The holiday park industry is undergoing a makeover, and we think it’s time our misconceptions have a makeover, too! Here are our top misconceptions about holiday parks, and why they no longer apply.
1) Holiday parks are only for pensioners and young families
I was in the middle of a conversation with a friend recently and asked where they were planning on going on their summer holidays. When I suggested a holiday park, they looked surprised: “I’m not that old!” Many Brits associate holiday parks with pensioners who are looking for somewhere quiet and inexpensive to spend their holidays. While many pensioners do still cash in their mortgages for a quiet lodge by the beach, these are usually on residential parks. The industry is changing fast and leisure parks are setting their sights on a variety of groups, from groups of friends to city-dwellers who want to escape for the weekend.
2) Holiday parks aren’t usually very clean
Many of the misconceptions around holiday parks are due to stubborn stereotypes and a few bad reviews. As a result, crowded and crusty caravan parks spring to mind when they think of holiday parks. While cleanliness is always a factor, wherever you choose to go on holiday, holiday parks are no less clean than hotels. What’s more, a number of holiday parks include final cleaning in your booking fee, so your accommodation is also professionally cleaned at the end of every stay. If you indeed aren’t happy with the standards of your accommodation, you should speak to the staff immediately. They want happy guests as well and will do all they can to ensure a happy stay.
3) Holiday parks are crowded and noisy
Who else thinks of crowded swimming pools filled with screaming toddlers when they think of holiday parks? While this may be true of some parks with a big focus on children, many holiday parks market themselves on the quietness and privacy they offer guests. Many holiday parks are situated in stunning areas of natural beautiful with plenty of space in between each accommodation. This means that you can enjoy the peace and quiet of a secluded cottage without having to sacrifice on comfort and facilities. You can even book a holiday park with an enclosed garden to ensure privacy (as well as safety, for any kids or dogs on the loose!)
4) The only accommodations on holiday parks are static caravans
While holiday parks used to be associated with bog standard caravans, holiday park groups and independent parks are now trying to offer holiday makers something a little different. The Dutch park group Droomparken, for example, have started getting involved in the tiny house movement. With #tinyhouses and #tinyliving being a booming trend among millennials, Droomparken have started building tiny houses on many of their parks. This means that you can experience life in a tiny house for a weekend, with friends or with family.
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5) Holiday parks are not luxurious
Holiday parks are now catering to a wide range of groups, rather than just pensioners or younger families who need a budget option for the holiday season. The whole industry has undergone a huge makeover, and luxury lodges are taking the place of dusty caravans. As well as luxury accommodations, holiday parks offer luxury facilities, including private hot tubs and saunas, open fireplaces and state-of-the-art fitness centres.
6) Holiday parks only have facilities for families
Many holiday parks offer excellent family facilities so that you and your partner can have some time to relax while the kids enjoy themselves at the entertainment club. Similarly, many parks offer facilities for children and parents to spend quality time together, such as bowling alleys and sports fields. Many parks are now starting to create facilities specifically designed for adults, including wellness facilities, fishing lakes, golf courses, and even wine tasting tours! So, children or no children, you’ll have plenty to do!
7) Holiday parks are for staycations
The whole holiday park industry is under transformation precisely because the staycation is becoming so much more popular, but holiday parks themselves are not a strictly British phenomenon. In Holland, bungalowparks are one of the most popular ways of holidaying for families, couples, and friends alike.
Tell us about your experiences at your favourite holiday park in the comments below!
