Following our return from time away in the Cotswolds, we took the decision to put our caravan up for sale, but this isn’t the end of our caravanning adventure, it’s just the end of part one! We always planned on having a ‘cheap’ second hand caravan as our starter van, (not that caravanning is in anyway cheap) to make sure that we both enjoy using it, make sure we actually use it and don’t mind the towing. During our adventures over the last year we have both agreed to all three points.

While away relaxing we started the task of researching new vans, layouts and manufacturers. We took the time to visit a couple of local dealers who stock a variety of different brands to see the build quality, specifications and designs. Having decided on a fixed bed we then looked at the two main layout options, this being a side bed with rear bathroom and a rear bed with amidship bathroom.

When looking at a dealership we noticed that in the Elddis brand caravans the bathroom door in the central washroom could be used as a bedroom door also. This means that guests could be staying in the front half of the caravan and we could still have privacy (as there is also a curtain that can be used to divide off the bedroom).

This led us down the Elddis route and with their open weekend at the start of September we then starting making enquiries into dealerships on prices etc. We were lucky enough to kindly be send the internal pictures of the new 2022 model prior to their official release and loved what we saw.

With the idea that we would be replacing our caravan and give the current demand for used vehicles we made the decision that upon our return from our week in the Cotwolds that we would prepare it for sale. Out came the carpet cleaner, the dusters and the polish. Within a few days of advertising the van was sold and we prepared to travel the 200 miles up to Durham for the weekend to check out what Elddis had to offer.

The Erwin Hymer Group factory is located on the outskirts of Consett (a town 20 minutes from Durham). During our visit to the open weekend we had the opportunity to walk around all of the 2022 models from the group, including Elddis, Compass, Buccaneer and Explore. It was interesting to see that there is actually very little differences between the Elddis and Compass ranges apart from the colour of the wood finish within the vans and obviously the soft furnishings. We also looked in all three of the Elddis model ranges in the rear bed layout, the Avante, Affinity and Crusader. This really did help us to make sure that we were picking the right caravan for us.

After lots of opening of draws, laying of beds and looking in cupboards we knew that the Affinity 550 was definitely the right specification for us. We love the colour scheme for 2022 (Riviera) and think the colour of the wood makes gives a luxurious look.

The Affinity 550 comes with Alde wet central heating that was a selling point, as we want to use the caravan in the winter as well as the summer.

Having confirmed our research with actually being able to sit and look inside a physical caravan we then started to talk to Jordon from Robinsons Caravans.

We discussed our requirements including adding the omni-vent and a few other bits and pieces. We agreed on a price and the deal was done!

Whilst at the show we did ask about perspective delivery dates and we were told November/December 2021, while it would be lovely to get the van this side of Christmas given the current delays people are currently sharing online we will not hold our breath on this! Fingerscross that we have the van for our first booked trip away to the Lake District in April 2022.