Advice for a first proper holiday please
We picked up our new (to us!) van last weekend and plan our first weekend away in a few weeks. We've decided the first weekend will be close to home, just in case! But we're looking to go away at the end of September for two weeks in the UK as our family holiday. I'd love some advice about where to go please. We have a 2 and nearly 3 year old and because of the time of year, really like the idea of an indoor swimming pool! We have loved centre parcs holidays in the past. I love the look of Waveney River Centre in Norfolk, but I'm concerned about the roads to it as we're so new to towing and caravanning. And it will take us a long time to get from Hampshire to Norfolk, am I being too adventurous for our first trip?
Any advice on sites for first holidays would be very welcome. Thank you so much!
Comments
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You could go west instead. It sounds as though you might like Woodovis Park on the edge of Tavistock.
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West sounds like a good choice to me - or into Wales? I have made the mistake of motoring too far when there are some great places close to home. Just be careful to check that campsites are still open - its really annoying to find out that your choice
has closed when you want to be there!0 -
You could probably get to France in about the same time as Norfolk. Food for thought? Be adventurous and check out some sites in the Club's foreign touring booklet.
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Thanks for the advice, Woodovis looks great. And we definitely want to go to France, but thought it might not be advisable for our first proper holiday?!
Actually, the ferry is exciting and the towing is simple especially if you stick mainly to Autoroutes. Perhaps for the second trip!
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We've been caravanNing about 4 years. I recall our first trip. we decided a short run best, thus avoiding likleihood of unforeseen traffic delays impacting on set up time etc. This also meant my first time wouldn't be with the experienced audience of my
brother and family, who we were scheduled to go with the following week. Guess what - our first trip and we woke up to 4 inches of snow. But we coped.my tips
1. read the specific travel directions for the site. I didn't and had to weave through the traffic and parked cars of a village, only to belatedly realise I hadnot approached from the recommended direction.
2. Don't always think you have to travel too far or to the unfamiliar. Sometimes some of our local (under 50 miles) trips have resulted in discovering charming villages, country pubs, NT properties, sights to see - that we didn't know about.
we have since had many (largely) weekend UK trips and one overseas trip (lake Como).
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Have to agree with Ian. Make sure you know your route and follow the route suggested by the site.
Remember you go slower with a caravan on the back, or at least you should, so allow extra time.
On slow bends the caravan will cut in a bit so leave a bit more room and keep an eye on it in the mirrors so you know what to allow for the future.
Just relax as it is easier than you might think but if you are not happy book one of the clubs towing courses.
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By the end of September, there should be some deals to be had at Sandy Balls. AFAICR the touring pitches are serviced, so if you have the pipework/hose/cistern valve for the aquaroll, it will save you a job.
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Not far from you is the Orchards on the Isle of Wight. That way you get the feeling of travelling abroad by catching a ferry from Lymington and only having to travel a few miles to the site. The site has an indoor swimming pool and the island is a lovely
place to tour around. You can possibly get discounted deals from the ferry company or through the club.0 -
You could go west instead. It sounds as though you might like Woodovis Park on the edge of Tavistock.
Write your comments here...I took my 3 children to Woodovis park last year for my sons 7th birthday. for 2 nights. The indoor swimming pool on site is small but nice and a jacuzzi too but the pool in tavistock is better. Also, Plymouth is not to far where
there is an aquarium,'jump' play centre (for rainy days), beaches etc.0 -
Being empty nesters we don't look for sites with things for children to do, but in their time my youngsters thoroughly enjoyed full facility sites. Your thoughts on the Waveney Centre seem fine to me. As I don't know where you live in Hampshire I don't know how long the trip would take you. I'd guess at 4 hours from the New Forest. Your route would be motorway or dual carriageway until you pass Woodbridge, then it's mixed with decent width single and dual carriageway. We've travelled a fair bit on the continent and it certainly isn't difficult, but for a first trip I'd stick with what you know in the UK - but next year... The Broads are a lovely area to visit and fairly compact too, which makes days out easy. Personally I'd advise against super pitches at this point and concentrate on the basics, otherwise you could find yourself dependent on luxuries, whereas there's a much wider world to chose from if you have a full choice ranging from super to no EHU pitches.
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