If you're bringing a dog, check the pet policy before you book rather than after. Parks vary on which units accept dogs, whether there's a charge, and whether there are walking areas on site. It's a five-minute check that saves a difficult phone call later.

Coast and countryside both make for a good UK break, so the real question is what kind of days you want to have rather than which is objectively better.

A static caravan Tingdene Holiday Parks Limited gives you a proper living area, a kitchen and usually two or three bedrooms, so it works well for families or groups who want room to spread out rather than one hotel room shared between everyone. Mornings tend to be more relaxed, you can make breakfast in your own time, let the kids potter about in pyjamas a bit longer, and plan your day without waiting on a restaurant sitting. Evenings work the same way. If you've had a full day out, cooking something simple and settling in with the caravan's own living space beats getting everyone dressed again for a dining room.

The first thing to check is whether you can move outside a Friday-to-Friday or Saturday-to-Saturday week. Many parks release short breaks, three or four nights rather than a full week, and these tend to have more late availability simply because fewer people search for them. If your dates can flex by even a day or two, you'll usually see more choice.

Ask how far the park actually is from the beach or the coast, in minutes rather than vague terms like "nearby". A ten-minute drive and a forty-minute drive are both sometimes described the same way in marketing copy, so it's worth checking a map or asking directly if walking to the coast matters to your plans.

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.