Are Holiday Homes a Good Investment?

The idea of owning a holiday home is one that appeals to thousands of families across the UK. For those considering the purchase, the biggest question they ask is does it make financial and lifestyle sense?

This article sets out to answer that question honestly. Holiday home ownership, like any significant purchase, comes with both genuine benefits and real costs and

understanding both sides helps you make a decision that is right for you and your family.

Buying a Holiday Home at Spindlewood

Spindlewood Country Holiday Park sits in a tranquil, gated setting near Hastings in East Sussex, close enough to the coast to feel the sea breeze, far enough from the crowds to feel genuinely peaceful.

It is the kind of place that is best understood in person, which is why the team offer a VIP tour with a free lunch included.

Homes are available across a range of budgets, from pre-loved holiday homes starting at £39,995 through to new homes from £59,500 and double lodges from £149,950. Once you own a home, you can personalise your plot however you’d like with decking, a hot tub or a barbeque area.

On the park itself, owners enjoy a private fishing lake, a clubhouse and bar, walking trails through the grounds, and a friendly community atmosphere that feels nothing like a crowded holiday resort. The park operates for 10 months of the year, giving owners a genuine four-season base from which to enjoy one of England's most beautiful counties.

Importantly, holiday homes at Spindlewood are purchased for personal use. They are a place for you and your family to holiday and relax, not a property to let out or use as a permanent residence. That distinction matters, and it shapes the kind of community Spindlewood has built. A community that enjoys peace and tranquillity as well as an abundance of activities on their doorstep across 1066 country.

What you get for your money

When people ask whether a holiday home is a good investment, the conversation often jumps straight to resale values. But for most owners, the more meaningful return is far more personal, the time spent there, the memories built up over years, and the money saved on holidays that would otherwise be booked and paid for elsewhere.

Owners at Spindlewood consistently point to the same things when asked what they value most about ownership:

●      Your own space, available when you want it. No booking windows, no disappointment when your preferred dates are taken. Your home is there whenever you need it.

●      A place that genuinely feels like yours. Your furniture, your kitchen, your beds. The comfort of familiarity is something no rented cottage or hotel room can replicate.

●      A regular gathering point for family and friends. Many owners find that having a fixed base encourages more time with the people who matter; grandchildren, old friends, grown-up children who might not otherwise make the trip.

●      A deeper connection to a place. Returning to the same part of East Sussex year after year means you discover the walks, the pubs, the local events and the hidden spots that one-off visitors never find and even a spot of fishing for beginners or experienced anglers. And you’re never far from a bacon sarnie or fresh coffee.

●      Our homeowners say it’s ‘A second home away from home’. You get to know your neighbours better at a holiday park. It’s a different state of mind and you can’t put a price on what you get in return.

●      Lower cost per visit over time. The maths improves with every trip. The more you use your home, the less each visit costs, often well below what you would spend on equivalent rented accommodation.

●      Enjoy your home. Spindlewood do the rest. Put your feet up in your armchair to watch your TV. We’ll cut the grass, put your bins out and provide regular entertainment.

How quickly does a holiday home pay for itself?

One of the most compelling ways to think about a holiday home is as an alternative to paying for holidays year after year. Every time you use your home rather than booking elsewhere, you are effectively saving money.

To illustrate this, consider current holiday costs for a family of four in East Sussex

and beyond:

Holiday type	Typical weekly cost (family of 4)	Visits needed to break even*
Self-catering cottage, East Sussex	£900–£1,400	~15–25 visits
Holiday park (budget), East Sussex	£609–£889	~25–40 visits
UK city break (hotel)	£800–£1,200	~20–30 visits
European package holiday	£3,000–£4,000	~7–12 visits

* Break-even estimate assumes a purchase price of £80,000–£120,000 (typical for East Sussex holiday parks), with ongoing annual site fees and maintenance factored in at approximately £4,000–£6,000 per year. Figures are illustrative and will vary by specific property and usage pattern.

Consider a family that currently takes two week-long holidays in East Sussex each year, spending around £1,100 per visit on accommodation alone. Over ten years, that is £22,000 on accommodation.  with nothing to show for it at the end.

A holiday home, used for those same breaks plus additional long weekends, can represent a substantially more efficient use of that holiday budget over time.

It’s not just about the money

It would be incomplete to discuss the value of a holiday home purely in financial terms. The evidence on holidays and wellbeing is clear: regular breaks significantly reduce stress, improve mental health and strengthen family relationships, and holiday home owners tend to take more of them, without the need for holiday booking or airport faff.

Having a fixed, familiar place to escape to removes the friction of planning. There is no searching for availability, no comparing rentals, no wondering whether the photos match reality. You simply go. That ease encourages owners to make use of long weekends, half-terms and quieter weeks that would otherwise slip by without a proper break.

Over a 10 or 20-year ownership period, that accumulation of time, in a beautiful part of England, with the people who matter most, represents a return that no spreadsheet can fully capture. Caravan can be written off after time

Unlike many parks, at Spindlewood you can keep your caravan as long as you want, You can sell on the park – We don’t have an age limit of the van. The depreciation is offset by our relaxed rules. Rental can offset costs when you’re not there. – (£800-£1000 per week in high season).

Costs and considerations

A fair assessment of holiday home ownership has to acknowledge the costs and commitments involved. These vary by park and property, but typically include:

●      Annual site fees, covering the upkeep of communal areas, facilities and park management. These should be understood clearly before purchase.

●      Utility costs for water, electricity and gas when in use.

●      General maintenance and upkeep, as with any property, routine costs arise

over time.

●      The property is not available year-round, with parks typically operating on a

10-month licence.

●      Unlike a primary residence, a holiday home is not typically treated as a capital investment in the traditional property sense. Resale values are influenced by the age of the structure, park terms and market conditions.

Why East Sussex?

East Sussex is one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the south of England and for good reason. The county offers a rare combination of coastline, countryside and culture that few regions can match.

●      East Sussex typically enjoys more sunshine than the UK average, making it well suited to outdoor holidays across an extended season.

●      The historic town of Hastings is on our doorstep, blending traditions of the past with modern life offering the arts, theatre, concerts, amusements and festivals.

●      The South Downs National Park provides world-class walking and cycling on the doorstep.

●      The iconic Seven Sisters chalk cliffs and Beachy Head are among the most dramatic coastal landscapes in England.

●      Historic towns including Rye, Lewes, Tunbridge Wells and Battle offer independent shops, excellent restaurants and a genuine sense of character.

●      1000 years of history. Castles, vineyards, nature reserves and family attractions, including Drusillas Zoo Park and the newly restored Newhaven Fort, ensure there is always something new to discover.

Owning a holiday home here means all of this becomes your regular backdrop not just for one annual holiday, but for weekends and breaks throughout the year.

Artists impression of Spindlewood's new lakeside development

So, is a holiday home at Spindlewood worth it?

A holiday home in East Sussex is not a traditional financial investment in the way that a buy-to-let property might be. But for the right family, one that loves the Sussex coast and countryside, values consistency and comfort in their holidays, and will make regular use of their home, it represents outstanding value over time. And we regularly invest money back into the park so that your ownership will benefit year on year.

The cost per visit falls with every trip. The memories accumulate. And unlike money spent on rented accommodation, your investment remains yours, a place to come back to, year after year.