Neither setting rules out the other entirely. Most coastal parks are still within striking distance of countryside walks and market towns inland, and most countryside or Broads parks are usually within a reasonable drive of a beach for the day, so you're rarely choosing one to the total exclusion of the other. It's more a question of which one you want as your daily backdrop and which you're happy to visit as an occasional day trip.

More information is available at seaside caravan breaks.

Start with reviews, but read them properly rather than just checking the average score. Look for recent comments specifically, since facilities and management can change over time, and pay attention to anything mentioned more than once, whether that's cleanliness, how accurate the photos were, or how helpful staff were when something went wrong. A single bad review among dozens of good ones tells you far less than a genuine pattern.

Space is often the deciding factor for families. A static caravan Tingdene Holiday Parks UK gives everyone a bit of breathing room, somewhere for the kids to watch television while the adults have a cup of tea in a separate area, which a single hotel room rarely manages without someone being under everyone else's feet.

Day to day, you'll be doing your own cooking and washing up, much as you would in a self-catering cottage, so it helps to bring a few kitchen basics like tea towels and washing-up liquid rather than assuming everything will be there. Bedding is usually provided, but it's worth checking your specific booking, since this varies park to park.

For the caravan itself, most static units come with a cooker, fridge and basic kitchen equipment, but tea towels, washing-up liquid and bin bags are worth throwing in your bag rather than assuming they'll be there. A torch is genuinely useful for evening walks back from the clubhouse, and a few games or a pack of cards cover the odd wet afternoon without anyone reaching for a screen.