THE REVOLUTION OF CAMPERIZED VANS
There have been many adventurers who have opted to rent a campervan this summer and thus choose the wide variety of destinations that this entails, instead of just one. Imagine waking up anywhere, be it sea or mountains, accompanied by the sound of the earliest birds and a sun that shyly begins to say good morning to you. Go out and admire the beautiful scenery that surrounds you, and put on our glasses to comfortably adapt your eyes to the morning light. Feeling the breeze and the tranquility, both oblivious to the noise of a city that sometimes drowns out a bit. In other words, the experience of traveling and deciding the route on the go... have you ever been that free? After all, this nomadic lifestyle seeks to be that escape route, an alternative, an opportunity to disconnect and connect at the same time. And we know that not everyone would be willing to give up everything to live with what is fair and not be tied to anything (we are the first, who have to keep coming to the office), but that does not mean that we do not choose this place to spend a vacation different. And like us, so many others! For all this, in
HOW DID THIS TREND START?
After the restrictions of the pandemic, it is inevitable to think that society has become much more jealous of its privacy when it comes to traveling, at the same time that its desire to leave its comfort zone and explore those areas, especially local ones, that were previously in the background. As reported by El País from the estimates of the automotive sector, this summer some 55.000 national motorhomes and 150.000 foreigners have filled the Spanish roads. But what does #VanLife have to have attracted so many people?
The creator of the social media movement was Foster Huntington (@fosterhunting) in 2011, who chose to give up his life as a designer at Ralph Lauren to move to a Volkswagen Syncro of the eighties. Being a great lover of surfing, Huntington toured the California coast carrying the phrase Home is where you park it (“Your home is where you park”). The truth is that, despite the fact that not everyone wants to leave everything and move to a nomadic life, there are many who do see it as the best option to disconnect and feel the complete freedom of the road and nature, especially in the holiday period. This social phenomenon has undoubtedly come to stay. And you, are you up for it?
WHY CHOOSE THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAVELING IN A CAMPER VAN?
Traveling with a camper can be a before and after. In other words, why choose only one destination when you can discover many more in the same trip? It is a change of mentality and life. Being aware of the environmental impact of each of our actions and being, in many aspects, self-sufficient. Nothing is wasted on a trip like this, not even time. Every day new concerns are born, new challenges, new views capable of taking your breath away. But if you still don't know exactly what reasons have led so many couples and groups of friends to choose this camper experience to spend their holidays, here we list some of the pros that without doubt they will help you decide:
- It allows you to see many wonderful and hidden places.
- Gives you the freedom to plan your route on the go.
- You learn to live with what is fair and necessary.
- You save on accommodation and travel.
- You enjoy company like never before.
WHAT ARE THE BEST CAMPERIZED VANS?
A "camper" is still a hybrid between a van and a motorhome, but it responds more to the first of the terms. When it comes to driving, handling is very similar to that of a car due to its small size, and prices are around 37,000 euros. They are vehicles that have been adapted for their habitability with the basics and that, unlike motorhomes, are not structures mounted on the bodywork but have been subsequently adapted to be “dwelling vehicles”.
Within the camper vans we can find three sizes to choose from depending on the experience we want to enjoy. The most common mini camper could be models like:
- Citröen Berlingo
- Nissan NV200
- Volkswagen caddy
On the other hand we have the medians, among which we can highlight some models such as:
- Volkswagen California
- Fiat Talento
- Mercedes Vito
Maybe within this group you recognize the typical Volkswagen from American movies of the 80s.Even in the Outer Banks series, one of the latest Netflix phenomena, almost the entire plot takes place behind the wheel of an old Volkswagen Kombi Westfalia.
And finally we would find those models of larger size, such as:
- Mercedes Sprinter
- Renault Master
- Ford Transit
These types of vans will allow you to travel. certainly with more space. They give a greater feeling of "home on wheels" because, after all, they are fully equipped. They are vehicles designed for families or groups of friends, and living something like this in a group will make the experience much more fun and enriching than you can imagine.
