New caravan & motorhome superstore opens in Bristol area

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by Holly Tribe

A new caravan and motorhome dealership on the outskirts of Bristol will formally open its doors to the public this weekend. The Lord Mayor of Bristol will officially launch the Family Travel Centre in Brislington on Saturday 9th April as part of a weekend-long programme of events and promotions.

Introductory offers include £2,000 off new Adria motorhomes and the chance to win a weekend away ‘with a difference’. There’s also an on-site kid’s area to keep the children entertained while parents take a look around the extensive range of leisure vehicles.

The two acre site will stock a large range of new and used caravans, motorhomes, campers and American RV’s alongside an outdoor leisure and accessory shop and service centre.

The Family Travel Centre is founded by three local fathers keen to provide a family friendly service in the local area. Matt Hunt, director of FTC, commented: “We are set up to really help people get the most out of their motorhome or caravan experience.

“We have a unique understanding of what the motorhome enthusiast needs because we have each all owned one for years. We’ve loved sharing the flexibility, freedom and adventure with our families and friends, which is why we started Family Travel Centre.”

Caravanners face competition with Britain set for another staycation summer

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan holidaymakers visiting sites in the UK this summer could find their pitches a little more crowded than usual, as a recent survey shows that the staycation is making a comeback. Research from Haven Holiday found that almost half of the UK population (48 per cent) are seriously considering a holiday within the country this year.

Furthermore, the staycation class of 2010 are likely to take a similar holiday this year, as 79 per cent of those who took their main holiday in the UK last year are planning to do so again in 2011.

British tourist attractions appear to be increasingly tempting, with 41 per cent saying that the staycation has increased in appeal over the past year.

Reasons cited include better accommodation, restaurants and service, as well as the obvious financial savings from not flying abroad or taking a ferry.

Tim Gibson, director of Haven Holidays, said that seaside trips are likely to be particularly popular this year.

“People have been enjoying holidays by the coast since the 18th century and all indications are that this will continue,” he said.

Telegraph offers caravan insurance tips

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by Chris Jefferies

Insuring your caravan can be a daunting process, with so many decisions to be made. For this reason, a national newspaper has issued its top tips for making the right choice.

The Daily Telegraph today published new advice on its website, telegraph.co.uk, which includes tips on how to weigh up the risk versus the cost.

Caravan insurance offers a lot more flexibility than other types of insurance. For example, caravan awnings are not automatically covered and so can cost extra.

Meanwhile, it’s important to consider where you will be using your caravan (in the UK or abroad), and whether you will want to lend it to a third-party driver.

The Telegraph’s top tips on reducing your premium include installing a locking gatepost at your home or joining a recognised caravan club.

Caravan insurance can be found through a variety of brokers, including CETA, which offers a range of policy options in conjunction with the Telegraph.

COMPETITION: Vote for your favourite ‘Dogs & Caravans’ photos

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Caravanning provides the opportunity for the whole family to get away together without having to pack your faithful canine friends off to the kennels. As one Caravan Times member, Jeff Allen, said: “One of the reasons we took up caravanning was so we could take our dog!”

Click here to vote for your favourite photos

In celebration of all your four legged friends, we’re launching a brand new competition to showcase your favourite ‘Dogs and Caravans’ photographs. The competition will run for the duration of National Pet Month (2 April – 2 May 2011) which aims to promote responsible pet ownership and raise awareness of the mutual benefits of living with pets.

Add your photos

We’ve chosen a few snaps to get you started below, but if you have a photo of your pet that you would like us to include in the running simply upload it into the photo section here and we’ll add it to the collection.

1st Prize: The photo with the most votes at the end of the month will feature on the front page of Caravan Times accompanied by a full length write up from our features editor, we’ll also throw in a Carpet, more of which below.

Runners up: The nine runners up will each win a CarPet – a nifty gadget for getting rid of pet fur from the upholstery and carpets of your caravan.

How to vote

1. Click on your favourite photo below to be taken through to the voting page.

2. Click on the button underneath the image to register your vote.

Caravan Club ‘in talks’ over Stonehaven takeover

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by Chris Jefferies

Stonehaven caravan site in Aberdeenshire could be taken over by the Caravan Club, after a local paper revealed that talks were underway. The Mearns Leader reports that the national caravan organisation has been approached by a local tourist group, which suggested the takeover.

