Caravan holidays for the uninitiated conjure up images of 1960’s style pokey caravans, port-a-loos, arguing families and Carry On… films. However, caravan holidays are very different in reality.

In these post recession years, the caravan and camping holiday scene is booming. The stigma and stereotype of a poor-man’s holiday has gone as now you can stay in luxury tents and take part in the trend known as ‘glamping’; you can join the trendy set and camp in the mud at Glastonbury or you can take surf lessons in Devon and Cornwall and compare tales by the campfire every night – very hippy and very fashionable.

So what caused this change? Largely it was a lack of money that forced many die-hard overseas holidaymakers to spend a week in Britain instead. The recession meant that spare cash was not going spare, but people still wanted a holiday. Camping proved to be the best value option.

However, it wasn’t just necessity that forced people into camping. The camping and caravanning industry has gone under a major overall in the past five to ten years. Campsites now come complete with top-notch restaurants, swimming pools – importantly both indoor and outdoor. Many even have spa treatments and most campsites offer the weight in entertainment and activities. We’re not talking karaoke and face painting here. You can go horse riding, give archery a try, go on a treasure hunt through a National Park, learn to wakeboard and even five-a-side football tournaments and a kid’s football World Cup.

The tents and caravans have been changed beyond belief. Gone are the tired, worn out designs that wasted space and over-used plastic, Formica and a dirty shade of brown. Today even Ikea would be proud of the tent and caravan interiors at the UK’s campsites. Emphasis is placed on maximising space, mixing neutral space creating shades as well as injecting life-giving colours into the space.

Locations are well thought out and planned. Campsites don’t just pitch up on any unused space. They are near good transport links to get into the nearest towns and cities and to make getting to and from the campsite stress-free. They are perched on the edge of endless coastlines, amongst thickets of trees and on top of rolling hills enjoying scenery even Maria and the cast of The Sound of Music would relish.

For camping and caravan inspiration at locations throughout Britain, check out the caravan holidays on offer from Park Resorts.