Getting Started. What to expect from your first campervan trip.
The very ethos of a campervan holiday is based upon freedom. Freedom to go where you wish, when you wish as you wish! This is a rock solid fundamental of all campervan experiences. Therefore, depending on the type of break you are looking for and chosen route your experience will vary. However, some of the basics will apply to everyone.
Packing for a campervan holiday is often a bone of contention. A simple way to plan is to imagine you were heading off on a camping holiday without a campervan! Bring all your essentials but leave the bulky not so important stuff at home. Each vehicle comes with all pots, pans, crockery & cutlery required plus a kitchen sink, so its best leave your own at home! Clothes should be kept to a minimum and always bring soft cases/baggage to ensure it can be stowed away safely inside the vehicle.
Once the demonstration is completed and you set off you will need time to adjust to the size of the vehicle. Unless you drive oversized vehicles daily this will be a quite a change for you. Simple advice is to use your mirrors to the point of excess in the first few hours! In particular, the passenger side mirror. Our campers are substantially wider than a regular family vehicle so those parked cars may actually be closer than they seem! When you are cruising safely on the open road its good practice to remember where in the passenger side mirror the yellow line appears. Once you know where this line should be, you can use this as an instant reference point to your distance from all road side obstacles.
Don’t expect to remember how everything works, you won’t! We always recommend that night one should be at a safe location, preferable a campsite where you can take the time to figure everything out. Refer to the manual supplied in the vehicle and the tutorial video on our YouTube channel. If in doubt, simply give it a go. Otherwise we are always just a quick phone call away. Come nightfall allow extra time for setting up beds (where applicable). Take your time, a few minutes extra spent the night before will ensure a more comfortable night sleep. As you would at home, make your bed properly and ensure all fixtures and fitting are securely fastened, pull down blinds and lock doors.
Its best to keep on top of cleaning daily. This also extends to cooking. Clean as you go cook and you should not have any issues. This is particularly relevant when it comes time to move on. If travelling in a group its good practice to delegate out jobs to everyone, young & old! Once this routine is nailed down you will minimise down time and ensure everyone and everything is safely in its place prior to departure.
Finally, be prepared to be amazed at how much you can fit into a trip! A campervan holiday is comparable to no other in that you have the flexibility to see the world on your terms with the comforts of a home from home. Don’t believe us? You’ll never know unless you go!!