How to beat the rush, and book the best sites now!
Ben Hackney-Williams, 1st December 2017, Caravan
Whether it's a popular pitch or you're trying to escape the crowds, here are a few ways of ensuring you get the holiday you want without the waiting times.
There are a number of ways you can bag the best break away without suffering from endless website loading times or telephone queues. How you approach booking your holiday depends exactly on what you're looking for. Here are a few ideas to get on pitch in perfect relaxation from start to finish.
Book early
The downside of Club sites and chains in the summer is how busy they get and how booking systems can get clogged up around peak traffic times on websites and phone lines, but the benefits of being on those popular sites brings a lot to the table. If you want to go mainstream, whether it be for yourselves or due to kids' activities, avoid missing out on these caravan mainstays by booking early. Many chain sites offer early discounts and deals such as Park Resorts for both touring and static stays.
Don't plan in advance
If you ensure you're near a trunk road such as the A1, you won't run out of places to stay.
This one's counterintuitive and yes, it can backfire, but living on the road for a holiday can be one of the best experiences you'll live for, leading to an off-the-cuff holiday that is exciting as well as relaxing – you've just got to learn to let go. Plan for enough time to travel a little further than usual and you'll open up no end of options. If a site is busy (obviously call ahead) then move on to the next one. If you ensure you're near a trunk road in the UK such as the A1, you won't run out of places to stay. If you're abroad, the continent is your oyster!
Talk to site owners
If you don't have a particular date in mind then call a few site owners and talk to them directly about when their pitches get busy each year. Granted, many of the club sites will insist you go through the official channels, but regardless of if they're affiliated or independent, you'll more often than not be met with welcome advice and insight that is invaluable to building a relationship that will boost your future holidays and benefit any plans in the short term, too.
Don't be a sheep
Use your common sense and you'll know that everyone and their dog is going to flock to the Cornwalls, the Norfolks and the Lake Districts of the UK. Think hard about where you've never even considered going before. Some of these places will have been missed for good reason, but there are plenty of locations that offer endless holiday greatness without the rammed pitches. Did you know that the Outer Hebrides treats its visitors to stunning scenery and clear skies, with almost empty beaches and an infinite amount of walks to enjoy the lot?
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