Our invitingly sunny December issue cover picture features the superb Volvo XC90, towing the Adria Adora Cassis along the spectacular coast roads of the Cote d’Azure. Read our Stacie’s travel story to find out how to get the best from family caravan holidays in the South of France and enjoy this millionaire’s playground for less than you might think.

In this issue you can also find out how Clare and Emma got on when they scaled Mount Snowdon as part of their caravanning Three Peaks Challenge, then took time out to recover in the astonishingly beautiful village of Portmerion – a little bit of Italy in North Wales.

Clare’s normally the team member with the most colourful outfits in the magazine, but this month she’s been outdone by new caravan convert and motorsport fan Paul Regan. He raced off to Silverstone in a Honda Civic, towing a Bailey caravan emblazoned with sponsor logos. He was the embodiment of contradiction on the road, as he put it – ‘delaying traffic on its way to watch motor racing at Silverstone in a vehicle peacocking concepts of speed’. 

Festive treats are on our minds in this issue. For some timely seasonal inspiration, don’t miss Stacie’s Christmas gift guide, with caravan-themed gifts for all the family! In the December issue we also recommend 10 great sites for Christmas Getaways, whether you’re shopping in Christmas markets, following the reindeer, searching for snow, or popping over to Bruges for Belgium chocolates, gifts, ice-skating and more. 

The best gift of all, of course, would be a new caravan! So if you’re planning to buy a new caravan, check out our all-new Buyer’s Guide, listing every new 2015 caravan on sale in the UK. 

In this issue we review the brand new (and extremely luxurious) Buccaneer Cruiser, the new fixed-bunk Lunar Quasar 586 family caravan and the new Marquis dealer-special Swift Lifestyle 2. 

Are you looking for bargain used caravans for sale? First check out our guide to buying used fixed-twin-bed caravans costing £9000-£15,000. In this month’s Secondhand Shootout we compare fixed-triple-bunk caravans from Swift and Bailey for up to £11,000. 

Plus we have a new series on how to service your caravan yourself to save money. Plus Andy Jenkinson traces 90 years of caravan production techniques. This is a fascinating look at how caravan construction came out of the dark ages, culminating in the high-tech timber-free caravan construction techniques being pioneered today by UK manufacturers Bailey, Elddis and Swift. We can only feel grateful to be living in the modern age of caravans with such improved strength, safety and water resistance. 

TV star Martin Roberts loves his family caravan holidays – but like so many of us, he has a little bit of trouble with awnings! In this issue Martin pays tribute to the warmth and helpfulness of fellow caravanners he meets on campsites. We’re a fine community, and this is clear every issue, because you send us your wonderful caravan holiday photos, chat to us via our Forum, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ and send us emails and letters about your own caravan holidays and what they mean to you.

You ask us tricky technical questions, too, which we’re happy to answer in such pages as Talk and in Talking Tow Cars. We love hearing from you, so please do keep in touch! 

Enjoy the December issue – it’s on sale in the shops from 5 November 2014!