By Emma Dodd

In this edition of CaravanTimes Classic Gold, our reviewer enthuses about the design of the Lunar Lexon EW. He may have been enjoying it in 2013, more than a decade after its original release, but Terry Dawkins was quite taken with this caravan that was a “treat of a tow”.

He started out by highlighting the layout of the caravan, which despite its length remained very stable. Mr Dawkins said that the set up worked very well for two people, offering lots of space in the shower and toilet area.

When it came to design, our reviewer was also impressed with his only complaint being that he’d have preferred an island bed. This is a feature of newer vans, but not this 2001 model, so one inhabitant had to climb over the other to get out in the night.

It certainly sounds like Mr Dawkins and his partner made the most of their Lunar Lexon EW. He said: “We have many highlights, the best of which was when we towed it up into the Pyrenees at about 3,000 metres this year. We could not have wished for a better tow.”

Unfortunately, the couple did encounter a faulty rear upper quarter panel, which sprung a leak and was costly to repair. This led to our reviewer giving the van a rating of three for quality and reliability when it was fours and fives in all other areas.

Did you have a Lunar Lexon EW in 2001 or any time after? We’d love to hear how you got on with it and the adventures you enjoyed with this caravan.

By Emma Dodd

Caravan and motorhome sales have increased considerably as the British public looks for ways to safely have a holiday this summer.

If you’re one of the people looking to get your own caravan or motorhome to have a staycation, then there are several things worth considering before making your purchase.

Dealerships are a good place to start with your caravan search, especially if you’re a first-time buyer, because they will be able to answer any questions you may have.

Second-hand caravans often represent good value for money, as long as previous owners have looked after the vehicle well.

Most models have a practical life of 14 years, so make sure the van you’re looking at still has a few good years left in it.

When inspecting a potential purchase, be on the lookout for areas of rust or water ingress, as these issues can affect the structural integrity of the motorhome and need to be dealt with immediately.

Then it’s important to think about the practicalities of holidaying in a motorhome, which includes what size van your current car is capable of towing, the number of people it needs to seat and sleep, and the facilities on board.

Think about the types of trip you will be doing and whether you need a full working toilet and bathroom. This won’t be necessary if you’re always going to be at caravan sites with facilities you can use.

At the moment, many sites are keeping their shared facility blocks closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus and being self-contained can give you more peace of mind and flexibility.

While bearing in mind your caravan kitchen is unlikely to be as well-equipped as your cooking facilities at home, make sure there’s everything you need to whip up reasonable meals for you and your family.

Don’t forget to check out the storage compartments to see where you can stash your belongings. These are often tucked away to make maximum use of a caravan’s limited space.

Any purchase should have an up-to-date service record, ensuring second-hand caravans are in full working order and ready for your first trip.

Dealerships should also offer you a warranty, so any problems that crop up when you first buy your caravan will be fixed without leaving you out of pocket.

By Emma Dodd

It’s time for another edition of CaravanTimes Classic Gold and the motorhome under scrutiny this week is the Adria Altea 542 DK. Our reviewer, Neil Booth, bought this van back in 2013 when it had only just come onto the market and it’s safe to say he was impressed.

Layout is always key to the success or failure of a motorhome and when you’re planning to sleep six people inside it’s even more critical. Mr Booth said this was achieved well in the Adria Altea 542 DK with the available space used sensibly.

There had been rumours around the caravan community when the model was first launched that the interior was ill-fitting, but the reviewer believes this was the result of a lack of understanding.

Heating and air flow gaps had been integrated into the design and would naturally be very important for a van sleeping so many people. To the uninitiated, however, these could be mistaken for build gaps.

Giving the caravan an overall rating of five, Mr Booth highlighted the model’s stability and ability to accommodate a rack for two bikes. His only gripe was the lumpiness of the double bed at the front, but the children reported the fixed bunks to be very comfortable.

Mr Booth summarised: “Great use of space for a single axle van that sleeps up to six. Had four kids in the back and they were fine; plenty of space, but I would recommend an awning if you’re filling the van with four plus two people.”

He added the Adria Altea 542 DK represented great value for money, as there was no other caravan on the market with a mover and an awning at such a low price point.

By Emma Dodd

Caravan owners have been waiting for the green light from the governments in England, Scotland and Wales for parks to reopen, but not all sites will reopen fully straight away.

Despite July 4th, July 10th and July 13th being confirmed by the individual governments respectively, caravan enthusiasts should not assume all parks are open to capacity from these dates.

A number of rules will be implemented to make sites safer for staff and visitors, with one of these being strict adherence to the spacing between pitches.

In some cases, this will mean a reduced capacity, making booking ahead even more important than usual.

With demand high and the need to introduce and enforce new hygiene rules, the pressure is on staff to manage the situation correctly.

This has led to a number of caravan parks deciding to have a soft opening in order to test procedures before moving to full occupancy.

One such site is Skelwith Ford Caravan Park in the Lake District, which will initially welcome its first visitors on July 4th, but will not allow touring caravans and motorhomes onto the site until July 15th.

