Our Week At The NEC Motorhome And Caravan Show

Posted by

By William Coleman

Each year leading up to the October Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC myself and the CaravanTimes team find ourselves totally snowed under with the amount of prep work that goes into making sure we bring our readers the best content. So once all that hard work is done comes to real work, filming at the NEC and getting as much done in the limited time we have. This year was no exception as it was all hands on deck at the UK’s largest leisure event.

Very rarely do I get to go to the NEC shows as just a visitor, despite spending more time at the show than your average attendee. As the camera team dive in and out of each hall I only seem to get a glimpse of the vehicles and innovations on display. This year I made it my mission to see more of what was on offer and take in all the great things the show has to offer.

As always the team head up a day before the official opening of the show to have a quick look round at where everything is so we can strategically maneuver ourselves around the show without being a nuisance.

A mixture of the team stayed up pretty much the whole week. One member did Sunday-Saturday as they were asked to judge the Caravan and Motorhome Caravan Design Awards, but that is an article for another time.

This year’s October show to me seemed to be far busier than last year’s show, which I think is due to the impressive models that manufacturers announced during their press released across the the past few months. This year there was stand out caravan models such as the Coachman VIP and, for me, the stand out Lazer.

On top of that this was the first time the majority of the public got to see new 2019 models on display. The all new Bailey Phoenix, which has reimagined the “entry level” caravan, their game changing 8ft wide Pegasus and the show exclusive Alliance motorhome, which we were lucky enough to get hands on with this before the NEC and we loved it. Very soon we will have a full review for you so watch this space.

Other than the waves of vans, motorhomes, trailer tents and other portable homes there was also every accessory known to the touring world, as well as some brand new ones, there to buy. One of the best things about choosing the show for your purchases is the amount of deals available to the public, always a good excuse to freshen up the set up.

Even if you are not in the market for new kit there are plenty of chances to win awnings, bbqs as well as free holidays all week at the show. I took full advantage of this and got myself a Prima Deluxe Air Awning from Prima, gone are the days of the long winded awning set up.

At the show there is something for everyone and things you may never knew you needed. Insurance, dealer specials, the Caravan and Motorhome Club, new vehicles, tow cars, games, activities. So if you did not manage to make this show the February one is just round the corner.

As I am sure you already know, we did a series of video interviews with certain exhibitors so we can help guide you through the show and make sure you have a pleasant time navigating through the hundreds of exhibitors throughout the many halls of the NEC.

On the off chance you missed the interviews here they all are:
Touring Essentials with Prima Leisure

A Catch Up With Kampa

Camplify Turn 1

Compact Living From Roller Team

Alde’s Future Tech

Meeting The Truma Team

Luxury Leisure From Travelworld

Oyster Sat Tech At The NEC

Levelling Solution At The NEC

Our Guide To The NEC

Winter Escapes With The Caravan And Motorhome Club

Posted by

William Colman

As a child most of my caravan trips were actually taken during the winter months, mainly because as a family the October half term was the only opportunity the whole family could get the same time off, so I have adapted to caravan and motorhome videos in winter quite well. Embracing the trend of more holiday makers using the cold for an excuse to take the caravan out the Caravan and Motorhome announce some key locations to visit this winter.

The winter season is here, or Christmas if you look at the shelves in Tesco, and the opportunities for getaways and weekends away seems to grow and grow each year. From the rolling hills of the Kent countryside to the traditional German markets, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has something for everyone to try this winter.

With over 50 sites on the UK network open all year round and multiple overseas locations. Sites with heated washrooms, hot showers and electric hook ups at most sites, stay warm and enjoy the great outdoors even when the air is cooler!

The Caravan And Motorhome Club Worldwide Tours

Posted by

By William Coleman

Every year the Caravan and Motorhome Club announce their latest overseas trips for the forthcoming year. These trips are designed to be an experience of a lifetime and allow you enjoy far flung places in your way – by caravan or motorhome.

From new trips in Australia and New Zealand to Southern Africa or even the Canadian Rockies there are some incredible holiday opportunities coming up for 2019. CaravanTimes have yet to take a caravan as far or America or Africa but people who have taken these Club holidays have said it was one of the very best trips they had ever been on.

