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What's The Difference Between Away Resorts Caravan Grades and Lodge Grades?
Our 2024 comparison of Value, Comfort and Superior Caravans, Lodges and Exclusive Away Resort accommodation
Away Resorts accommodation ranges from Value Caravans...
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...through to Exclusive Rockstar properties with hot tubs
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Away Resorts is a big player in the UK holiday park market with more than 20 caravan and lodge resorts.
When you book a holiday with Away Resorts, you'll face a somewhat confusing selection of different accommodation grades at hugely varied prices.
For example, we looked for a week's holiday in August 2024 at Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight and found 31 different types of accommodation ranging from about £1000 to almost £4000!
So, what's the difference between accommodation grades like Value, Comfort and Superior at Away Resorts? And what about fancy lodges and 'Exclusive' properties with hot tubs and exotic names like Rockstar and TriBeCa? And what's the difference between a caravan and a lodge?
Fear not! Here is the brief summary for those who just want the gist of it:
Away Resorts has produced its own helpful comparison guide here but the rest of this guide will go into more depth, with price comparisons and our opinion on which Away Resorts upgrades are worth the money.
Let's go girls! (That was meant to sound like Shania Twain but it's hard to put that across in text).
When you book a holiday with Away Resorts, you'll face a somewhat confusing selection of different accommodation grades at hugely varied prices.
For example, we looked for a week's holiday in August 2024 at Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight and found 31 different types of accommodation ranging from about £1000 to almost £4000!
So, what's the difference between accommodation grades like Value, Comfort and Superior at Away Resorts? And what about fancy lodges and 'Exclusive' properties with hot tubs and exotic names like Rockstar and TriBeCa? And what's the difference between a caravan and a lodge?
Fear not! Here is the brief summary for those who just want the gist of it:
- Most Away Resorts accommodation is either caravans (smaller and cheaper) or lodges (larger and more expensive).
- Each of these 'Classic' style holiday homes is given a grade ranging from Value (£) to Indulgent (£££££).
- The main things missing from cheaper grades of caravan and lodge are towels, central heating, decking or a patio and a hot tub.
- Jumping up a grade is cheap off peak, but can cost hundreds of pounds in summer.
- In our opinion, your priority should be to get a more spacious holiday home by upgrading from a caravan to a lodge or by getting an extra bedroom. Jumping up a grade is a nice bonus, but is less important.
- There is also a range of more expensive properties called Exclusive accommodation. These are similar to a high grade lodge with trendy décor.
Away Resorts has produced its own helpful comparison guide here but the rest of this guide will go into more depth, with price comparisons and our opinion on which Away Resorts upgrades are worth the money.
Let's go girls! (That was meant to sound like Shania Twain but it's hard to put that across in text).
What are the main accommodation grades at Away Resorts?
The first decision you need to make is between these three options:
Away Resorts refers to the first two - caravans and lodges - as their 'Classic' accommodation but I've split them up as there is a significant difference in how spacious they are.
If you go for a caravan or a lodge, you then have a choice of four or five grades.
Caravans at Away Resorts come in five grades, that look like this:
Meanwhile, lodges at Away Resorts come in four grades:
This rating tells us whether the property has things like double glazing, central heating, towels included, outdoor furniture and a patio. We will go into this in more detail shortly. The (£) signs are to give you an idea of how they rank, although it's only a rough guide. For example, a Superior Lodge will usually cost a lot more than a Superior Caravan.
- Caravans (the cheap and cosy option, which can be as narrow as 10 foot)
- Lodges (the mid-priced option, which are generally much wider)
- 'Exclusive' properties (the expensive option. They are essentially lodges with fancy interior décor).
Away Resorts refers to the first two - caravans and lodges - as their 'Classic' accommodation but I've split them up as there is a significant difference in how spacious they are.
If you go for a caravan or a lodge, you then have a choice of four or five grades.
Caravans at Away Resorts come in five grades, that look like this:
- Value (£)
- Comfort (££)
- Superior (£££)
- Luxury (££££)
- Indulgent (£££££)
Meanwhile, lodges at Away Resorts come in four grades:
- Comfort (££)
- Superior (£££)
- Luxury (££££)
- Indulgent (£££££)
This rating tells us whether the property has things like double glazing, central heating, towels included, outdoor furniture and a patio. We will go into this in more detail shortly. The (£) signs are to give you an idea of how they rank, although it's only a rough guide. For example, a Superior Lodge will usually cost a lot more than a Superior Caravan.
