5 tips for your first motorhome holiday
Nothing beats the freedom of a motorhome holiday! You’re not waiting in an airport or fixed to public transport schedules, and you don’t have to constantly unpack and repack your suitcase. You can go anywhere, anytime. We must warn you though; motorhome holidays are so great it’s hard to do it just once.
But your first trip might seem a little daunting, so we’ve teamed up with motorhome travel experts, Goboony, to take you through 5 tips for your first motorhome holiday. Here’s everything we wish we’d known before our first trip!
1. Picking the right motorhome
A common mistake is immediately going for a large motorhome, just because it seems like the best option. People will book a motorhome with a toilet and shower, but then barely use these. Not only are you paying for a more expensive motorhome than you needed, but you’re also limiting where you can park and drive due to the size of the vehicle.
When choosing a motorhome for your trip, consider:
● How many people will you be travelling with?
● How much time will you spend in the vehicle?
● Do you mind packing away a bed each day?
● Do you feel comfortable driving a larger vehicle?
● Will you be cooking a lot in the van, or mainly eating out?
● Will you be bringing bikes or other large items?
2. Choosing your destination
Part of choosing a destination is deciding whether there will be multiple. This depends on how long your trip is, how much you enjoy driving and where you intend to go. But either way, ensure you also enjoy the journey as well, as a motorhome holiday is truly not solely based on the destination.
We recommend staying at Cold Harbour Farm and using it as a base to explore the local area. There’s plenty to do nearby! We recommend bringing your bike, as then you can leave your van pitched and explore the local area that way.
3. Packing for your trip
Packing for a motorhome holiday is both difficult and easy at the same time. You have far more space than you would if you were staying in a hotel or flying, as you’re not limited to a suitcase or specific weight. You’ll be able to properly unpack as you won’t constantly be on the move.
However, it’s easy to overestimate the amount of extra luggage you can bring. Campervans aren’t massive and only have so much storage available. You don’t want to make your vehicle feel even smaller by overpacking, and bringing a bunch of items you won’t use.
4. Arriving at a campsite
Aim to pitch your campervan before sunset, not only to enjoy the pretty view but also so you can set it up correctly. Particularly for the first night, arrive a few hours before in case of any issues. It can be tricky to connect to the electricity if you’re not experienced with it, so you need enough light to do it right. Be sure to park on flat ground to avoid tilting the van.
Position your van away from others to give yourself a bit more privacy, but leave enough room to set up the awning. Don’t forget to switch the fridge over to electricity and off of the car battery! This applies for all electrical outlets, as forgetting this will result in an awful surprise when you try to start the van again…
If in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask!
5. Slow it down
Everyone needs to find their own balance in terms of how much they want to drive per day. This can also change by the day. Just make sure you’re enjoying your present destination enough and not just think ahead to where you need to go next.
It can be easy to slip into the mindset of ticking off enough destinations during your road trip, but is it worth ticking them off if you didn’t truly experience them? The beauty of a motorhome lies in the flexibility, the fact that you can leave a day later if you really are. No public transportation or hotel bookings to anchor you to a specific schedule.
Now you’re ready for your first motorhome holiday! You’ll learn a lot on this trip, like what you did or didn’t need, and what you would want to do differently. So by the time you travel in a motorhome again, you’ll get it right. But just enjoy the adventure and don’t overthink it; you’re bound to have a great time.
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