How much a night?
So far for this year I have spent £27 per night on a pitch, £47 on Club membership, £70 on insurance, £250 on a service and some needed extras like a new gas regulator, then there's the extra towing costs in fuel and gas to consider too so for 28 nights of use per year which is exceptional for me and it's costing me around £50 per night. My usual annual use would be more like 10-14 nights and that would work out at over £100 per night. OK, I don't get a service every year but last year it was new tyres and so on
I'm lucky, well kind of, my van is 18 years old and hence the low insurance and the fact there is little depreciation in value to take in to account. I don't have to pay for storage when not in use either. As a pensioner I'm free to use it more often if I want to too.
Have you ever worked out how much it's costing you per night and wondered if you are getting value for your hard earned?
I'm not surprised that I seem to spend far more of my holiday money travelling abroad for guaranteed good weather, cheaper eating out and not having to fetch and carry water or empty the loo. I can find some excellent value accommodation on a B&B basis for a lot less than £100 per night, and with a car and flights thrown in, still stay within the cost of an average night in the 'van based on my last few years of usage.
But I still have my van and I'm loathe to part with it. Now that "staycations" are the most likely options for the near future I'm glad we haven't parted company. I'm still in my original love affair, just need to get that extra spark every now and again to keep it going! This extra marital affair would no longer be a consideration if I was having to buy a new van, and certainly not if it was a motorhome and all the associated costs. So, if you see me on site, don't feel sorry for the owner of the oldest van present. The exterior might look a little tired from years of sun bleaching but inside it's as good as new and has every conceivable thing I need even if it doesn't include the latest gadgetry anymore but as I no longer look or read anything caravanning I'm blissfully unaware of what anyone else has!
My wife meantime tolerates this ménage à trois despite the fact she finds all the preparation before travel a little tedious. Maybe it would be less so if we did it more often but then I think, one trip a year in this country is enough for me too.
Comments
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I'm glad you still enjoy your occasional forays out in the caravan. I swear that sometimes I see people on site or who own them and wonder why on earth they bother.
For us, we venture out, in a normal year, between 130-150 nights per year. I don't keep a running total but having just had a rough calculation in my head of site fees, insurance, depreciation and service with a foreign trip thrown in I guestimate it would work out at roughly £30-35 per night. However I don't really care. I can afford it and I can't take it with me. My OH and self cannot put a figure on the joy that we obtain from our hobby and would never get to the majority of places the 'van has taken us to. At £35 a night it's a bargain.
We use CLs mostly in this country and out of season sites abroad so costs are reduced.
We'll continue with our love affair, hopefully, for quite some time to come.
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I shudder to think what the cost per night will be for our year old MH this year. Even in a normal year it would be considerable. I haven't bothered to calculate it. We have taken holidays in tents, caravans and now a MH for 45 years. We do it because we enjoy the style of holiday and are fortunate that we can afford to do it. We are not really interested in hotel holidays abroad or cruises, preferring to spend our pensions and savings on the MH, taking touring holidays in this country and France.
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An interesting post and yes if you're (the OP) is only using their outfit 10 -14 nights a year then it is expensive, I mean you could hire a caravan just for those nights and it work out cheaper?
Obviously use it more and the cost per night comes down, although the sire fees are still there, but I suppose the costs would then be closer and closer to the site fees. And of course the insurance cost is for each day and not just for when you take the caravan out.
I've never really worked out what the cost per night is taking in to account all the other costs and I probably don't want to, not for how much in pounds (and I'm sure it would be a lot) but we have the caravan to enjoy ourselves and that is how we want to have holidays in the UK, and while we can afford it comfortably then we'll just keep paying what it takes.
Agree with you about the weather abroad and I'm really missing just sitting out by a pool and just melting in the heat.
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Yep, we do it because we enjoy it. Relatively cheap with our set up and site choices. We mix it up with cottages, B&Bs as well though. We are fine with things as they are at the moment, although we did do a lot of cottages last year. Ain’t no pockets in shrouds, and we have no one we need to leave any money. (Although the dog is looking comfortable if we go😁)
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In recent years we reduced our Caravanning to a month a year overseas, and for the rest of the year the caravan sat in the shed at home while we travelled further afield without it.
