Spring is just around the corner; finally the days are getting noticeably longer and the temperature is starting to creep up in the daytime. If you look around the daffodils and snowdrops are already starting to grow and it will not be long before the countryside is bursting into life, populated by budding flowers, baby animals and fledgling birds. Spring is a positive time of year, full of new life and new hope so it is definitely worth getting out into the countryside and absorbing some of the vitality of the spring awakening. Getting away in your caravan or motor home in the Spring uniquely positions you to observe this lovely time. There are loads of other advantages to getting away in springtime in your caravan too.

Bank Holidays

For a start most of our bank holidays take place in the Spring which means that you can take a long weekend break. Easter is early this year so the holidays are on, Good Friday, the 2^nd and, Easter Monday, the 5^th of April. The May bank holidays fall on the 3^rd and 31^st.

Great Value Caravan Pitches

Prices for prime caravan pitches in the Spring will be considerably less than in the summer high season. There will be premiums for the bank holidays but you will still be able to stay in some of the best places in the countryside for less than at other times.

Calm Caravan Travel and Caravan Rallies

Many sites are likely to be less full, if you are a caravanner that enjoys the calmer side of caravan travel then you may want to try out one of the busier sites without having to encounter hoards of other people. Alternatively lots of caravan rallies take place in the Spring. If you want to socialise with lots of people that also enjoy caravanning then you should consider attending one of these events. For example The Caravan Club traditionally holds it annual rally over the second May bank holiday.

Caravan Checks

Travelling a shorter distance for less time than your usual main caravan holiday will give you an opportunity to re familiarise yourself with your caravan. You will have the opportunity to check that everything is in perfect working order and it will remind you of any jobs that you may not have done at the end of last year.

So no excuses, get into your caravan or motorhome and spend some time in the Great British countryside this Spring!

Caravanning is a popular holiday choice, which means that there are loads of destinations to choose from. Staying at a designated caravan park is a good idea because they should provide you with at least the basic facilities that you need to be comfortable, such as clean toilets and access to fresh water. There is a vast range of different types of caravan site with all kinds of different facilities.

When you are choosing somewhere to stay it is worth considering what you need from your holiday destination. Here are 10 things that could affect your choice of pitch:

1. Animals – Not all sites allow pets, some may charge if you do take them.

2. Adults – Some sites are adult only sites, creating a completely different atmosphere.

3. Children – Some sites will have lots of child friendly facilities such as playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts and even petting zoos.

4. Privacy – If you want a high degree of privacy it may be worth looking for somewhere with en-suite facilities and secluded pitches.

5. Facilities – Sports facilities, food and drink availability and social events all differ from place to place. If you want to cycle, many sites offer cycle hire facilities.

6. Public Transport Connections – If you wish to see the local area you should find out about the local transport system. Check how close the train station or bus stop is to the site.

7. Locations – If you want lots of things to do during your holiday, check the local area or your intended destination site for information about areas of natural beauty, tourist attractions, water parks, beaches, local events and other things to do.

8. Locality – It is worth finding out how long it will take you to get to the site, and how much that journey will cost you.

9. Price – Price varies enormously, from £3 a night upwards, you may find that it is beneficial to join a club so that you can take advantage of their reduced rates.

10. Booking – Book well in advance if you have a specific site in mind. During peak times some sites get completely booked up.

Once you have decided upon what you need from a site you can start looking at the different kinds of sites available.

Static Caravan Sites

There are lots of static caravan sites in the U.K. They are available to buy and to rent. If you particularly like a certain area and wish for the comfort of having your own things around you then buying a static caravan may be a good idea. You can also rent static caravans. This is excellent if you do not have the means to transport a touring caravan. The parks that static caravans are located on will normally offer a range of facilities.

Touring Caravan Sites

Touring caravans are flexible homes. You can stay in large parks with many facilities or you can retreat to small rustic pitches in the countryside, the choice is yours!

Certified Locations

The smallest sites known as Certified Locations to the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club, are suitable for no more than 5 caravans at any one time. They offer seclusion and basic amenities. Certified locations are casual, normally rural caravan sites designed to facilitate your enjoyment of the local area rather than to provide you with on-site activities. Many sites of this size are affiliated to a caravan club so they are only available to use if you are a member. The cost of staying in a site of this size starts at about £3, which makes it great value for money if you can entertain yourself.

