Budgeting for a UK staycation without cutting corners

If you're not sure, think about what you did on your last few breaks that you enjoyed most. If it was a beach day, book coastal. If it was a quiet walk or a pub lunch somewhere green, the countryside or Broads setting is probably the better fit for read this blog post from Tripadvisor trip.

Take these four in order, location, size, facilities, pet policy, and most first-time bookings come together quickly. Our own parks sit across a mix of coastal and quieter countryside settings, so whichever mood you're after for your break, there's usually a fit somewhere in the range.

Midweek arrival is the other thing worth trying. Weekend slots get booked up first, particularly for short breaks, so a Monday or Tuesday arrival often has availability when a Friday one doesn't. If your work pattern allows it, a midweek break also tends to mean quieter on-site facilities, since most other guests are working to the same Friday-to-Friday pattern you're avoiding.

If you're travelling with children, pack a beach bag that stays by the door, buckets and spades, a windbreak if you have one, sun cream regardless of the forecast, and a full change of clothes kept in the car rather than the caravan, since sandy, wet children rarely want to walk back for it. Bikes are worth bringing if your park has cycle paths or is close to a coastal trail, and a car boot cool bag makes packed lunches for day trips much easier.

A UK staycation can be planned around almost any budget, provided you know where the genuine savings sit and where cutting corners actually costs you more in the long run.

Booking your first stay at a UK holiday park can feel like a lot of small decisions rather than one big one, so it helps to work through them in order rather than all at once.