When we’re young, we’re encouraged to experience the world, try new things and get as much ‘life experience’ under our belts as possible before we settle down and find our groove.
The same could be said for touring caravan owners. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned caravan owner, you’re likely to follow the age-old tradition of travelling from site to site, exploring the UK, or even further afield, getting to know which areas you get a good vibe for and those less so.
From families who are looking for a campsite that has facilities geared towards children, to older adults that perhaps might be looking for somewhere with a bit of peace and quiet with amenities nearby. There are plenty of campsites across the UK to choose from that should meet your needs.
The Changing Face of Caravan Insurance
Despite people’s wanderlust urge to travel, many of us become creatures of habit when holidaying in the UK. With over 9 in 10 (91%) preferring to revisit the same places again and again, research by Great Western Railways has revealed.
Our own market research has also identified a growing demand among touring caravan owners for seasonal pitches. Seasonal pitches, if you’re unfamiliar with them, are a designated and reserved area on a registered caravan park where your caravan is sited for an extended period, typically a season or several months.
In response, we’ve recently enhanced our Touring Caravan insurance product to include seasonal pitches and store and stay campsites as options for customers.
Similar to a seasonal pitch, a store and stay site is a campsite that has storage facilities attached to it. Whenever you fancy a trip, all you have to do is call the campsite to ask for your caravan to be moved to your favourite pitch on site and it should all be set-up ahead of your arrival.
Francis Martin, CEO of The Insurance Emporium, commented: “We know that caravanning has long been synonymous with the UK’s staycation trend. The idea of packing your essentials and touring the UK or even further afield in your home-from-home, whatever the weather, resonates deeply within the caravanning community.
However, for some, towing a caravan can be off putting and after a while, owners get to know the places they like to visit versus those they don’t. What’s more, after the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and Brexit, we’ve identified the growing interest to take up a seasonal pitch or even a store and stay campsite and for that reason we knew we needed to evolve our product offering to cater towards this market too.”
Currently, 79% of customers that choose to store their caravan elsewhere are aged 40 and over, suggesting that the more ‘seasoned’ travellers are choosing to store their caravans away from home.
Advantages of Seasonal Pitches / Store and Stay Campsites
While traditionally touring caravanning is associated with being able to pick a new campsite each time you hook up your caravan, there are several reasons why owners may choose a seasonal pitch or store and stay campsite, including:
- You can come and go as often as you like.
- Explore the local area over a long period of time rather than trying to squeeze in the highlights over a shorter stay (Note: you may stay in your caravan for periods of up to 28 days, then you must vacate it for not less than 48 hours).
- Make the most of the site’s facilities.
- Reduced need to tow your caravan once it’s on its pitch (or in the case of store and stay – moved to its pitch).
- Store more of the things you need in your caravan , such as clothing or non-perishable food so you don’t have to pack a lot each time you visit. However, we’d not recommend you leave any high value items in between visits.
- Indulge in your other passions, whether it’s cycling, walking or swimming, choosing a campsite that allows you to pursue your hobbies could mean you do more of them.
- You’ll always have somewhere to stay – no last-minute campsite bookings required (provided you pre-plan your booking with the store and stay campsite ahead of time).
- You might even make lifelong friends with other seasonal caravan pitchers.
More Reasons to Staycation
Of course, location preference is likely to be a strong deciding factor as to why more people are choosing seasonal pitches and store and stay campsites. However, other factors that might influence people to staycation in general could be:
- Despite rising costs in the UK, going abroad during peak-travel seasons can still be extremely expensive.
- No passport worries when staycationing – which is still a popular choice among Brits amid the cost-of-living crisis and post-Covid travel.
- It’s better for the environment – whether caravan owners decide to settle on an area close to home or at the other end of the country, holidaying in the UK is better for climate change when compared with air travel
- Seasonal pitches and store and stay sites give caravan owners the flexibility to travel lighter / in a smaller, more eco-friendly vehicle and reduced fuel costs as they don’t need to tow their caravan as it’s in situ.
So, whether you’re a caravan owner that likes the flexibility of hooking up your caravan on the spur-of-the-moment or perhaps you prefer the idea of leaving your caravan at your favourite campsite, our Touring Caravan insurance now covers a wider range of storage options when your caravan is and isn’t in use.
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We offer a variety of cover levels, so please check the policy cover suits your needs before purchasing. For your protection, please ensure you read the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and policy wording, for information on policy exclusions and limitations.
