Planning to tour Europe in a motorhome? Before you hop into that idea, you may need to familiarize yourself with the benefits of recreational vehicles or RVing. Why would you want to choose a motorhome over other traditional options? Do you want the total freedom it provides? Or does its unique accommodation satisfy you?
In addition, you need to assess how motorhome-friendly European tours are. Yes, using your campervan in Europe is quite different than your usual weekend RVing. It requires better planning and a world of essentials. If you’re really into this kind of trip, you better keep your eyes on the road to stay safe. Here’s an article to guide you in your RVing in Europe to take your smooth-sailing ride after you step on the gas.
First and foremost, you need to pick a motorhome. You may consider your needs first based on the number of passengers and the length of the trip. For these concerns, you may think about the type and quality of beds of the camper vans that’d accommodate you.
In most cases, beds turn into living rooms in an RV. There are standalone beds too. In choosing the bed type, you may dwell on the idea of determining whether or not you like the convertible or not. In addition, there are motorhomes with bunks, ideal for kids and teens.
Yet, most adults hate this feature. So, it’d be better to ask the passengers which type would they prefer. Other things to look at are the seating, kitchen and available appliances, and bathroom. If you haven’t chosen yet, you may go to stores offering RVs for hire, such as wilderness.co.nz/motorhome-hire-nz and others for a lot of camper vans to choose from.
Like any RV tour, you’d always consider the expenses in gas, food, and other essentials. Generally, gas prices in Europe are higher than in most countries. If you want to cuts costs in this aspect, you may choose a smaller camper van. Ideally, couples could opt for compact vans for this purpose.
Apart from this, you would need to have a budget for your cooking needs. In many camper vans, propane tanks are used. The food and similar expenses differ in each European country. Food prices in Southern Europe are typically lower than in the North.
To save money, most campers in Europe take back roads. Usually, highways have road tolls that add up to expenses. Apart from the savings, backroads offer better landscapes where campers could stay in.
Regarding your stay, may it be on your own or with a partner, the easiest way you could get into Europe for RVing purposes is through short-term visa-free stays for 90 days. European Visa-exempt program allows this option for foreigners, but only for visits in the following countries identified as members of the Schengen Area:
With this option, you may plan to take a Schengen country for a 90-day trip and move to a non-Schengen country for the next 30 days. Then, you may go back to a Schengen-covered country for another 90 days. Having this in mind, you could have a planned route before your much-awaited RVing.
However, by 2023, travelers would need to apply for European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) to comply with the continent’s new travel guidelines. With this protocol, travelers need a valid passport and an approved ETIAS visa waiver to gain entry.
Generally, any season offers the best RVing experience for campers. Yet, many camping enthusiasts suggest the following months, as they’re known to have the lowest camping population and ideal temperature.
April to May: During these months, campground prices are generally cheaper. In addition, most residents are inside their homes, so there are fewer people camping, especially in Continental Europe.
November to March: This stretch is ideal for Southern Europe. Most campers head South because of the freezing temperature in the North during the winter season. Yet, the campgrounds are open and fabulous in these months.
June to August: This may have the most pleasant temperature and campgrounds. Yet, it’s also the most populated as to the number of campers.
Suppose you’re already familiar with motorhome trips and the necessities for your ultimate European tour. Now, you may start to pick which places you’d go first. Ideally, most campers choose Croatia because of its picturesque scenery and rich culture. In addition, it’s smaller compared to other countries, making it preferable to beginners.
Another good destination is the United Kingdom. This country has a lot of camper-friendly roads and villages. Other places to choose from are Tuscany, Italy; Bavaria, Germany; and the Czech Republic. Before you continue, keep in mind that European countries have different laws for RVing and driving. You may need to be familiar with these rules before setting off for your European journey.