Buying a luxury lodge vs a static caravan
Choosing a holiday home that’s right for you and the family is an exciting but also a painstaking task. After all, this is more than booking accommodation for a regular holiday.
Whether you’re a self-confessed window shopper of holiday homes, an experienced owner, or a complete newcomer to the world of ownership, this article aims to set out the differences between a static caravan and luxury lodge, the most popular accommodation types at Haven and the wider holiday park market.
The size
The size of static caravans and lodges is a huge factor in their difference. The former can stand up to 14ft wide, with various lengths depending on how many bedrooms you go for. Lodges are defined by a width larger than 14ft, typically around 20ft wide and resemble your first home more greatly, setting yourself and the family up for even greater comfort when you choose to head to the coast.
Greater space and comfort usually mean you’re likely to stay longer, so an argument can be made for lodges being better for a longer break than their caravan counterparts.
The interior
Both static caravans and lodges offer cosy spaces where you can relax and enjoy quality time with the loved ones. The market is so large these days that even the pickiest interior designers will find something that suits them.
Generally, luxury lodges offer the finest modern interiors with more room for the real comforts you would find in your first home. High spec kitchens and bathrooms are standard, and often offer improved insulation which comes in handy for when the weather is a little wintery. You can still cosy up in a caravan when the breeze is bustling by the sea though, with a whole host of designs and the option for free-standing furniture to configure your living space to how you need it in some models.
The exterior
Although similar at first sight, there are several cosmetic differences between static caravans and luxury lodges. Many luxury lodges tend to be made of two x 10ft units, effectively over an exterior space double the size of a typical caravan. This gives you much greater space to enjoy outside with two car parking spaces as standard.
Unlike caravans, luxury lodges are sited on an integral brick or concrete base. Although decking is an incredibly popular additional choice amongst our static caravan owners, it comes into its own with luxury lodges and you benefit from the increased exterior space.
The price
Let’s be frank, price is one of, if not the key thing to consider when purchasing a holiday home. Prices do differ between static caravans and luxury lodges, but these are just as dependent on where you choose to buy as much as on the characteristics of the models themselves. Ultimately, an ideal holiday home is one in which you can return to back and forth as much as you please within the holiday season, so the price of a model is just one consideration to take into account.
Annual site fees and running costs will also tend to be higher in the case of lodges, but the degree to which this offers value very much depends on how long you intend to spend holidaying in your second home.
The availability
There are huge differences in the availability of luxury lodges compared to static caravans. Once an incredibly niche offering, lodges are exponentially rising in popularity and inventory is being created to try and keep up with this. This only surged further during the rise of holidaying domestically in the 2020s.
Because lodges are generally more expensive than caravans, the market remains relatively smaller. The most significant growth in prominence of luxury lodges has occurred in places that already see huge demand for static caravans. Like price, availability is very much dependent on where you wish to purchase for both models as much as what you get internally.
Our parks must have permission in their park licence and the physical space to pitch a lodge. With them being double the size of a typical caravan, you need significant space to house one.
Take a look at our lodges for sale. You can also browse our caravans for sale. Join us at your chosen park to find out more about both opportunities.
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All images in this article are representative of the type of holiday homes you can buy from Haven.
If you have questions about buying a holiday home, please don't hesitate to contact us. Call us on 0333 202 1460, chat to us online or book a park visit, we'd love to hear from you.
Important information
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2031
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. It is available across 40% of eligible Parks and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Primrose Valley with a monthly site fee of £585.00 (includes purchasing discount of £45) and monthly letting income of £803.67. The monthly difference equates to £218.67, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.