6 minute read
TRAVEL
A S E L E C TION OFTIPS FOR BUYING O U R C O A C H TYOUR FIRST O U R S 2 0 2 3
CARAVAN, CAMPERVAN OR MOTORHOME
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Member 7049
Member 7049 Door to Door Coach Tours 2023
WINDSOR CASTLE & CRUISE THE THAMES
The Bull Hotel, Gerrard’s Cross ~ 4 Star
A lovely tour as we discover the splendour of
Royal Windsor and explore mighty Windsor
Castle. Offering a welcome contrast, we also enjoy a relaxing cruise along the River Thames.
21st April | 5 Days | £489 PICTURESQUE PEMBROKESHIRE & BEAUTIFUL GOWER
The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel,
Carmarthen ~ 3 Star
The natural beauty of the Pembrokeshire coast and the Gower Peninsula are famed all over the world. Glorious sandy beaches and rugged coastline give way to the Preseli Hills, historic towns, and little villages.
1st May | 5 Days | £419 THE HISTORIC CITY OF WORCESTER & STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Fownes Hotel ~ 3 Star
This is an area of literary greats, of culinary brilliance and iconic heritage. We enjoy the birthplace of William Shakespeare and a relaxing river cruise, the historic city of
Worcester, and the beautiful scenic Cotswolds.
8th May | 5 Days | £439
INTERESTED? 01706 648126 and request a copy of our 2023 brochure. You ’ll be surprised at the variations of tours we operate. Visit our website www.ellensmith.co.uk
SOUTHSEA & CHICHESTER HARBOUR CRUISE Best Western Royal Beach Hotel ~ 3 Star
A great tour for the summer – stroll along Southsea seafront, visit the historic cathedral city of Chichester and enjoy a relaxing harbour cruise and indulge with a gin tasting at Bombay Sapphire.
25th April | 5 Days | £459 KENT, THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN OF ENGLAND Best Western Plus Burlington Hotel ~ 4 Star
Known as the Garden of England, Kent boasts beautiful beaches, stunning castles, exciting culture, and delicious food & drink. Our tour is ideally based in Folkestone, and we include visits to some lovely coastal and inland towns
2nd May | 5 Days | £399 BLACKPOOL The Doric Hotel ~ 3 Star
A holiday in Blackpool will leave you feeling refreshed, relaxed and recharged – even if you are on the go 25 hours a day! Perhaps it’ s the resort’s infectious zest for life, or maybe it’s just that, uniquely, whatever your routine, Blackpool can offer a perfect break from it.
9th May | 5 Days | £299
WHEN it comes to purchasing your first caravan, campervan or motorhome – especially if you are a first-time buyer of such a vehicle SPRING, SOUTH SHIELDS & – the prospect may seem daunting, perhaps even a little overwhelming. THE DURHAM COAST How do you know where to look, what features to consider and how to The Little Haven Hotel ~ 3 Star choose the right unit for your needs? A great Spring tour based in South Shields overlooking the River Tyne and Little Haven If you’re looking for specific tips on buying your first van, Rob Beach. We explore the scenic coastline before Debenham, Show Manager of The Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday enjoying time in the historic city of Durham as Show, is here to give his advice on some of the most important things to well as a visit to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. look for as a first-time buyer to make sure that you and your vehicle have the best adventures possible. 25th April | 5 Days | £439 Before you part with any money, think about why you want this vehicle and what you will be using it for. Do you plan to embark on a new adventure, travelling across the country (or world) in your new home? Or will it be for long weekend excursions and summer staycations? What you want the van for and how you plan to use it, will play a big role in your final decision of vehicle choice. A good starting point is speaking to fellow caravan and motorhome DEVONSHIRE & ILFRACOMBE owners. Use this as an opportunity to ask questions about the caravan, campervan or motorhome they own. Why do they like it? What would The Royal & Fortescue Hotel 3 Star ~ they recommend and why? What is something they wish they knew A short break with excursions to interest everyone. We take in North Devon throughout before they purchased it? These conversations will help you ensure with visits to interesting attractions which, you’ve made the right decision when it comes to choosing your van. when combined with our excellent hotel, makes this an enjoyable break. Attending a show such as The Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Show, or similar is another great way of helping your decision-making. They are fantastic one-stop shops that allow you to see a wide variety of vehicles 8th May | 5 Days | £479 under one roof, get up loose, explore inside and familiarise yourself with them. You’ll also get to speak to expert dealers and manufacturers so you can ask all the questions you need about specific vehicles. Once you know what van you want and how you want to use it, regardless of whether you plan to live in your van or just want to use it for the occasional adventure, there are some necessities when it comes BEAUTIFUL CORNWALL to what you will need to buy or install for your vehicle. Rosemundy House Hotel AA ~ You may want to make getting a fixed bed, for example, a priority. The 4 Star Cornwall is in the far west of Great Britain on alternative would be converting your table into a bed and vice versa or a peninsula tumbling into the vast Atlantic sleeping above the seats in the cab. Ocean, almost completely surrounded by the sea. Cornwall is loved for its dramatic Another handy feature your van may benefit from is a solar panel on the roof. By installing a solar panel, you can easily top up your leisure course, its pasties and cream teas! battery and lessen the worry that you will run it down, especially when you are going off-grid. A leisure battery is a power source that can 13th May | 6 Days | £519 fuel the 12V appliances and equipment in a caravan or motorhome. These batteries are designed to provide a steady level of power over a prolonged period of time and are used for the lights, television, kettle, oven and similar appliances in your van. Unless you plan to undergo your van adventures with no electric appliances, you will probably be picking up a leisure battery during the purchase process. When you do, you may feel as though there is so many choices that you feel overwhelmed. But as with everything in this process, try making sure you thoroughly research and choose a trusted and high-quality brand. Depending on your use, you may also want to think about having multiple leisure batteries. And finally, the last suggestion of what can be installed in your van to make life just that little bit easier is a refillable gas bottle – this will be sure to save you a lot of money in the long run. Many vans do come with the capability already installed, so it’s worth looking into when browsing models. Remember, getting any kind of van – a caravan, campervan or motorhome – should be an exciting prospect. This is the starting point of the many thrilling adventures still to come, and though it may initially feel daunting, these feelings of fear can always be quelled by extensive research on your behalf so you can be sure you are doing everything possible to make the best purchase for you.
Bury u3a No longer in full time work? Looking for new ideas, skills and interests? Would you like to meet new people? Bury u3a have lots of groups and activities run by members To find out more go to:
www.buryu3a.org.uk
E-mail us at:
contact@ buryu3a.org.uk
Or join our social group at
The Art Picture House, Bury every
