Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back on the menu, the schools are open again, and that can only mean one thing… Autumn is back! Whilst often overlooked in favour of summer getaways, autumn can be a stunning time to get away and see the UK and Europe with less heat and fewer crowds. We’ve compiled a little list to inspire you when you book your next trip away in a motorhome.

Whitby, England

The Yorkshire seaside town is packed with people in summer, but in autumn you can have a little more space to breathe and enjoy your quaint surroundings. Whitby leans into its gothic roots all year round, with spiritual shops and events, but autumn is where is really steps it up a gear, adding extra interest to your trip.

Alsace Region, France

This beautiful area of the world offers both majestic scenery and cosy hideaways, making it perfect for an autumn getaway. Visit the historical old town of Colmar, with it’s pubs, cafes and shops that have remained untouched for hundreds of years.

Nearby is medieval Castle Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg. It’s an incredible step back in time and has been painstakingly preserved. Strategically built on a hill, it offers incredible views of the surrounding area. In autumn, this means you can see the changing colours of the leaves in all their glory.

NC500, Scotland

The NC500 is one of the UK’s most popular road trips, and it’s even more beautiful in autumn. You’ll be able to feel more remote without the summer holiday families, with some areas seeming like you have it entirely to yourselves.

You’re also much less likely to suffer from the dreaded Scottish midges while you enjoy a Lochside stroll!

Snowdon, Wales

One of the most popular destinations for walkers, Snowdon is picturesque all year round. While winter often becomes treacherous for walking many of the trails in the area, and summer means popular routes such as the Watkin Path are packed out, autumn offers the best of all worlds. On a clear day, you can expect ideal walking temperatures, and an uninterrupted hike.

Another added benefit of autumn is it is much easier to get a sunrise or sunset hike in, to really see all the oranges and reds of the leaves in stunning “golden hour” lighting.

Pendle, England

The Lancashire borough of Pendle is just under an hour from our Motorhome Rent UK depot. Visitors can enjoy Pendle Hill walks, doable for children and easy enough to tackle on a crisp autumn day. Around October time you can also indulge in Halloween activities, as this area is famous for it’s witches!

Make your August and September bookings NOW to secure a 10% discount!

Work from home is arguably the largest long lasting lifestyle change that has come from the Covid pandemic. For many people, regular attendance in the office is a thing of the past, and this leaves open a huge range of opportunities to see new places without eating into precious holiday days.

Campervans and motorhomes have come an increasingly popular way of sticking to the practicalities of working from home – it’s just that the home can now have a different view every other day! With a bit of planning, you can enjoy working and travelling. Here are our top tips:

Make Sure Your Internet Connection Is Solid

This is actually where your own touring vehicle can surpass a hotel. Whilst coffee shops are always a strong choice for getting good WIFI, they’re not always the best spot for meetings or quiet working. Investing in a Maxview Mobile WIFI device means that for the price of a data only sim each month, you can have all your devices working quickly, wherever you get 4G signal. There are also plenty of sites with good WIFI, although if you need fast downloads etc it may be worth calling ahead to check their strength before you rely on it.

Set Out Your Desk For Long Term Success

Whether the desk is outside, at your dinette table or on your bed, being able to sit comfortably for long periods of time is essential. Make sure you are able to sit upright with adequate support for your back and arms. For outdoors, a chair with lumbar support will be essential (check out our high back outdoor chairs in our accessories shop!).  

Establish Your Routine

While the thrill of working whilst touring is in the changes around you, for your work day, routine can work wonders. Setting yourself small breaks, and a firm start and finish time will mean you can enjoy your surroundings and be your usual productive self. 

Don’t Leave Charging to Chance

Your laptop can be charged while you are hooked up to mains electric, so if you’re staying on a site this will take care of itself. However, if you are planning to do work al fresco or do a spot of wilder camping, you may need back up. Total Cool portable generator, for example, ensures a constant supply of juice for your equipment, wherever you are on your adventures. 

Consider Extra Space

Especially important if there is more than one of you, creating extra space can make working from your motorhome or campervan a doddle. Many of our rentals offer a sun canopy to create some outdoor space. Alternatively, there’s the aforementioned coffee shops and many towns have informal co-working spaces if you need extra room. 

Where would you like to work from in your motorhome or campervan? Let us know!

We offer long term rentals at great rates, especially over the autumn/winter period. Enquire today at rentalbookings@prestoncm.co.uk, or call us on 01772 685949.

The Preston dealership has announced that Rob Clarkson and Neil Rowlands have joined the board as Service Operations Director and Finance Director, respectively.

Managing Director Glen Campbell said: “Bringing Rob and Neil to the board feels like a natural step in strengthening the Preston Caravans leadership team, ensuring all our key areas are represented in planning and improving the business for years to come.”

Rob has a strong background in aftersales, having brought experience from the auto trade to the caravan industry. He’s built a solid reputation in the caravan and motorhome world for creating efficiency and maximising the customer experience. Under his guidance as Aftersales Manager, he has honed the aftersales team and improved our processes and will have key involvement in the company’s further plans for expansion.

