(EMAILWIRE.COM, March 06, 2009 ) With the credit crunch continuing to bite, caravan parks and camping grounds have started to soar in popularity, as people look to holiday on a budget closer to home – and getting back to basics is more fun than you may think…
This time last week I was in a caravan on the edge of a fabulous beach in New Zealand. With caravans and tents fast replacing luxury hotels and spas as the holiday accommodation of the moment, I thought it best to see for myself what all the fuss was about.
I can safely say I’m converted - not that I spend an awful lot of time in five star hotels mind. The freedom and fun of a caravan will offer more memories than any sterile hotel ever could – and the relaxed, anything goes style of holiday is ideal for families with young children who don’t want to have to worry about them running wild.
In fact, you’ll hardly see them – they’ll be off all day playing with the other children on the campsite.
Over in Australia, caravan parks are attracting numbers not seen since the golden days of the 1930s.
Up and down the coast of New South Wales, these low cost venues are bursting with visitors eager to have a holiday on a budget. Some parks have even implemented waiting lists and people are signing up a year in advance to guarantee a spot.
This is in stark contrast to the luxury hotels, many of which are struggling to fill their rooms.
Over here in Blighty, self catering caravan and camping holidays are seeing increases of up to 40 per cent in bookings.
A representative for Haven Holidays, which operates caravan parks across the UK, told TheMoveChannel.com that more and more people are opting for a Great British break.
“Many Haven parks have direct access to some of Britain's most stunning beaches and are within or close to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Areas of Special Conservation and National Parks - they offer some truly beautiful locations at a fraction of the cost you would pay for hotels or an overseas break.
“What's more if you're holidaying with a family there is so much included in the price that it makes it easy to budget. Typically heated indoor and outdoor pools, kid's clubs, sports and activities and daytime and evening entertainment are all part of the package.”
Chris Hilton from Eurocamp, the UKÂ’s leading European camping holiday operator, told us that Eurocamp is proving to be an increasingly attractive holiday option in the current economic climate as it offers the flexibility for guests to tailor their holidays to meet their exact needs and budget.
“The fact our holidays are charged per family, rather than per person, proves to be very cost-effective, particularly for larger groups,” he added.
As well as being a more cost effective way of taking a break, camping has other benefits too, as Kate Plummer, Marketing & Product Coordinator at Acacia Adventure Holidays told TheMoveChannel.com.
“If offered the opportunity of camping out under the stars in Egypt’s exotic white desert or lying back on a sleeping bag surrounded by the dramatic rock formations of Namibia’s Spitzkoppe, we’re guessing most five-star travellers would become camping converts overnight.
“By forgoing luxury and pitching a tent out in the wilds adventurers often see a whole new side to Africa, as it brings them closer to the destination.”
Hostels are increasingly in popularity too as Brits continue to tighten their belts.
Hostelworld.com, the largest online provider of hostel bookings, has announced a 20 per cent increase in UK hostel bookings as booked by UK travellers.
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