New to touring

We Started with a tent then moved to a trailer tent and on one of our weekends away we were pitched next to a nice couple with a caravan we  got talking to them and said we were unsure about towing a caravan but they talked us around so we bought our first caravan a Maruder 4D the kids and ourselves loved it, the kids have long since left but they do from time to time invite them selves and their partners to join us in the caravan 

Same for us progressed from tent's to caravan when our kid's had pretty much left home. Bought a freedom Jetstream on impulse which we loved, but after a couple of changes we have a 4 berth fix bed end bathroom ( towing an ensuite bedroom ) and love it. We are lucky to keep the van at home and always kept stocked ready to just hitch up and go and you can always find a pitch somewhere any time of the year. And we do use it all year.

The first thing you need to do is check when you passed your driving test. If it was before 1 January 1997 you will automatically be able to drive a heavier car and caravan combination than if you passed after that date.

Lots of good advice here.
We're another couple who progressed after many years in tents, but unlike some others here I was utterly convinced I never wanted a caravan!
When my wife's back combined with my growing too tired of packing away wet canvas - which was also part of my day job for some years but that's another story! - we thought to go for a campervan. A visit to the NEC Show convinced us that the economics of owning one big enough to have its own loo were beyond the investment we were prepared to make.
Getting in and out of lots of cara/vans, cheaper, expensive, small, huge, and just spending time sitting in them,  at that same show, helped a lot, and taught us what we didn't want to live in.
Research led us to our present 2nd hand caravan as something of a try-out, and we love it, it's extended our range and our season, where tenting was reducing these as age increased.
Nobody can really tell you what you'll like, but researching is the real essential, as lots have already said.
Best of luck!

Not that we have ever done it , but the thought of an all inclusive/package holiday sends shivers down my back bone. After touring on a motorbike with a tent around Europe a caravan is pure luxury 

Might be an idea to book a local site [easy access to Home for all the bits of kit that you tend to forget first time out] and to see if you can accompany a caravaning friend for tips, guidance etc. There again, if staying locally, there may be caravaners who you know or recognise and who will be happy to offer advice.

On the other hand, you could try the stupid route, as we did. Drive from Scotland to Norfolk to collect a Folding Caravan, then drive to Newhaven for  the Dieppe late night ferry, drive on to the Loire Valley and then try to remember how the caravan is erected, and why there is no hot water and why won't the toilet fill? Oh, how we laughed - eventually.

Given my time again, I would select the local site and ignore any embarrassment if the set up takes ages.Once the sun shines and the first outdoors cuppa is poured as the starter to a weekend's relaxation, you'll be hooked. Well, at least until it comes to Phase 2, the setting up of the beds .

Good luck!

Steve & Elaine