Find out how bidding on a holiday rental could be the right decision for you.

It’s always exciting to win something, so imagine the feeling of winning the perfect holiday accommodation in an auction.

Holiday rentals are strongly becoming the accommodation of choice. With extra space to relax and unwind in comparison with hotels, the price per square foot can calculate up to four times less expensive in some European destinations.

In the current climate, many holiday makers look for ways to make their budget go further. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider booking your holiday accommodation through an auction.

First, Its fun
There is fun to be had in participating in an auction. The thrill of getting the winning bid can only be overshadowed by obtaining your dream holiday rental.

Great Deals
By bidding in the auction for your holiday rental you can receive savings and special offers that are not normally found through more standard holiday rental portals

Take a break, last minute
If you are looking for a last minute escape, holiday rental auctions are a good place to start, as last minute availability is often listed. Searching by date and duration saves you the time of going through pages and pages of rentals that are not available.

Keep your options open.
Have more than one favorite? Bidding in auction for a holiday rental means you can participate in more than one auction at a time. Simply stop your bids in others when you’re sure to win one.

Variety of lengths
Many standard holiday rentals can be fixed for the duration of 7 nights, with a fixed change over day. Holiday rental auctions have a variety of durations and arrival days. Auctions help you find the rental that fits the free time you have to take a vacation. In the search for a short break with a difference, a holiday rentals auction could offer an ideal solution for a stay of 2 nights or 3.

A Gypsy Caravan Holiday is an adventure!
It’s an escape from the busy every-day life: imagine living in a Gypsy caravan for a few days, handling a horse and driving through an unspoiled, idyllic countryside.
You can spend a holiday like this for example in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Hungary with different horse breeds and a vardos in variations.

How can I book, how does it work?

There are hire-companies and travel agencies that offer you a trip with a fully fitted and very practical Gypsy caravan for the holiday together with usually one horse, sometimes two.

Bow top wagons, made out of wood and stretched canvas are used preferably. These vehicles are about 5m long (without horse) and approx. 2m wide. They can weigh up to 750kg. In most places Irish Cobs or Gypsy draft horses are used, as they are very well tempered, calm and very good with children. In a lot of cases a collar harness is used.

What, if I haven’t got any experience with horses?

Everyone gets an initial thorough introduction into functionality of the vardo and handling and caring for the horse. It will be explained to you how to harness up and put the horse onto the caravan, how to feed and water it, how to groom and how to look after hooves and hoof shoes.

What do I need to bring with me?

Space is limited in a vardo, therefore you need to bring practical clothing and only gear you really need and dont forget the wet wear, as in some areas weather can be quiet unpredictable even during the summer: spells of rain can occur at any time. Most hire companies give you bedding, but ask you to bring your own towels. A good idea is also to bring your own sleeping bag. Take also a book or two and some games for the children. A mobile phone for emergencies is a good idea. Also, Bank facilities and ATM’s are usually not passed during the trip (the routes are quite well selected and you will travel on calm, more remote roads.)

You will drive along a fix route and check in at selected over night stops, where you will find grazing for the horse, electricity, shower and toilet facilities.

When is the best time to travel? How much does it cost approximately?

Gypsy caravan holiday operations are open from April to October, with a main season in the summer months July – August.

Prices in 2007 were around 500 (600 in high season) per week and caravan and they will usually ask for approx.10 – 15 % deposit. There will be surcharges for the compulsory over night stops, which might be between 15-20 per caravan. You can book short trips over 2 or 3 days or longer ones over 4 or 6 days. If you enjoy it very much, trips can be prolonged in most cases.

A Gypsy caravan holiday is certainly an adventurous vacation and you will experience life from a totally different point of view, in a slower pace. You might even want to take a longer break and organize your tour through different countries with your own vardo and horse/s.