Neil is also a strong asset to the Preston Caravans and Motorhomes team. A trained accountant, he has proven his business acumen and has been a successful Financial Controller at Preston Caravans. His forward thinking ensures that we will continue to diversify and invest wisely in the future of this business.

The new appointments join the rest of the board; Glen Campbell (Managing Director), Adam Hulme (Sales Director), Katie Campbell (Accessories and Rental Director) and Charlotte Campbell (Marketing Director).

We are looking for a confident rental assistant to be part of our motorhome rental team. Our ideal candidate is happy to work independently as well as taking direction where needed, and is confident talking with the public. A good eye for detail is essential, as we take pride in our rental service and vehicles being the best in the industry. This role has busy periods, especially in the summer, so strong initiative and can-do attitude is key.

Your role will include:

• Using our rental booking system (training provided) to book in our customers for their motorhome and campervan hire
• Contacting customers over the phone to remind them to send in documents and pay remaining balances
• Checking through the motorhomes (checklist provided) to ensure that they are ready and have the right equipment and are in pristine condition
• Showing customers round their motorhome on the day of collection and explaining how to use the main elements such as the boiler (full training on how to do this will be provided)
• Checking customers back in when they return their motorhome and using our guide to make sure there has been no damage to the vehicle
• Liaising with the customers in the event of damage to ensure they are aware of charges that they will incur (again full training on this will be provided)

Full training will be provided, however candidates with existing experience in car hire, customer service or with caravans or motorhomes will be preferred.

Please be aware that this role includes regular weekend work, so consistent availability on Saturdays and Sundays is absolutely essential.

To apply, email your CV to katiec@prestoncm.co.uk

This is a role offered to replace an outgoing valued member of the finance team.

To apply, please email a copy of your CV to charlottec@prestoncm.co.uk

We would expect the role to include the following responsibilities;

• Obtaining authorisation from dept managers for all PL spend
• Posting purchase invoices to purchase ledger
• Perform supplier statement reconciliations back to ledgers
• Chase any identified missing invoices from suppliers
• Assisting in the preparation of the monthly payments
• Ensuring all credit card expenditure has a supporting invoice
• Posting all invoices to purchase ledger
• Reconciliation of Bank credit card income back to expected values
• Assisting in month end management accounts compilation
• Ordering stationery
• Other general admin duties within Finance

We operate with a Finance department of 3 including this role, so a tight unit with constant communication of any issues to resolve amongst the team.

We would expect all applicants to be at least AAT qualified or currently studying or qualified by experience. We are an equal opportunities employer and really looking to find the right person to fit into our team and wider organisation.

Of course relevant experience would be a distinct advantage as we would prefer the successful applicant to hit the ground with enough pace to pick up our systems & processes fairly quickly.

Full training will be provided and you may enjoy the benefit of a transitional handover period if you can start fairly quickly within the next few weeks.

Ideally we will be looking for an immediate start, however we may be able to wait a little longer for an exceptional candidate.

Benefits:

Flexible working hours

On-site parking

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £22,500.00 per year

Combine the slopes and the open road with a motorhome rental trip to Switzerland – here’s our suggested itinerary for a great trip, from our rentals assistant Brad. Prices based on 2 Weeks in Jan, Feb or March, the best times for snow.

Payment Options for your Motorhome Rental:

4 Berth:

Book now pay later – £300 Deposit, £759 6 Weeks Before Trip**

Pay Monthly – £300 Deposit, Monthly payment from £84 **

6 Berth:

Book now pay later – £300 Deposit, £837 6 weeks before trip **

Pay Monthly – £300 Deposit, Monthly payment from £94**

Itinerary

Day 1 – Rental Site – Harwich Port (Book Stena line Ferries to Hoek Van Holland Overnight Ferry Departs 23:00 arrives 08:00)

Day 2 – Arrive in Hoek Van Holland at 08:00, Begin Drive to Camping Fuussekaul Luxembourg (Approx. 4hr Drive)

Day 3 – Begin Drive to Camping Jungfrau Switzerland (Approx. 5hr 30 Drive)

Days 4 to 7 – Skiing in Jungfrau Ski Region

Day 8 – Begin Drive to Saas Fee on Resort Aire (Approx 2hr 15 including journey on the Kandersteg Car Train)

Days 9 – 11 Skiing in Saas-fee Region

Day 12 – Begin Drive Back to to Camping Fuussekaul Luxembourg (Approx 7hr)

Day 13 –  Begin Drive to Hoek Van Holland (Approx 4hr Drive, 14:15 Ferry, Arrives at 19:45)

Day 14 – Begin Drive from Harwich Port to Rental Site (Approx. 4hr 30 Drive)

** This price includes UK & EU insurance (fully comp), breakdown cover, awning, bike rack, unlimited mileage, 1 gas bottles, cutlery, kitchenware, electric lead, water hose and full handover. Hirer responsible for ferries, tolls, ski passes & campsites.

To book your next trip, contact us today on 01772 685949 or email rentalbookings@prestoncm.co.uk