Many people love the idea of going off on the road and staying at different places along the way, not being tied to any set itinerary or having to stay in the main tourist locations in the destinations they go to.

Although back packing and sleeping in a tent is fun in your youth, as you get older – and have a family to take with you – you might want a few more home comforts around you on your travels. It’s easy to see why caravanning has become so popular – as it gives you the freedom of movement of travelling with a tent, but with a slightly easier and more luxurious feel to it. And, of course, if it rains, you won’t get wet!

Depending on the distance you like to travel from home, you might want to have your own caravan that you travel your home country with – or perhaps into neighbouring countries – or you might want to fly to a distant location and hire a recreational vehicle when you get there. For example, if you live in the UK, you could fly to California and hire an RV to tour places like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.

For those people who own caravans, or are thinking about buying one, there are some financial considerations to think about beyond the price of the van itself. You’ll need to get it serviced on an annual basis to make sure it is roadworthy and that all the appliances inside the caravan are working properly. It’s particularly important to get the gas and electrical appliances checked over by a professional.

Another cost is insurance. While insurance is not compulsory for a touring caravan, it does need to be insured while being towed on a public road. Most car insurance policies can be adjusted to include this; check before you travel anywhere. However, the caravan is quite an expensive asset in its own right – so it would be advised to have a separate caravan insurance policy.

You need to get a number of quotes, but it’s a good idea to get a quote from a specialist caravan insurance website, as the company will have in-depth knowledge about the risks associated with caravans.

You can find out further information about caravan insurance here.

If you’re feeling adventurous and fancy a taste of life on the high seas, look into taking a cruise by freighter. Travelling on a freighter costs half as much as on a regular cruise shop, and the fee covers everything on board except alcohol.

Just as there are specialist travel companies for particular parts of the world, such as exploramorocco.com, there are companies which can help you find the right freighter cruise for you, so you don’t have to organise it single-handedly.

Voyages normally take between 40 and 120 days, although segmented trips are available, so it is possible to take a cruise lasting a fortnight. Freighters generally carry no more than a dozen passengers, and not usually children under 13 or seniors over a certain age. Life on board is more casual and less luxurious than on a cruise ship, so you’ll save money by not having to buy lots of evening-wear. There are no formal dinners, casinos or organised activities, so you won’t find James Bond on-board, but you may find a small pool, a library, a lounge and deck chairs. Another difference is that freighters have an itinerary but this is subject to change, depending on the cargo. They tend to visit more unusual ports of call than a normal cruise ship so your voyage could be an interesting alternative to Surfing holidays in Essaouira with Explora Morocco.

You can also tailor a freighter cruise to your own interests and needs by planning your own excursions from the ship. Find out beforehand what ports you can expect to be visiting during your voyage, and get information from the tourist offices there to help you plan your own tour. This will help you avoid the tourist traps and save money as well as adding to your unforgettable experiences as an independent traveller.

One minute your children are toddlers taking their first steps, the next, they are teenagers wanting to borrow your car. The best way to bring up healthy, responsible children is to pre-empt their changing needs, priorities and abilities and act accordingly.

There are good reasons for removing televisions and computers from bedrooms and keeping them only in “public” rooms, i.e. ones used by the whole family. This may mean sharing access to your PC which can be annoying when you want to use a price comparison website to get digital showers from Mira and your children want to play games, but at least you have some control over what they are using the computer for. In addition, research has shown that children with televisions in their rooms tend to be overweight because they watch more and often snack as they view.

Having a computer in a shared space can be a good learning experience for the whole family if you communicate about what issues come up – should you follow a link which says click here to get electric shower from Mira, or download this screensaver, for example. And finally, if everyone is watching programmes in separate rooms, you lose opportunities for “family time” when you all curl up together on the settee to watch Doctor Who or David Attenborough.

Another good strategy is to limit choices. A well-meaning adult may ask a four year-old what she wants to wear to a party. Offering such an open-ended choice will guarantee that the little girl will pick red tights, a swimming costume, a body-warmer and ballet shoes. A more successful approach might be to lay two outfits out on her bed and ask her to pick one. The same goes for food. Swap “What do you fancy for lunch?” with “Would you like beans on toast or scrambled eggs?” Children can be overwhelmed by too much choice so make life easier for everyone.