Holiday costs are soaring to unparalleled highs, with the jet fuel crisis, war in Iran and spiralling prices as a result dominating travel plans right now.
But one couple have found a genius way to kick back and relax on vacation from as little as £3.60 per person each night – and even get access to a private beach.
Louise and Hayley Gould from Midsomer Norton have been caravan owners for years and have revealed they can travel for impressively low amounts as a result.
The couple have turned what were initially occasional caravan holidays into more than 200 nights a year at Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Devon, thanks to a seasonal touring pitch.
After discovering the park and its secluded private beach seven years ago on a relative’s recommendation, 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 turned back.
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.’
This ranges from an indoor pool with slides and water activities to an arcade, indoor ball pit, adventure park with swings, an art studio offering pottery painting, a park, a bar and restaurant, a dog-walking field, mini golf and a football pitch.
Louise and Hayley Gould from Midsomer Norton swear by their caravan holidays
The pair bought a caravan years ago and now holiday from as little as £3.60 per person a night
For Louise and her wife, the move has transformed occasional caravan trips into something closer to a second home.
The real draw, Louise explains, is the private beach.
Louise said: ‘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 away with them for adventures.
One summer, the couple stayed continuously for four months.
The activities on offer for their grandchildren is part of the huge appeal
Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Devon is the gem they swear by
Louise and Hayley holiday all the time now. It’s their simple travel hack to switch off by the sea whenever they want, without paying peak season prices each time.
The seasonal holiday pitch at the park 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, three years ago they committed to a seasonal pitch.
‘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 a pitch at the park.
A seasonal pitch here 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.
For the couple, the value is clear: ‘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.
A seasonal pitch costs £5,200 for 240 nights from March to early November
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 their costs, but also lowers emissions, as towing typically requires a larger, less efficient vehicle.
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.
Louise said: ‘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.’
The couple visit at least every weekend during the season and often stay for longer stretches.
Louise said: ‘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.
Access to the private beach at Ladram is what drew Louise and Hayley in
You can even spot dolphins in the local area, ideal for any animal-lovers
Full breakdown of cost
Seasonal pitch cost: £5,200 Season length: 240 nights (6 March to 9 November 2026) Cost per pitch per night: £21.70 Maximum occupancy: up to six people, equating to just £3.60 per person per night when fully occupied Alternatively, it works out at roughly £10 per person per night based on two people sharing <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/travel/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
‘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 the 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 are on hand to help, going above and beyond.’
Asked if they would recommend a seasonal pitch here, 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.’