Camping in the Forest expecting Autumn bookings boom

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by Tom Walsh

Autumn is certainly a colourful time of year with the leaves changing from green to a scenic orange and brown hue.

With half term approaching for schools up and down the UK, The Camping and Caravanning Club is encouraging Brits to take a camping holiday over the week-long break.

The Club recommends heading to its Camping in the Forest sites in the likes of Holmsley, Setthorns, Bracelands, Christchurch, Cashel and Glenmore among others to take the incredible scenery of autumn.

There is plenty to do for all members of the family with the Club offering stargazing, guided Nordic walks and forest survival activities.

Bob Hill, sites director at The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “There is so much to experience when staying on a Camping in the Forest Site – particularly during the autumn months as it’s such a picturesque time of the year.”

Holidaymakers can book a pitch at Camping in the Forest site by logging on to the Camping in the Forest website.

Elddis wins big at 2014 Caravan Club design awards

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by Tom Walsh

‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/elddis/">Elddis has taken home five accolades at the 2014 Caravan Club Design Awards.

It was a highly successful night for the company, which owns the ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/compass/">Compass, Xplore and ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/buccaneer/">Buccaneer brands, which are all built using Solid Construction, and these ranges swept aside all the competition.

The winners on the night were the Xplore 402 (Any caravan under £14k), ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/elddis/elddis-avante/">Elddis Avante 550 (Any caravan £14-£17k), ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/elddis/elddis-affinity/">Elddis Affinity 540 (Small family caravan £17-£20k), Elddis Affinity 574 (Caravan with dedicated beds £17-£20k) and Buccaneer Schooner (Any Caravan £25-£30k).

Other notable winners included the Adria Astella Glam (Any caravan £20-£25k), Lunar Lexon 470 (Two-berth caravan £17-£20k) and Venus 380/2 (Caravans between 750kg and 1,090kg).

Judges were impressed with the attention to detail that had gone into the design phase of the caravan construction.

The Caravan Club said: “The continued aim of the Awards is to provide Club members, and all caravanners, with guidance when looking to change their current van, and The Club’s award results are always eagerly anticipated for this precise reason.”

The decisions were made during the four days of the Motorhome and Caravan Show at NEC in Birmingham and announced at an awards ceremony on Friday night (18 October).

Caravan and Camping Show to return to NEC in February 2014

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by Chris Jefferies
The Caravan and Camping Show will return to the Birmingham NEC from 18-23 February 2014, it has been confirmed.
Following on from the success of 2013’s inaugural event at the midlands exhibition centre, organisers NCC Events are hoping to build on the grand total of 83,854 who turned up in February 2013.
The 2014 edition of the Caravan and Camping Show promises to be even bigger, with an extra hall added to pack in more exciting activities and a wide variety of exhibitor stalls.
As well as all the major names in the UK caravan industry, the show boasts the UK’s biggest collection of tents.
Coinciding with the school half term, this show is particularly popular among families planning their summer getaway.
Tickets are on sale now for the advance price of just £7 for seniors and £8 for adults, while children under 16 go free and parking is included in the ticket price.
Celebrity appearances and special launch events are in the pipeline, so keep checking back with CaravanTimes for all the latest news on the NCC’s spring show.

2013 Motorhome and Caravan Show reports record attendance

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by Chris Jefferies
The UK’s biggest caravan show got even bigger this year, as NCC Events has reported that the 2013 Motorhome and Caravan Show has broken its own visitor attendance record.
Running from 15-20 October across 11 halls of the Birmingham NEC, the event drew in a record 100,179 visitors this year.
Saturday was by far the busiest day, with 26,632 visitors showing up to see the new launches and take advantage of show special offers.
Over 400 companies, such as Elddis, Swift, Bailey and Coachman, set up shop at the show, and some manufacturers reported upwards of 200 caravans sold on Saturday alone.
Key highlights at this year’s show included celebrity appearances by TV presenter Mel Sykes and top chef Ed Baines, who both entertained crowds in the Expert’s Theatre.
John Lally, Director General of the National Caravan Council, said: “We’re obviously very pleased to have achieved another record breaking attendance, but our real measure of success is the quality of the customers we are able to attract to the Show and the experience those customers have when they get here.
“The display of product in the halls was unrivalled. They were the lightest, most innovative, well designed and well specified models we have seen for many years and this is reflected in the volume of sales.”
These latest figures mark a real seal of approval for the NCC show, which is only in its third year.
“For the industry, the sales success of this Show is about more than just reaping a return on investment,” John continues.
“It signals a potential upturn for the industry which we have been working towards since the recession hit. That is the real reason to celebrate.”
To see our round-up video from this year’s show, click here. Or if you missed out, make sure to mark 18-23 February 2014 in your diary, as this is when NCC Events will return to the Birmingham NEC for the Caravan and Camping Show.