New Destinations For 2019

New to the worldwide collection is the exciting opportunity to travel Southern Africa with the
Caravan and Motorhome Club. This is the first of its kind in Africa to be offered to members with two escorted tours and two independent tours.

The ‘Roads of the Rainbow Nation’ is a 38-day escorted tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
The tour offers the best of South Africa with a drive along the scenic Panorama Route, on to Kruger to try and spot the Big 5, Swaziland for its culture, Hluhluwe for more big game opportunities and an included Hippo and Croc cruise.

This tour also includes the Battlefields of KwaZulu Natal, the scenic landscapes of the Drakensberg, Addo Elephant Park, the stunning Garden Route, Oudtshoorn
which is famous for its ostriches, Montagu and its wineries and finally on to Cape Town where the trip finishes with a 14-course farewell dinner along with interactive drumming!

A new 23-day tour to/from Cape Town featuring the Garden Route will also launch as part of the
Southern Africa independent tours collection. Suggested stops on this tour include Cape Columbine Nature Reserve, Oudtshoorn famous for its ostriches and the wine route, Camdeboo National Park in the beautiful Karoo and Addo Elephant Park to see the Big 5.

New Tours In Australia

From the green of the rain forest to a paradise for wine lovers, there is nothing like Australia. Head to the outback in 2019 and enjoy one of the new Australian tours from the Caravan and Motorhome Club. Four new tours, two escorted and two independent, will be available to members offering the best of this panoramic landscape.

Uncover the real Australia on a 36-day escorted ‘Outback Australia Tour’. Starting in Australia’s
fourth largest city of Adelaide, this tour visits Clare Valley, South Australia’s largest mountain range of Flinders Ranges, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kings Canyon before hitting Alice Springs in central Australia. From here, the tour continues north towards Tennant Creek, Daly Waters, Mataranka, Katherine Gorge, Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park before arriving in the final destination of Darwin, along the north coast.

New Tours In New Zealand

From snow-capped mountains and volcanoes to stunning coastlines and the unique Maori culture, New Zealand boasts a diverse landscape that makes it perfect for travelling around by caravan or motorhome. New for 2019, the 36-day independent ‘Grand New Zealand Caravan Tour’ offers the best of this stunning region of the world.

Starting in Christchurch, this tour also visits Lake Tekapo, Lake Wanaka and Queenstown in the south before heading up to the majestic Fox Glacier of Franz Josef, Greymouth, Abel Tasman National Park and Picton.

From here it is on to New Zealand’s north island and visiting Whanganui, New Plymouth, Waitomo Caves and Auckland before heading on to Hobbiton, Rotorua, Taupo and Wellington. For the final leg of the journey, head back to Kraikoura and down to Christchurch to complete the trip.

If you are in the market for a caravan holiday with a bit of an exotic flair that you may not be able to find on the sunny isles of the UK then you may want have a look into The Club’s Worldwide Tours. Don’t let it be the best holiday you never took.

Lock n Level At The NEC

Posted by

By William Coleman

The CaravanTimes team recently came across a caravan levelling system that will not only save you a ton of time pitching up but will also eliminate the need to spend an age fiddling with locking wheel nuts and reversing back and forth to find that perfect medium of being level and finding the perfect locking wheel position.

On site we sometimes see some very “creative” ways of levelling their vans, using steadies as a weight bearing method has to be the most irresponsible method I have seen used. Is levelling the caravan that hard, or is there just a lack of handy methods out there.

I have used chocks to level before which usually ends up taking many attempts and some bickering with the other half, so they are no longer something I use. There has to be a product out there which will eliminate all this stress?

Look no further than the Lock’n’Level! This handy bit of kit is hand made here in the UK and is by far one of the most simplest, yet super effective, methods of caravan levelling I have seen.

The Lock’n’Level team have not had a moment to stop at this year’s NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show. Make sure you visit these guys because this bit of tech is well worth your time.

We Meet Kampa at The NEC

Posted by

By William Coleman

Having recently invested in an air awning, gone are the days where I want to use any other method for awning erection, I can safely say I wish I bought one years ago. Now that I have one I want to look into buying a larger one that can be used all year round and has multiple functions. Motorhome and Caravan Show will surely have what I am looking for.

