Across Europe there are now a number of low emission zones (LEZ). These zones have been put in place to try to increase air quality in some of the most polluted areas. What this means is that certain vehicles must avoid entering these low emissions zones or that they must pay a fixed amount to enter the zones.

310,000 deaths across Europe every year are directly attributed to bad air quality. The cost to the European economy is estimated to be 427 to 790 billion euros every year. In order to meet targets a number of countries have created low emission zones in certain cities. London was the pioneer of this idea, schemes are also in place in Oxford and Norwich. Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and Italy all now have L.E.Z. in place. Unfortunately there is no unifying principle behind the zones; they are implemented differently in every country.

Generally in order to enter a LEZ your vehicle must fall below the required emissions targets or you must pay a toll, in certain places some vehicles are banned. The age of your vehicle and the type of engine it has contribute to your emissions rating. You can discover your emissions rating by looking at your vehicle registration papers, if your vehicle is registered in the U.K. or in the Netherlands you can find this information on line. In order to align your vehicle with the Euro Standards you can buy a newer vehicle, retrofit the engine including placing filters on the engine, or reorganise your travel plans to avoid these zones, there are also certain exemptions in place for example on very old vehicles, check with your destination for details.

All of the schemes penalise heavy goods vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes, many diesel vehicles are affected but the treatment of other vehicles varies quite considerably. You will need to find out prior to travel what the restrictions are at your destination. In most cities the restrictions will not apply to caravans being towed by a moderately weighted vehicle, but some motor homes are likely to be affected. There are a high number of low emission zones in Germany, their policy can affect any vehicle and you must have a window sticker before you enter an LEZ city to avoid being fined (currently 40 euros).

This scheme is not likely to go away any time soon, there is evidence that suggests that it is having a positive affect on air purity which means that it is likely to continue to expand to new countries and cities. Always check before travelling to see if you are going to be affected.

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.

The Caravan Club have reported record bookings for U.K. sites for this summer. Retailers claim that there is also an unprecededented surge of young people taking up caravanning in 2009, here are some reasons why caravanning is soaring in popularity:

• It is going to be a hot summer in the U.K!
• A caravanning trip is substanstially less expensive than a foreign holiday. 

Economic turmoil has made many people want to rediscover the simple pleasures in life. The beauty and peace of our countryside has regained its appeal as the costs of flights goes up and the value of the pound has gone down. Caravanning in the U.K. is a substantially cheaper option than foreign travel and there is a huge range of activities and many areas of natural beauty across the U.K. providing enough variety to satisfy everyone.

• Lots of activities on and around sites, you can design a holiday to suit you and your family.

• Escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. Teach your kids the value of simple pleasures.

The U.K has an abundance of beaches, forests, lakes, mountains, hills and idyllic towns and villages. Culture and history are interwoven into our society so there is plenty of intellectual stimulation available too. If scenery alone is not enough for you then the U.K. caters for a variety of adrenalin fuelled activities from rock climbing to white water rafting and kayaking to skydiving. There are lots of fun kids alternatives such as water parks and adventure playgrounds scattered across the country, just waiting to be discovered. Older children may not be immediately thrilled about the prospect of caravan travel but you can extol the virtues of the countryside. Highlight their relative independence on the camp site and perhaps head to a site with lots of youth facilities and adventurous activities so that they do not have time to mourn the loss of TV and video games.

Fresh air and exercise in abundance.

Safe environment and a great place for kids to make new friends.

Young children in particular are probably more likely to enjoy a holiday in this country than abroad for a number of reasons. Long waits at airports, painful ears during flying and sweltering heat are not found on lists of things that make kids happy. But getting lots of fresh air and exercise, running around a safe environment with dozens of other kids and accessing some of the freedom that we had when we were young. These are things that make parents and kids smile alike!

• You choose how many miles you want to travel away from your home.

• Its a green holiday! Good for the environment (much better than flying) and your wallet.

Another bonus about caravan travel is that you can decide exactly how far you wish to go. There are literally thousands of official sites all over the U.K., so if you want to travel a short distance from home or much further you will find a site to suit your needs. You can go for big social sites with many activities and lots of other people or you can choose a remote secluded spot designed to create special private family moments. Similarly there is now a huge range of caravans, from basic shelter to luxury apartments on wheels.

• None of the hassle of travelling abroad; no passports, airports, vaccinations or lost luggage.

• Relaxing and simple, you don’t have to worry about too much; a home away from home.

However you like to be entertained caravanning has something to offer you and your kids, particularly this year as the weathermen are predicting a good summer. Caravanning has been re-invented, it is now modern, relaxing and really simple to arrange!