Question 1

Why rent a campervan?

Accepted Answer

To hire a campervan or motorhome is a fantastic compromise between camping in a tent and renting a mobile home or chalet on a campsite.

Its principal benefits over a tent or mobile home are that you can move between several locations during your holiday without having to put up and take down your tent, and carefully pack all your stuff into the car; and that the sleeping and living arrangements are likely to be somewhat warmer and more comfortable than in a tent, while still a very exciting change from home (especially for kids).

You will also have access to running water (so long as you refill your tank regularly), cooking facilities and generally a fridge and lights (so long as you move or plug into the electricity at a campsite at least every 24 hours).

In larger vehicles there will also be a bathroom, but the work involved in emptying and filling tanks may encourage you to use the facilities at the campsite instead.

While typically more expensive than a tent pitch (because it is larger and generally includes power), a campervan pitch will be a lot cheaper than renting accommodation such as a mobile home, chalet or glamping tent on-site.

Why not find the campsite of your dreams first and compare the prices of the different accommodation options available, to help in your decision?

Question 2

What age do you need to be to drive a campervan?

Accepted Answer

Generally, you need to be over 21 to drive a campervan. However, some rental companies will allow younger drivers, so it is worth checking the terms in all the quotes offered by our search tool.

If a company does accept a younger driver, a different insurance policy may apply, so do read the terms and insurance options carefully, as you go through the booking process.

You should also check in the terms if your national driver’s license is acceptable. Some rental companies may require an International Driver’s License.

Question 3

What facilities are in a campervan versus a motorhome?

Accepted Answer

The major difference between a campervan and a motorhome is size, and therefore number of facilities, level of autonomy and ease of driving and parking.

A motorhome will have a more sophisticated kitchen set-up, similar to what you might find in a mobile home. You will have an oven, a larger fridge and icebox. There will often be luxuries like heating, more sophisticated lighting and a TV.
In a campervan, you can expect more basic lighting, a sink, one or two rings to cook on, storage.

You can get vehicles with beds for between two and six people. In larger campervans and in all motorhomes, there will also be a bathroom, but the work involved in emptying and filling tanks may encourage you to use the facilities at the campsite instead.

Campervans and smaller motorhomes generally have enough (secondary) battery power to run your lights and fridge for a day and will then recharge while the vehicle is moving. If you will not be driving, they need to be plugged in to the power of a campsite. Larger motorhomes can be fitted with a generator and where this is the case you would not have to plug in to a campsite’s main power.

While the cost of the pitch at a campsite will be the same, a motorhome will cost more in fuel and on ferries. Also, the larger the vehicle, the more difficult to drive and manoeuvre. Particularly if you are new to ‘vanlife’, we would recommend going with the smallest vehicle possible to accommodate your group.

Another advantage of having a smaller vehicle is that you will be more likely to use it as transport during your holiday, to visit nearby attractions or simply to stock up at the supermarket.

Question 4

How much does it cost to hire a campervan for a week?

Accepted Answer

Cost of campervan hire and motorhome hire varies depending on country/ location, time of year, size and age of vehicle, whether you want to return the vehicle to a different location and rental company.

It’s very quick to get an accurate idea for the cost of your planned trip by simply entering your dates and planned pick-up and drop-off locations into the Campsited campervan search tool.

Question 5

Where to go in a campervan that’s not expensive?

Accepted Answer

We may be biased, but we recommend France for a campervan or motorhome holiday.

It’s a big and diverse country with an excellent road network, so it’s made for discovering multiple destinations in your own vehicle, without having to pack up and unpack each time you move. You can also find great value for money campsites and food, and find lots of free things to do.

Check out the ‘Destinations’ and ‘Kids Destinations’ sections of the Campsited blog for loads of information on the attractions of the different regions of France. Browse our campsites in France.

Italy is also inexpensive and fantastically diverse, so it suits a campervan holiday well. Browse our campsites in Italy.

Of course, you are generally likely to find more cheap campsites inland than on the coast, so this a good place to start when looking for fantastic but cheap camping locations.

There are some stunning inland locations in France, in the mountains and near rivers and lakes, which are just as good as the sea for dips and learning watersports like sailing and kayaking.

The beauty of having your own vehicle is that you can always choose somewhere within an hour of the sea to benefit from low prices, but be able to do beach day trips.

Select ‘Camping Themes’ in our top menu to browse mountain campsites, riverside campsites, forest campsites, farm campsites, family campsites and more.

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