VAN RENTAL: THE FEATHER VAN
Maybe buying a camper van is not the first option that comes to mind when you think of joining the #VanLife. I mean, adventurous but not much, right? Don't worry! The solution is the same as for so many other things: rent. In fact, there have been several companies that have joined this specific sector, whose Instagram profiles bring together people like you and me who have decided to spend a few days on the coast or in the mountains in a camper. One such company is The Feather Van (@thefeathervan), and we couldn't like it more! This company allows you to rent different models of vans in Madrid and Barcelona to which they have given names such as Bahamas, Bali, Ohana, Arizona... all of them look incredible! We love the spirit that their business model breathes because they are committed to sharing unique experiences and they even allow pets. They have thought of everything! It was created by the influencer Alba Paul Ferrer (@albapaulfe) and her friend Lucía (@lmedrano_), and it has also been the perfect getaway plan for other personalities such as Marta Riumbao (@riumbaumarta), Luc Loren (@lucloren) or Magali Dalix (@magalidalix). In our team we are already looking to see what weekend we are going, I won't tell you more. The best thing is that their website allows you to see the availability of each model for the dates you want , and it specifies the exact measurements of each van as well as the facilities available. It is up to you to choose the route you want to do and, from there, enjoy it to the fullest. Our mouths are watering with this great plan.
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST AREAS OF SPAIN TO TRAVEL WITH A CAMPER?
Traveling with a camper van is suitable for lovers of nature, whether it be the sea or the mountains. At the beginning of the article we also highlighted the social change that COVID has brought with it, and discovering our own country has become the best option to spend the holidays and thus strengthen local tourism and the Spanish economy. Who wants to go abroad with the wonderful landscapes and climates that we have here?
As stated by various forums and communities of campervan lovers, the best mountain areas to travel with a van of this type are the Pyrenees, Picos de Europa and Sierra Nevada. But if, on the other hand, you and your friends are looking for something more coastal, we recommend places like the Rías Baixas, Tarifa and the Costa Blanca.
And if after all this you still haven't decided to join #VanLife, imagine how good your country look would look with one of our caps.
You're welcome!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
-
How to choose a Campervan?
When choosing a van model it is extremely important to take into account the number of people that will travel in it. As much as the saying goes that "where two fit, three fit", when carrying out this type of trip in which space is rather limited, comfort is a point in favor ; It will make you enjoy the experience much more. On the other hand, the price is another factor to take into account, so we recommend that you ask yourself questions such as: How often would you travel in a campervan? How many kilometres would you be able to do per year? The reality is that, although it is about cushioning an expense, it is an investment that is truly worth it. Spoiler: after a trip of this type… you will want to repeat for sure.
-
How much is a Campervan worth?
As in many other sectors, you can find a wide variety of prices and everything will depend on the brand, the product and the specifications. In the case of a camper van, prices are around 15.000 and 30.000 euro. However, as we have told you in one of the previous sections, there is always the option to rent. The prices in this case will depend a lot on the number of days you would like to have the van, but without a doubt there are quite a few current users of these vehicles who recommend renting first in order to experience that first contact, it is not going to be that you do not like the experience!
-
Where to park the van?
It is true that there are currently many protected areas where the parking of caravans or vans is not allowed. However, with a relatively well-studied route, you won't have any problem staying overnight. You will find the greatest difficulty in large cities. For example, if your Camper route involves passing through Madrid, there is a long-distance car park at the Templo de Debod where you can leave your van for a maximum of 12 hours. However, the vast majority of routes combine campsites and free camping so, unless you see a sign that specifically prohibits it, you won't have much of a problem.
-
How much does it cost to make a Campervan?
If traveling with a Campervan is already made for people with an adventurous spirit, imagine those who build their own van! This process would consist of two important parts: making a complete camperization and homologating the vehicle itself. For this camperization, we would have to have an engineer (it is not a plan to do it on our own either) and generally the total price can be around 6000 euros . It will depend, above all, on the quality of the materials used and the quantity of equipment with which you want to arrange your new home. Think of it as a "renovation" of your house.
-
What is the best time to do a van tour?
As we have told you in this article, in