Aberdeenshire Council has recently approved selling off many of its caravan sites in the Scottish region as a result of cuts to its funding.

Frank Budd, chairman of the Stonehaven Tourism Group, said that his members fully support the proposed move.

“The Caravan Club is a professional organisation, they run sites all over the country which are considered to be the creme de la creme and are very well equipped,” he said.

Mr Budd pointed to the success of a nearby site at Forfar, which has received a £200,000 makeover, as evidence of the good work that the club can do for a caravan centre.

Other certified Caravan Club sites in Aberdeenshire include Huntly Castle, Silverbank and Invercauld.

Graffiti vandals ruin couple’s caravan holiday plans

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by Chris Jefferies

A caravan-owning couple have spoken of their shock at discovering that their “second home” had been vandalised with graffiti and had its windows broken.

Pensioners Doug and Beryl Musgrove from South Harrow told the Harrow Observer that they probably wouldn’t be able to afford the repairs in time for their normal holiday this year.

Mr Musgrove, 67, told the local newspaper: “We are absolutely devastated and clearly people don’t appreciate the consequences of actions like these. Judging by the graffiti we think it was done by bored school kids.”

He added that the couple had even put a sign in the caravan pointing out that it is their “second home”, but this did not deter the vandals, who smashed windows, pulled blinds down and daubed rude words all over the mobile home.

After the raid, the Musgroves found several items missing, including a Jenga game and three sleeping bags. Police are now investigating the incident.

Caravan Club teams up with Sally Gunnell to run temporary London campsite during 2012 Olympic Games

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Update: Sally Gunnell has since withdrawn her plans for an Olympic caravan site. For more information, click here

by Holly Tribe

The Caravan Club has teamed up with former Olympic champion Sally Gunnell to run a temporary campsite near the Olympic village next summer.

The site will be called ‘The Caravan Club Chigwell Temporary Site’ and is located near Chigwell tube station on the Central Line. Visitors will be able be able to travel to the main Olympic locations at Stratford in less than 15 minutes.

With space for around 1,300 outfits throughout the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games the campground will be open from 25 July to 11 September. It is located in the grounds of Sally Gunnell’s childhood home, Old Farm, where she trained to become a champion hurdler jumping over hay bales.

Sally Gunnell OBE said: “I’m delighted The Caravan Club is operating a temporary site for the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on the site of my childhood home and training ground! Old Farm holds many happy memories for me and I am so glad I can share this with my fellow caravanners.”

Website bookings will be available on The Caravan Club website from the 5th May 2011. The site fees will be charged by pitch at £30 with electric hook up and £25 with no extra charge for extra people.

For more information on booking Caravan Club sites click here.

VIDEO: Inos caravan from 5th Wheel Co. revealed

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by Marcus Dubois

The new Inos is the first ‘traditional’ touring caravan to be added to the Fifth Wheel Company’s portfolio of leisure vehicles. It also lays claim to being the first British built caravan with a slide-out section.

This new model was launched at Boat & Caravan 2011, and is now one of the most luxurious fixed two berth caravans on the market. It comes with a long list of quality fixtures and fittings; underfloor heating, separate WC and shower facilities along with the extra three square metres of floorspace afforded by the slide-out section.

In our exclusive video interview, operations director Adrian Parry-Jones talk us through the some of the innovative design elements of Inos, and the firm’s senior designer, Gethin Whiteley, explains the technology behind the slide-out design.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles praises caravan owners for contribution to economy

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by Marcus Dubois

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has praised members of the Caravan Club and fans of touring for their efforts in helping the economic recovery.

Speaking at the Caravan Club’s CL of the Year Awards, he noted how caravan holidays “create memories, friendships and contribute to local economies.”

Mr Pickles also spoke of the warmth and friendliness of caravan sites. “You get that closeness and experience that you perhaps can’t get in larger sites or in hotels.” He added “It’s something that will create memories that people will be able to look back on in childhood as you grow up”.

The Communities Secretary personally thanked those in attendance “for the effort that helps make the Caravan Club one of the biggest contributors to tourism. All power to you and here’s to the next hundred years.”

