Travelling by motorhome or campervan
A motorhome looks like the cheap way to travel and often isn't. Here are the real numbers and the rules most people break without knowing.
Rent or buy
Renting makes sense to try it out and for occasional trips, but the daily rate in high season is high and you must add insurance, mileage and cleaning. Buying only pays off if you'll use it many weeks a year: between insurance, maintenance, parking and taxes, the fixed annual cost is considerable even if it never moves.
The cost nobody calculates
Fuel. A motorhome consumes considerably more than a car, and people often plan long routes without doing that sum. Before deciding, multiply your planned kilometres by a realistic consumption figure and compare it with the same trip by car plus simple accommodation.
Overnighting isn't camping
This is the key distinction and the one that generates most fines. Parking and sleeping inside the vehicle, with nothing placed outside, is generally allowed wherever you may park. Camping (chairs, table, awning, stabilising legs) is regulated and banned in many places. Rules vary by municipality and region, so check them where you're going.
Service areas
There are dedicated motorhome areas where you can empty waste water, fill clean water and often stay overnight. Many are free or very cheap. Apps compile them with user reviews: it's the most useful tool of the whole trip.
What licence you need
A standard car licence covers up to 3,500 kilos of maximum authorised mass, which fits most campervans and many motorhomes. Above that you need a higher category. Check the specific vehicle's mass before renting, not its commercial category.
Beginner mistakes
Planning too many kilometres a day: you drive slower and stop more than expected. Not budgeting water: it runs out sooner than you think. And forgetting that many historic centres and underground car parks have height restrictions, which is one of the most expensive shocks there is.
Who it really suits
Nature trips with frequent stops and no timetable. For cities it's awkward: parking is a constant problem and you end up leaving it far out and taking public transport anyway.
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