Traveling in a Camper Van is one of the best ways to see the world — especially with what’s happening in the world now. Thanks to covid19 travel restrictions and social distancing measures, it has become more popular than ever to travel by campervan.
Like many others, we have jumped on the bandwagon and bought a camper van after dreaming for years! We’ve just returned from our first trip with the van: a month-long road trip around France and Spain. And we are completely smitten! Our home on wheels gave us the freedom to enjoy the wild outdoors, while having modern comforts.
Traveling by campervan is unlike any other types of travel we’ve done (and we’ve traveled around the world to more than 100 countries). There are so many things we LOVE about traveling in a camper van and today I’m here to share them with you.
Disclaimer: To be clear, we do not live in our van — and we do not intend to. So our perspectives of traveling in a campervan might be different from that of vanlifers (who actually live and work long-term on a van).
What We Love About Campervan Travel
An Incredible Sense of Freedom and Flexibility
For the first time in years, we didn’t have a fixed plan or itinerary. We just knew we wanted to explore the South of France and end up in southern Spain to see family. So we hit the road without any idea where we were going!
We decided where to go as we went along and we just went with the flow. Our days were spent visiting small villages, hiking, swimming, discovering interesting sights and just spend time together as a family. Each night, we’d look for a scenic spot to park for the night, cook and drink wine.
For me, this was the thing I love most about traveling in a camper van: the sense of freedom and flexibility. It reminded me of our old backpacking days when all we had was time.
We Travel Slower and Deeper
Traveling on a camper van gave us the opportunity to not just see our destination, but also everything in between. We explored so many interesting corners of France that we would have missed had we traveled by plane or train.
Because of the backroads we traversed, we made so many surprising discoveries. Like the natural swimming hole we stumbled upon in Limoux, the stunning trail that cross paths with marmots in the Pyrenees, and a gorgeous lake in the Gorges du Verdon…
As Ralph Waldo said “It is not the destination, it’s the journey.” Indeed, traveling in a camper van definitely allowed us to appreciate the journey and gave us a deeper travel experience.
We Experience More for Less
Perhaps because we were traveling slower, we felt like we saw and experienced more on this road trip than on any trip we’ve done in Europe. Without a fixed agenda, we had time for everything.
And that the same time, this road trip was a lot of cheaper than what we usually spend. Traveling in a camper van is definitely much more budget-friendly than flying and staying at hotels.
Not only did we save on accommodation, we also cooked in the van everyday and saved on food. Because we spent more time nature, we saved on expenses we would have incurred in cities. On this trip, we probably saved around $600 on flights and $1400 on accommodation.
We Consume and Waste Less
While traveling in our camper van, it immediately became very obvious how much water we were spending and how much waste we were producing.
Because we had to physically empty our wastewater, we could see the amount of water we used each time to wash our plates or brush our teeth. It made me a lot more conscious with our water consumption and also taught my daughter to conserve water.
It was the same thing with our waste: I was shocked to see how often we had to empty our trash bin. It made me think twice when buying anything. We also started to recycle more, reduce plastic use and opt for biodegradable stuff.
We Get to Camp in Epic Spots
Boy did we find some incredibly scenic spots to park on this trip! In the Pyrenees, we camped on mountain peaks and spectacular ridges overlooking winding valleys. In Provence, we slept next to beautiful lavender fields and were lulled to sleep by the aroma. In Limoux, we parked in the midst of vineyards and sunflower fields.
On our previous campervan trip in the US, we had to camp a few times at Walmart carparks and gas stations. Finding picturesque camping spots in France and Spain was much easier than we expected.
Park4night is our go-to app for finding free camping spots. The app has a huge database created by other travelers, so the reviews are always honest and reliable. Another app we also used to find parking is Campercontact.
Mind you, we were not this lucky every night. Some days we would have to park next to the road or sleep in camping parks to refuel on electricity. These campsites have everything from pools to bathrooms, showers and restaurants. They cost around $10-20 per person (we spent $50/night of parking).