A typical kitchen in an Away Resorts Luxury Caravan (££££)...
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...is much smaller than a kitchen in an Away Resorts Luxury Lodge (££££)
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What about 'Exclusive' properties like TriBeCa, Rockstar and Esme?
You've probably also spotted a big range of properties with quirky names. Away Resorts call these the Exclusive range. These include The TriBeCa, The Rockstar, Esme, The Zen and Burst of Blue as well as several others (see the full range here).
In my opinion, these are basically nice lodges with classy interior design. I think of them as a higher grade of lodge, because they are similarly spacious and well equipped (as the saying goes, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck).
Lots of these quirky properties are only available at one of two resorts. For example, the 'Vista' properties are only at Away Resorts Sandy Balls Holiday Park. If you have your heart set on staying in a Rockstar property because you saw Shane Ritchie staying in one on a TV programme then you will only have a choice of two holiday parks (Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight and Tattershall Lakes Holiday Park in Lincolnshire).
In my opinion, these are basically nice lodges with classy interior design. I think of them as a higher grade of lodge, because they are similarly spacious and well equipped (as the saying goes, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck).
Lots of these quirky properties are only available at one of two resorts. For example, the 'Vista' properties are only at Away Resorts Sandy Balls Holiday Park. If you have your heart set on staying in a Rockstar property because you saw Shane Ritchie staying in one on a TV programme then you will only have a choice of two holiday parks (Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight and Tattershall Lakes Holiday Park in Lincolnshire).
Away Resorts has its own 'Exclusive' accommodation like the Esme...
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...and the TriBeCa. These are similar to lodges but they have fancier decor.
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What about glamping, chalets, cottages, apartments and houses?
Alright, alright keep your hair on. I was getting to that.
There are several other types of property that pop up on Away Resorts' website. For example, there are a small number of resorts with apartments, cottages, houses, chalets, glamping tents and pods. However, these are quite unusual so we won't include them in our main comparison. My advice is to look at the price to get a general idea of what the standard is like. Here's our summary:
And why are there some random properties at just one or two sites, I hear you ask?
Away Resorts has bought and upgraded existing holiday resorts rather than building all its sites from scratch. For example, it bought several holiday parks from Aria Resorts in 2021 so it inherited all of their stock.
It's not like Center Parcs in the UK, where whole sites were purpose built so there is a higher level of consistency.
As a result, Away Resorts has had to create a grading system that fits their wide range of properties.
There are several other types of property that pop up on Away Resorts' website. For example, there are a small number of resorts with apartments, cottages, houses, chalets, glamping tents and pods. However, these are quite unusual so we won't include them in our main comparison. My advice is to look at the price to get a general idea of what the standard is like. Here's our summary:
- Cottages at Away Resorts are rows of single storey terraced accommodation that have been renovated. They are only at The Bay Colwell on the Isle of Wight. A few years ago, the resort was known as Colwell Bay Holiday Park and had different owners. The properties still look similar on the outside but have been upgraded internally with hot tubs added to some of them.
- Glamping at Away Resorts is either in bell tents or wooden pods. Bell tents are much less spacious than the safari tents offered by some glamping resorts and are only at Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight. I see them as upgraded camping. The glamping pods are more substantial buildings that are more like micro-homes. They are only at St Ives Bay in Cornwall.
- Houses at Away Resorts are only at St Ives Bay in Cornwall. They are large and rather nice properties for big groups of up to 10 people. They are quite expensive but can be good value if you split the price between 10.
- Apartments at Away Resorts are only at Retallack in Cornwall. They overlook the lake and just have one bedroom so are a good choice for couples. It's quite unusual for a holiday resort to have accommodation for couples, so it can be a good value option.
- Chalets are available at three Away Resorts. These tend to be a budget option and are similar to some Butlins accommodation. Lots of them have been nicely modernised inside. I would say they are similar to a lower grade caravan rather than a lodge.
And why are there some random properties at just one or two sites, I hear you ask?
Away Resorts has bought and upgraded existing holiday resorts rather than building all its sites from scratch. For example, it bought several holiday parks from Aria Resorts in 2021 so it inherited all of their stock.
It's not like Center Parcs in the UK, where whole sites were purpose built so there is a higher level of consistency.
As a result, Away Resorts has had to create a grading system that fits their wide range of properties.
There are other kinds of accommodation at a small number of Away Resorts, such as these apartments at Retallack Resort...
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...and these chalets at Whitecliff Bay, St Ives Bay and Golden Sands
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What is included with different grades of caravan and lodge at Away Resorts?
