You’re either a 4* minimum (preferably 5*) hotel prude who says a big “no thank you” to the idea of motorhome touring as you sip your margarita by the pool, or you’re the type of person who literally buzzes off the idea of motorhome touring around the UK and Europe.
Hopefully, you’re reading this because you’re the latter, but even if you’re on the fence and open to the idea, we can honestly say that it’s such an amazing experience. Motorhomes are comfy, you can find so many nice campsites with amazing facilities, and you get a multi-destination holiday out of it.
That said, for your first time motorhome touring in the UK and Europe, there are a few things you should know, so here are our essential tips.
Staying at Certified Sites
You must always stay at certified sites or motorhome rest points. You can’t just park on the side of the road or in a random car park. And unless your motorhome has excellent shower facilities, why would you want to?
The best campervan sites have really luxurious shower facilities and perks like on-site spa, activities, nice restaurants, bars, and they’re typically in such beautiful surroundings.
You can read some camping guides for Europe that focus on the top campervan sites, and you should find a few that you want to go to.
Big warning: spaces for motorhomes do sell out fast because there are not as many of them.
What You Need to Know About Overnight Stays
Sometimes, it’s not always possible to find space at campervan sites unless you’ve booked so far in advance, especially if you’re travelling during peak seasons (which is always kids’ school holidays). And if you can’t deny you’re a lover of hotels and all the luxuries that come with it, then there are other options.
When you aren’t staying overnight at a dedicated campsite or caravan park, finding a last-minute holiday apartment, bed & breakfast, or quirky local cottage along your route is incredibly straightforward; using an aggregator like Cozycozy allows motorhome travellers to instantly filter through thousands of accommodation deals across the UK and Europe.
Admit it, you’re happy we’ve told you this is a possibility. The only thing we will say is that you should always check where you can park your motorhome. Obviously, you’re not going to fit in a standard hotel parking spot.
The Driving Advice You Need to Know Before Motorhome Touring in the UK and Europe
If you’re from the UK going on a motorhome tour in Europe and you’ve never driven in Europe before, buckle up and hold onto your horses. Absolutely every European country seems to spawn drivers competing for the next seat at the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team. It’s overwhelming, sometimes, and navigating their driving style, being on the opposite side of the road, and trying to follow a sat nav is overwhelming.
Just be prepared for that, and always remember that they drive on the right-hand side of the road, and always take your time.
And if you’re going from the UK to Europe, you should know:
- Your motorhome must display a UK sticker.
- You should know your motorhome’s height, width, length, and maximum weight for going under or over bridges.
- You should always have your passport and physical driver’s licence with you.
- The speed limits are in kilometres per hour, not miles per hour, in Europe.
- Check tolls and emissions zones
You can read camping and caravan guidebooks for more advice.
Packing Checklists
A lot of modern motorhomes come with fully equipped and stocked kitchens, showers with towels, beds with bedding, etc, but you still need to think about what to pack. Our ultimate packing checklist for your motorhome tour is:
- Standard clothes for your trip.
- Comfy shoes for exploring.
- A power bank.
- Wash wet wipes in case you’re staying at a campsite without showers.
- Slip-on sandals for campsite showers.
- Towels in case the motorhome doesn’t have them.
- Toiletries.
- Sunscreen.
- A first aid kit.
- Get some games to take in the motorhome.
It really is so much fun to go on a motorhome touring trip. Even if you just do it once, the freedom and experiences you have are so much different to just staying in one place as you would with an all-inclusive holiday. And if you follow our tips, it should all go smoothly!