VIDEO: What to see this weekend at the 2013 Motorhome and Caravan Show

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by Chris Jefferies
When it comes to caravan shows, they don’t come much bigger than the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC.
In fact, the annual October show is the UK’s largest, with 11 halls taken up by hundreds of caravans and motorhomes.
Walk from one end to the other (as we have) and you will have covered 0.7 miles of leisure vehicles of all shapes and sizes, spotting every major UK manufacturer on your way.
There’s so much to see that it’s virtually impossible to fit it all into just one day, so in this video we bring you some of the key highlights of the 2013 show.
Click on the video (right) to let us talk you through the things you can see and do at the Birmingham NEC, including free caravan towing lessons and an archery challenge.
Remember, the show runs until Sunday 20 October and tickets are available on the door.

VIDEO: First look inside the 2014 Auto-Sleepers motorhomes

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by Myron Jobson

Auto-Sleepers holds an impressive accolade – it is the UK’s longest-running motorhome manufacturer.

The company will undoubtedly hope their 2014 range will impress attendees of the 2013 Motorhome and Caravan Show.

Dave Williams from Auto-Sleepers has been speaking to CaravanTimes about the “fine tweaks” that were made to take the already top-performing Broadway collection to a new level, including the installation of travelling seats in most models.

He also talks about the company’s latest offerings in the ever-growing van conversation marketplace – the Kingham and Warwick XL – which combine the benefits of an everyday vehicle with the specification of a high-end motorhome.

Meanwhile the new “class leading” Mercedes range promises to be one to watch, boasting a seven-speed gearbox along with the firm’s renowned reliability.

Dave also explains the Winter Pack deal which boast a significant enhancement in insulation for the van’s water tanks.

Click on the player to the right to watch the video, and be sure to check out the Auto-Sleepers stand at the Birmingham NEC before Sunday 20 October.

VIDEO: Dometic launches new roof-top motorhome awning

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by Damien Sharkov
If you did not happen to pass by Dometic’s stall at the NEC Motorhome and Caravan show on Tuesday you would have missed the launch of the company’s brand new product.
The electric, retractable awning is now available for campervan and panel van conversions.
Should you have ever wished to install an awning on your home-from-home you may have previously written it off as too laborious.
Speaking especially to CaravanTimes, Alan Diamond of Dometic explains how the new features of the company’s fully electric awning have been made suitable for vehicles with a curved roof and how it fully retracts fully at the touch of a button.
Should the Great British weather worry you, Dometic has made sure to include a wind sensor which will assess any gust and retract the awning automatically if it is deemed too strong.
This feature can also be disabled, in the case you would like the awning to stay up despite stronger wind.
To find out more about Dometic’s exciting new product click on the video to the right.

VIDEO: Adria Adora and Astella Glam launched at NEC caravan show

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by Myron Jobson

The Motorhome and Caravan show allows both UK and European manufacturers alike to showcase their latest offerings to caravan enthusiasts.

One such company is Adria, which has been building premium quality caravans in Slovenia for almost half a century.

The company hopes its hotly anticipated 2014 Adora and Astella Glam ranges will impress the ever-discerning eyes of caravanners with their luxurious interiors and features that are exclusive to the UK.

In our latest video, CaravanTimes speaks to Andrew Taczynski of Adria about what makes their products stand out.

