Static Caravans
The popular image of caravans is of mobile residences being towed behind a car, allowing the owner to go holiday wherever caravan site berths are available. An increasing number of people, however, are using static caravans: caravans fixed in place, often with a variety of additions that effectively make them permanent structures.
Static Caravans
Static caravans are not simply touring caravans that have stayed in one place for a while: they are quite different in construction, being designed specifically for the purpose of permanent or semi-permanent residence in a particular location. Since they move rarely, less consideration needs to be paid to roadworthiness, meaning that static caravans are generally more spacious than touring caravans. They can have multiple sleeping areas, and the general living quarters are usually roomier and more comfortable, with better quality upholstery etc. It follows that catering, heating and waste disposal facilities are commonly of a higher standard: a static caravan can be connected to mains electricity and gas.
This additional comfort is reflected in the price, as static caravans for sale are more expensive than comparable tourers. This is true for both new and used static caravans, and is why the newcomer to caravanning most often purchases a tourer.
Static Caravan Holidays
Usually, the first time a person uses a static caravan is on holiday. Static caravan holidays are becoming more popular as people are taking less holidays abroad due to the recession: with domestic hotels often being fully booked as a result, caravan holidays are an excellent alternative.
Booking such a holiday is simple: the holidaymaker can either use the services of a travel agent who will make the booking, or can search for caravan parks in the desired area and contact them directly. The latter option is easier than ever due to the amount of websites functioning as directories of static caravan sites. Indeed, many caravan parks now operate their own websites, and are able to take bookings directly, passing on the savings to the consumer.
In addition, many new static caravan parks are being opened around the UK and indeed around the world, and more established sites are upgrading their facilities to meet the needs of the new generation of holidaymakers that are used to luxury hotel accommodation, but want the ease and convenience of a static caravan holiday.
Static Caravans As Homes
Increasingly, though, static caravans are not just being used as holiday homes, but as permanent residences. Residential caravan sites have had a bad reputation in the past, especially in the United States and Canada, with trailer parks being regarded as housing of last resort, but this is unwarranted. The modern breed of residential caravan parks can provide good housing at a reasonable price, with all of the usual utilities combined with the benefit of locations that are often close to country areas. Since the caravans are situated on enclosed sites, there can be a community feeling about static caravan parks that has been lost to many neighbourhoods. In addition to buying such a residence it is often possible to rent, so there should be an opportunity for anyone that wants to try living in a static caravan to do so.