Brits ‘still enjoying caravan breaks’ in record year for membership

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Christmas may be just around the corner, but some Brits are still enjoying caravan breaks, it has been claimed.

According to the Caravan Club, six million people have taken a break at one of its sites – representing a half-million year-on-year rise in popularity.

“Our season has been terrific with many hundreds of thousands of happy caravanners,” explained Caravan Club director of marketing Nick Lomas.

The organisation revealed that a record number of new members joined the club at last month’s International Caravan and Motorhome Show, which took place in Birmingham’s NEC.

Meanwhile, those who missed the Birmingham event could head to the Manchester Central Caravan and Motorhome Show, which takes place from January 21st to 24th.

The Scottish Caravan and Outdoor Show is also earmarked to take place in Glasgow from February 4th to 7th, while the NEC will host the National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show later in the same month.

Caravanners can make use of ‘industry changing’ internet

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The internet has transformed the way the travel industry works over the past two decades, it has been claimed.

According to the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), in the 20 years he internet has been operating the landscape has changed from one that favours tourism companies, to one dictated by customer demand.

It suggested that while in 1989, when ETOA was initially founded, holidaymakers conformed to what the industry offered them, consumer habits now influence the behaviour of tour operators.

Executive director Tom Jenkins suggested that the internet had more than a passing influence on the changing trend.

“We are now seeing impulse buy like we’ve never seen it,” he said. “People were talking about impulse buying ten years ago – now people just log onto the internet, shop around on the internet and largely buy on the internet almost by whim.”

Caravan fans are now able to use the internet to browse thousands of campsites around the UK, meaning details of facilities, prices and availability are just a click away.

Caravan enthusiasts to benefit from improved London transport

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Caravan enthusiasts who choose to take a break near London could soon make use of the capital’s new and improved transport infrastructure.

Mayor Boris Johnson suggested that the work being done across the city could herald a “new Victorian Age” for London.

Speaking at the opening of World Travel Market 2009, the former Conservative MP told travel professionals from around the globe that the changes to transport in the city would be of great benefit to all.

“These are the biggest changes in London’s mass transit infrastructure for the last 70 years,” Mayor Johnson said. “They comprise not just of Crossrail but also of the upgrades of the tube which will increase capacity by 30 per cent.”

He explained that the 2012 Olympic Games were a driving force behind the investment, adding that the competition is set to transform the east of the city.

Caravan enthusiasts using the London transport system to do their sightseeing could visit Big Ben, the Imperial War Museum, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and the Tate Modern, among other popular attractions.

Hampshire caravan blaze brought under control

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A static caravan at a Hampshire caravan site was left in tatters after a fire ripped through it in the early hours of this morning (November 10th).

According to the Southern Daily Echo, fire crews spent 45 minutes dousing the flames after being called to the campsite shortly after midnight.

The Hardley and Hythe brigade members remained at the scene for almost two hours after extinguishing the fire, the newspaper revealed.

Those planning a caravan holiday in Hampshire could consider the Kingfisher Caravan Park near Gosport’s Stokes Bay.

A short walk from a pebble beach, the site boasts 14 acres of grassland, shrubs, rivers, trees and flowers.

An indoor games room will provide entertainment for kids, while dogs are welcome, so long as they are kept on a leash.

Touring caravans and tents are both welcome, with families able to enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant or a pint of real ale at the pub.

Caravan refurbishment firm strikes deal with insurer

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The Car Medic International Group has launched a new franchise deal that could interest owners of mobile homes in the UK and across Europe.

Caravan Medic has signed a deal with AXA Insurance to provide its good-as-new repair service to those with cover from the firm.

The service replicates textured panels, allowing caravan owners to have their units repaired without the need for excessive costs.

The eco-friendly service can also repair plastic, scratches, paintwork and dents, while stains and discolouration can also be dealt with.

Carpets and upholstery can be touched up, removing any cigarette burns or tears, while the firm also has the capability to refurbish alloy wheels, getting rid of any scratches.

Car Medic International Group managing director Andrew Hack explained that the agreement with AXA is a big step forward for the firm.

“The contract to repair all of their caravan damage claims will save caravan and mobile home owners a fortune and means a huge swell in demand for services for all our operators as well as serving as a great trade reference for the system itself in order to secure other work,” he said.

Meanwhile, popular TV show I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here… is set to incorporate a “caravan of love” into this year’s episode.

Elderly couple forced out of caravan

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An elderly couple who wanted to see out their days living in a caravan on their own land have been forced to move out.

Randall Plested told the Burton Mail how he and his wife have been moved to a house in Horninglow, despite wanting to stay in the rented mobile home they have lived in for the past decade.

The pair were moved when it emerged they could not affording the planning permission that would allow them to continue living in the caravan.

The former owners of Byrkley Garden Centre used their land around the caravan to grow fruit and vegetables, but will now have to commute to harvest them.

“We were so desperate to stay we slept in the greenhouse, but we were told we couldn’t stay there either. All of our friends are in Yoxall,” 74-year-old Mr Plested told the newspaper.

Both have lived in the country all of their lives and said they had no wish to move to an urban home.

