The best thing about a motorhome trip? The ultimate sense of freedom! You have the opportunity to change locations every day and you just take your ‘cottage’ with you. Travelling by campervan is an absolute must this summer. There are countless routes online through impressive natural areas and cosy cities. But how exactly does this work? What to look out for and where to rent affordable motorhomes? We've figured that out for you, so you can focus on choosing the best route. So... are you ready to discover Europe by motorhome this summer? Then read all our motorhome tips.
Motorhome tips
The 3 best sites for renting of a motorhome!
Let's start with the question; Where can I rent a motorhome? If you have a campervan yourself, your parents or one of your friends then this question is quickly answered. But even if you don't have this, there are many options to choose from. We think these are the best websites:
These websites make it incredibly easy to rent a motorhome. On the website of Goboony several individuals and companies offer their motorhomes, each with different options, different insurances and rental terms. Choose a campervan that suits you and your budget. We recommend you go for a campervan that is properly insured; WA+ All Risk.
We have in addition now 2 times at Wildcampers rented a motorhome. Once through Camptoo (now Goboony) and once directly from Wildecampers. We are extremely satisfied with these motorhomes. They are striking, perfectly sized and the biggest advantage... you rent the motorhomes with unlimited mileage. This allows you to go to any destination in Europe without paying hundreds of euros per kilometre.
Tip: Once you pick up the motorhome, ask the rental company to explain the options and features. Each motorhome has its own specific features and manual. That way, you get everything out of it that's inside. Plus, something is less likely to break if you use it correctly. In addition, always ask if you can take photos of the motorhome. This will show you exactly what, if any, was already broken or damaged.
What does it cost to rent a motorhome?
The price of renting a campervan depends on the season and the size/type of campervan. You should bear in mind that in high season (summer) rental prices often double. In addition, campsites will also be a lot more expensive. Prices start on average from EUR 60 per night in the low winter season.
Tip: Planning a complete round trip? Then consider renting a campervan with unlimited mileage. This can save you a lot of money.
Important documents when renting a motorhome
- Driving licence: A campervan is not a car but with a normal B-driving licence you can rent many campers, unless otherwise described. Before going abroad, always check that your driving licence is still valid.
- Passport/ID: Some rental companies may want to see proof of identity when you pick up the motorhome.
- Rental confirmation: Always have your rental confirmation digitally to hand. This way you can check that you are taking the right motorhome with you.
- Insurance: Check in advance how the motorhome is insured. We recommend you choose a camper van that is WA+ All Risk insured. You will always have to leave a deposit as the rental company has an ‘excess’ that you pay in case of damage. In addition, make sure you have good travel insurance.
Choosing a route
Now comes the fun part, choosing your route. We have assumed in this blog that you rent your motorhome in the Netherlands and that this is also your starting point. There are hundreds of routes online. For example, we have previously created a route through Italy and by Croatia. These routes both include beautiful natural areas, mountains, coastlines and cities.
Toll roads, vignette and environmental stickers in Europe
In many European countries, you pay tolls for certain roads. You can drive considerably faster on these roads, making them perfect for covering long distances. Once you arrive in your destination country, we prefer to choose the scenic routes. Moreover, toll roads are often expensive and can cost you a lot of money on a road trip. So it is definitely worth avoiding these roads as much as possible. Guaranteed, you will pass beautiful points that are not on your route.
Tip: When mapping out a route, we always use Google maps. We download the offline map in advance. In addition, you can easily choose the ’avoid toll roads’ option.
In addition, take into account any vignettes and environmental stickers. In some countries, you need these documents to travel through the country without problems. Check the website of Royal Dutch Touring Club, which ones you need and order them easily online!
Camping or wild camping?
Wild camping is banned in most European countries. However, authorities often turn a blind eye during the off-season. But wild camping is at your own risk. We advise you to look it up per country and see how other travellers experienced it. In Portugal, for example, they are extremely strict and we would advise against it. By contrast, we had no problems with this in Italy and Croatia. Wherever you are, make sure you respect the nature around you and clean up all your mess.
Through apps such as Motorhome Contact & Park4Night you can easily find wild camping spots. These spots are rated by other motorhome users. You can also find campsites, service areas and parking at popular locations on these apps. Both apps are free and super easy to use.
A few more motorhome tips
Travelling around Europe by motorhome is a great experience and super easy. We would like to give you some additional motorhome tips to make your trip as easy as possible.
Food and water: There are plenty of large supermarkets all over Europe, a well-known one being Lidl, for example. Lidl is cheap and can be found in almost every village. Keep in mind that in most campervans you only have a cooker with two burners. You can also find places via Campercontact & Park4Night where you can tap water. This is fine water for cooking pasta or doing your dishes. Still, we recommend simply buying drinking water at a supermarket. Especially if you rent the campervan and you don't know how others handled the jerry can. Better safe than sorry!
Charging: Most motorhomes have the option of charging your phone via a usb while driving. If you hire a campervan with a solar panel, you can also do this while standing still. Always ask the rental company how this works so you know what to look out for. At campsites, you can of course use the charging poles that you can connect to your motorhome.
Showers and toilets: Most campervans have no shower and no toilet. You can often rent a chemical toilet for a small fee, which is really handy when you go wild camping. Do bear in mind that you will have to empty it several times during your trip and this is not allowed everywhere! In the apps mentioned above, you will find ‘service stations’ where you can do this. If you plan to travel from campsite to campsite, this is of course not necessary.
We hope these motorhome tips help you plan your trip. Still have questions? Then feel free to send us a message at Instagram.
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