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turnitdown
I spend most of my time overseas for work, and perhaps 50 nights a year in Edinburgh (also for work), usually 3 to 5 nights at a time. Currently I rent out my flat in Edinburgh and just stay in hotels, as this makes far more financial sense than keeping my flat empty 300+ days of the year. I'm a previous VW Beach owner, however, and I am trying to think through the pros and cons of getting a VW Beach or Ocean and using that as my Edinburgh base.
Most of my time in Edinburgh is low season, so I can usually get a cheap hotel or airbnb room for about £60 a night, so perhaps £3000 to £3500 a year (currently, this will go up with inflation presumably). These are pretty downmarket places not super convenient for work (the price would double for that). They're fine, but the main thing I miss is a sense of familiarity, of 'arriving home', if you know what I mean. It's always some new cheap hotel in some new location, whatever I can find for the dates I need. I have no cooking facilities, just a kettle for instant coffee.
The thing is, my workplace is generously provisioned with showers, and wild/stealth camping is very easy in Edinburgh, either right in the city or in beautiful location just outside. Using a VW California as 'home' in Edinburgh would be worse in some ways (smaller, would have to shower at work), but also better in some ways (a sense of home/familiarity/arrival, ability to store basic toiletries, ability to make proper coffee and cook a simple meal if I wanted). I should also say I have a great office space in Edinburgh and typically am in the office 9am-8pm during my short visits, so only need a place to sleep and have morning coffee for the most part.
Thinking just about the frequent brief stays in Edinburgh, I suspect the hotel wins - it's a bit cheaper (for now - not sure how prices of hotels will go up over the next 5 to 10 years), and all things considered a bit easier/convenient. However, I realise with a California I could also (i) get out of Edinburgh to the beach and hills for walks, etc., on my short visits, which I would really enjoy, and (ii) bring my kids every summer for, say, a 2 or 3 week holiday, either touring around the UK or heading to a different European country every summer (they are currently both under 10, so presumably we could do this every year for the next 10 years or so).
I realise I'd have to sort out where to keep the van, insurance issues, etc. Setting those issues aside, does anyone have feedback on this idea? Or has someone been in a similar situation, and if so what did you do and what was your experience?
Most of my time in Edinburgh is low season, so I can usually get a cheap hotel or airbnb room for about £60 a night, so perhaps £3000 to £3500 a year (currently, this will go up with inflation presumably). These are pretty downmarket places not super convenient for work (the price would double for that). They're fine, but the main thing I miss is a sense of familiarity, of 'arriving home', if you know what I mean. It's always some new cheap hotel in some new location, whatever I can find for the dates I need. I have no cooking facilities, just a kettle for instant coffee.
The thing is, my workplace is generously provisioned with showers, and wild/stealth camping is very easy in Edinburgh, either right in the city or in beautiful location just outside. Using a VW California as 'home' in Edinburgh would be worse in some ways (smaller, would have to shower at work), but also better in some ways (a sense of home/familiarity/arrival, ability to store basic toiletries, ability to make proper coffee and cook a simple meal if I wanted). I should also say I have a great office space in Edinburgh and typically am in the office 9am-8pm during my short visits, so only need a place to sleep and have morning coffee for the most part.
Thinking just about the frequent brief stays in Edinburgh, I suspect the hotel wins - it's a bit cheaper (for now - not sure how prices of hotels will go up over the next 5 to 10 years), and all things considered a bit easier/convenient. However, I realise with a California I could also (i) get out of Edinburgh to the beach and hills for walks, etc., on my short visits, which I would really enjoy, and (ii) bring my kids every summer for, say, a 2 or 3 week holiday, either touring around the UK or heading to a different European country every summer (they are currently both under 10, so presumably we could do this every year for the next 10 years or so).
I realise I'd have to sort out where to keep the van, insurance issues, etc. Setting those issues aside, does anyone have feedback on this idea? Or has someone been in a similar situation, and if so what did you do and what was your experience?