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World Cup 2010: cheap accommodation to supporters

2010-02-23T02:11:00.000-08:00

Fancy making that once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa for the football this summer, but don’t fancy leaving your wallet open to the 400 per cent hike in hotel prices that has been reported across the host country in the build up to this summer’s World Cup?

Then there is always the cheaper option of a few nights sleeping outdoors, staring at the stars and listening to the whisper of the wind in the trees –with just 1500 others.

Such will be the possibility available to the more price-conscious football fan when a vast campsite appears in Johannesburg in time for this summer’s big sporting event.

Large enough to host 1480 people – 1280 in rented tents, with a further 200 able to pitch their own canvas – Tent City will open its ‘doors’ in the Waverley Park enclave of South Africa’s biggest metropolis on June 4th – a week before the tournament begins – and close on July 16th – five days after the final at the nearby Soccer City stadium.

Rented ‘accommodation’ will cost 530 Rand (£44) per night, while those who want to pitch their own tent will be charged a lesser fee of 330 Rand (£27).

For those who prefer to stay in the UK and still watch the World Cup let findacampsite4me.com help you find your perfect location.

Camping holidays - Good for the Environment - Easy on the Budget

2010-01-22T02:25:00.000-08:00

Camping holidays are a popular option for the environment- and budget-conscious holidaymaker and a family camping holiday gives everyone the chance to get close to nature and really explore the outdoors.

Many campsites offer the option of tenting, mobile homes or chalet accommodation, as well as activities and children's clubs so holidaymakers can enjoy some home comforts while having a break from city life on their camping holiday.

France is a perennial favourite for camping holidays, being easily accessible with thousands of well-equipped campsites. The Vendee region, Gascony, the Dordogne and Brittany are all fantastic destinations for a camping holiday. Find more camping holiday information and some great deals on camping holidays with findacampsite4me.com.

UK Camping Holidays on the Agenda for 2010

2010-01-13T02:24:00.000-08:00

Many consumers may choose to holiday at home this year, instead of venturing abroad. This is according to UK camping holidays operator Bourne Leisure Ltd, which operates campsites across Britain. The group has already reported an increase in bookings for the year ahead and is expecting the 2010 season to be its busiest ever.

2009 was a record year for the British tourist industry and this is a trend which looks set to continue into 2010. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including Met Office predictions of one of the warmest summers on record, the credit crunch and the rising price of the Euro, which meant that UK camping holidays became more attractive than ever.

Bourne Leisure operates 22 campsites in prime locations across the UK, all of which offer a great base for exploring nearby beaches, resorts and countryside. These are ideal for those who want to travel with their own caravan, whilst enjoying a range of facilities and amenities such as pool complexes, sports activities, kid's clubs and day and evening entertainment. A spokesperson for the company commented:

"Last year, millions of people decided to stay at home, rather than travel abroad for their holidays. This allowed them to see that the UK has plenty to offer in terms of the quality of its attractions and facilities. Not only that, but the substantial cost savings which are to be had from holidaying in Britain makes it an increasingly popular option, particularly with the credit crunch still affecting most consumers."

Early indications are that 2010 will be our busiest season ever, so much so that we are investing significantly in upgrading and improving facilities across our UK campsites to ensure that we offer the very best holiday experience for our customers."

Enjoy a stylish safari

2010-01-10T22:52:00.000-08:00

GO wild in France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland as Eurocamp adds more safari tents in 2010.

The tents will be available at parcs in Spain's Costa Brava, the Italian Lakes and Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland.

They will also be in an additional nine parcs in France in the Dordogne, Languedoc, Loire, Normandy, Riviera, Vendée and Vosges.

The super-stylish safari tents consist of two bedrooms, double master room and a twin, plus kitchen area and decked terrace.

Camping holidays are Brits' new favourite

2010-01-07T02:26:00.000-08:00

Nearly twice as many British holidaymakers are considering a camping holiday this summer as the credit crunch forces people to cut back on expensive holidays.

New research shows camping is getting more popular, with 30% of people considering a "staycation" (camping holiday at home) this summer, compared to just 17% last year.

The survey from travel insurer LV also suggests that campers plan to spend an average of £450 on their trip and cost is the primary motivator for choosing a camping holiday at home rather than going abroad.

The most popular destinations for campers in the UK are Cornwall, where 15% are planning to go, followed by the Lake District and Devon.

Eurocamp, one of the three biggest camping holiday companies in Europe, has for the first time in 15 years returned to the English countryside. This summer, it will offer tents at nine National Trust locations including the New Forest, Scotland and the Lake District.

Winter camping takes off as Britons chose Christmas staycations

2009-12-31T00:30:00.000-08:00

Hardy Britons are braving the freeze-up and staging a festive holiday escape to spend the New Year break on camping and caravan sites throughout the country, according to a report.

Despite the snow and ice thousands of families are choosing the peace and quiet of the countryside over overindulgence and television repeats in front of the fire at home, according to the latest research.

Record numbers of cash-strapped Britons forced to tighten their belts switched to 'staycation' holidays in UK in summer and have now extended the concept of money-saving breaks to New Year despite the plummeting temperatures.

The report by the Camping and Caravanning Club showed that bookings have soared by 48per cent on this time last year with more sites staying open over the festive period than ever before.

