What to look out for and what to avoid at all costs if you are buying a static caravan in North Wales
Top 5 things to avoid
- 1. A 10 year rule - Most caravan parks have a 10 year rule or something similar whereby you have to buy a new caravan once yours is 10 years old (or leave the park). Look out for the select few that don’t.
- 2. High annual site fees - A lot of parks lure you in with a good price on a caravan only to hit you with extortionate pitch fees that really mount up one time.
- 3. Hidden charges or inflated charges- Hidden charges that are sometimes added in without you knowing are .. disconnection fees when you leave, excessive connection and transport fees when you purchase the caravan or general ‘extra’s’ that are not publisised when you buy. Ensure that you know what to expect up front
- 4. Unfair depreciation charges - We use multiple caravan dealers and pride ourselves on giving a fair price to any customer who decides to upgrade their existing caravan or leave the park. Unfortunately, a lot of parks do the opposite and offer an unfairly low price to the customer
- 5. Look out for being surrounded by ‘sub-letters’ - Avoid sub-letting if you buy a caravan. That way you will know the people around you and be part of our community (as well as feeling a lot safer and more secure)
Top 5 recommended caravan parks (for different categories)
Category 1 - (Hidden Gem) - Premium, immaculate park (Great value, low site rent, keep your caravan as long as you choose & no subletting)
- Bwlch Bryn Caravan Park - Penrhynduedraeth (Near Porthmadog & Portmeirion) - 07973 834945 / 07973 667004 - www.bwlchbryn.com
This caravan park ticks all the boxes in the above category. It is a very peaceful park where you can get away from it all but is within easy reach of Black Rock sands beach, Porthmadog, Portmeirion and not far from Snowdon. If you want great value and the option to keep your caravan as long as you choose, Bwlch Bryn is a great fit. Also, if you don't want the hustle & bustle of the bigger parks with all of the attractions and entertainment, this will be a great fit for you.
Category 2 - (Best views and best location for Golf)
- Garreg Goch Caravan Park - Morfa Bychan - 01766 512210 - www.garreggochpark.co.uk
This caravan park has the most spectacular views you can possibly imagine from the cliffs overlooking the 2 mile long beach from Samsons Bay to Black Rock Sands. It is also walkable distance from the beautifiul Porthmadog Golf Club. If you want views and Golf, this is your place.
Category 3 - (Most exclusive, amazing location & proximity to waterspouts, sailing etc)
- The Warren - Caravan Park - (Abersoch) - 01758 714100 www.haulfrynholidays.co.uk/our-parks/north-wales/the-warren/
If money is no object and you want luxury, a Spa and fantastic watersports within easy reach, this is the place. (there's even a helicopter pad). Abersoch is known as the North Wales Riviera and some of the pitches are quite literally at the edge of the sea.
Category 4 - (Best beach access, swimming pools, bars, entertainment & shops) - Most kids friendly
- Greenacres Caravan Park - Morfa Bychan - 0333 202 5250 - www.haven.com/parks/north-wales/greenacres
This caravan park ticks all the boxes in the above category. It is a bustling, busy, family oriented caravan park. It has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a shop, a bar with regular entertainment and endless kids activities.
Category 5 - (Best for great beaches and the attraction of the great mines)
- Haven Presthaven Caravan Park - Gronant, Prestatyn - 01745 856471 - www.presthavensands.org.uk
Best for: Relaxing on a gorgeous sandy beach and visiting the Great Orme Mines.
If you’ve been dreaming of a perfect beach holiday in North Wales, this is the park for you. Its location means it couldn’t be easier to stroll over the golden sands that neighbor the park, or wander along the path that leads out to the beach and sparkling sea. In fact there are three beaches at Prestatyn that are joined by a four mile long promenade – ideal for a walk along the shoreline with little ones.
There is plenty to do in the local area, including visiting the atmospheric Great Orme Mines. The mines were used by our prehistoric ancestors to retrieve copper, and are the largest of their kind in the world. As you make your way through the mining system you’ll be walking in the footsteps of the people who first used it 4,000 years ago.
Even closer to the park is Offa’s Dyke Path, a National Trail that will take you past epic mountains and lush green fells. The trail starts only four miles away from Presthaven, making it one of the best parks in North Wales for those looking for an active family holiday.
FAQ's
- What does the annual pitch fee include - This varies from park to park but normally.. the pitch for that season, rates, water and refuse
- What is the Length of season - parks vary from 6 months to 12 months (but 12 months is residential and has completely different rules (and rights)
- What is a 10 year rule (or similar) - It is when you have to buy a new caravan or leave after 10 years of being on site (or the the caravan is 10 years old)
- Should I sub let - It becomes a bit like a business when you do this and the bigger, more expensive parks encourage it to offset the extortionate fees they charge. Our recommendation is a flat no! That way it’s a holiday and your caravan doesn’t get trashed.
- Can my friends and family use the caravan - almost all parks say yes to this
- What are the connection costs (see hidden costs section for full details) - it varies massively but the low end would be £2000, the high end would be £5000 (if your caravan has to be craned on to the pitch that will cost extra obviously)
- What extra charges do I have to pay for during the season - normally, an annual gas check, your gas bottle usage, your metered electric usage, and an optional winterisation charge.
