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quoteBigger, better?
Even more Grande? Here we go, into 2020 season with Bailey extending its extra-wide offerings with a new flagship caravan range – the Alicanto Grande – and no doubt also hoping to bask in the success of the Pegasus Grande tourers, launched earlier this year.
Width counts, it seems. But, Bailey is quick to point out the new Alicanto caravans are designed for actual touring, as well as seasonal pitching.
But, luxury? From Bailey? For a company that prides itself on razor sharp pricing, it’s actually gone a little bit flamboyant with three Alicanto Grande caravans.
The Porto here is the only twin axle model, favouring a rear island bed floorplan.
It’s the biggest caravan Bailey has ever made. By our reckoning, also the heaviest. Even so, considering what’s on offer here, it’s not as hefty as you might expect. And let’s clear that price, too. Considering its main rivals are happy to let their prices slip into the mid-£30,000s and beyond, Bailey scores an instant hit. Even the Porto only just clears £30,000 on-the-road.
The overall specification is good. A full safety and security package including a standard fit tracking device (see factfile), should get you some healthy discounts on your caravan insurance premium. All the goodies are here, too; from Alde heating to a solar panel; Remis blinds; USB sockets; DAB radio/CD/MP3 player; Truma gas BBQ point and more.
The exterior look is unmistakably Bailey, with the upright front, high centre front window, metallic bronze graphics and 14in diamond cut alloy wheels.
(please note the above are not the actual wheel locks to be supplied)
Head inside and it’s not a bad idea to have a sit down.
That’s the best way to appreciate the softly sprung seating and backrests, complete with head restraints and curved bolsters in three of the corners.
A clever detail over the lounge are the open cubby holes – they have mirrors in them, enough to reflect light back into the lounge and to check you’re looking good!
The standard upholstery (shown here), too, helps contribute to a very light and airy seating area.
Aft of the lounge, the caravan kitchen is actually pretty conventional. The stainless steel sink has an add-on plastic drainer and the Thetford Caprice cooker is complemented by a Russell Hobbs microwave oven directly over the hob.
The triple bottle holder reflects the upmarket aspirations.
Star feature has to be the Dometic 153-litre fridge with its double-hinged door, allowing you to open it from either side.
It’s an impressive bedroom at the back, too. The island bed extends to 1.900m x 1.42m (6ft 3in x 4ft 8in).
It’s framed by his and hers wardrobes and deep overhead lockers, with corner units forward of the foot of the bed.
Between the bedroom and the kitchen, the washroom facilities are split between a shower cubicle on the nearside and a toilet room with fixed basin nearside.
Full privacy comes from the sliding door to the bedroom and the toilet room door which can also be used to close off this area from the front end, at the same time providing a generous changing area, complete with a third slim wardrobe next to the shower.
A small rooflight provides the only washroom ventilation.
The shower sits on the wheelarch, but it’s a pretty roomy cubicle. You’ll want to add a hanger or similar for your toiletries, plus it’s a slight surprise to find only one drainage hole.
The fold-down rail for hanging wet towels or clothing will always come in handy.
Worth the wait? Like its single axle Alicanto sisters, the Porto goes on sale from September 2019.
In this video we take a look inside and out:
Verdict: Creeping upmarket but maintaining a distinct price advantage
Plus: Roomy interior, super bedroom
Minus: Lacks a little bit of premium feel
In-a-nutshell: Another Grande entrance
There’s more information on the Alicanto range on the Bailey website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page.
Alternatives: Buccaneer Barracuda, Swift Challenger X850
Bailey Alicanto Grande Porto factfile
| Model | Bailey Alicanto Grande Porto |
| Dimensions | 7.86m L, 2.45m W, 2.61m H |
| Internal length | 6.33m |
| Berths | 4 |
| MTPLM | 1,779kg |
| MIRO | 1,619kg |
| Payload | 160kg |
| RRP | from £30,564 on the road |
| Safety & security | Tracker (with three-month subscription), Al-Ko ATC (Trailer Control System), AKS stabiliser, Al-Ko Secure Locks, TyrePal tyre pressure monitoring system, laser-balanced wheels with security tyres and anti-tamper bolts, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, floor-mounted spare wheel, CRiS with concealed data chip, Tracker PIR alarm with tilt sensor and key fob operation |
| Key options | Four-year extension to bodyshell warranty (£265), three-year extension to manufacturing warranty (£439), bedding set (£230), alternative upholstery (£225) |
Anyone fitted a bracket for the TV so it can swing out to allow 4 to watch TV together.
just bought one, pick it up hopefully and going away mid august. watch this space!
Have a Lunar Delta Ti , Been caravaning since 1968 it is the worst built caravan that I have ever owned and I have had quite a few
Sorry to hear you’re not happy with your Lunar Ronnie.
Very impressed well done.
Had a look at them, a very nice caravan, BUT Bailey have not learnt from a mistake they made with the latest Unicorns
They put a silly shelf above the hand basin in the bathroom and it’s impossible to get a wash, you cannot get your head above the basin.I e-mailed them and unfortunately wasted my time.I currently have a 2019 Cadiz but I am looking to make changes once my warranty runs out. Won’t be looking to buy Bailey again,this is my 3rd unicorn since 2013, unfortunately untill they start listening to customers concerns it will cost them.
Looks like a Bailey Pamplona to me. It is only 19cm wider but is slightly shorter looking at the specs.
I certainly wouldn’t pay the £6k more for this. Will stick with the Pamplona, the best van I have ever had.
Top of the range beautiful it would be a dream come true
A good looking caravan but have not found anything to beat the Lunar top of the range outfits in single or twin axle. Not convinced that you get anything more by paying over £25,000 for any outfit plus the additional weight almost certainly means a more expensive tow car. Good luck to Bailey but I hope that the takeover of Lunar continues the Lunar credentials of price, quality and lightweight.
Looks very good but the one thing that puts me off is the door that opens into the slipstream (known as a ‘suicide door’ in auto terms). We had a caravan with this type of door and it could always be seen in the mirror to be trying to open……. Soon fixed it with some sliding bolts, but was never happy about it. I would not like to do that fix to a 30 grand ‘tin tent’. Payload seems a bit on the low side, but I’m sure many will not use this much weight allowance.
What weight is it, given the advertising this will need a heafty towcar. I dont want to hear that that it depends on the options – tell your advertising staff to put all the options on the website – including all the costs of them
I’m an experienced caravaner but disappointed by your lack of details as noted above.
Rob
Hi Rob, the weights and price are in the fact file on the right-hand side of the review (if on a desktop) or at the bottom of the review if on a mobile. The MTPLM is 1,779KG and MIRO is 1,619KG. Prices start at £30,564. For more information visit the Bailey website.
Very nice caravan to expensive for us
Why so little payload. No wonder people are changing to motor homes, as least you can take things away with you.
Great article well done Bailey well impressed