Bob Hill, sites director of the club, said: There is something special about camping and caravanning under the stars and our site managers always enter into the spirit of the occasion, making the experience and adventure as festive as possible.

Derwentwater in The Lake District is the hot spot this year and is almost full to capacity with just a few pitches still available.

The Christmas and New Year camping and caravaning trend was backed up by car accessories and leisure retailer Halfords which says that it has seen a surge in sleeping bag and airbed sales. Recent sales have seen a 22per cent year on year increase for sleeping bags and 70per cent for airbeds.

Diane Perry, specialist in camping equipment at Halfords said: People are looking to get away and are feeling more adventurous. Wrapping up for the cold weather and being outside adds to the festive fun and is a great way to spend time with the family.

Camping in Cornwall 'beats the recession'

2009-12-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

Camping holidays have proven to be popular in Cornwall, with one business reporting a 20 per cent increase in turnover for this year, it has been reported.

Despite the recession and a damp summer, camping in the south-west remains a favourable pastime, Business Cornwall noted.

Camping Caradon, based in Trelawne near Looe, has had its busiest season to date and the months outside of the main summer have seen large numbers of people undertaking camping holidays at the site.

‘I think over the last 18 months or so, we feel strongly the recession has pushed people into looking for cheaper holiday options, camping being one of them,’ Stephen Cox, one of the site's managers, explained.

He added that there are reservations in the book for the next two years, which may highlight how camping holidays are here to stay.

The Association of Independent Tour Operators previously noted a trend for camping holidays in Britain, adding they represented good value for money.

Brits head up north for Christmas

2009-12-16T02:08:00.000-08:00

The number of Brits searching for last minute Christmas and New Year breaks has surged in the past two weeks, with Yorkshire and the Lake District proving the most popular destinations with festive holidaymakers.

iknow-uk, the UK’s leading tourism and accommodation directory, has seen a significant increase in searches for Christmas and New Year holidays over the past two weeks, with over 36 per cent of people favouring Yorkshire as their yuletide holiday of choice.

The Lake District is following closely behind Yorkshire in the festive popularity poll, with just under 20 per cent of people opting to visit the region for their Christmas or New Year get-away.

“Maybe now that weather men are hinting there could be a white Christmas this year, people are being enticed by the thought of a romantic break away in a cosy country cottage. Or perhaps the recession has meant that people have been working so hard that they feel they deserve a nice short break away before the New Year. Whatever the trigger, we’ve definitely seen a significant increase in last-minute Christmas holiday searches across all of our sites compared with other years.”

Scotland has also proved popular in the past two weeks, with almost 10 per cent of visitors searching for breaks north of the border – with a particular focus on Hogmanay holidays.

More Britons enjoy outdoor holidays as recession hits

2009-12-10T16:09:00.000-08:00

After decades spent in the shadow of overseas resorts, Britain’s caravan and camping sites are enjoying a boom, with a new generation of holidaymakers discovering the simple pleasures of an outdoors break.

The Camping and Caravanning Club, which dates back to 1901 and owns 110 sites around the UK, said yesterday it had broken “all records” for membership this year and seen an 8% increase in bookings as the recession persuaded more people to shun holidays abroad in favour of local settings.

The upturn in fortunes has been particularly pronounced in Scotland, where the CCC has 18 club sites and dozens of smaller affiliated campsites, with bookings said to be up by 60% over the summer.

The club said it had seen particularly strong demand among families, who made up nearly half of the 64,000 new members this year.

It now has over 480,000 adult members, and said it reached a landmark membership figure of 250,000 households in August. Advanced bookings for next year are currently 48% higher than compared to the same time last year.Campsite owners say they have had more bookings by visitors travelling north from England and Wales, as well as Scottish holidaymakers.

The strong euro has also helped lure a higher number of foreign tourists – particularly Germans and Dutch – to Scotland.

This year’s visitor numbers display a marked turnaround for an industry that has suffered from a surge in cheap flights over the past 30 years and led a generation of tourists to relegate campsites to a childhood memory. Following a surge in caravanning in the 1960s and 70s, campsites saw decades of decline as sunshine resorts in Spain took over.

But the Camping and Caravanning Club, which has a history older than Butlins, said it had managed to persuade a growing number of people to reconsider the benefits of outdoor holidays in the UK.

Its own club sites offer enhanced facilities, including staffed reception areas, while smaller venues, which are privately owned, are inspected and certified by the CCC. Visitors include campers, caravanners and those with trailers.

The club’s recently launched “Staycation” campaign has been boosted by a number of celebrities, including the naturalist and former TV presenter David Bellamy and pop singer JayKay extolling the virtues of the outdoor life.

Bear Grylls, the adventurer and presenter of the television series Born Survivor who was recently appointed chief scout of the UK Scout Association, has also thrown his weight behind the traditional camping holiday.

Robert Louden, director general of the CCC, said: “We knew from the advanced booking rates at the start of the season that we were going to be extremely busy, but recruitment levels have defied all expectations.

“It has been an exceptional year with people tightening their purse strings and opting for a camping or caravanning holiday in this country rather than jetting off abroad.

“Our aim is to now keep that momentum going into 2010 and, from our early advanced booking figures, it looks as though next season could be even busier, which is terrific news for the outdoor industry as a whole.”