Top 5 tips for holidays on a budget

If you’re planning your holiday for the summer ahead and want to find your ideal break without breaking the bank, here’s our top 5 tips:

1. Get a caravan
Caravanning has had a lot of bad publicity in the past and is certainly not considered ‘cool’. However, with celebrities such as Jay Kay, from Jamiroquai, admitting to owning a caravan, it’s becoming more fashionable.

The benefits of owning a caravan are numerous. You can pack up and go whenever the mood takes you; no waiting in airport lounges; and if you’ve got children, it’s fantastic fun for them as well!

2. Recycle
Caravanning may not be everyone’s cup of tea, so if you’re new to it, why not find yourself a second-hand caravan at a fraction of the cost of a new one? It may not have all the mod-cons of a new ‘van, but you’ll get an idea of what caravanning is all about and you’ll have a caravan to part exchange should you wish to invest in a new caravan in the future.

3. Downsize
Already a caravanner? Perhaps you bought your last caravan when the children came along too, but now they’re too cool for caravanning so you leave them at home. Well maybe now’s the time to downsize the ‘van for maybe a two-berth tourer. It’ll be more cosy in the colder months and could also save you money on fuel for your towcar as pulling a lighter caravan will be good for your fuel economy.

4. Stay local
Touring abroad will add to the cost of your holiday with ferry crossings and exchange rates to consider, so why not stay at home in the UK? You’ll cover less miles which could save you money on your car insurance premium too. By staying in the UK, you’ll also be helping the economy by spending your cash here rather than on the continent.

5. Buy local
Don’t be tempted to visit the supermarket before you leave for your holiday, to stock up on supplies. Instead, wait until you arrive at your destination, then go exploring in the surrounding area to find the local shops that will benefit from your custom. Also remember to just buy what you need so no food is wasted at the end of your stay.

Caravanning can be fun for all the family and you don’t need to travel thousands of miles or spend thousands of pounds for some peace and tranquillity. So hitch up that tourer and go exploring!

Games For Backpackers

What are the best games for backpackers? Apart from being ones that you will actually enjoy, they need to be lightweight and easy to carry. Here are some suggestions, some for games that don't even need to be carried anywhere but in your head.

Chess - Years ago I took a white handkerchief and used a ruler and pen to draw lines on it, making an eight-by-eight grid of squares. I darkened in the appropriate ones with a permanent marker to create a chess board. Then I bought $3 chess set, threw out the board, and put the lightweight chessmen in a small plastic bag with my folded up cloth board. I have taken this 3-ounce game with me to other countries and on many backpacking trips over the years.

Card Games - A deck of cards weighs just a few ounces. You can even get a miniature deck if you want to really cut that weight. When it comes to lightweight games for backpackers, this is a great idea, because there are perhaps a hundred different ones which can be played with one deck of cards. You probably already know a few, including games like solitaire that don't require another player.

Mancala - If you have never played this one, you can look up the simple rules online. The game usually consists of a wooden board with six depressions carved out on each side, and a larger "bank" on either end, plus 24 glass beads per side. There are no boards I have seen that are small enough for backpacking, but once you know the game, it can be played on the shore of a sandy lake or stream by digging two rows of six holes and putting four pebbles or pine cones in each.

Tic-Tac-Toe - This classic can be played on any piece of paper if you have some with you. Alternately, you can scratch out a tic-tac-toe board in the dirt, or make one with four straight sticks. If you don't want to scratch your x's and o's in the ground, you can just use five each of two different objects, like pebbles and pine cones.

Survival Games - There are many "survival games" that you can play without needing to carry anything. If the members of your group know a few wild edible plants, for example, you can challenge each other to spot the first wild raspberry or cattail plant as you hike. On winding trails you can each guess what your heading is before checking the compass, to see who is closer.

When in camp for the night, you can play mental games like creating a survival scenario and trying to think of the best way to get out safely. You can pick an item like a pine cone or a trekking pole and then see who can think of the most ways to use it in a survival situation. Of all the games for backpackers, these are some of my favorites, because they are fun and they hone your skills and knowledge.