Meanwhile, a man who chose to live in a caravan and shun cash entirely was recently featured in Caravan Times about his reasons for doing so.

Caravan thieves thwarted

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A gang of would-be caravan thieves has been thwarted in its plan to steal a caravan in Hartlepool.

The criminals were caught red-handed after neighbours were awoken by the sounds of them pushing the mobile holiday home down the road, the Hartlepool Mail revealed.

One called the police, while another banged on a window, scaring the men off. Their vehicle was later spotted in the area by police.

Wayne and Mark Carroll, Leon Robinson, Mark Vasey and Raymond McLoughlin were arrested and charged with theft.

All except Mark Carroll were given 120 hours’ unpaid work as the local magistrates’ court deemed him unfit for such punishment.

Instead, the 21-year-old will serve a three month curfew, which will be imposed from 21:00 GMT until 07:00.

All five men were also sentenced to 12-month community orders with supervision.

Those wishing to spend a caravan vacation in Hartlepool could stay at the local Crimdon Dene Holiday Park, which features an indoor heated pool, spa baths and all-weather sports courts.

German caravan market set for boost

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The German caravan and motor home market is to receive a boost after an investment company promised to pour millions of pounds worth of funding into it.

GE Capital is set to inject ?50 million (£44.8 million) into the industry before the start of 2010.

The firm explained that the finance available to caravan and motor home companies has dried up somewhat due to the recession and it has come forward with a package designed to stimulate the market.

Spokesman Maarten Endel explained that a number of lenders have pulled out their backing or scaled back what they are willing to offer.

GE Capital commercial leader Petri Pennanen added that the investor plans to continue its support next year.

“We are already in discussions with several of the other leading brands in the German caravan and motor home market and anticipate that these will lead to much higher volumes for the full year in 2010,” he said.

Caravan enthusiasts heading to Germany could visit one of 33 Unesco World Heritage sites of extraordinary universal interest.

Tourism numbers up in north-east

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Record tourism figures have been recorded in the north-east of the country, according to a local tourist organisation.

Self-catering holidays – such as those in caravans – reached an all time high in the summer months, the North East Tourism Advisory Board (NETA) revealed.

“The value of online bookings taken via the regional system has more than doubled on last year,” explained NETA chairman Geoff Hodgson.

“[The] wealth of history and heritage we have in the region, including two World Heritage sites at Hadrian’s Wall and Durham Castle and Cathedral, makes for an unforgettable holiday.”

He added that there has been a lot of investment into the area, which has led to a number of new attractions opening.

The comments follow a National Trust report which showed that paying visitor numbers at its properties in the north-east had risen by more than 100,000 year-on-year.

So far, 713,968 people have purchased tickets for one of the body’s sites, while membership numbers have also risen by 5,307.

London one of ten best-value destinations in world

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Caravanners looking for a budget for money destination in the UK may be surprised to hear that London has been named among the top ten best-value places to go in the world.

According to Lonely Planet, the recession has caused the capital to become more affordable, especially for foreign visitors.

UKinbound chief executive Mary Rance explained the exchange rate between the pound and other currencies has made the city a great choice for those from abroad.

She said that London had a real chance to benefit from the downturn by attracting more tourists.

“With investment from government in overseas marketing to raise awareness of the fantastic value currently on offer in Britain, we could ensure that this opportunity is not missed and that 2010 is a bumper year for inbound travel,” Ms Rance suggested.

Meanwhile, the Caravan Club responded to the Lonely Planet list by saying that its 18 sites in the south-east of England could make excellent bases for a trip to the capital.

Caravanners could have black box monitor installed in vehicle

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Caravan enthusiasts could soon find every detail of their drive to a campsite recorded by an aeroplane-style black box recorder.

The European Commission has launched Project Veronica to look into how the technology can be used in cars.

The equipment would monitor and record driver actions such as speed, braking and indication, with the ultimate aim of improving road safety.

However, the Institute of Advanced Motorists has warned that the black box would not necessarily cut the number of accidents on UK roads.

“In terms of road safety the only way it affects how people drive is the cultural thing of ‘there’s a black box watching me so I’ll be careful’,” explained chief examiner Peter Rodger.

He said that while this will have an effect on some drivers, others will not change their habits.

Mr Rodger added that the technology will only help tell what happened in an accident, not prevent it occurring.

Police investigate caravan arson attacks

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Police near Luton are investigating an incident in which two caravans and a car were set alight.

The fire broke out in the early hours of yesterday (November 4th) morning at Ver Meadows travellers’ site in Redbourn.

Fire crews were called out to the blazes separately, with one of the caravans containing a gas cylinder, which had to be removed.

While no-one was hurt, police are treating both incidents as arson attacks, with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue assisting with their investigations.

Local residents with caravans may be interested to know that the Hertfordshire Caravan Club has over 300,000 member families and a network of more than 200 sites across the UK.

Founded in 1907, the society also has an additional 3,000 small private certified locations which take no more than five caravans at a time.

The club organises rallies almost every weekend of the year and aims to bring caravan owners together in a friendly setting.