Certified Locations

Eric Pickles was in attendance with Tourism Minister John Penrose to present the award for Certified Location of the Year. Certificated Locations are small and privately-owned informal sites with 5 pitches available for booking. Over 2,500 CLs can be found in the UK, and many are in remote rural settings. Some are working farms or pub gardens, while there are even some to be found in stately homes. Certified Locations are for the exclusive use of Caravan Club members.

Blackpool illuminated

Mr Pickles presented the winner’s trophy to Jeremy and Sharon Haworth of Manor House Park CL in Blackpool. It’s the second time in three years that Manor House has taken top honours, while the well tended site was also named Most Picturesque Site CL in the network.

After taking ownership of the site in 2007, Jeremy and Sharon have invested significantly in facilities and welcome guests all year round.

“We never realised just how many people are attracted to Blackpool” said Sharon at the awards ceremony in Westminster. “We’re very lucky with our location here, as it’s a great base for the bright lights and buzz of Blackpool, but also we’re only an hour from the Lake District”.

Caravan Club chairman Grenville Chamberlain added “We appreciate the welcome the CL owners extend, and also the care and investment that goes into running these small sites”.

Original 1969 Lunar caravan meets its maker… again

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by Holly Tribe

Lunar Caravans has been reunited with one the first caravans to ever come off its production line. The Lunar Saturn was made in 1969 in a small Wigan workshop overseen by Ken Wilcock and Brian Talbot, the company’s founders.

The cute 2 berth Saturn has been the proud possession of Mr and Mrs Doughall for the last forty years, but after four decades of happy touring, the couple has finally decided to hang up their hitch lock and retire from caravanning.

The firm has managed to identify the model as being one of the first three caravans Lunar ever built. Yet despite its age, and because the caravan has been in constant use during this time, it has remained a functioning touring caravan.

The vintage Saturn is now back under Lunar ownership, and the firm has expressed a wish to bring it back to its former glory with a full restoration project.

Caravan historian and vintage touring expert Andrew Jenkinson commented: “This is a fantastic example of a classic caravan from the 60’s, and it proves that Lunar’s quality is long lasting too! The Lunar Saturn is in remarkable condition considering it is nearly 43 years old and was used by its last owners extensively in that time.

“It’s good too that Lunar are keen to preserve the heritage of the company and also at the same time importantly – part of the UK caravan industry’s history.”

April showers: Bathroom mishaps cause flurry of caravan claims

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by Holly Tribe

The month of April traditionally brings with it a superfluity of wet weather, but in an ironic twist of fate it’s not just the great outdoors that is subjected to an abundance of shower related incidents.

Caravan insurance specialists Caravan Guard has reported April also happens to be the month it receives an abundance of claims for damaged shower units.

Sharon Hudson who works in the firm’s Claims Team explains the phenomenon: “It’s around the April period that the weather starts to pick up and more caravanners start to use their caravans regularly for holidays and weekends away.”

The most common shower related claim is for cracked shower trays, often caused by heavy objects such as family sized shampoo bottles falling from a height and cracking the bottom of the shower.

“We would recommend that bathroom shelves with low or open fronts should not be used during towing and bottles and other heavy items should be stored in a plastic basket at floor level,” advises Sharon.

With the average cost of such a claim being estimated at around £500, the firm suggests taking the following precautions to protect against shower related incidents:

  • Pack away toiletries when in transit so they can’t fall and crack the shower tray.
  • Store towels in the bottom of the shower unit for extra padding and protection against falling objects.
  • Use a slip mat in the shower tray to avoid slipping over and causing damage to doors and walls.

Elddis extends free caravan awning offer

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by Chris Jefferies

Potential caravan buyers may be tempted by the latest offer from Elddis Caravans, which has proved so popular that the manufacturer has decided to extend it for at least another month. Under this special promotion, customers buying any Elddis or Buccaneer caravan before May 2nd will receive a caravan awning absolutely free.

The awnings included in the offer are from the Pyramid products range and are worth up to £550, including a choice of Corsican porches and Tuscan awnings.

Furthermore, you can pick from a selection of popular colours to match your caravan’s design – burgundy, grey, blue or green.

Elddis and Buccaneer caravans aim to deliver great value for money no matter what your budget is, and prices start at just £10,599 for the two-berth Elddis Xplore.

With 33 different models to choose from in the range, Elddis predicts that many new customers may be tempted to choose a caravan this spring.