Much like buying a new car, deciding whether or not to purchase a brand new holiday home is a significant decision to make. You’ll no doubt be wondering how much it will cost in the long run, how long it will remain in good condition and how much money you stand to save by opting to spend your holidays in your own lodge as opposed to chasing the next cheap holiday deal.

To help make the decisions a little easier, we thought we’d put together an article highlighting the pros and cons of owning a holiday home and ultimately helping you decide whether or not static caravans & holiday lodges are a good investment. Let’s start off by looking at the difference between lodges and caravans…

Lodge or Caravan?

One thing that will become apparent when you start considering whether or not to buy a holiday home is that lodges are generally more expensive than static caravans. So what is the difference between a static caravan and a lodge?

Well, to start off with, holiday lodges tend to be larger. Holiday lodges can be up to 22 feet wide, while static caravans often tend to be no more than 14 feet in width. This means that lodges often have more spacious living areas and bedrooms, and are also more likely to have home comforts such as dressing and utility rooms. Lodges also tend to have higher spec features such as modern kitchens and bathrooms.

There are also differences when it comes to construction. Lodges tend to be built to residential standards, with all of the new holiday lodges for sale on Anglesey at Bulmer Leisure holiday parks adhering to stringent BS3632 regulations. These were introduced by the British government in 1963 to ensure a minimum standard when it comes to the quality of holiday homes being constructed.

These regulations tend to be far more stringent than those applied in the EU, with factors such as building materials and construction methods clearly outlined so as to provide an extra layer of protection for those who decide to buy a holiday lodge in the UK.

Ultimately, this means that holiday lodges tend to last longer than static caravans, with new lodges bought at Bulmer Leisure holiday parks coming with a 50 year licence as opposed to the 15 year licences that are provided to those who purchase a brand new static caravan at our resorts.

Another factor to take into consideration is running costs. Most new holiday lodges tend to have better insulation than their static caravan equivalents. This ultimately helps to keep lodges warm and cosy in the winter, and reduces the cost of heating your holiday home.

What About Site Fees?

We’ve already noted the initial purchase fee and running costs for holiday homes, but what about site fees?

Well, site fees at Woodland Falls start from £4,308 per year, while site fees at Silver Bay start from £6,361. This reflects the additional range of facilities that are available to holiday home owners who choose to buy a holiday home at our Rhoscolyn resort.

Site fees will vary depending on the plot you choose on-site, with more advantageous plots which are closer to the beach, facilities or generally affording an exceptional view, all tending to result in higher annual site fees.

Lodge site fees also tend to be higher than those of static caravans. This is due to the fact that lodges tend to be larger than static caravans and therefore take up more room on site.

Holiday Home Vs Holiday

According to the Office for National Statistics, the average cost for a 9 day holiday abroad for a British holidaymaker is now £1,094. For the average family of four, this means a total cost of £4,376 before you even start to consider some of the extras such as insurance and currency exchange rates.

This also doesn’t reflect the cost of holidaying during peak school holiday periods, with this figure being an average based on holiday prices taken across the year. The actual fee for holidaying during the peak July and August period is likely to be far higher.

And what if you are looking to book a pet friendly holiday? Well, since the UK left the EU the cost of transporting a pet has increased dramatically. In fact, it can now cost up to £8,000 to transport a single dog overseas with certain airlines. This is before we even consider the cost of an Animal Health Certificate, vaccinations and pet insurance.

If you opt to leave your pooch at home, you will still have to face the cost of putting them up in a registered boarding kennel over the duration of your holiday. These fees can still cost you upwards of £225.

When you purchase a UK holiday home meanwhile, you will be able to go on holiday as often as you please throughout the year. You won’t have to worry about shopping around for the best deals, the cost of peak travel, negotiating stressful airports or finding things to do in a new location every time you venture away from home.

A holiday home gives you the freedom of knowing that you can hop into your car at the end of a stressful week and drive down to your dream home away from home without costing yourself anything extra apart from your fuel fees.

Keeping the Children Entertained

You will also make a saving when it comes to finding things to do. When you buy a holiday home at a Bulmer Leisure resort, you will be entitled to utilise our array of on-site facilities and activities. At Silver Bay this includes our heated indoor swimming pool, spa, children’s play areas, children’s activity programme and regular owner social events. In fact, there is so much to do at our resort that you need never venture off park if you are operating on a tight budget on account of there being so many things to do on park.

A recent study by Gov.uk revealed that the average UK parent spends £1,047.20 per week during the school holiday periods finding ways to keep their children entertained. Over a six week summer holiday period, this is £6,283.20 per child, per week. Most schools grant up to 15 weeks holiday per year, meaning that this cost could be upwards of £15,708 per year for a single child!

If you instead opt to head down to your holiday home at Silver Bay or Woodland Falls, these fees will be dramatically reduced thanks to the array of facilities and activities we have available for owners at our resorts.

Are Static Caravans & Holiday Lodges a Good Investment?

The data we have highlighted clearly shows that there are long running costs savings to be made for families with children or animals who opt to purchase their own holiday home as opposed to holidaying abroad each year.

Our array of on-site facilities, activities and entertainment, ensure that the cost of keeping children entertained during the school holidays will be dramatically reduced. Your stress levels will also come down a peg or two thanks to the fact that you won’t have to deal with stressful airport travel.

Pet owners are also welcome to holiday with their four legged family members as often as they like when they become a holiday home owner at our resorts. You won’t have to worry about overseas transport fees for your pooch. Instead, you can turn up and take advantage of the many countryside and coastal walking routes that the stunning Anglesey region has to offer.