We’re going to buy a camper van! 🥳

lucky you have many wonderful travels

One of my neighbours had a campervan but after one year changed to a motorhome.

They said the storage and comfort was so much better in the motorhome.

I must admit I am envious as they go away at least 5 or 6 times a year and have travelled through Spain into Portugal for a few weeks last year.

Happy travels to you.

We bought a motorhome (not a camper van) last year and we've loved getting out and about in it. It's far from new, although it does have a very low mileage, and the main reason for buying it was so that we can enjoy holidays while still being able to take our dog with us. There are many sites where you can park for free or at very little cost - right across the country, and there are apps like Search4Sites which can help you find them. Join some of the groups for campervans/motorhomes etc on Facebook (if you are on it) and you will get lots of helpful hints and advice on there.

My friend and I hired a VW campervan a few years ago for a short break. It had a separate double bed upstairs in a pop-up, which was brilliant. I slept up there, and it felt quite separate from the downstairs. It would work well for a couple because you could keep downstairs for daytime use. The only thing I disliked about the van was the lack of a toilet facility, it’s no fun hiking off to the communal facilities in your dressing gown at 4am after a few glasses of wine.

That was one of the reasons why we opted for a motorhome rather than a campervan - I wanted my own toilet (and preferably shower too). I don't mind using the facilities on a site during the day, but I do draw the line at trekking across a site to the loo in the wee small hours!

I'm now going to start looking at motorhomes and waste a whole weekend

JaneJudge

I'm now going to start looking at motorhomes and waste a whole weekend

Me too, always fancied one. I'm envious.
What puts me off is how you pop to the baker's to pick up the croissants in the morning?

We had a VW campervan years ago and slept my parents, us and a baby in it! I wouldn't go back to one now.

Just before lockdown we bought a small motorcaravan - a Romahome Dimension 4.5m long (fits in a car parking space) but with a bathroom. It's a joy to be able to use the loo in the night rather than walk across a campsite or to be able to use small sites with no facilities.

My advice would be to look at small motorcaravans as well as campers so that you can decide which facilities will be most useful.

Joseann

JaneJudge

I'm now going to start looking at motorhomes and waste a whole weekend

Me too, always fancied one. I'm envious.
What puts me off is how you pop to the baker's to pick up the croissants in the morning?

oh don't, we have recently bought a ninja thing. I didn't even want one and I've learnt you ca put ready baked croissants on the air fry for 4 mins without a pre heat. I could put it in my fantasy motorhome

My daughter has a campervan bought initially with money left by her grandma, she would have approved! She started off with a VW but changed it for a Mercedes after a year as she wanted to be able to stand up in it and she now has a basic loo and an outside shower facility. Although the Merc is longer and higher she finds it very easy to drive and she's driven all over Europe in it, including up to the Arctic circle in Norway. She chose a Merc because it's easy to get it repaired in any European country. Just to mention if you do intend to travel extensively in Europe you need to think about Gas bottles as ones bought in Europe don't always fit a British made campervan. Have fun, daughter absolutely loves her campervan and she's had lots of adventures in it.

We have a Devon Firefly which is based on a Ford van. There is a basic cassette toilet at the back of the van but no shower. It is just under 5 metres and is easy to park. The single beds are very narrow and use the front seats swivelled round to form part of the bed. We usually sleep remarkably well!

We use campsites - bigger ones often have local food vans bringing pizza or fish and chips and some have a decent shop on site, with fresh bread in the mornings.

We travelled across Europe through Germany, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland in 2017 and loved it (we had a slightly larger van then). In 2018 we went to Denmark and Sweden, visiting friends there, and again, loved it.

We are happy to rough it a bit and we were lucky with the weather on our trips. In 2017 we mainly stayed in the major cities and found campsites near to public transport to take us in.

More recently we’ve stuck to the UK and Ireland.

You usually pay a premium for a VW so if cost is a factor, look at other brands.

Gosh - I’m excited just reading your comments. My husband’s parents had camper vans for years, so my husband has quite a bit of experience with them. Our plan is to travel and stay in the van, but with the option for odd nights in a hotel or a B&B when a shower or good night’s sleep is needed. It’ll also be a boon for our children who we’re happy to share it with if they fancy getting away for a few nights when we’re not using it.

We hadn’t considered a motorhome as the van will be our only vehicle (bicycles apart). We both use buses and trains a lot anyway these days and mainly use the car for awkward journeys and holidays.

Joseann

JaneJudge

I'm now going to start looking at motorhomes and waste a whole weekend

Me too, always fancied one. I'm envious.
What puts me off is how you pop to the baker's to pick up the croissants in the morning?

Knowing my husband there will always be a bike available for croissant shopping Joseann. 😂

JaneJudge

I'm now going to start looking at motorhomes and waste a whole weekend

And me! Despite having discussed this many times with DH and having calculated that it wasn't financially right for us, there are still times when we long to just drive off and follow the sun.......

It all sounds so exciting ! I’m an old singular - so no such plans for me. But, those of you who have Campervans, mobile homes etc, enjoy !!

We’ve had ours for about 20 years. It’s a Hymer. We are serious motohomers so we tow a Smart car because ours is 27ft long which restricts us going into some towns/cities so that’s when we use the Smart car.
We have visited every country in Europe including Albania and Turkey.
Spending winters in Spain is very nice. We only go onto sites to use the pump out.
I wouldn’t know what to advise anyone as we are all different and have different needs.
I love my tv so we have a satellite system to cope with that. We have solar panels to give us all the power we need. Not everyone wants these things.

My parents had a VW camper van when I was in my early teens. It was the only way they could afford a holiday. I loved it except for the lack of loo facilities or a shower but in those days I was not seeking a loo x3 a night!

Oh I am Jealous but so happy for you.

I have been watching loads and loads of campervaners on you tube.

I think with the VW your the normal size of a car, can park in any car park space, get under height barriers, you can have a roll out awning and there are many "toilets" to choose from if just needed it for overnight (one lady puts her porta potti under a box from Dunelm( campervanya on you tube ) that acts as a storage for it then a seat during the day (no one would know what's underneath).
Plus a pop top.

Motor home more spacious but restricted with height barriers.

Take a look on you tube lots of ideas. I would love! one.

Just check out the availability of spares. My friend had someone drive into the side of her camper van and struggled to get a replacement door( she did get one eventually). She was just about to sell it to replace it with a smaller one.

crazyH

It all sounds so exciting ! I’m an old singular - so no such plans for me. But, those of you who have Campervans, mobile homes etc, enjoy !!

I meet 2 ( a motohome each) ladies who are both in their 80s still driving to Spain for the winter.
Wonderful 😍

petra

We’ve had ours for about 20 years. It’s a Hymer. We are serious motohomers so we tow a Smart car because ours is 27ft long which restricts us going into some towns/cities so that’s when we use the Smart car.
We have visited every country in Europe including Albania and Turkey.
Spending winters in Spain is very nice. We only go onto sites to use the pump out.
I wouldn’t know what to advise anyone as we are all different and have different needs.
I love my tv so we have a satellite system to cope with that. We have solar panels to give us all the power we need. Not everyone wants these things.

Wow! That’s sounds amazing. I’m green with envy, it just seems you’ve thought of everything!

Our DD and her DH have a motorhome, which I evidently have been mistakenly calling a camper-van!
I think it is a 'Kingham', and they absolutely love it. It is very comfortable, and seems to have all the bells and whistles.
I just wish that we had been able to afford one years ago.