Motorhoming in Europe
The Best Way to Meet Your European
Neighbors
By Steve
Hunt
Resources updated by Transitions Abroad 7/25/2019
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Experience the freedom of travel by motorhome in Europe. |
I have completed an 8-month trip across
Europe by motorhome. As a former tour operator, I have
traveled just about every way imaginable. I found motorhoming hard to beat. You pack once; you travel where you
want when you want; you have no worries about where the
next hotel room will be, and you have to try hard not to
meet people.
If you are traveling to Europe on a
short 2-or-3-week vacation, a motorhome may not be ideal.
Some wrong turns on unfamiliar roadways, and this can cause
problems for people on a tight schedule. But for a family
exploring Europe for the summer or a retired couple with
plenty of time, it’s ideal. So why didn’t I
meet more Americans in over 9,900 inspected campgrounds
throughout Europe?
First, let’s look at the basics.
There are three ways to acquire your camping van or motorhome:
The least expensive way to go
on a long trip is to buy. You may want to buy from an outfit
that will guarantee to buy back your rig at the end of the
trip. For optimum savings, consider a good used motorhome
with low mileage. I contacted an outfit in Amsterdam recommended
to me by an experienced RVer and made my arrangements over
the phone. When I arrived, my camper was ready and waiting.
I even shipped several cartons of supplies in advance and
they were stored in the motorhome until I arrived. There
are some technicalities regarding insurance and registration,
but these are handled by the outfit that sells you your
camper.
I met a number of Americans traveling
in Europe who had considered motorhoming but decided against
it because they were afraid of being stuck with the motorhome at the end of their trip. The buy-back program resolves
this dilemma. Many companies will agree to sell your camper
on consignment at the end of your trip, but I found most
people wanted the security of a guaranteed buy-back. Buy-backs
vary but usually average around 65 percent of the purchase
price. Needless to say, the longer you travel, the cheaper
the cost per day. Reasonable used motorhomes and camper-vans
ideal for touring Europe range between $18,000 all the way up to $60,000
depending on size, year, condition, and luxury amenities desired.
Europeans love to camp and there are
campgrounds just about everywhere. They range from complete
destination resorts with swimming pools, tennis, entertainment,
bars, restaurants, and grocery stores on premises to more
rustic campgrounds with few extras. Almost all campgrounds
have basic necessities such as bathrooms, showers, dish-washing
facilities, electric hook-ups, and chemical toilets for
waste. Many people find a central location they like and
take day trips using the campground as a base until they
move on.
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A young camper in Italy savors Florence's
delights from the back door of her family's motorhome. Photo by Steve
Hunt. |
Costs
If you take the cost of your camper
(minus buy-back or anticipated resale price) insurance,
registration, campground fees, and gas you can get a good
idea of your costs. My costs over 245 days at the time of this writing, traveling an
estimated 16,500 kilometers, were 1,678 euros for gas, 1,452
euros for insurance, and 932 euros for registration. Campgrounds
averaged 15 euros per night for one person, electric hook-up,
and camper. Add five to eight euros per additional adult
and three to four per child. My low was eight euros and
my high 28. Your mileage may vary depending upon the strength of your currency and current variable costs, especially gas. Some people save money by free camping (camping
in truck stops, beaches, and along the road) but I did so
only in an emergency and don’t recommend it as a standard
practice. Besides, you miss one of the big advantages of
camping Europe. When you’re in a campground, it’s
hard not to socialize and meet people. Fellow campers will
be intrigued by the fact that you’re an American camping
through Europe. I can’t count the number of times
I was invited over for a glass of wine and conversation.
And if you are traveling with kids, you’ll be amazed
how they communicate through body and sign language as if
talking really didn’t matter.
Spend Time with a Local Family
Another way to add meaning to your
trip is to allot some time for visiting with a local family. Servas, an organization consisting in 15,000 international hosts (7,000 in Europe) in over 100
countries, will provide you with host lists for the countries
you request. The normal routine is to spend two nights at
the home of a host family, usually including dinner. The
objective is to learn about each other’s way of life
and exchange ideas. Some hosts will give you a tour of the
local area and all can provide useful information. Servas
charges nothing except for a membership fee, but the usual
procedure is to thank your host with a small gift or bottle
of wine. A variety of such hospitality and home exchanges exist, with members worldwide.
Preparation
Finding space in campgrounds is a lot
easier than finding space in hotels (although at popular
vacation destinations in July and August, it’s helpful
to call ahead and reserve a spot). Not all campgrounds take
reservations, so if the area campgrounds are crowded the
best bet is to arrive early. I never made a reservation
during my eight months of travel and was only turned away
twice because a campground was full. In both cases, I got
a spot at a neighboring site. I also tried to arrange my
itinerary so I avoided crowded vacation destinations during
the summer.
A good campground guide is essential
for locating places where you want to stay. Another essential
item to get before you leave is an International Camping
card. This provides admittance to most campgrounds (in some
cases at reduced rates) and is held by the campground instead
of your passport. Don’t leave home without it. See
below for a listing of good websites and books on camping
in Europe as well as other services and suggestions. Proper planning
is the best insurance for a smooth travel experience in Europe.
Motorhoming & RV Camping
Tips and Resources for Europe
Tips
Propane Tanks: Your
camper will undoubtedly come with one full propane
tank (used for refrigerator, hot water, and sometimes
heater) and possibly a small reserve "camper" tank.
If you’re traveling for more than two months,
get a second full tank from your camper outfit.
This gives you plenty of time to get your empty
tank replaced when it runs out at the most inopportune
time.
Electric Heater: Get
a small electric heater in Europe. It saves on
propane during chilly nights, and you just plug
in at the campground.
GPS: Hand-held or dash mounted, these can be indispensable if you find yourself lost or wish to find an obscure location with peace of mind.
Money: ATM
cash machines are generally the easiest and least expensive
way to obtain cash in Europe, and are everywhere
in Western Europe.
internet Access: For
many connectivity is absolutely crucial these days.
Most campsites now offer WiFi. WiFi is also available in stores and chains
as you travel. Many other mobile internet possibilities are coming
online all the time.
Satellite TV: If
you’re on a long trip this is a great way
to keep in touch with what’s going on via
CNN, BBC, etc. Many campers have them, though you can also stream content via WiFi these days.
Useful Websites
Caravan and Motorhome Club lists over 330 caravan sites in Europe in 16 countries. The website offers many ideas for using your camper in Europe.
ACSI
Eurocamping is a site with a search engine
listing more than 9,850 inspected campsites in Europe in over 40 countries, including those where caravans and motorhomes are allowed. You can also purchase on their site the ACSI off-season
discount camping cards.
Helpful Books
RV and Car Camping Vacations in Europe: RV and Car Camping Tours to Europe's Top Vacation Destinations. Picks
best campgrounds in popular spots. Provides suggested itineraries. My guide
for much of the trip. Indispensable.
Europe by Van and Motorhome. Basic how-to guide
to taking an RV through Europe that is more than a listing
of campgrounds. Good tips on a successful trip.
Key Resources
AutoEurope: RV and Motorhome Rentals in Europe
Brownhills Motorhomes Limited:
Buy-backs available.
Renting or Buying an RV (Campervan/Motorhome) in Europe |
STEVE HUNT is a
professional tour operator who has traveled extensively.
He is currently touring Europe by motorhome.
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