For that month in mainland Europe the depreciation on an old caravan, plus insurances, ferries, fuel and site fees were adding up to about £2000.
Is that extravagant or cheap?
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Don't shudder too much. I expect that this year it might well have been £60 a night. We have had three different caravans in the last 15 years but tow car is 15 years old. WE are not too concerned about costs but normally get away at least 120 nights a year ... usually around 130. I reckon about £60 a night.
To me this is good value compared to a series of hotels and eating out which I expect, combined, would be more like £85/£90 a night minimum. What I like about a caravan though is having my own space. When we were without a caravan for a couple of years we would book self catering accommodation such as a cottage. This can be more difficult if wanting to move on every 5 days in main season.
When we have gone abroad we have generally booked self catering, breakfast egg on toast or similar (maybe croissants if bakery near by and picked up around 7am). Light snack lunchtime somewhere and a fish meal in the evening. If we were tempted by a heavier lunch then probably evening meal on the patio/balcony of bread, cheese, apple slices and some smoked meat slices or similar.
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I can tell you how much we have spent each year on campsites going back to 1994!!! With caravanning its slightly different to motorhoming in the sense that you have to allow for the extra cost that you might incur on the type of towcar you have. When we caravanned we always had larger cars than technically we needed had we not caravanned so there was an increased cost there as well. I would have thought that last year it cost us about £3000 for sites, servicing,tax,fuel and insurance but that doesn't include any depreciation on the motorhome. It would have cost more for a two week cruise to the Med and instead of 14 days holiday we had 71 days.
David
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To a degree, it can be as cheap out expensive as you want. When comparing with B&B/Hotels you have to factor in that you always have to pay for all those coffees/snacks/meals compared with the ability to self-cater in a caravan/moho. Being able to sit outside in the sun isn't always possible in other types of accommodation. Greater flexibility in location is another factor. What price do you put on these things? We've done a fair few cruises and they don't come cheap! We used to have a holiday apartment on the Costa Blanca. The running costs of that approached £2k pa.
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Once I start comparing prices between holidaying in a hotel, B&B, or whatever and caravanning, I will know that my enjoyment and all caravanning offers has come to an end.
It's not about what one can get the cheapest, but what one can get out of caravanning compared to alternatives irrespective of cost. If someone finds the chores tedious, or even use the word 'chore' then it's not for them.
A lot of people do both and probably because they enjoy both, not comparing which one is best.
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We started to do this calculation some years ago and, to be honest, that was the beginning of the end. However, by this time we were getting older, touring was becoming more difficult and we were looking at alternatives. We did the sums again before we purchased our static van. All in all it only costs us a little more and we use it more so cheaper per night, and the family use it as well. I think that often when all this creeps into mind the brain worm is there for giving up. Are we glad we did it for 30 years though? You bet! We have toured the length of Britian, seen places we otherwise wouldn't have. Met lovely people and had wonderful holidays. What do I miss most - those leisurely mornings, sitting in the awning in the sun enjoying a cuppa after a late breakfast. Would I go back to it now - No, I love our static van. It was time.
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I'd rather be in the van living partially outdoors any day. I hate hotels compared to the freedom of being on a site, I usually can't wait to leave....It costs what it costs which in a normal year of 90 to 100 nights could be up to £4k for absolutely everything except depreciation.
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Once I start comparing prices between holidaying in a hotel, B&B, or whatever and caravanning, I will know that my enjoyment and all caravanning offers has come to an end.
Don't see why it would. I first did the calculation years ago. I had not caravanned for a couple of years as OH had changed jobs and did not get the time available that I had our holidays were usually two fortnights and a week break on a Greek or Spanish Island or Mainland Spain or Malta. The one week breaks were often with friends . We would also do several long weekends with friends. I gave the caravan away rather than leave it stood. OH came to live with me and we decided to buy a caravan again. I was going to buy a two or three year old tow car as I had just scrapped my car and a similar aged caravan. I did the calculation and bought both new knowing that OH could retire in less than three years with my encouragement
I have done the calculations a few times since purely out of interest and not because I wanted to stop caravanning.
