| For the increasing number of holidaymakers who | | | | hard to get the hang of. |
| chose to travel and stay in an RV (Recreational | | | | Breaking, cornering and towing can become real |
| Vehicle), life on the open road offers an unrivalled | | | | obstacles when you're trying to get from A to B, not |
| sense of freedom. | | | | to mention the frustrating reduction in speed that |
| You can explore the length and breadth of the | | | | goes with driving two vehicles at the same time. |
| country at your own pace in total comfort, without | | | | Of course, there are downsides to owning a motor |
| having to worry about train delays, flight | | | | home too. Purchase price, insurance, running costs |
| cancellations, heavy suitcases and the usual | | | | and fuel economy are generally much higher, while |
| annoyances that come with traveling for leisure. | | | | servicing and recovery can prove expensive - and |
| Financial savings on extras like accommodation and | | | | inconvenient. |
| taxi fares are also a huge bonus, and with thousands | | | | There is also a legal maximum load, which restricts |
| of year-round holiday parks across the British Isles, | | | | the amount of passengers a motor home can carry - |
| Europe and America, there really has never been a | | | | potentially a problem for larger families. |
| better time to own an RV. | | | | But many prefer the sheer convenience of motor |
| But there's a lot to consider if you're buying one for | | | | homes, finding them infinitely more suitable for |
| the first time. Many would-be RV owners find | | | | multi-stop holidays, longer seasonal breaks and even |
| themselves torn between purchasing a caravan and a | | | | permanent living! |
| motor home. | | | | Motor homes are usually much better equipped for |
| Although it comes down to personal choice, there are | | | | modern driving and weather conditions. They're |
| advantages and disadvantages to both vehicles. | | | | faster, more compact and simpler to maneuver, |
| The main advantage of owning a caravan is the | | | | often with more advanced braking systems than |
| simplicity of being able to park it, unhitch it and leave | | | | those on a caravan. |
| it while you explore the surrounding areas in your car. | | | | There's the comfort factor too. Motor homes are |
| Making smaller journeys in anything larger could prove | | | | essentially a small house on wheels, with every room |
| very difficult, particularly when having to navigate | | | | accessible to the passenger - from using the |
| narrow lanes, busy town centres and winding coastal | | | | bathroom to relaxing on the sofa to making lunch in |
| roads - not to mention the nightmare of city driving! | | | | the kitchen. |
| Cost can also be a deciding issue. Although it very | | | | This keeps journey time to an absolute minimum and |
| much depends on the model and its age, caravans | | | | reduces the need for frequent stops - a particular |
| are generally cheaper than motor homes, and when | | | | advantage on shorter breaks, and a blessing if you |
| combined with an economical towing car they are | | | | find yourself in a slow-moving traffic jam! |
| cheaper to run - and insure. | | | | But ultimately, the choice is yours - and whether a |
| However, towing a caravan brings its own set of | | | | caravan or a motor home better suits your lifestyle, |
| problems. Commuting can be a slow, complex and | | | | there's still nothing like life on the open road! |
| sometimes dangerous process which many find it | | | | |