I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside

Christmas ended up being more money than you thought this year, but fear not, you can still have a holiday and not have to break the bank.

Just because you overspent on this year’s Christmas presents and the turkey, it doesn’t mean your annual holiday ha to suffer. There are plenty of options throughout Britain that will be below your budget and you will have the same, if not more fun that you would during a week in Spain.

Admittedly, you may not come back and be able to boast a brilliant tan to your friends, but what you will have is memories of a great holiday after spending them on home soil. You also won’t have to spend your spare time trying to convert your Euro’s back to pounds as the same currency is used throughout the UK. The conversion rate can often be confusing at times too, so at least you’ll know what your money is worth.

If you’re one to enjoy countryside walks and the Great British seaside, then you’re probably already sold but if you don’t then the holiday parks throughout our nation are full of other entertainment that can make a holiday be a brilliant one.

On a holiday in Spain may predominantly be spent sat by the pool and enjoying a dip once in a while but why would that have to change? The parks around the UK boast both outdoor and indoor heated pools, so no matter what the weather is you can enjoy having a splash.

There is other entertainment too with many parks hosting entertainment throughout the day and during the evening. As well as this there are also games rooms and towns and cities are drives away, which mean you can shop till you drop in a range of great urban and rural areas. Each holiday park has its own individual characteristics and each one will suit you and your family.

Don’t knock it until you try it and see just how good a holiday in the UK can be.

Under Used Holiday Homes Should Be Bought

A leading union has emerged as saying that all under-used holiday homes should be acquired by the local council, where areas have a shortage of properties.

The call was made after research had showed that around 170,000 people in the UK own a second or holiday home, the most of which were in Wales and the South West of England. The two places that showed the most second homes in the United Kingdom were Gwynedd and Cornwall.

The union has said that local councils and authorities should be able to levy taxes on holiday homes or second homes or even buy them outright and pointed out that spending a few weeks at a second home is very different to a home that is lived in majority of the time.

Statistics show that there are around 40,000 people that own a second home in the South West and 32,000 of those people live outside the region. Around 30,000 people own a second property in Wales.

The call made by the leading union will mean that in those areas where property is scarce it will become compulsory for second-home owners will have to buy the property outright otherwise the council will be able to raise the tax on those properties.

This decision has been made due to questions of the role and power of the local authorities as it emerged that some families have to accommodate in bed and breakfasts.

With the news of this research the second or holiday home owners will have to prove how often the property is being used to prevent being part of the increase of tax. If the property is only used for a few weeks in the year then they are likely to be made to buy the property outright in an attempt to keep it.

Winter Caravanning

Winter is a strange season to decide to go on holiday in your static caravan or motor home, but if you have paid money for it then why not use it to its maximum potential. Like a dog not being for Christmas, a caravan does not just have to be for summer.

Sometimes campsites can be a lot quieter during the winter months, which is understandable, so in a selfish way it means you can have a much quieter and more relaxed holiday. When visiting local attractions you will find there are less queues and you will be able to get round the attractions easier and be able to see more in more of a laid-back surroundings.

The winter months are also great times to chat to fellow hardy caravanners and ‘stay-cationers’. These people tend to have a lot of experience and will have top tips for conserving energy, keeping the caravan warm throughout colder weather seasons and lots of other things you may not even realise you needed to know.

Campsites and Holiday Parks have improved a lot over the years and you will notice that many now have heated toilet blocks and hot and steamy showers, your perfect home comforts while on holiday.

You will find that some Holiday Parks close over the winter season, but having a quick look on the site of the Holiday Park or contacting them direct is an easy way to find out when the site is open and when it is closed.

Going away for Christmas can be a great way to get away from the stresses at home, to have a private getaway and relax. You could even take a stroll to the nearest restaurant for a proper Christmas Dinner and a glass of festive tipple.

If camping in winter is not for you then make sure you prepare your caravan for the cold winter, ensure that you fully drain the water system and water heater as this will help avoid damage through the pipes being frozen.

It is also recommended that you remove all soft furnishings from the caravan and store them in the house as this will stop them from getting damp and will allow a better circulation of air within the caravan.

Most importantly you need to make sure your caravan is secure and locked when you are not using it for longer periods of time as over time it will become a target for thieves.

No Lions At The Springs

The search for a Lion in Essex has been called off after Police said the sightings were probably just a ‘large domestic cat’.

Officers had previously spent 24 hours searching for the large animal after locals had said they heard ‘roars’ and spotted it near a caravan park. The park is near St Osyth, Clacton-on-Sea, and the search began when people claimed to have seen the creature.

The sightings and photographs were shown to the local zoo, whilst the other locals have reportedly heard roaring nearby. The search was called off as no lion was found and no evidence had suggested there was one. Police also advised everyone to return to their ‘normal lives’.

If you enjoy wildlife that is a lot safer than a roaming Lion and want to enjoy a caravan park where this sort of behavior is very unlikely then there is always The Springs Holiday Park. The park in Worcestershire has access to a wide range nature reserves on the complex which boasts many wildlife which won’t need the Police to come out and start a search. Instead, you can sit, relax and enjoy your holiday in a tranquil environment.

Wildlife is on your doorstep and you I can assure you; you will not hear any roars, maybe the occasional tweet, but no roars. There are plenty of fishing lakes too which also bring a lot of different birds to the park, especially around this time of year.

The holiday park also has green field sites, as well as other landscaped grounds which create the perfect habitat for plenty of wildlife, so have your camera’s ready. The park is open 10 months in the year and has never seen or heard of any sightings of a Lion or any other large wild cat, so you can rest in peace and enjoy your holiday!

Romantic Holiday For Two

At Christmas and New Year time is a time to spend with loved ones, so why not head away for a romantic retreat for you and your partner?

There are plenty of retreats where you and your partner can enjoy more than just the time off, you can also enjoy each other’s company which you might not get the chance to when at home. There are also many places for you both to spend time enjoying fantastic facilities and see in the New Year together doing somewhere you both want to be, where it’s just you.

Perhaps you want to surprise your other half or maybe it’s a place you want to choose together, whatever you want you can find it with holiday parks across the UK. Whether you want a countryside location, a park near the beach or just a place with great facilities and entertainment then you can enjoy choosing from hundreds throughout the UK. A surprise could also be the perfect Christmas gift too!

It is understandable that often Christmas time is family time but at the same time, you have both worked hard this year so why not spend the last days of 2012 in a place where you can chill out and just enjoy one another.

You can stay on a park location that has other facilities such as indoor heated swimming pools, gyms, health and beauty and sports. The park can have exactly what you want from it; it’s just about choosing which one suits you both.

You can see it now, the countdown to the New Year begins and you’re walking round a lake with wildlife spread around, watching the stars whilst linking hands with the one you love. The holiday can be whatever you want to make it, it can be as special or as relaxing as you and your partner want it to be.