Holiday costs are soaring to unprecedented levels, driven by the jet fuel crisis, conflict in Iran, and spiralling prices that dominate travel plans. However, one couple has discovered an ingenious way to relax on vacation for as little as £3.60 per person each night—and even enjoy access to a private beach.
The Goulds' Caravan Lifestyle
Louise and Hayley Gould, from Midsomer Norton in Somerset, have been caravan owners for years and now travel for remarkably low costs. What began as occasional caravan holidays has evolved into more than 200 nights per year at Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Devon, thanks to a seasonal touring pitch.
Seven years ago, following a relative's recommendation, they discovered the park and its secluded private beach. After making the 70-mile journey from just outside Bath with their touring caravan, they committed to a seasonal pitch three years ago and have never looked back.
A Second Home by the Sea
Louise told the Daily Mail: 'We always spend at least four nights a week here. There's always plenty to do, depending on what you want. When the grandchildren come, they love it here because there's loads for them to do. And even if the weather's bad, it's still fine, because there's loads of indoor activities.'
Facilities include an indoor pool with slides and water activities, an arcade, indoor ball pit, adventure park with swings, art studio offering pottery painting, a park, bar and restaurant, dog-walking field, mini golf, and a football pitch. For Louise and her wife, the move has transformed occasional caravan trips into something akin to a second home.
The Private Beach Attraction
The real draw, Louise explains, is the private beach. 'The thing for me is the private beach. I absolutely love it. I've got a little boat that I keep down on the beach. If the sea's flat, we can just go out, you can go and see the dolphins. More often than not, they'd be out there. I love fishing, so I go fishing out there. But also, because it's a private beach, there's always room for everyone. There's a lovely section along the end that's full of rock pools for the kids to go crabbing in when the tide's out.'
Now, the pair drive down for hassle-free weekends, enjoy longer stays, dolphin spot from their motorboat, walk the Jurassic Coast, and take their young grandchildren for adventures. One summer, they stayed continuously for four months.
Cost Breakdown and Savings
The seasonal holiday pitch at Ladram Bay has enabled the couple from Somerset to enjoy a near-year-round base by the sea. After repeatedly asking each other 'Where are we going to go on holiday?' and always choosing Ladram Bay, they committed to a seasonal pitch three years ago.
'We holiday all the time now,' Louise explained. 'There's no planning needed, we just get in the car and go.' They love it so much that Louise's brother and nephew have both followed in their footsteps with pitches at the park.
A seasonal pitch at Ladram Bay Holiday Park costs £5,200 for 240 nights from March to early November, equating to just over £21 per night for up to six people, or as little as £3.60 per person when fully occupied. In comparison, peak summer touring rates can exceed £100 per night, meaning two weeks in August can cost around £1,000.
'We effectively turned a two-week £1,000 August holiday into more than 200 nights at under £10 per person per night. For what you get, the beach on your doorstep, the space to roam, and access to the facilities, Ladram Bay is perfect value,' said Louise.
Additional Financial Benefits
The financial benefits extend beyond pitch fees. Previously, towing their caravan meant fuel consumption of around 21 miles per gallon, whereas now, simply driving to their pitch without towing, they achieve around 44 miles per gallon. The reduced fuel use not only cuts costs but also lowers emissions, as towing typically requires a larger, less efficient vehicle.
Convenience and Community
Convenience has been just as transformative. Having a permanent base has removed the hassle of towing, setting up, and researching destinations. Instead, they arrive and immediately relax. 'Gone are the days of planning routes, booking multiple holiday park sites, and repeatedly setting up and packing down. Now, we get in the car, drive to Ladram Bay Holiday Park, put the key in the caravan door, and everything is there and ready for us,' said Louise.
The couple visit at least every weekend during the season and often stay for longer stretches. 'On sunny days, we head straight down to the sheltered private beach, where we keep a small motorboat and use to go dolphin spotting in the Bay. While quieter moments are spent walking along the Jurassic coast to Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth. Our young grandchildren, aged four and six, are also frequent visitors, enjoying everything from rock pooling and the family-friendly facilities on-site.'
What has surprised them most is the strength of community. Based in the Hillside area of Ladram Bay Holiday Park, Louise says: 'There is a strong village-like atmosphere among seasonal pitch holders. Everybody knows everybody, and everyone helps each other out if needed. Plus, the reception team at Ladram Bay are on hand to help, going above and beyond.'
Asked if they would recommend a seasonal pitch at Ladram Bay, they did not hesitate: 'One hundred per cent.' Louise added: 'For us, having a seasonal pitch at Ladram Bay is now an essential part of life. It's our simple travel hack, a place we can go and just switch off, as often as we like, without paying peak season prices each time.'
