Whitstable Seasalter Caravan

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what? When I first pulled into Alberta Holiday Park looking for the Whitstable Seasalter Caravan, I’ll be honest – I wasn’t sure what to expect. The name’s a bit of a mouthful, and let’s face it, “caravan” doesn’t exactly scream luxury getaway. But here’s the thing about this little spot tucked away in Seasalter: it’s got character in spades, and sometimes that beats a fancy lobby any day of the week.

The caravan itself is actually more charming than you’d think – someone’s clearly put thought into making it feel less like temporary accommodation and more like a proper seaside retreat. It’s compact, sure, but everything’s been done with this sort of boutique sensibility that you don’t usually find in holiday parks. The interior feels fresh and considered, not like those sad caravans from the 80s that smell faintly of damp and regret. What really sold me, though, was stepping outside in the morning with my coffee and realizing how close you actually are to the water. I mean, Seasalter Beach is literally a few minutes’ walk away, and it’s one of those stretches of Kent coast that hasn’t been completely overrun yet – you can still find decent patches of shingle without fighting through crowds of day-trippers from London.

The location’s the real winner here, honestly. You’re far enough from the main Whitstable crowds (thank god, because the high street gets absolutely mental during oyster season), but close enough that you can still pop over for dinner at one of the decent seafood places if you fancy it. The Sportsman over in Seasalter is walking distance if you’re feeling ambitious – proper gastropub with Michelin credentials, though good luck getting a table without booking weeks ahead. For everyday stuff, there’s a Tesco about ten minutes’ drive away, which matters when you’re self-catering. Parking’s straightforward too, which anyone who’s tried to park in central Whitstable during summer will appreciate. The holiday park itself is fairly quiet – I was there mid-week in shoulder season, so maybe it’s different when the families descend, but the noise level was perfectly manageable. Check-in was refreshingly simple, none of that corporate hotel rigmarole, just practical information and genuine helpfulness. Is it perfect? Well, it’s still a caravan, so don’t expect hotel-level space or soundproofing. And if you’re the type who needs room service and a concierge, this obviously isn’t your scene. But if you want somewhere with personality that puts you right on one of Kent’s lovelier bits of coastline without the tourist circus, it’s actually pretty brilliant. The whole setup feels like someone’s passion project rather than a corporate venture, and that makes all the difference.