We examine the models made specifically for the UK market, and how they differentiate from their European counterparts.

The caravan company also tells us about the special offers available to those who purchase a model at the show.

Don’t just take our word for it; take a look around the new models for yourself at the Motorhome and Caravan Show, which runs at the Birmingham NEC until Sunday 20 October.

VIDEO: Marquis Motorhomes and Caravans celebrates 40th anniversary

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by Chris Jefferies
Given the variable and highly unpredictable nature of the UK economy, any caravan dealer that has lasted for 40 years has plenty to celebrate.
Even more remarkable, is that Marquis Motorhomes and Caravans, which started life way back in 1973, is now the biggest dealer network in the UK, with a grand total of 10 premises.
In this video, CaravanTimes takes a look inside the dealer special Marquis Majestic motorhomes and Marquis Lifestyle caravans.
We explain what sets them apart from the equivalent Elddis and Sprite models that they are based on.
The Marquis Motorhomes and Caravans team is exhibiting at the Birmingham NEC until Sunday 20 October as part of the 2013 Motorhome and Caravan Show.
You can find their stand in Hall 6, where there is a large range of caravans and motorhomes, as well as some special offers. To watch our video round-up, click on the player to the right.

VIDEO: Coachman Vision unveiled at 2013 Motorhome and Caravan Show

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by Chris Jefferies
When it was first revealed earlier this year, the Coachman Vision met with strong reviews, thanks to its modern styling, lowered weights and keen prices.
This positive reaction has continued this week, as the Coachman stand at the Motorhome and Caravan Show has been inundated with visitors eager to take a look inside the new model.
In our latest video, CaravanTimes talks to Elliot Hibbs from Coachman about the idea behind this new range.
We also examine some of the family layouts on offer and get an insight into the Coachman construction process.
To take a look around the Coachman Vision for yourself, head along to the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC before Sunday 20 October.

Knaus Tabbert opens new automotive-style factory in Germany

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by Tom Walsh

European recreational vehicle manufacturer Knaus Tabbert has announced the opening of a new production facility in Mottgers, Germany.

The company stated that thanks to a 6 million euro (£5 million) investment package it was able to fund new construction and reconstruction of a caravan plant.

Delegates from top companies including HTP Investments’ Wim de Pundert and Wolfgang Speck, CEO of Knaus Tabbert GmbH, along with 230 employees and 80 invited guests of honour were in attendance to witness the opening.

The company has enhanced its production methods and simplified the process down to 23 steps meaning that completion time is significantly reduced allowing the Knaus Tabbert team to produce more models.

Officials stated that the processes have taken inspiration from the modern automobile industry which has already implemented this strategy to current workings.

Knaus Tabbert has also committed itself to improve the efficiency of its process and also reduce the amount of emissions that it gives out during the work.

C&CC announces cut price 2014 holidays and booking upgrades

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by Myron Jobson

The Camping and Caravanning Club is offering campers the opportunity to book their next holiday adventure at a cut price on a number of its 110 club sites.

More than 35 sites will have lower member adult prices in high season; some 31 in mid-season and over 55 in low season, whilst more than 30 and 20 sites have a lower family price in mid-season and high-season respectively for 2014.

“We continue to operate in a highly competitive environment and that’s why we must adapt to the changing trading conditions – we can’t always rely on the weather despite a good summer this year,” said Robert Louden MBE, the Club’s Director General.

The Club has also revamped their booking process by making it easier to compare site prices by moving them to a simple insert in the 2014 edition of its popular guide, to ensure members are getting value for money.

Key features of the upgraded online booking process include improved family deals – children will always be half the price of adults – there is a 25% discount for Age Concession members (in selected seasons) and a new 30-day cancellation policy.

A new Great Value stamp scheme has been introduced which helps campers make even more savings when they book.

“Flexibility of price and a fairer cancellation policy for all, together with a great digital experience, making it easier to search and book online, we believe are the essentials that will ensure that both members and non-members can enjoy the benefits of the Club Site network for many years to come,” the Club’s Director general added.

Campers can book their 2014 retreats from 8am on Thursday, 7 November via the Club’s website.