I took my family on a budget winter Spain caravan holiday for £80 a week – it was great value but not like we imagined
With winter weather on the way, we'd all love a long stay in Spain and if you have your own motorhome or caravan, you can get a brilliant deal when staying a month or more at a holiday park abroad.
But even if you don't bring your own mobile accommodation, there are still bargains to be had.
A few years ago I paid less than £80 to hire a two-bed caravan for a week at one of the Spanish sites that proves popular every year with Brits escaping the UK winter.
After flying to Barcelona, it was just a 90-minute bus or train ride down the coast to seaside resort Vilanova i la Geltru on the Costa Dorada, where Vilanova Park sits high up on the hills above the town.
We're used to holidaying at Haven, where caravans are well insulated and often have central heating.
But holiday parks abroad are often a bit more basic when it comes to budget accommodation as cold weather is less of a concern, and our caravan in Vilanova was no exception.
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It was chilly at night and the beds were fairly flimsy, but still a fantastic bargain for the price.
When Brits imagine Spain, we think it's year-round sun and sangria, but that certainly wasn't the case when we were there.
Autumn can be stormy and strong winds had brought down a tree in the children's play area, while torrential rain turned paths into waterfalls for a day or two.
When the weather was clear, we enjoyed the two open air pools and water slides on site.
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Then on rainy days, we headed indoors to make the most of another smaller pool, although we had to buy fetching brown swim hats to wear before we were allowed in.
There was a supermarket and a restaurant/bar in a restored farmhouse on site, but as we went at a quiet time of year we weren't surprised to find little in the way of entertainment or kids activities.
The boys were kept happy kicking a ball around the sports courts or having a go at the outdoor table tennis though.
I think not having the hustle and bustle of a busier site is what attracted a lot of the retired Brits who had brought their motorhomes over to stay at the park for the winter.
We spoke to several who said they returned every year, taking the ferry at the start of October and often not coming back until the New Year or even later.
Since Brexit, you need to be aware of the 90-day Schengen limit so that you don't overstay your welcome, but that's still three months of enjoying warmer weather.
As a student, I spent part of my gap year living by the beach in Vilanova, so I was keen to take my family back to show them what the Costa Dorada has to offer.
Vilanova is a lovely little Catalan coastal gem, with a miniature train that runs in a park overlooking the sea at the weekends.
Wide golden sands made the beach a hit with all the family and it was easy to get down to the town using the bus that stops outside the caravan park.
We spent a couple of nights in Barcelona city centre before flying home, taking the boys to the Ramblas and the Sagrada Familia.
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It was the perfect balance of holiday park and city break if you're travelling with small children.
Remember to pack a raincoat if you head to Spain out of season, but you could weather a lot worse if you're wanting to while your winter away overseas.