Now we're getting to the detail!
As I said earlier, Away Resorts has produced a comparison guide that covers a lot of this.
However, I've done some digging to include a bit more detail.
There are some things that you get regardless of which grade of Away Resorts caravan or lodge you choose. These include:
There are also dog friendly properties in every grade of caravan. This isn't the case with some holiday park companies which insist that dog owners slum it in their 'bronze' grade caravans whilst the dog-free neighbours live it up in their hot tub next door.
Here's our comparison of caravan grades at Away Resorts. We think this is all correct, but it's a bit confusing so double check when you've chosen your property as I may have been distracted by a child pulling on my arm.
As I said earlier, Away Resorts has produced a comparison guide that covers a lot of this.
However, I've done some digging to include a bit more detail.
There are some things that you get regardless of which grade of Away Resorts caravan or lodge you choose. These include:
- A cooker, oven, microwave, kettle, fridge and toaster (I'm yet to find a caravan or lodge that doesn't include all of these)
- A TV in the lounge
- Beds made on arrival
There are also dog friendly properties in every grade of caravan. This isn't the case with some holiday park companies which insist that dog owners slum it in their 'bronze' grade caravans whilst the dog-free neighbours live it up in their hot tub next door.
Here's our comparison of caravan grades at Away Resorts. We think this is all correct, but it's a bit confusing so double check when you've chosen your property as I may have been distracted by a child pulling on my arm.
Grade/ feature |
Value (£) |
Comfort (££) |
Superior (£££) |
Luxury (££££) |
Indulgent (£££££) |
Check in time |
4pm |
4pm |
4pm |
4pm |
2.30pm |
Towels |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Double glazing, central heating |
No* |
No* |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Decking/ patio |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Outdoor furniture |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Bath/ shower** |
Shower |
Shower |
Shower |
Bath or shower |
'Bathroom' |
Hot tub |
No |
No |
Optional upgrade |
Optional upgrade |
Optional upgrade |
Bedrooms |
2 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
An Away Resorts 'Indulgent Caravan' (£££££) gives you a balcony or outside space
That's a lot of information. What are the key points?
- When you upgrade from a Value Caravan (£) to a Comfort Caravan (££) there isn't really any difference in the features you get. The main difference is that Comfort Caravans are a bit larger.
- If you want towels provided then you need to leap up to a Luxury Caravan (££££). You may decide that it's worth bringing your own towels if the difference is several hundreds of pounds.
- Central heating and double glazing don't come with the two cheapest grades. You have to make do with a heater in the lounge. This is more of a deal-breaker for a winter break than it is for a week in summer. Double glazing does help regulate heat in summer, but it wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me in the warmer months as we are outside a lot.
- Where you see an asterisk (*) on our table it means that there are usually one or two exceptions. You can find out what these are on this page.
- If you want a hot tub with Away Resorts, you need to be looking at the higher grades. I've not seen them offered as an upgrade with Value (£) and Comfort (££) caravans.
A few other things to note that aren't shown in our table above:
- **In Value Caravans (£) and Comfort Caravans (££) you just get a shower rather than a bath. However, some of the cheaper lodges come with baths and some come with showers.
- Some properties come with a fridge/freezer whilst others come with a fridge with a freezer compartment (which is nowhere near as good in my experience). There doesn't seem to be a neat rule for which properties come with which type of fridge, so we couldn't include it in our table above. However, generally you are more likely to get a larger freezer space in the larger properties, such as the more expensive lodges.
- I've seen barely mention of dishwashers in the listing for lodges and caravans with Away Resorts. I've concluded that you don't generally get one, but take a look at the individual listings when you get through to a booking page. Some of the Exclusive properties come with dishwashers such as the Exclusive Cottages at The Bay Filey. We will move onto those shortly! Thankyou for your patience, caller.
- If you are a party of five or six people then you could theoretically stay in a Value Caravan (£). However, they only have two bedrooms so one or two people will end up sleeping on a fold up beach in the lounge. This isn't ideal, so if possible I would get a higher grade with three bedrooms.
- Away Resorts don't tell you how big each property is, which makes comparison a bit tricky. However, the general industry standards are that caravans range from 10 foot to 14 foot wide (about 3m to 4.2m). Away Resorts don't specifically say that their higher grade caravans are wider but that is certainly the case with Haven. Lodges in other holiday parks are usually around 20 foot wide (about 6m), but it does vary. As I've said elsewhere, the difference between a caravan and a lodge is huge. It is most notable in the second bedroom, where lodges tend to use standard single mattresses and caravans use narrower mattresses. Teenagers and adults may feel a bit too cosy on a narrow bed.
