£9.50 Sun and Daily Mail Holidays

Sometimes going away on a Sun holiday can make one the butt of jokes but, snobbery aside, they are seldom noticeably inferior to any other holidays in their genre other than for the obvious fact that they will have cost less.

Launched nearly two decades ago, the Sun holiday is priced at £9.50 per person off season (the paper has since expanded into the peak season market, where it charges all of £15 instead). This price is based upon a minimum of four people per family, although at £38 it is worth paying for four even if holidaying alone. There is a small, optional charge for insurance and most parks add their own disbursements such a entertainment passes, linen and electricity. All the same the total bill for a whole family for either a weekend (three nights) or midweek (four nights) break will always be substantially less than £100.

More recently the Daily Mail has entered the same market, at the same price.

The deal is that every few months the newspaper will announce a new round of holidays. Participants need to collect a series of tokens from the newspaper and then fill out an online booking form using the codes provided, giving four possible dates and choices of four holiday parks. The scheme then awards the applicant with a holiday at £9.50 per head at one of the selected holiday parks on one of the chosen dates.

Caravans and chalets (usually) come in variable types and qualities, and with such holidays it really is pot luck as to whether you get one overlooking the sea or the site, have rowdy neighbours or inclement weather. The difference is, frankly, that if you've only paid £9.50 then you are apt to feel less hard done by if you do not, as to be fair you often do, fall on your feet.

If you like that kind of thing the entertainment and experience on these holiday parks can be superb, and the stuff of great memories. The author cannot speak highly enough of the £9.50 Sun or Daily Mail holiday. Try it and see.