Starred Caravan Sites – The British Graded Holiday Park Scheme

There is a system in place to evaluate holiday parks and caravan sites. It is the traditional 5* system. Private sites, holiday parks owned by commercial operators and the club sites that are open to non-members will generally all be rated under the star system. It is organised by the tourist boards of the U.K. As you would expect 5* is the top rating; caravan sites with this accolade will have groceries available daily, 24 hour access to a public telephone, good lighting, heated toilets and 75% of pitches will have electrical hook ups. 5* sites will have extremely high levels of cleanliness and all facilities will be in good order.

The other sites are graded according to where they fall in comparison to this. 5* means exceptional standards, 4* excellent quality, 3* is the industry standard, 2* is good, 1* is acceptable. Any parks that fall below these standards will not be awarded a star.

The star system is not an indication of the types of facilities available, but of the quality of the facilities that are there. Star status is reviewed annually. Always check individual brochures for details about the exact facilities that will be available.

Other Criteria for Judging Holiday Parks

The Camping and Caravanning Club and The Caravan Club have their own criteria for judging their own caravan sites. This information is available to members. Both of the clubs have a good reputation and many choose these sites because they have a high minimum standard.

The David Bellamy Conservation Award is given to all of the caravan sites in the U.K. that are making a comprehensive effort and having a positive affect on local wildlife. There are 600+ awarded sites at the moment. Many of the sites are in areas of great natural beauty and some are completely eco-friendly.

There are a number of different organisations that exist to help people get the most out of their caravan. The U.K. is home to some of the largest organisations of this type and some of the smallest as well. There are advantages and disadvantages to both as they all offer different perks and varying specialist knowledge. The following is a brief guide to the main caravan organisations that you can join in the U.K.

The Caravan Club

This world famous club is the largest of its kind in Europe. The Caravan Club has a membership of over one million caravan, motor caravan and trailer tent owners. They claim that half of all of the caravanners in the U.K. are members of their organisation. On the 14^th June 2007 they celebrated their centenary and over the hundred years of their existence they have built up a comprehensive network of caravan sites. They run 200 sites in the U.K. and have certified over 2500 locations. Being a member of the club entitles you to have access to all of their information about where to stay and what to do, as well as access to their wealth of knowledge about caravanning. The Caravan Club have a good reputation, it is run by members for the members. This huge club has its own vibrant social scene. The downside of being just one of a million members is that you are unlikely to have much say in what happens within the club, but for resources and information it is a great organisation. The club also offers a number of member only deals on holidays, insurance and finance.

The Camping and Caravanning Club

This is the oldest and largest club for all of the different kinds of camping. Boasting over 400,000 members, the club and its facilities are run by members who really enjoy camping and caravanning. This club also runs many sites of its own, over 100 of its sites have won awards. They cater to 3 million campers and caravanners every year. One of the principle advantages of being a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club is their private member sites. They have 1200 small sites located in some of the most picturesque areas of the U.K. that only members are allowed to use. If you enjoy caravanning abroad this club has its own dedicated travel organiser called Carefree. This part of the organisation deals with any international travel and destination requirements and they also offer exclusive member deals. There are also a host of other member privileges such as good deals on insurance, security and financial services.

The Association of Caravan and Camping Exempted Organisations (A.C.C.E.O.)

This organisation was started in response to the government restrictions on spontaneous rallies in 1960. The restrictions were imposed to protect areas of natural beauty and to stop over use of popular areas. The A.C.C.E.O. works closely with government departments to further the interests of their members. Clubs and individuals can join, there are over 200 rallying clubs that are members. Clubs use the A.C.C.E.O. to organise and promote their events. Personal membership allows for easy networking between the different clubs and invitation to restricted events. This organisation simplifies the process of getting exemption certificates from the government so that rallies can be held on unlicensed land. The organisation is run by elected and unpaid officials so you can be certain that they are always working in the interests of the members.

Caravan Owners Clubs

There are a number of caravan owners clubs. The advantages to being a member of a club specifically related to your caravan is that there will be lots of people who can help you if you have any problems with your caravan. Sourcing parts and selling items become a lot simpler as you are only dealing with people who have the same kind of caravan as you. As you may expect the individual clubs all have different policies and activities.

Local Clubs

There are lots of small local caravan clubs, a little research should uncover the ones in your locality. They can be great for connecting with other caravan enthusiasts in your area. Most of these clubs will operate within a confined area but are likely to have the best knowledge about the area in which they are active. Another advantage if you cannot store your caravan at home is that they are likely to be connected to local storage sites, so you may be able to save money by joining a local club.  Other perks vary from club to club.