Read more from Tingdene Holiday Parks.

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.

Finally, read a handful of recent reviews rather than just the star rating. Look for comments on cleanliness, how the caravan or lodge compared to its photos, and how helpful the on-site team were if something needed sorting. A pattern across several reviews tells you more than any one glowing or grumbling comment on its own.

If you're not sure, think about what you did on your last few breaks that you enjoyed most. If it was a beach day, book coastal. If it was a quiet walk or a pub lunch somewhere green, the countryside or Broads setting is probably the better fit for this trip.

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.

If your trip is about a relaxed, self-catering base with room to actually live in for a few days, a static caravan Tingdene Holiday Parks 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.

Read more from coastal caravan holidays.