There's a big difference in size between caravans and lodges. This is a typical 'Luxury Caravan' second bedroom...
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...whilst this is a typical 'Luxury Lodge' second bedroom. The lodge has standard single beds whilst the caravan has narrower mattresses.
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What about the Exclusive properties? What facilities do they come with?
At the time of writing, there are 21 different types of property within the 'Exclusive' range at Away Resorts.
However, that's a bit misleading as most of them are only available at one or two resorts. For example, The Bay Colwell on the Isle of Wight has 'Beach Lodges' that you won't find anywhere else.
As I said earlier, the best way to think about the Exclusive range is that they are lodges with a few bells and whistles. Some have particularly good views, others have quirky interior decor (The Esme, The Rockstar) or bath tubs in the main bedroom.
Each of the Exclusive properties with Away Resorts comes with the same features that you get with a 'Luxury' (££££) caravan or lodge. So, that means you get towels, double glazing, central heating, a patio or decking as well as basic things like cooking facilities, beds made on arrival and a TV.
There are two perks that come with all Exclusive properties:
Hot tubs are also a big part of the appeal of the Exclusive accommodation at Away Resorts. You don't get them with every single property, but they are usually available as an upgrade.
There are also various extras that come with some Exclusive properties. Here's a selection of some of the more interesting ones:
However, that's a bit misleading as most of them are only available at one or two resorts. For example, The Bay Colwell on the Isle of Wight has 'Beach Lodges' that you won't find anywhere else.
As I said earlier, the best way to think about the Exclusive range is that they are lodges with a few bells and whistles. Some have particularly good views, others have quirky interior decor (The Esme, The Rockstar) or bath tubs in the main bedroom.
Each of the Exclusive properties with Away Resorts comes with the same features that you get with a 'Luxury' (££££) caravan or lodge. So, that means you get towels, double glazing, central heating, a patio or decking as well as basic things like cooking facilities, beds made on arrival and a TV.
There are two perks that come with all Exclusive properties:
- allocated parking, which you don't get with the caravans and lodges.
- an earlier check in time of 2.30pm, instead of 4pm. You get this with some caravans and lodges but not many.
Hot tubs are also a big part of the appeal of the Exclusive accommodation at Away Resorts. You don't get them with every single property, but they are usually available as an upgrade.
There are also various extras that come with some Exclusive properties. Here's a selection of some of the more interesting ones:
- The Heartwood property comes with a large bath in the main bedroom. These are available at four resorts including Away Resorts Tattershall Lakes Holiday Park and Away Resorts Appletree Country Park in Lincolnshire, Away Resorts Sandy Balls Holiday Park in the New Forest and Away Resorts Mill Rythe Holiday Village in Hampshire.
- The Stargazer has skylights as well as a freestanding bath in the main bedroom. They are only at Away Resorts St Ives Bay in Cornwall
- The TriBeCa has TVs in all the bedrooms, a 'Manhattan style' décor, and a bath in the main bedroom. These are available at Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight, Away Resorts Tattershall Lakes Holiday Park in Lincolnshire, Away Resorts Mill Rythe Holiday Village in Hampshire and Away Resorts Sandy Balls Holiday Park in the New Forest.
Heartwood accommodation comes under the 'Exclusive' category at Away Resorts
Which Away Resorts accommodation upgrades are worth the money?
Now, that's a good question! (Ed: er, I think it was your question).
The short answer is that it varies by the time of year you are visiting and what sort of holiday you are planning.
As an example, we looked at a holiday in a two bedroom caravan at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight.
In August 2024, we were quoted:
Meanwhile, in September 2024 the prices had dropped significantly. We were quoted:
So, in August 2024, the cost of upgrading from Value (£) to Indulgent was £694. In September, the same upgrade was £346.
You might conclude that it is worth upgrading in September but not in August. £694 is quite a lot to pay for towels, outside space and central heating. Admittedly there may be other upgrades - such as a bigger TV - but those are the guaranteed upgrades.
And what about a hot tub?
Upgrading from a standard Superior Lodge to one with a hot tub was £247 in September or £631 in August.
The short answer is that it varies by the time of year you are visiting and what sort of holiday you are planning.
As an example, we looked at a holiday in a two bedroom caravan at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight.
In August 2024, we were quoted:
- £1524 for a Value Caravan (£).