At the NEC this October Kampa have a stand out display with so many different types of awning and their brand new windbreakers. Imagine doubling the size of set up with ease and extending your living space to the size of a studio apartment.

Kampa have been around for a relatively short amount of time, around 10 or so years, during that time they have grown to become one of Europe’s most recognised outdoor living brands. After seeing their set up at the NEC it’s easy to see why. The materials used for all their outdoor living products are state of the art and can handle pretty much every weather type you can throw at them.

At first glance I thought I was looking at their range of tents, due to multiple rooms within the awnings, but I then realised that these are just top notch awnings that provide a massive amount of space outside of your caravan.

No matter what touring vehicle you have Kampa will have a an awning for you. They have all shapes and sizes to match any and all needs. At this year’s show there a several brand new products on display for you to feast your eyes on.

The Caravan And Motorhome Club Announce Huge Investments

Posted by

By William Coleman

If there is one thing the Caravan and Motorhome Club do extremely well it’s keeping their clean and modern. I have never been to a Club site that has been in need of repair. This is no surprise following the recent news of a £14,000,000 investment into site development.

As part of its £14 million investment in sites during 2018, the Caravan and Motorhome Club unveils its most recent renovations on three of the most popular sites on its network. The three sites located in Derbyshire, Cumbria and Yorkshire have been closed for redevelopments and reopened their doors to holidaymakers throughout August and September 2018.

A Year On With Camplify At The NEC

Posted by

By William Coleman

At last year’s October NEC show we met the Camplify team, at which point they had just launched in the UK. Following Camplify’s huge success in Australia the bar was set pretty high for the UK version. So one year on how are they doing?

Over the past 12 months the amount of leisure rental companies seems to have tripled. With so many new avenues for people to get into leisure vehicle based holidays how are they coping with the increased customer demand?

One of the unique things about Camplify is just how diverse their range of leisure vehicles is. From statics to twin axles, motorhomes to converted fire engines, they really do have it all on one site, I know there is a camping joke in there somewhere.

Having a rental company with such wide range does wonders for the leisure industry, holiday opportunities and the overall economy of the UK.

With such an easy route to leisure vehicles, without the initial financial outlay, this can only drive more customers through the doors of their local dealership. With Camplify you can safely try before you buy and rent out your vehicle hassle free.

It seems that the Camplify team are dealing with the increased demand very well and are looking at making second year a lot better than the first. This summer brought them huge levels of success to the point where they were pretty much fully booked up.

So if you want to make your leisure vehicle work for you and earn an extra income or if you simply want to jump in a van and spend the weekend away come to the NEC and speak with Camplify.

New Forest Remains Hot Spot For Caravan And Motorhome Club Members

Posted by

William Coleman

The Caravan and Motorhome Club have announced an increase of bookings for touring pitches of up to 17% for there two New Forest Touring sites – Black Knowl and Centenary sites. The Club’s Black Knowl site has recently had a massive investment on the touring side which is great news because so many sites in the New Forest are changing from touring to static only.

The New Forest is such an amazing place to visit and with increasing popularity for UK holidays. Some of our best loved places are being turned into static only holiday parks so we think this press release from the Club is well timed and shows support and commitment to keeping touring pitches in our prime holiday spots.

The club’s Harvey Alexander said: Our touring sites in the New Forest are fantastic bases for holidays, there is so much to see and do in the area. Touring holidays are hugely popular; the Club saw a 17% year-on-year increase over the May bank holiday, the August bank holiday produced record bookings for the Club and it has been the best year ever for off-peak bookings. The bookings figures come as no surprise given the choice of amazing locations on our site network and unbeatable money-saving member offers.”

Well done to the Club – keep putting sites where we want them and literally wild horses won’t keep us away!

The UK Love Campervans

Posted by

William Coleman

The Caravan and Motorhome Club have just published research showing how much we love camper vans in the UK – with over 90,000 VW camper vans currently circulating the UK.

Camper vans are a wide bracket of motorhomes but many consider the VW camper as the iconic camper van. It is easy to see why these are so popular with modern or classic styling, easy to drive, parking versatility and the ability to try this with small price tags. These campers also hold there value very well so why not give it go?

The research is full of interesting statistics and vital information about values and prices but we thought the best bit was what people called there VW.. our favourite was Nelson Van Dela.

