5 things to take on a caravan holiday

March 28, 2019

Exploring by touring caravan is a great way to see more of the UK and Europe. This things to take on a caravan holiday list is perfect for first time caravaners or for you to keep as a checklist for your next trip.

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As regular readers will know, I love road trips, and a caravan is a great way to stay when you’re on the road without booking into hotels. They’re comfortable and cosy and there are literally hundreds of caravan sites and campsites where you can pull up and sleep for the night.

A caravan is like a home away from home in miniature and it’s a real step-up from camping, but still with lots of flexibility. It’s a great way to spend more time exploring the great outdoors but without the stress of having to put up a tent.

Whether it’s a static caravan holiday or a trip in a tourer, there are certain essentials that you’re going to need when you’re on the road. Read on to find out the five things that you should bring with you on your first caravan trip.

1. Fold-away chairs and table

Number one on my packing list is a fold-away table and chairs. The great thing about holidaying in a touring caravan is that you can spend plenty of time outdoors (weather dependent of course!).

It’s a good idea to bring some chairs and a table that can be folded down so they don’t take up much space while you’re driving.

You can set these up at your campsite for al fresco dining and also take them with you in your car wherever you’re exploring. They’re great to use on a beach or in the countryside if you go for a picnic.

And on that point, a disposable BBQ doesn’t go amiss either – just check that your campsite will allow them. This makes for a great little set up on your site, which brings me on to…

2. Awning

If you want to increase your living space, you can always bring an awning with you. This will give you more space for storage, which makes your living space less cluttered.

An awning is good for when it’s raining as you can bring your foldaway table and chairs into it and eat there.

You can get different sizes and types of awning from just a porch canopy which provides some shelter to a full awning with bedroom annexes which means that you can increase the number of people that can go on your trip.

Having an awning is also a good option for travelling with pets. You can pop their food in here to stop it from smelling in the small caravan space and they can even sleep in there, if they usually sleep away from you.

3. Board and card games

I love cosy nights in a caravan after a full day of exploring in the fresh air and board games and a deck of cards make for a fun night in. Get yourself a few bottles of wine and some snacks as well.

Caravans have got lots of cooking facilities so you can make pretty much anything to eat. I also make sure that I have some films/boxsets downloaded on Netflix to watch on my laptop or iPad, as there isn’t usually wi-fi on site.

4. Cleaning items

You’ll be eating at the caravan quite a bit (start the day with a delicious cooked breakfast, prepare a picnic lunch and then cook a one-pot meal for dinner) so you’ll need something to clean up with afterwards. Don’t forget washing up liquid, dishcloths and tea towels.

It also might be worth bringing a small hoover with you, in case you’re planning walks which could get muddy.

5. Extra blankets

If you’re travelling in winter, staying in a caravan can get cold at night time. Some caravans have the luxury of central heating and most have some sort of heating, but it may be noisy or dangerous to leave some heaters on at night plus, it’s always nice to get cosy and snuggle up under blankets.

And on that note, don’t forget to bring your duvet and pillows as well!