- £1928 for a Luxury Caravan (££££). That's an extra £404.
- £2218 for an Indulgent Caravan (£££££). That's an extra £694.
Meanwhile, in September 2024 the prices had dropped significantly. We were quoted:
- £348 for a two bedroom Value Caravan (£)
- £596 for a Luxury Caravan (££££)
- £692 for an Indulgent Caravan (£££££).
So, in August 2024, the cost of upgrading from Value (£) to Indulgent was £694. In September, the same upgrade was £346.
You might conclude that it is worth upgrading in September but not in August. £694 is quite a lot to pay for towels, outside space and central heating. Admittedly there may be other upgrades - such as a bigger TV - but those are the guaranteed upgrades.
And what about a hot tub?
Upgrading from a standard Superior Lodge to one with a hot tub was £247 in September or £631 in August.
The cost of upgrading from a Value Caravan (£)....
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...to an Indulgent Caravan (£££££) varies depending on the time of year
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What is 'Classic' accommodation at Away Resorts?
You may have seen Away Resorts referring to Classic accommodation versus Exclusive accommodation on its website. Equally, you may not have seen this at all and may be wondering what I'm talking about.
- Classic accommodation includes all of their caravans and lodges, regardless of the grade. These are often properties that they've inherited when they've bought a holiday park and will be very familiar to those of us who enjoy holiday parks.
- Exclusive accommodation - as mentioned elsewhere in this guide - is all the quirky properties such as the Rockstar and TriBeCa accommodation. Scroll up a bit to read a lot more on this.
Conclusion - which grade should I go for at Away Resorts?
Each Away Resorts has its own range of accommodation so it's hard to give a simple answer that you should always go for a particular type of property regardless of where you stay.
Personally, I think that the upgrades from Value (£) to Superior (£££) are fairly modest. Whichever option you choose, you get adequate cooking facilities. None of them come with towels included, so the main difference is whether there is the option to upgrade to a hot tub.
I am big fan of outside space or decking when I'm staying in a caravan or lodge. It's a major plus plus point if you are visiting in summer but less of a big deal in winter or autumn. If outside space is important then you would need to go for a Luxury (££££) grade or higher.
And what if you have the choice of either jumping up a grade or changing from a caravan to a lodge?
My preference is always to go for a lodge (or an Exclusive property). They tend to be much more spacious than the caravans which is more important to me than whether I get towels included. As mentioned earlier, the biggest difference is the width of the beds in the second bedroom. Caravans often use narrower single beds. I've had a few dodgy nights on these whilst sharing a room with a child who couldn't sleep!
Another big factor that may be more important than the grades is how many bedrooms the property has.
The common trick in the caravan market is to put two people in the lounge, so that a two bedroom property 'sleeps six people'. We've found this to be OK for a couple of days but having an extra bedroom is much more comfortable. Let's say a family of six people was choosing between a Comfort Caravan (££) with three bedrooms and a Superior Caravan (£££) with two bedrooms. I would advise them to go for the Comfort Caravan (££) with the extra bedroom if it costs the same.
Don't forget to use our discount code at Away Resorts - check the top of the page for the latest offer.
Personally, I think that the upgrades from Value (£) to Superior (£££) are fairly modest. Whichever option you choose, you get adequate cooking facilities. None of them come with towels included, so the main difference is whether there is the option to upgrade to a hot tub.
I am big fan of outside space or decking when I'm staying in a caravan or lodge. It's a major plus plus point if you are visiting in summer but less of a big deal in winter or autumn. If outside space is important then you would need to go for a Luxury (££££) grade or higher.
And what if you have the choice of either jumping up a grade or changing from a caravan to a lodge?
My preference is always to go for a lodge (or an Exclusive property). They tend to be much more spacious than the caravans which is more important to me than whether I get towels included. As mentioned earlier, the biggest difference is the width of the beds in the second bedroom. Caravans often use narrower single beds. I've had a few dodgy nights on these whilst sharing a room with a child who couldn't sleep!
Another big factor that may be more important than the grades is how many bedrooms the property has.
The common trick in the caravan market is to put two people in the lounge, so that a two bedroom property 'sleeps six people'. We've found this to be OK for a couple of days but having an extra bedroom is much more comfortable. Let's say a family of six people was choosing between a Comfort Caravan (££) with three bedrooms and a Superior Caravan (£££) with two bedrooms. I would advise them to go for the Comfort Caravan (££) with the extra bedroom if it costs the same.
Don't forget to use our discount code at Away Resorts - check the top of the page for the latest offer.
