The short version: book peak weeks as soon as you know your dates, and treat everything else as considerably more flexible.

On arrival, you'll usually collect keys from reception or a check-in point, where someone can point you towards your caravan, talk you through anything specific to that unit, and flag opening times for the pool, clubhouse or shop if the park has them. It's worth asking any questions at this point, staff on site tend to be used to first-time guests and are generally happy to run through anything that isn't obvious.

With a bit of flexibility on dates and location, a short break is often bookable within a few days rather than weeks, which makes a UK holiday park a genuinely practical option when the diary suddenly clears.

If you're travelling with children, pack a beach bag that stays by the door, buckets and spades, a windbreak if you have one, sun cream regardless of the forecast, and a full change of clothes kept in the car rather than the caravan, since sandy, wet children rarely want to walk back for it. Bikes are worth bringing if your park has cycle paths or is close to a coastal trail, and a car boot cool bag makes packed lunches for day trips much easier.

None of these questions take long to ask, and any decent family holiday parks park will have straightforward answers ready. If a question gets dodged or fudged, that's often more useful information than the answer itself.

If you're travelling with a dog, check the pet policy in detail rather than assuming all units accept them. Ask which specific caravans or lodges are dog-friendly, whether there's an extra charge, and whether there are dog walking areas on site. This is one of the most common causes of a frustrating check-in when it's left unchecked.