A static caravan is bigger inside than most people expect from the outside. Most units have a separate living area with a sofa and television, a kitchen with a cooker, fridge and the basics you'd find in a small kitchen at home, and two or three bedrooms depending on the size you've booked. It's closer to a small, self-contained holiday cottage than anything resembling camping.

There isn't one single answer to how far ahead you should book, because it depends heavily on when you actually want to go.

Day trips are where staycation budgets often quietly slip, so it's worth planning a mix rather than assuming every day needs an admission ticket. A coastal walk, a free stretch of beach, or a wander round a market town costs nothing beyond fuel, and mixing these in with the odd paid attraction keeps the week varied without every day carrying a ticket price.

Find out more at tingdeneholidayparks.com.

If your trip is about a relaxed, self-catering base with room to actually live in for a few days, a static caravan holiday at one of our parks is worth a look. If it's about a compact, everything-sorted stay in the middle of things, a hotel is the better fit. Most families find the caravan route suits a coastal or countryside staycation particularly well, simply because there's more to come back to at the end of a day out.

There's also a cost angle to booking early, separate from availability. Parks often price the same week differently depending on how far out you book and how full that week already is, so an early booking for a peak week can work out better value than trying to catch a late deal that never quite materialises for the exact dates you need.