If you’ve never driven a motorhome or towed a caravan it is well worth hiring one or borrowing one and trying a short break to see whether you enjoy it or not before deciding on a purchase. It sounds common sense but it is surprising how many people take the plunge without properly experiencing a caravan or motorhome holiday beforehand. If you do decide to go down this route then pick a site quite close to home as there’s a good chance you’ll forget something or need something extra when you do your first trip. You could even try staying overnight just in your driveway but this doesn’t really give you the authentic experience of hooking up to mains and using a sites facilities.

One thing that puts many people off owning a caravan is towing it behind their car. It can be tricky maneuvering a towed vehicle but it gets a lot easier with plenty of practice. Try finding a large area and practice reversing into a coned area or simply pick an area you would like to park your caravan into and see how close you can get to it. When towing on open roads, make sure you rigidly stick to your speed limit, and adjust your driving to suit the conditions, especially in wet or windy weather.

Where to park your motorhome is quite crucial to enjoying your break, this is especially true if you decide not to visit an authorised site. Unlike a caravan, you can’t uncouple your car and then explore the area. A motorhome, although obviously mobile, is a much bigger vehicle and finding suitable parking – especially in towns can be very difficult. This is why it is worth trying to find an area to park that is near local amenities or is close to a bus or rail route etc.

There are lots of great resources online and camping, caravan and motorhome clubs that have great advice and links to other resources in order to help you decide on whether a caravan or motorhome is best suited to your needs. It’s an exciting way to see Scotland, the UK or, if you’re feeling adventurous, Europe! Mobile holidays are always memorable and offer an extra dimension to a traditional holiday because you are free to pack up and move on if the whim takes you. A caravan or motorhome is a very large investment though so carefully thinking through your options at this stage will ensure that you buy the right vehicle for you and enjoy amazing fun filled breaks over many years.