Planning holidays when you have a second home

Planning holidays when you have a second home can feel like a nice problem to have. You already have somewhere familiar to go, you know where the kettle is kept and you can settle in without the usual scramble of finding your bearings. At the same time, a second home can add a few extra things to think about before you pack the car and head off.

Whether your second home is a holiday lodge, static caravan, leisure home or a narrowboat, a little forward planning may help you make more of your time away. It can also help you avoid arriving to small surprises that take the shine off the first day.

Think about how you really use your second home

Before you plan your holidays for the year, it may be worth thinking honestly about how you use your second home. Do you tend to visit for long summer breaks, occasional weekends or short trips around bank holidays? Do family and friends stay with you? Do you leave it empty for several weeks at a time?

These details matter because they can shape everything from maintenance to insurance. A home that is used most weekends may need a different routine from one that sits empty over winter. Likewise, a narrowboat that moves regularly may bring different considerations from a static caravan that stays on one site.

You may find it helpful to look at the year ahead and mark out likely visits. This does not need to be rigid. It is more about giving yourself a simple picture of when the property will be occupied, when it may be available for friends or for hire, and when you might need to arrange checks or maintenance.

Build in time for opening up and closing down

It can be tempting to think of a holiday as starting the moment you arrive, but second homes often need a short settling-in period – especially at the beginning of the season. Depending on the property, you may want to check water, heating, electrics, ventilation, appliances and outdoor areas before you fully relax.

If you are arriving late in the day, it may be sensible to keep the first evening simple. Rather than planning a big meal or a busy itinerary, you could allow time to unpack, air the property and check that everything feels as it should.

The same applies at the end of your stay. Leaving in a rush can make it easier to miss things. Build in enough time to empty bins, secure windows, turn off anything that should not be left running and make sure the property is ready for the next holiday.

Keep an eye on the practical risks

A second home can sometimes be more vulnerable simply because it is not occupied all the time. Small issues such as leaks, storm damage, frozen pipes, pests or attempted break-ins may go unnoticed for longer than they would at your main home.

This is where regular checks can be useful. If you live far away, you may want to ask whether your holiday park or marina has any inspection options. You could also consider whether a trusted neighbour, friend or local contact might be able to look in from time to time.

Simple habits may help too. Keeping outdoor items secure, checking locks, avoiding obvious signs that the property is empty and making sure any maintenance issues are dealt with promptly can all contribute to a calmer holiday season.

Plan around the seasons

Your second home may feel very different depending on the time of year. Summer might bring busier roads, fuller sites and longer days outside. Winter may mean quieter surroundings, cosy nights in and a greater need to think about heating, damp and security.

If you plan to use the property throughout the year, you may want to adapt your checklist by season. In colder months, you might think about pipe protection, ventilation and whether the property needs to be drained down when not in use. In stormier weather, you may want to check roofs, awnings, moorings, trees or nearby structures.

For spring and summer visits, the focus may be more on outdoor furniture, garden areas, decking, window locks, barbecue safety and general tidying after months of lighter use.

Check your insurance fits the way you holiday

Holiday home insurance can be easy to leave in the background until something goes wrong, but your second home insurance cover should reflect how you actually use the property. You may want to check what is included as standard, what optional extras are available and whether there are any conditions around letting, unoccupancy, security or maintenance.

Park Home Assist specialises in insurance cover for various types of holiday home including holiday lodges, static caravans, motorhomes, narrowboats and bricks-and-mortar holiday homes, so the policy wording is designed with these kinds of properties in mind. Depending on the type of second home you have, cover may include things such as buildings, contents, public liability, alternative accommodation, accidental damage options or legal expenses cover.

The key point is to think about value for money and whether the policy gives you the flexibility to provide the protection you are likely to need.

Keep useful details in one place

When you are heading away, it can be helpful to have a small folder or digital note with useful information. This might include your holiday home insurance documents, emergency contact numbers, site or marina details, appliance instructions, photos of the property and a simple maintenance record.

If you ever need to make a claim, having details to hand may make the process easier. Photos can be especially useful after storms, leaks or damage, as they help show what has happened and when.

Convenience while on holiday

Of course, planning holidays when you have a second home should not only be about checklists. One of the pleasures of having somewhere familiar is that you can shape it around the way you like to relax.

You may want to keep basic supplies there, leave a few favourite games or books, plan low-effort meals or create a routine for your first morning. Small touches can make the property feel more welcoming each time you return.

With a little practical planning, your second home can feel less like another responsibility and more like the retreat it was meant to be. The aim is not to make holidays complicated. It is simply to give yourself the best chance of arriving, switching off and enjoying the place you have chosen.

Please note that all insurance cover is subject to acceptance of terms and conditions.

This is a marketing article from Park Home Assist, multi award-winning providers of park home insurance, mobile home insurance, insurance for static caravans,  insurance for holiday homes and holiday lodges, as well as boat insurance and touring caravan insurance. If you have any questions about your insurance, then please call our office on 01604 946 796 and one of our insurance advisers will be happy to help.

Published – 08/05/26