In any event for our 17 weeks+ away it makes sense financially as well.
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Agree, it is lovely to spend so much time out of doors.
To the OP..........owning a van and using it merely for two weeks average per year, even if it isn’t costing you much would be a waste to us. If you don’t intend travelling overseas as much, but have chosen to focus more in UK for time being, I would get the UK atlas out, and devise a few different trips to take a look at things that interest you in different parts of the UK. It might be a particular area you have never visited, it might centre around an event, it might just be for some peace and quiet, but that motivational spark can soon be rekindled. Doesn’t have to be a long way from home, I think lots of folks have used this lockdown to refamiliarise themselves with what’s on their doorstep, walks and cycle rides they have never done before.
Costs can be kept low by mixing your sites, if cost is an issue. And I doubt anyone notices how old your outfit might be, if it’s safe, warm and comfy, just go for it😁
We have only ever once compared going away prices. We wanted to do a two week early Spring stay in North Wales in caravan. The site fees were stupidly priced even on CLs, so we compromised, booked a last minute cottage on North York Moors and had a cheaper holiday!🤷♀️
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"Have you ever worked out how much it's costing you per night and wondered if you are getting value for your hard earned?"
Nope, but buying a caravan was never about saving money for us. On the contrary, its probably going to cost us more than booking cottages that allow pets. It's all about making it easier to get away with kids and pets and enjoy lovely rural locations.
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Don't see why it would
You are questioning my reason, it's simple. For me my enjoyment of away stays are purely caravanning with no interest in the alternatives at present. Your reason or choice has no bearing on my statement, but holds for yours.
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I have done the calculations a few times since purely out of interest and not because I wanted to stop caravanning.
Ditto and because this question kept being asked. I haven't done it for a couple of years but the first 6 years of ownership of my current van worked out at £56 p.n. or £5600 a year without depreciation which at the current rate of new price increase isn't going to be much! I am taken aback at what the new prices are now! As long as I can afford it, it is still the most enjoyable and varied way of getting away. You cannot beat the fredom it offers.
To use a quote from another forum:
Buying a camper van was the best thing we ever did, Our van is our cottage in the country, our beach hut when on the coast, a seat by the window in a restaurant with the best view possible, and a hotel with the best view possible from the bedroom, the kitchen and the loo!!! Our van isn't male or female, it is just heaven on earth! It represents freedom to roam and make the very most of every free day you have. Enjoy!
peedee
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But I still have my van and I'm loathe to part with it. Now that "staycations" are the most likely options for the near future I'm glad we haven't parted company.
Given the current circumstances, I think that is one of the most significant parts of your post. Certainly for the immediate future and possibly the next few years. Even if one likes taking them, hotel holidays, B&B, cruises and even cottages have the issue that you are dependant very much on others for your safety. Taking our own self sufficient home away is certainly big a plus.
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As a result of this thread, and to while away the time on this rather wet day, I have looked back at my caravanning records. Although I have recorded where, when and for how many nights we have stopped on sites since 1988 it is only since 2013 that I have included financial information. So, since 2013 the average cost per night in site fees is £15.18 which I don't think is bad. This includes main CC sites, CLs and French sites. Compared with many of you, the number of nights away is only 256 since the start of 2013 but, even so, a decent number from which to obtain an average nightly cost.
Whilst fuel is an obvious additional cost we never include food in holiday costs as we would be eating every day at home anyway. Any meals out we class as 'Leisure', the same as entry fees to gardens, stately homes, zoos, etc etc that we would probably also pay had we been staying in a hotel or self catering accomodation.
Ferry and insurance costs for our French trips are an addition. For our last French trip it added £17.67 per day, more than the nightly site fees, and only for 21 days. As these were 'fixed', the cost per day would be less had we stayed longer in France.
