepare our motorhomes and caravans for the autumn and winter months that lay ahead. Here is a list of basics and essentials you need to consider when storing your vehicle for winter.

Preventing Damp

With the rapid change in temperature from warm to cold condensation will soon start to form anywhere it can. Once the condensation drips down the interior windows and dries you will start to see and smell the effects of mould. Something that has an awful lingering smell and will simply spread if not dealt with swiftly. Some heating with fresh dry air in and out is one way of dealing with it. Or an easier, but more costly way, is to use a dehumidifier. But to be cost effective means a lot more attention or a regular basis.

Interior Preparation

Always remove as many unnecessary items as possible. Clothes, bedding, cushions or anything that might absorb moisture, aids the damp issue too. Leave all the doors and cupboards open to keep them aired as you do not want a musky odor. This is good practice which will aid you in removing anything that does not need to be stored during winter. A full clean will also help out alot, nothing worse than finding old food come spring. Ensure that nothing that will deteriorate over the winter is left inside. A full clean should include surfaces, floor vacuumed, cold storage empties/cleaned and removal of anything that will lead to damp or rot.

Exterior Preparation

The weather is the enemy number one when storing your motorhome or caravan over the winter. Despite the typical grey winters we have in the UK we can get extended periods of sun, without the heat. Although it the heat may not be there the UV rays are still doing their job. Sun rays can fade the colour of any vehicle, especially when left idea for several months. When you are detailing the outside give all the locks a good clean and a spray with WD40 or a suitable lubricant oil.

I would recommend giving the home a good clean with a wax to finish. This will give the home an extra layer of protection from the elements. When cleaning the exterior check for any cracks or dents that may have occurred without your knowledge. If you don’t spot a crack then you run a huge risk of leaks. And the best advice and the most simplist will be to invest in a good cover. Keep the home nice and tucked up for winter.

Engine Care/Batteries

A battery can die a death if left unattended for an extended amount of time. So a regular engine turn should do a world of good and ensure that the battery doesn’t seize up on you. Plugging the home into store power once a month, for around 8-10 hours, will help keep coach batteries in good shape. If you are not planning the use the home after winter I would advise you to simply remove the battery. You can charge it at home and if the temperature plummets you will not have a frozen battery. A discharged battery will freeze a lot quicker than a full battery.

These are just a select few of the checks that you can do. Most people have their own routine that they like to stick to but it is always good to check the basics listed above. Once winter is over and you want to start using the leisure vehicle, provided you’re not a winter motorhomer, it is always advisable to get a service done to check everything is in full working order.

Wales Becomes The New Hotspot For Motorhomers

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By William Coleman

Wales has some of the most picturesque scenery that our country has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a stunning coast line or a secluded woodland setting that looks straight out of a Lord Of The Ring movie, Wales has it all.

It seems that the secret escapes Wales have to offer are now longer so secret. There has been a large increase, reports say, in the ownership and rental of motorhomes in Wales. From both Welsh natives and visiting tourist.

The beauty of a motorhome holiday is the huge variety of motorhomes to choose from and locations to stay at. The motorhome comes in so many different shapes and sizes, there will be one to suit any need. If you want to take the other half away on a last minute get away or the whole family during the school holidays, you will be spoilt for choice.

Why has Wales become such a haven for people looking to take a motorhome holiday? Pronto Motorhome Hire say they are seeing a large increase in visitors from abroad who want to tour around Wales to get a totally unique experience, something that Wales has plenty of. Naunton Dickens, Managing Director of the Caerphilly-based firm, tells Business News Wales what business is looking like for them: “We have seen an 8.5% increase in the number of motorhome hires made from last year, with some exciting new trends taking shape. The gains have been made outside of the high season, with many more people hiring motorhomes from Easter onwards this year. The good spring weather really helped.”

Pronto has also noticed the average age of customers highing being younger than usual. Pronto feels this is due to the new “Hipster Generation being a lot more interested in staying in the UK for their holidays and the financial savings that come with the modern Staycation.

It also appears, as I have mentioned in previous articles Brexit Boom For Staycation Industry, Brexit has a large part to play in the recent surge in UK based holidays. Pronto believes that European visitors from Spain, Germany, Holland and even as far as New Zealand are taking full advantage of the weak pound to get the most bang for their buck when they are on their vacation.

For me Wales has always had a special place in my heart due to wide range of locations. The variety of the landscape is so unique. From the Snowdonia National Park to the amazing coastline of Llyn Peninsula If you have never visited Wales I urge you to.