Henry Wild, owner of the park, said: “Aspects such as contactless check-ins, monitoring certain communal areas, and the deep-cleaning of accommodation between visits will all take getting used to.

“By giving everyone a dry run with only around half of our 450 pitches occupied, we can closely monitor what’s happening, and fine-tune our procedures if necessary.”

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is taking a phased approach to reopening its parks and has highlighted that even when sites are open they may not be offering all facilities.

For example, many caravan parks in Scotland will welcome back visitors from July 10th, but toilet blocks will not be accessible until July 15th.

No shared facilities including toilet blocks will open on Welsh sites until further notice, because the Welsh government has not yet given the go ahead.

A number of caravan sites will not reopen at all in 2020, such as Plymouth Sound, Aberbran and Kinlochewe.

By Chris Littley

Brits are searching words surrounding staycations more than ever, with topics including caravan, motorhome and outdoors among the most looked for in June.

That is according to Readly, which analysed the online behaviour of its readers throughout the month and found traditional pastimes relating to holidays at home were popular.

With searches covering no fewer than 5,000 magazines on its platform, the app listed the top five keywords as cycling, golf, caravan or motorhome, boat and coast.

Ranj Begley, UK managing director and chief content officer at Readly, said: “After the uncertain advice around travel and holidays abroad over the past few months, it is no wonder that most people have planned their holiday differently this year, and this is certainly noticeable in the results for searches on Readly’s platform of over 5,000 digital magazines.”

It’s not just the types of holiday and activities that people are researching in this manner either, it’s also the destinations as a number of British regions appear further down the list.

Cornwall and Yorkshire come in at numbers nine and ten respectively, while positions 12, 13, 14, and 15 are taken up by Devon, Norfolk, Scotland and Dorset.

Ms Begley added: “During the majority of the year popular European destinations are usually trending in searches, but in the last month they have notably reduced. Brits are instead looking for more local inspiration through articles relating to outdoors activities and British tourist destinations.”

Despite the government having just given Brits the green light to go abroad this summer, there is still an increased appetite for holidays in the UK.

Many people are wary of international travel knowing that cases of coronavirus are still being reported in many countries and that staying home represents a safer option.

Caravan holidays are among the types of trips seen as the most self-contained, therefore limiting the risk of contracting the virus.

The fact that they usually contain a large amount of time outdoors is also appealing to many, as getting plenty of fresh air is a way of cutting down the risk further.

By Chris Littley

The world is very different to what it looked like this time last year and as we all adjust to the new normal, it’s worth being prepared for the changes ahead.

Just like every other element of our lives, caravan holidays have had to be tweaked to keep everyone as safe from coronavirus as possible while opening up the tourism industry. Here’s what you can expect.

More staycations

While owning a caravan has long meant having the flexibility to head off to all parts of Europe and beyond without breaking the budget, travel within the UK is now a reality for many. Staycations are expected to be embraced by Brits this summer, as everyone craves a holiday but fears going too far away from home.

Booking ahead

Gone, for now, is the whimsy of being able to hit the open road and see which caravan site is closeby for the night en route. Some sites will not be able to reopen after the pandemic and all of them will have to adhere to strict capacity rules. Couple this with increased demand due to more staycationers and it makes sense to book your spot well in advance.

Site check-in

Don’t expect to head into a small office to check-in upon arrival at your caravan site, as these spaces make social distancing very difficult. Individual parks will let visitors know their own procedures, but there’s likely to be online check-in and stewards directing you to your pitch based on your numberplate.

Closed amenities

Just because caravan parks themselves are open does not mean all of their amenities will be too. Expect some shower blocks, restaurants, swimming pools and entertainment venues to remain closed at the beginning of the season or even for the whole of 2020.

Extended season

Instead of flocking to caravan sites for the first holidays of the year around Easter, everyone was stuck at home. This means parks will be keen to make up for lost time and visitors are likely to feel the same way, so expect trips to be taking place well into the colder months, when many motorhomes are usually hibernating for the winter.

By Chris Littley

In this edition of CaravanTimes’ Classic Gold series we’re not just going back to 2013 for a vintage review, but the motorhome itself was built even earlier. The Lunar Solar 524 was produced in 2003 and despite being second hand, stood the test of time when our reviewer put it through its paces.

Tim, the reviewer, his wife and two children took it off on many adventures and found the layout ideal for a family of that size. Having the washroom at the end and the dinette on the side provided lots of surface area for practical tasks like making dinner.

Among the other features the reviewer was impressed by were an external 230v socket, dual flow kitchen area omnivent, large shower and a decent sized bed at the front. Unusually in a caravan at this price point the bed was almost king sized rather than just a standard double.

Despite giving the caravan an overall rating of five, Tim had a few niggles to report in his original assessment of the Lunar Solar 524. Firstly, he was not impressed that Lunar had not come in line with Swift and Bailey when it came to having split cushions on the side dinette. This resulted in a storage issue with the full size mattress when touring.