Whether the cost of the actual caravan should be included is a debatable one. How one would achieve an actual cost per night is difficult. Do you just right off the cost of purchase and when you sell it consider it as a bonus? That is my philosophy otherwise it would have to be on a sliding scale depending on the number of nights away and what price you eventually get when it is sold. A very difficult equation to achieve an even vaguely accurate cost per night.
The bottom line is that caravanning is not cheap but it does allow us to enjoy many more breaks away from home with the flexibility of, almost, going when we wish and, if the weather turns, for example, being able to relocate if we so desire.
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"how much per night", never even thought about it, never bought a new car or caravan so depreciation is not on my radar, been carvaning for only 20 years, whilst living in Scotland we were out every weekend and holiday periods all year round, camped in snow at Breamar to glorious sunshine in Cornwall.
Rooksbury park used to be our second home when we came down from Scotland during holidays to be with family and even lived in Caravan on Rooksbury for 3 weeks whilst we were completing on current bungalow.
Dont do winters anymore, but do overthere for 3 months per year, had 3 caravans, current 2008 Coachman 550/5 bought in 2013 for £10k, needed 5 berths to accomodate Gkids, cant bring myself to down size as we like the space, and it has all you need, in fact more than we need, never used gas fridge, gas electric water heater, gas oven, shower, tv set up including arieal, never watch tv whilst away, only used integral kitchen roof fan a few times, mainly cook outdoors or open all windows and roof lights. We did splash out on a complete set of new carpets last year specially made £200+ i think . Surprisingly this model of caravan is still selling at £5k - £7k but it owes me nothing now.
With gkids normally used commercial sites with swimming pool or two so how do you put a price on 5 people + dog, swimming pools and maybe some organised entertainment for children, check out Centre parcs
currently using a Kia Sorento mainly for towing bought for £16k so owes me nothing now.0 -
PD, that quote just sums things up beautifully for us👍
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Just a thought but for us it's also what would we do instead. Having spent so long caravanning and motorhoming, nearly 40 years we enjoy the independence. In the past we have enjoyed a couple of overseas coach trips but unfortunately, for various reasons, I no longer find it a comfortable mode of travel. We quite like cruises but since COVID I think it will take us a while to feel comfortable going on another. Don't really fancy B&B's or rented cottages but don't mind a few days in a hotel. So none of the alternatives really stack up to what we currently do. No doubt as time goes by we may change our minds.
David
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At present I'm glad to have our own accommodation rather than using anything shared by someone else.
We've had so many different holiday situations over the years, a long time with just a two week summer family break (not worth buying a van then) to retirement and more time to do things, definitely worth buying a van! For the cost of buying our present van we could have had a few other holidays, maybe, but we still like using it at present. Last year the costs worked out around £80 plus a night as we spend quite a bit of van travelling time seeing our scattered uk family, having meals out with them etc.
If we only used it 10-14 days a year like the OP, no, we wouldn't bother whatever the costs, just not too sentimentally attached to the van or any particular type of holiday.
ps but I do like the freedom a van brings!
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I wouldn’t dismiss cottages DK. There are some lovely cottages nowadays in very nice locations, and with all sorts of interiors depending upon what you prefer. We take around 2-3 cottage holidays a year, and been doing this around 15 years now. I don’t recall ever being disappointed. We get some wonderful bargains snapping up late bookings.
If you find yourself up in Yorkshire, I can recommend The Garden Room which is a two person luxury set up, based alongside a lovely CL. Spotless, easy access, all you need for self catering breakfast, but surrounded by lovely eateries. Off road parking as well in a quiet picturesque village. Well worth a trial stay at around £70 per night for a couple. I booked it for Mum so that we could stay on CL next door.
https://www.ashfieldcottages.co.uk/garden-room
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Ahhhhh, but look at the fun you are having. Come and go when you please, no set times for food, activities etc . Eat where and when you like.
No dressing up for dinner, wear what you like, stay in bed as long as you like, siesta if need be.
Your own items, only used by you, bedding, cutlery, crockery.
And visiting interesting places some people only dream about.
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