We Leave No Trace
Because we camped out in nature every night, we were more aware of the importance of keeping our environment clean. We always made sure to keep the camping spot exactly how we found it, and also pick up litter if we found any.
Traveling in a camper van really made us think more about the impact we make on the environment. It was another teaching opportunity for us to educate Kaleya on how to protect our environment.
We Are Outdoors All the Time
For me, sleeping in a camper van is akin to sleeping outside but in the comfort of my bed and with easy access to the toilet. Imagine all the perks of camping without sacrificing on comfort!
Because we were traveling in summer, we could sleep with our windows open and the temperature was perfect. That also meant we could wake up to see sunrise from our bed and enjoy the view through our windows.
When we were not sleeping, we spent all of our time outside — either exploring, hiking, swimming or having our meals on our camping table. It felt great to be outdoors all the time, especially since the weather was great!
We Watch the Sunset Everyday
How often do you watch the sunset at home? We hardly do.
But on this trip we saw the sunset almost every evening. And it was magical.
At the end of each day, we would cook and then hang out on our camping chairs with a beer in hand and watch the whole sky turn into a shade of gold. It was such a privilege having the time and opportunity to stop and enjoy beautiful moments like these.
At night, we also got to see the stars if we’re lucky. It was amazing to sleep in the mountains and see a million stars above our heads.
It Makes Traveling with Kids Easier!
I’m not going to lie, traveling with kids can be challenging at times. Especially when you have an active toddler or emotional baby. Logistics is something you need to plan and consider when traveling with the little ones.
Traveling with a camper van definitely makes traveling with kids easier, as you’re often in wide open spaces where kids have the freedom to roam and be free. Having a home on wheels also gives kids the security and stability they need. Kaleya definitely loved having our van as an anchor point; she called the van “our home”.
To keep Kaleya entertained, we packed a big box of toys, lego, books and coloring pens for her. Having a TV in our van also helped on long drives!
Everything We Need is With Us
Just like how Kaleya likes having a “home”, we really like having everything we need with us on the camper van.
Our van has comfortable double bunk beds with proper mattresses, sheets and blankets. We also have a fully functioning kitchen with a 2-burner gas stove and a small sink. We even have a cassette toilet that we can use in our own privacy! (Check out this post for a van tour.)
As we have a bike rack, we brought along our bikes for leisurely short rides. We also packed our laptops, photography gear, camping gear and engine tools. There is so much storage space on the van that we could pack extra cushions, blankets and things that made the van feel like an actual home.
We Need Very Little to Live Comfortably
But once we started our campervan trip, it became clear to us how little we actually needed every day to live comfortably.
Even though our van had a lot of storage, we quickly realised many things we brought were not necessary at all. Instead of bringing so many pots and pans, we only needed just one of each. Rather than having all kinds of cutlery and plates, we only used one set per person. Not to mention the excessive amount of cables, electronics and toiletries we had.
Traveling in a camper van made us think about what was important and what wasn’t. It also gave us an opportunity to teach Kaleya that material things aren’t essential.
We Learn to Appreciate Little Things in Life
When you’re traveling on a camper van, you start to notice the small things in life that you’ve taken for granted, like running water. Little, everyday things suddenly become luxuries — like a shower or endless electricity.
As we didn’t have a built-in shower in our van, it was normal for us to go for days without a shower. In a bid to stay clean, we went to public pools or lakes almost everyday to cool off from the heat, and to shower.
It is a Rollercoaster Ride!
Like many things in life, good things don’t come easy. Traveling by camper van can come with its challenges: some people encounter engine problems (thank god we never did!), others require huge adjustments or face lack of personal space etc.
Not everyone’s experience will be the same. Adjust your expectations, be mentally prepared for things to go wrong, and don’t compare your experiences with what you see on Instagram. There will be days when you feel absolutely on top of the world, and days that are more challenging.
Traveling in our camper van has been one of the best experiences we’ve had as a family, and we cannot wait to keep exploring and creating memories with our van!
Are you thinking of buying or renting a camper van? Let us know if we can help in any way! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. Just leave a comment below!
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