Book Now or Wait?-Will Holiday Prices Drop?

Majic

This year for the first time we are looking to book our holiday during the Summer holidays. In the past we have gone in June but our eldest child is in school. Firstly I cannot believe the prices during the 6 week summer holiday. Last year we stayed in a bungalow in Tenby and paid about £600. This year to do the same in August it would be nearer £850.

This year we would like to go on a holiday camp which we have done in the past with The Sun. Haven prices are very steep but do you think these will come down the nearer we get to August. I've looked at booking an owners caravan on site at various sites and this works out cheaper but availabilty is somewhat limited.

I don't really want to pay more than £650 for a weeks holiday (2 adults and 2 kids). Options I would consider:

1) Caravan holiday on a site with entertainment (ideally in the South of England)
2) Cottage holiday-with hopefully entertaiment nearby.

My instinct tells me to wait and prices will fall at some point, but private caravans and cottages are being booked up.

Any advice welcome

adviceforall

As an owner of a private caravan I have never had to reduce our summer holiday prices as they are always fully booked, not sure what the bigger parks with lots of caravans do? We only have 2 of the 6 week holidays left.

captainbeaker

try www.hoseasons.co.uk they deal with haven and lots of other parks, we have had weeks during the school holidays for under£400 with them in wales and yorkshire (scarborough) areas. staying in parks with pools and plenty of entertainment for kids.

deedee1966

Only trouble with going through Hoseasons they do charge more than if you go through the Park operator themselves.

I agree with adviceforall a private owner is a better option as they are normally cheaper and you also get more for your money. ie the fleet caravans normally only have a basic inventory, where as a private owner can have a decked area and more within the caravan.

One I found that are on a Parkdean site at West Bay in Dorset. Although they are a little dearer than you wanted to spend at £700 for a 3 bedroom or a 2 bedroom caravan. Do a google search for west bay caravan hire.

I have checked Parkdean for their prices for the same sort of dates in August and they are charging for their lowest graded caravan a 2 bedroom £769 and the highest graded price £939 for a 3 bedroom, but they are giving £50 discount off these prices at the moment. With what the owner is saying on what their caravans are graded at, that could be a saving of £129 off Parkdean's discounts prices.

adviceforall

On our park Haven charge £1425 for the peak weeks, we let ours for £799 so even if 8 people were staying and adding the capped price of £146 for the entertainment passes to it making it £945 it still saves £480 against the parks prices, if there was less than 8 people the saving would be over £500....

Majic

Thanks for your replies, I have found some private owned caravans on ebay and I am considering these. The caravan at West Bay looks good value but the Parkdean site has mixed reviews to say the least

Majic

I've now booked our holiday in August £650 in a private caravan, Brixham Devon. Thanks for all your help