- Must I have annual gas check and winterisation - usually yes, most parks insist because safety is paramount (and if they don’t, do one anyway!)
- How much do caravan cleans (and decking) cost - the cheapest are normally around £70, most expensive around £180. Decking vary from around £40 to £120.
- What leisure decking can I have - This is a totally unique thing based upon the amount of space between your caravan and the next one (or their decking). Your decking must be a minimum distance of 3.5 metres from anything flammable. Plus obviously what the park owner will allow.
- What part is ‘my area’ if I buy a caravan - Your ‘area’ is on your door side (obviously). Typically, caravans are located in a uniform direction so that your door and your neighbours door are not on the same side (hence you should have 5 metres between the next caravan - or more)
- If I leave, are there any disconnection fees - This varies massively and can be charged up to £1000. ENSURE that you find out up front.
- Are there any other charges I should know about - Ask (up front) about WIFI, aeriel, Sky, Electricity checks, water usage (if metered), boxing in of caravan and any other unique charges.
Hidden costs you must be aware of
Before purchase
- Connection fees & transport - Transport costs are expensive for the caravan park owner so are unavoidable. You then have the costs of connecting Water, Waste, Gas & Electric (plus sometimes wifi & Sky). The caravan has to be connected and tested for safety purposes (after travel) before it can be used. What is important here is to make sure that you get a total price for everything included and so avoid extra ‘hidden costs'.
- The extra costs can be if there is any landscaping needing to be done, a new / extended concrete base, moving the gas connection to the most appropriate place etc. Again, the key thing is to ask for everything up front so there are no surprises.
- Also, leisure deckings are very popular nowadays and are lovely to have but do factor in that an average size decking will cost around £5000
- During your time at the caravan park (and in the off season)
During your time at the caravan park (and in the off season)
- Your annual pitch fees. Ask how much the increase has been on average during the past 5 years to get an indication of future prices
- Most parks insist on an annual gas check to ensure safety which is normally around £70
- You will want to clarify which of these are included in your annual pitch fees and which are extra… Gas, Electricity, wifi, rates, water, refuse
- Caravan repairs during your stay will obviously vary depending on the age of the caravan you purchased but do factor in some costs for repairs for older caravans
- Most parks offer a winterisation service for your caravan. This is typically around the £70 mark which is highly recommended to avoid burst pipes and flooding when you arrive for your first visit of the season
If you decide to leave
- This is the part that some parks are unfair with customers so ask up front about charges
- The most important thing is to ensure that YOU get to choose when you want to leave or update your caravan, not get told to by the park owner so pick a caravan park that hasn’t got a 10 year rule (I.e. makes you buy a new caravan or leave after 10 years)
- Disconnection fees are charged when people leave (by some parks). It can vary but this is normally an unfair and inflated cost for a job that is typically an easy one. (Removing / Transporting the caravan, however, is quite often a hard task and is costly. The bottom line is to find out the rules at the start of your stay to avoid nasty surprises.
- If your caravan is so old or in such bad condition that a caravan dealer won’t buy it, then the caravan has to be scrapped. With recyling laws and logistics plus skip hire this can cost upward of £1000 so don’t wait this long before you change / leave
How to get a good price for a second hand caravan
Almost all parks operate in this way…
- The honest answer to this is that it is not possible to get a great price for second hand vans generally because (unlike bricks and mortar and more like cars) they do depreciate rather quickly. It is better that you go in to the purchase with this honest understanding and realise that you are buying a luxury item, not an investment. The value is hopefully in the many happy holidays you get compared to expensive holidays elsewhere.
- Remember the caravan is yours, you are under no obligation to sell it to the park owner, although (if they are fair), this is the best way financially and to avoid lots of hassle.
- If you renew when your caravan is still ‘ok’ then the most cost effective thing for everyone concerned (to avoid removal, transport costs etc) is for the park owner to offer you a price for the caravan. As with second hand cars, there is a booklet called a Glassiers guide that indicates a fair price to offer.
- That said, some parks offer below the recommended price in the knowledge that the alternative for you, the customer, is not an easy one.
- The alternative is to sell your caravan yourself on Ebay, to someone looking for a caravan whilst they are doing construction on their house or similar.
- Lastly, you can approach other caravan parks to see if they will allow you to bring your caravan on to their park for a fee. Although this sounds like a good option, there aren’t many that will do this.
Key questions to ask before you purchase
(Check website reviews for how past customers were looked after)
- What is the annual pitch fee, how much has it increase on average in the past 10 years and what exactly does it include
- What is the Length of season
- Do you have a 10 year rule (or similar)
- Can you sub let (and do you want to!)
- Can my friends and family use the caravan
- What are the connection costs (see hidden costs section for full details)
- What is the WIFI quality
- What extra charges do I have to pay for during the season
- How much is the annual gas check and winterisation fee
- How much do you charge for caravan cleans (and decking)
- What leisure decking can I have
- If I leave, are there any disconnection fees
- Are there any other charges I should know about
- 10 year rule - Most caravan parks have a 10 year rule or something similar whereby you have to buy a new caravan once yours is 10 years old (or leave the park). Look out for the select few that don’t.