Best Of
Re: Newbies
It’s more a case of where do you want to go. You give no clue as to your location but there will be a site waiting for you wherever choose.
Enjoy your van.
Re: Scotland to Spain and return costs.
We are similar to TG-as I mentioned I only started to look at the comparative costs during lockdown for something to do.
Similarly, we dont have a 'budget' ,and no we would not cut a holiday short unless it was circumstances beyond our control.
Its very much a case of a "change being as good as a rest" and travelling across the water provides that and for us a UK holiday would be no substitute as we do that as well anyway.
Re YT comments, its clearly very different for MH ers and our friends will be returning via Dieppe after we head for Santander for the return crossing, and using aires as they do so
However, even at the most pessimistic estimate, using the Santander route will be just £180 more-the ferry costs being just over double at £1176 compared to £564 for a car and van booked with a CV code.
Re: What are you all up to
I need to explain a bit more🤔 We are some 350 metres up the side of a mountain, with uninterrupted views across Caernarfon Bay, due West. So we can just see the Wicklow Mountains in the very very far distance. Apologies, it’s the elevation that’s giving us extensive views. Down at sea level wouldn’t be anything like as extensive. We are South enough for Anglesey not to be in the way.
Another very interesting day, another Castle. This time Dolbadarn just outside Llanberis. Interesting history, and the setting is truly spectacular. Nice walk to get to it. Then we dropped into one of those places that totally fills your day (if you enjoy industrial heritage), The National Slate Museum. I can just remember the Slate quarries working, as we used to visit an Uncle who lived in Blaenau Ffestiniog. This is the old Dinowic works, now preserved as a Museum, with the gouged out side of a mountain as it’s backdrop. We watched slate working crafts, blacksmithing, and got to look around the whole works, including some slate worker cottages preserved and brought from BF and displayed down the working periods. Very interesting. Free entry as well. (we left a donation).
Re: Scotland to Spain and return costs.
I can only answer for us. Up until last year we never did, we don't keep meticulous records just check the credit card for fuel and I added the site cost to my record of what sites we used.
While we were away last year there was a problem in France with getting fuel. As our return booking for home was from Calais we decided to look at other options (we could defer booking until the following year) we were in Spain at the time so looked at the Santander ferry costs, then it was St Malo and Caen. Once we factored in fuel costs, night halts and time it became obvious to us that a St Malo crossing would work out a good choice, both time wise and cost.
As to site costs. Purely for my own satisfaction against costs in the UK, given the same type of sites and timeframe.
This year I did it again out of curiosity as we are constantly being told that the cost of living has gone up dramatically and site prices have gone through the roof (well here in the UK)
To answer your questions. I think that now we have done the sums it gives us more information on which crossing we would use depending on where we are going at different times of the year. We are happy to take our time through France in good weather so the tunnel crossing suits but in winter not so much.
No we would not cut short our holiday or alter the final destination as we don't have a budget, it costs what it costs.
The same answer really on your last question, there is no planned expenditure.
The only time we change our very loose plans is if the weather has been unkind to us or if like earlier this year there was flooding and landslips. If we are not enjoying where we are we move but I wouldn't come home early just find a nicer place 
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
"There is no pleasure going away in winter in the van and being cold, just plain silly."
agree not for us, in our dotage, we like the comfort of home too much and with much shorter days you are limited as to what you can do and lots of areas have hunkered down for the winter so not a lot going on.
we used to many years ago when we lived in Scotland and we were foot loose and fancy free, on one occasion on the club site at Braemar, we could not open the door as the snow had weighted down the porch awning and was blocking the door, and on several occasions we had to leave the caravan in the farm yard at the bottom of the lane as the lane was full of snow or just too icey
Rufs
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
We do not heat the house overnight, never have, so in the van we step the Alde down to 13/14 degrees overnight, Spring and Autumn, with it coming on at 18degrees in the morning as, perversely, the biggest radiator in the van is the one alongside the bed!
First person up, usually me, turns it up to 20. If out all day it goes back down to 18, but never off completely.
We would be uncomfortable in the house with 16-18 overnight.
KjellNN
Re: Steamer Quay Upgrade
Conditional approval to go ahead with the site development has been given.
peedee
peedee
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
According to age concern the recommended setting for a bedroom is between 16 -18c so I guess having the van set to 18c overnight is about right.
We have the house set to 19c during the day when we are active and 21c in the evenings up to 21.30, we don't have heating on overnight anywhere in the house.
In the van the heating is on higher more like 21c during the day (if we are in the van) then in the evenings we turn it up to 23c. Overnight in the van its set at 17c. We prefer to be comfortable and not have to site around dressed up like a snowman or have to use throws just to keep warm.
As to metered electric we have used metered sites abroad but not in the UK. I think its all about what price you will be paying per kwh and knowing just how much you do use.
I know in the warm weather with solar generation we can manage on 4kw per day. At home just for electric lights and appliances we average around 6kwh per day in the winter months when solar generation is very limited.
During the sunnier months with 10 panels our electric use is around 2 or 3 kwh per day. We tend to use the power hungry appliances like washing machine and dishwasher when the sun is out so that makes a big saving and of course electric light use is very minimal during the summer months.
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
I was surprised he used so much electricity as the van looked fairly modern, certainly compared to ours! We do not have the level of insulation that vans built since 2009 have, so would use a lot of electricity if heating in very cold weather.
We are however aware of that, and used to metering abroad, so we would switch the heating to gas as we have refillables. We do not normally take the van out in winter, so the problem rarely arises.
What surprised me were the written comments claiming the owners were overcharging and that electricity could not possibly cost that much, people should check the prices that businesses have to pay, not assume it will be the same as in their homes.
I was also astounded at the temperatures he was setting his heating to!!
KjellNN
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
"Having had that experience might well lead to doing differently in the future."
Exactly, David! Which is why we continued with our policy of using gas for heating / hot water later in the year when it was warmer and had overall power costs of little more than £3 per day (including gas) - so saving about £2 per day on the previous pitch fee there.
However - when at Bridlington in November - where we had already 'paid' the electricity costs with the pitch fee, we reverted back to using electricity for heating etc.
Methinks, the sooner CAMC roll our metering everywhere - and REDUCES the pitch fee accordingly, the better - then there's an incentive to minimise power usage.
