Holidaying in the UK has altered over the years.  Recent fluctuations in the Euro Exchange Rate have led to us looking at staying at home rather than going to Greece or Spain for our summer holidays.

However accommodation prices at hotels are expensive even when you are paying in £'s, so what are the alternatives?

Self Catering Holidays are one option that has seen an increase as the costs are based upon the accommodation itself rather than the number of people who will be going. Therefore families who are on a budget can great some amazing deals if there are 4 or more of them going into the same accommodation.

Hiring a static caravan is always a great option for those kinds of holidaymakers.  They can look for accommodation that meets their requirements and budget that is fixed so they can estimate any over spend on their budget with ease.  The alternative is to buy their own self catering accommodation.  However the days of buying a second home are gone as the banks are not that interested in mortgaging in such uncertain economic times.

Therefore buying a static caravan is a wonderful alternative. But is the capital investment worth it?  Should you rent or buy your holiday home?  Here are the pros and cons of each:

Static Caravans For Hire

Positives

• Easily find one that fits your budget
• You only pay for the accommodation and not a per person basis
• Hundreds of locations throughout the UK
• No on-going costs
• Enjoy your holiday and then leave

Negatives

• A decent one will cost around £500 per week
• You have to pay for any breakages or damage
• Rental Caravans are lower quality than owned ones
• You may have to pay a refundable deposit
• Other people will have slept in the beds!!
• They are usually smaller than one you could own

Static Caravans For Sale

Positives

• Brand new ones are available from £9995 so can fit your budget with ease
• The second hand market offers some amazing discounts
• You can make an income by renting it to friends and family
• You can buy your own comforts to make it feel like a home-from-home
• You can go away whenever you like without having to book or pay any further fees

Negatives

• There are annual fees starting at £1200 per year, but most parks allow you to pay monthly
• You will have to perform a small amount of maintenance to keep it in tip top condition
• You will be permanently fixed on a park, so ensure you find the right one for you and your family

As you can see there are pros and cons to either hiring a static caravan or looking for a static caravan for sale.  The question you need to ask yourself is "am I planning on taking holidays in the UK?".  If you do I would seriously look into buying one as they offer some great possibilities for memorable holidays in our beautiful country.