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If you’re thinking of taking a campervan around Europe, congratulations! You’ve already made one of the best decisions of your life. However, there are a few things to bear in mind before you start your adventure. As well as familiarising yourself with the manual, taking out insurance, and ensuring you have the correct paperwork, here’s what else you need to consider before embarking on a campervan European road trip:
Go for a test ride
If you’re new to travelling by van, it’s recommended that you give the lifestyle a test run before you invest in a vehicle yourself. Instead, rent a van or A class motorhome for the weekend and take it for a spin with your partner or a friend. There are so many different types of vehicles and conversions, it’s essential you get a feel of them all to know which one suits you best.
Learn how to live a minimalist lifestyle
There’s not a lot of extra space when you’re travelling in a van, so it’s important to pack smart with your essentials for inside the van and outside, like a hammock. Just you sharing a hammock with the one you love staring up at the stars, what could be better? Adopting a minimalist philosophy is a great way to start, so take the minimum amount of resources that it takes for you to travel in your campervan comfortably. It might feel weird at first, but you’ll get used to it in no time. S
Work out if you want to sleep in campsites
Depending on the length of your trip, what your van is like, and what you want from a campsite, you should consider whether or not you want to camp during your time on the road. Some positives of sleeping in a campsite from time to time include:
- Taking a hot shower (if you have a small van)
- Loading water
- Discharging grey or black water
- Leaving your van to explore the city on foot
Some people also sleep more peacefully at night if they are at a campsite, so it’s definitely worth considering if you want to pitch up at some point on your European van adventure.
Have room to store food
Cooking in your van (or when you’re camping) is an experience like no other. And after cooking, you’ll need somewhere to store your ingredients and any leftovers. Plastic containers are a sure-fire way to keep bugs out of your food – just make sure you measure your space first to see if they fit in!
Learn how to park your van
While this sounds like the most obvious tip on the list, learning just how to park your van is arguably the most important point to know before you go. A campervan is parked with the cockpit pointing at the exit for two reasons. One, if anything happens you are ready to leave quickly. And two, it’s less intimate if you find yourself top to tailing with another van in a very busy destination.
For avid explorers and keen adventurers, travelling Europe by campervan is no doubt one of the best things you can do. Just remember the above advice and you’ll be a van pro in no time!