Caravanning holidays are the perfect means to escape the hum-drum or hustle and bustle of everyday life. For some, leaving behind jobs, traffic and gadgets holds infinite appeal. For others however, the isolation from normal life can be more difficult to deal with.
If you are the kind of person who would prefer to keep your finger on the pulse, or just can’t bear to leave your most prized technological possessions at home, it is becoming more and more possible to meet your needs.
Take internet access, for example. It has been possible for some time now to access internet virtually anywhere using wireless ‘dongles’ which link to mobile phone networks like Vodafone or T-Mobile. Essentially, this technology turns your laptop into an entirely mobile internet access point, allowing you to surf not only at your campsite, but even whilst on the journey there.
The disadvantages of this service, however, are numerous. Coverage can be patchy at best once you get too far out of high population density areas, transfer speeds are often extremely slow, and cost per megabyte can be off putting.
Thankfully, The Caravan Club have come up with a strong and measured solution by providing WiFi access at many of the UKs most popular campsites. Since WiFi is a more local source of internet access, this should be more reliable, faster, and perhaps even cheaper. Unlike wireless ‘dongles’, The Caravan Club’s WiFi service allows you to purchase access in small, hourly chunks rather than as long contracts; perfect for that spontaneous decision to catch a bit of BBC iPlayer on a rainy afternoon.
Although you might be repulsed by the idea of taking your laptop on holiday, even the most basic advantages might make you reconsider. Think about checking the weather forecast before you plan your trips, searching out the best local restaurant, or checking travel information for the trip home.
If you are missing your internet access, you may also be missing your music. Just because you are leaving your full Hi-Fi system at home doesn’t mean that you have to be tune-less for the whole holiday. There is of course, the classic option of taking along your stereo-radio for tuning in to the headlines and your favourite DJs. But there are also some great MP3-Player docks and speakers available to keep you entertained throughout the holiday.
Of course you always need to ensure that your music isn’t frustrating those nearby, but if you fancy playing your music outdoors, you can buy speakers which are either battery powered, rechargeable or even solar powered.
Finally, a GPS system is the perfect final technological addition to your caravan trip. GPS maps have all major caravan sites pre-programmed into their memory, so you’ll have no trouble finding your holiday destination. Furthermore, you’ll be able to nip around and about like a local with no worry of getting lost. What could be better?
Taking gadgets on your caravan holiday can be great fun, and also genuinely helpful. Whatever you do take, though, be sure to keep it well out of sight and lock up all valuables securely. And before you take anything at all with you, or even set off, make sure you protect yourself with Caravan Insurance.
