Finding a hotel for our family reunion

Posted on: 24 June 2016

If you have just purchased your first caravan, or have only used it for short trips and are now planning a long excursion, there are some things you need to know first. You should be fully prepared for a long trip, from what to pack for food to where you can park along the way. Here are some tips to help get you started.

Know Where You Can Park 

First and foremost, you need to figure out where you will park your caravan during your trip. The parking spots will change based on where you go and who you know there. If you have any friends or family with hookups at their house, by all means make a stop. This allows you to visit with them while also saving some money by not paying for a caravan park. Aside from that, you will need to find places to hook up. Some popular places include both campgrounds and caravan parks. The main difference is that a campgrounds offer only basic amenities like fill stations and dump sites, but don't always provide spots for electricity and water hookups. Caravan parks are where you want to go for these amenities. A third option is a caravan resort, which offers more high-end luxuries.

Also keep in mind you may be able to park in hotel parking lots or even on the side of the road on occasion, depending where you are. There won't be hookups, but this does give everyone a break from driving, and lets your caravan rest as well.

Have a Checklist in Place For Campgrounds and Caravan Parks

When you are going out in your caravan for the first time, knowing how to set up quickly and efficiently can be overwhelming. It is common to forget something if you don't have everything written down in a checklist format. Try to create a checklist beforehand so you are ready to go when you get to the caravan park after driving all day. You are likely exhausted by this point, so you don't want to be digging out manuals and trying to use the area's WiFi to figure out what you're doing. It might include looking for obstacles in the area, finding the hookups, pulling in as close as you can, securing the caravan, and connecting to the hookups. Remember that over time, it becomes automatic, but you should follow these basic steps when you first start.

Know How to Pack the Essentials

There are a few things you need to make sure you bring with you in your caravan, since you might go for miles and miles without a rest area or campground in sight. To start with, have at least a basic first aid kit with you, which should include pain relievers, bandages, topical creams and ointment, and insect repellent. Also have some emergency supplies, such as a backup phone that is fully charged, flashlight, batteries, and maps in case the GPS on your phone stops working.

For food, stock your caravan with mostly ingredients and foods that won't spoil if eft out in room temperature. You might have a refrigerator in your caravan, but there is no guessing how long you go without hookups, so don't stock it full. Good items include bread and peanut butter, cereal, jarred sauce, fruits, vegetables, canned beans, and plenty of snacks and drinks for the trip.