A recent poll of van owners showed that nearly 10% of them call their vans after someone who they wanted to remember, had left them the money to buy the van or was special in their lives.

This was closely followed by owners giving names with ‘van’ in them such as Frank-en-van, Vanny-de-Vito, Nelson Van Dela and Dick Van Dyke. Other owners used music as their inspiration with Van Morrison featuring highly and then there are travel inspired van names including Skippy (Australia), Syd (Sydney). For those that let their children choose the name, they could end up with Vanny McVanface or the Bat Van!

CT At The NEC Motorhome And Caravan Show

Posted by

By William Coleman

This week the CaravanTimes team are in Birmingham at the NEC Caravan and Motorhome Show all week so we can bring you all of the news and highlights from the UK’s biggest launch event. The show offers so much to everyone who visits, you can take a free towing lesson, take part in activities and most importantly have a look inside all the new caravans and motorhomes.

Over the next few days we will be speaking with everyone from dealers to manufacturers to some of the very best accessory suppliers out there. We are going to be asking them about what’s new, the 2019 ranges and most importantly what’s on display here for you guys to see.
We will be bringing you interviews with exhibitors such as Kampa, Truma and The Caravan and Motorhome Club and many more.

Each hall has the very best the leisure industry has to offer. Bailey are here with the brand new 8ft wide Pegasus range, the Phoenix and the all new Alliance Motorhome. There are also new ranges from Coachman, Elddis, Swift and many major manufacturers.

If you are coming to the show to buy or upgrade your leisure vehicles you will be spoilt for choice as most major dealers are here spread throughout the show. Thankfully the show is almost a week long so you can take your time to see them all and make the right decision for you.

What we love about the show is just how diverse the exhibitors are. From giant coach sized tourers all the way down to small compact campers there is something for everyone. No matter what your needs are you will be sure to find it all here. Vans, tents, awnings, BBQs, tow cars, holiday parks, rental services. All of that under one roof is well worth the price of admission.

Oyster Talk The Joys Of The NEC Show

Posted by

By William Coleman

The Oyster Sat Tech team are at almost every trade show you can think of. We spoke with them at Dusseldorf Salon, where we found out that Julian is fluent in German. Now we are in the UK we want to speak with Julian about the importance of displaying at the NEC and what Oyster can do to help visitors.

The good thing about Oyster is that they sell directly to the manufacturer. Why is is this so good? Well you can guarantee that the advice they give you will be totally unbiased as they are not trying to sell you anything. Following the advice they give you can then make an informed decision about having a system fitted or buying a van where it is already installed.

Having seen Oyster as so many shows we wanted to ask Julian what he likes about the show, advice for visitors and most importantly how they can get feedback from existing customers to ensure they keep their finger on the pulse of the industry.

If you are in the market for an on board TV system you have to look at Oyster Sat Tech. The systems are a 1 touch set up that takes away all the fear and stigma of on board satellite TV system.

New Roller Team Models at The NEC

Posted by

By William Coleman

At the NEC we look at bringing you the very best the show has to offer. While walking around we had to stop at the Roller Team stand as we spotted 2 new models that are compact for motorhomes for a family of 4. This is the first time they will have been seen in the UK and if you’re a family of 4 and want a compact motorhome visit Roller Team in Hall 7.

The first model that stood out was the Roller Team Toleno which is a brand new van conversion motorhome that can come in a 2 or 4 berth option but were talking about the 4 birth Toleno R.

This 4 berth comes with 2 double bunks in transverse configuration – something you not have seen before in a van conversion. Fantastic if you are an active family of 4 looking for that base for an active holiday. Being a van conversion this has the go anywhere appeal.

The second is the new Pegaso 590 – you may know the Pegaso range as affordable A class motorhomes and the 590 is no exception it is a A class / fully integrated motorhome with everything you expect from a luxury A class – apart from about 2 meters at the back – this is just under 6 meter A class. Intelligent design and a drop down bed lets in light / roomy and bright whilst sleeping 4 easily.

So if you’re a family of 4 Roller Team have two interesting compact motorhomes that will fit in any parking space, be allowed on any site in the UK or continent, will eat small country roads and city driving so come and say hello.