Conversely, he wasn’t pleased with the curtain that goes around the dinette bunk as this was split into three sections, making it awkward to manipulate. And finally, the ladder up to the bunk being at an angle, instead of straight, ended up being a trip hazard during the night.

Tim summarised: “Make no mistake, this is an excellent van and, considering it is now ten years old, is still high spec having some features that entry level vans still do not have today.”

Did you have a Lunar Solar 524 back in 2003 when they first hit the market or at any time after? Did you agree with our reviewer? Do let us know.

By Chris Littley

The government has confirmed that caravan sites will be allowed to reopen in England from July 4th, after tentative plans had been in place for weeks.

It will be the first time since March that restrictions on overnight stays will be lifted, allowing the hospitality industry to reclaim some of its summer revenue.

Prime minister Boris Johnson said in a statement: “From July 4th, people will be free to stay overnight in contained accommodation, including hotels, B&Bs, including campsites, as long as shared facilities are kept clean.”

It’s good news for caravan parks, who had hopes of opening earlier than the beginning of July dashed after a campaign by the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) was unsuccessful.

While July 4th had been the expected date of reopening for some time, it was not until the government gave express permission for overnight stays to be allowed that it became official.

Those who like to holiday in their caravans with friends will also be able to do so, as the new guidelines allow two households to go away together.

Caravan parks will be allowed to reopen with reduced capacity and a number of virus prevention measures in place, such as social distancing rules and increased cleaning schedules.

It has long been argued by caravan lovers that taking a break in a motorhome is one of the safest ways to have a holiday post-pandemic, due to all the open space and fresh air.

Caravans that have their own self-contained facilities are particularly good at cutting down the risk of infection, and most leisure vehicles are parked up at least six metres apart.

One new feature being adopted by a number of caravan sites is wildlife corridors between pitches, where grass is being allowed to grow tall.

This will create a natural barrier, helping to encourage social distancing without feeling too intrusive.

Caravan owners in Wales and Scotland will have to wait until July 6th and 15th respectively before they can head off on overnight trips, but the idea of a staycation is now within reach.

By Chris Littley

Caravan sites up and down the country are putting measures in place to ensure they will be safe when holidaymakers return. But there are also things you can do to prepare your caravan for its first post-pandemic trip away.

Invest in a supply of gloves

You won’t get very far without putting fuel in your caravan, but petrol pumps could be a hotbed for the virus, so you’ll want to wear gloves to complete this task. Fuel stations should supply these, but you don’t want to be caught off guard if they’ve run out, so stash a box of gloves in your motorhome.

Stock up on hand sanitiser and soap

Every time you come into your caravan from outside you should wash your hands or disinfect them with sanitiser. The latter can be more convenient in a motorhome where you’re short on space, so make sure you have enough to last for a whole trip and beyond.

Purchase extra cleaning products

As well as removing any virus particles from yourself, it’s important to be vigilant about your leisure vehicle too. Have extra cleaning products to hand in order to wipe everything down regularly, paying particular attention to door handles and taps.

Have your own equipment

There’s usually something you forget when heading off on a caravan holiday and more often than not you can borrow it from the people pitched up next to you. But a good way to stop the spread of coronavirus is to avoid bringing anything in from other vans. So, check and double check that you have everything from a can opener to wheel chocks before you set off.

Provide your own facilities

While caravan sites hope to open to visitors soon, there’s yet more doubt over whether facilities like shower blocks and restaurants will be allowed to reopen alongside them. If this is the case, you can expect to do more cooking inside your caravan and will need to find your own ways to have a wash. If you’re thinking about buying a new motorhome, it’s worth considering the need to be more self-contained and if not, it could be time to update any rudimental facilities in your existing van.

By Chris Littley

Lockdown has been a difficult time for many, but for others, it has represented the chance to complete projects they simply wouldn’t have found time for otherwise.

One mum from Cowdenbeath in Scotland has spent the coronavirus pandemic transforming a £250 caravan into a dream motorhome to take on holiday this summer.

Kerry Henderson has been unable to go to work as a hairdresser since lockdown was imposed in March and has been working to give the caravan a luxury vibe instead, reports the Scottish Sun.

Since it had been retired from its original use as a holiday home, the caravan had been left unloved by its previous owners and used as bike storage.

Now, it will return to its intended purpose but with a plush-looking interior that looks much more luxurious than the £200 that was spent on it to spruce it up.

Ms Henderson told the news provider: “It was stinking of oil when we got it. We gave it a good clean, ripped up the carpet to put down new vinyl, painted every inch and reupholstered the sofas.

“We thought, ‘We’re not going to get on holiday’, so it was the next best thing and we didn’t expect to get it so cheap.”

She roped her partner in to help with the job, which was completed entirely with materials bought at a discount shop and cheaply online.

The towing caravan sleeps two and has a stylish grey colour scheme, as well as on-trend geometric fixtures, such as lampshades and shelves.

Now, Ms Henderson just needs to wait for confirmation from the government that it is permitted to take caravans away for overnight stays.

At present, England is expecting its caravan sites to reopen on July 4th, while Scotland is preparing for July 15th, but these dates have still not yet been given the official go ahead.