Caravan holidays were revolutionised with the introduction of the Static Caravan and now these affordable vans have really taken off for holiday and longer term use.

Not so many years ago many would have frowned at the prospect of spending a week in a static van holiday home. However the standards of appointment have now risen to a level where they really are home from home, and sometimes better!

Many Third Agers with increasing leisure and pleasure time are investing in them and they have many advantages. Not least is the lack of maintenance required. Durable exteriors and maintenance free double glazing mean that the vans can usually be securely locked up for the winter months and be virtually weatherproof.

Whether you choose a park in your favourite resort or a secluded countryside spot to site your static van it will provide a holiday haven for years to come. Second hand ones hold their values relatively well and if you are new to the market go for something a few years old which has been nurtured by its owners. They will have ironed out any minor problems.

I recall the first time I borrowed a van from friends on a beautiful peninsula near Fishguard in Wales. It rained solidly for the first two days and I honestly didn’t mind. The standards were fabulous, the views, although grey, were constantly changing, and I simply enjoyed the solitude, and no telephone!

Effective design work is the key to a good static caravan. Modern homes have a great blend of utilising space and practicality and the soft furnishings are usually of high quality. Fitted kitchens and bathrooms are of equally high standard and sensible use of the surrounding area can give you a mixture of low maintenance garden and parking space.

Site fees can vary enormously and are often quite expensive. The best deals are usually to be had where the owners plan to use the van quite a lot themselves and let it out selectively to others.

Deals can be had where the site owners will arrange lets for you but hefty commissions can eat considerably into your profit margin. The chances are that if your van is in an area you often visit you will know someone who would be grateful of a little extra income as your letting agent and van minder during the winter months.

Perhaps the main choice you will make is home or abroad. A static van is often a very cheap way of having longer holidays in your favourite country at off peak periods, and of earning a lucrative rental income at other times.

If foreign climes are for you, you will find a very high standard in many countries. France, Italy and Spain in particular often have first class eating and leisure facilities on site.

If you need to stay in touch nearly all have Internet access points, but, hopefully, you will pick the spot where you are happy to ignore them and switch off your mobile!

Graham Smith for Third Age.