A FAMILY in the UK who have been on 56 holidays in their caravan have shared their best budget-friendly staycation tips.
Known as The Caravanning Mummy, travel expert, and mum-of-two, Rachel shares travel tips and destination guides on Instagram, including how to make breaks budget-friendly while keeping the kids entertained.
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Rachel purchased her caravan back in 2019, with her family spending the school holidays and weekends exploring the UK in their Bailey Of Bristol Phoenix 650 caravan.
The family-of-four have been on 56 caravan holidays over the last five years, so it’s safe to say Rachel has found the best ways to keep costs down without compromising on the fun.
Rachel encouraged holidaymakers to book a Certified Location with their caravan or motorhome.
Certified locations (CL sites) are small, privately-owned campsites for caravans and motorhomes that are exclusive to members of The Caravan and Motorhome Club.
She told Sun Online Travel: “I would say CL sites are probably around £20 per night for a pitch, which is obviously pretty good. It means you’re looking at around £40 for a weekend pitch.
“The Caravan and Motorhome Club sites are great for beginners because they have all the key facilities and you know what you’re going to get.
“They’re about half the price of a big site but you do get less facilities, so that is something to consider.”
To keep the family entertained while keeping costs low, Rachel recommended making the most of supermarket loyalty schemes.
She added: “We use Tesco vouchers massively when we’re going away because it almost halves the cost of entry into top-rated attractions.
Tesco Clubcard Vouchers can be spent at theme parks like Thorpe Park, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures and Alton Towers.
Entry tickets to places like Cadbury World, Warwick Castle, the Eden Project, the Black Country Living Museum, Conkers, Madame Tussauds and various Sea Life Centres can also be bought using Clubcard vouchers.
Children aged between five and 15 can also apply for a Blue Peter badge, which also provides free entry to a range of UK attractions.
The Caravanning Mummy also recommended purchasing a membership to the National Trust.
She added: “The other tip I always recommend is getting a membership with the National Trust.
“While it might seem a bit random for a caravan holiday, it means you have entry to a nice stately home, or an indoor attraction, which is great for rainy days.
“These places often have large grounds so kids can have a run around too, and they’re often equipped with a cafe so you can have tea and cake.
“A lot of the places have ponds with ducks, so we always have some porridge oats in our pockets so the kids can feed the ducks.”
Later this month, Rachel will be sharing more caravanning tips at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
Rachel’s Favourite Campsites in Swanage
IN THE last five years, Rachel and her family have stayed at three campsites in Swanage – here’s what they’re like…
Haycraft Club Campsite
Located near Harmans Cross Train Station, holidaymakers can board a train on the Swanage Railway line to reach Swanage. The site is currently closed for refurbishment but is set to reopen in March.
Touring pitches start from £17 per night.
Hunter’s Moon Club Campsite
Set in Wareham, Hunter’s Moon Club Campsite is slightly further afield with holidaymakers needing to drive to reach the seaside.
Touring pitches start from £15.60 per night.
Norden Farm Campsite
The family-run campsite is Rachel’s favourite place to bag a pitch in Dorset because it is also a working farm, adding a touch of rural and rustic charm. Located on the Wareham-Swanage Road just outside of Corfe Castle, the campsite is close to famous beaches like Studland and Sandbanks. The site is open until October 31 – depending on the weather. Touring pitches start from £23.
Earlier this month, Rachel revealed her favourite place for a UK break in her caravan, with a quintessential seaside town bagging the top spot.
Meanwhile, these are the top-rated holiday parks with on-site waterparks and pools.
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