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After RVing to all 50 states, I set my sights on RVing internationally. First cease: renting an RV in Europe.
I had no thought which international locations even had RVs, not to mention what they known as RVs in numerous languages. Now I’ve RVed in seven European international locations and on 4 continents worldwide.
As we’ve deliberate these main journeys, we’ve struggled to search out a lot info on-line from different Individuals making the trek throughout the pond and renting an RV in Europe. RVing (or caravanning or motorhoming) in Europe is simply as common as it’s within the States, if no more so.
We put collectively this transient information with the whole lot it’s worthwhile to know earlier than reserving our RV rental and flying internationally.
RV Rental Firms in Europe
There are limitless choices for RV rental firms in Europe. Listed below are just a few firms to think about:
And there are peer-to-peer RV rental choices (assume Airbnb however for RVs) like:
There are undoubtedly many extra RV rental firms on the market, however these are among the hottest choices, listed in no explicit order. I’m not affiliated with any of those rental firms and don’t make any cash for mentioning them.
Nonetheless, I do know many individuals who’ve rented campers in Europe. From their experiences and evaluations, I’d by no means hire from Indie Campers, which is understood to be one among if not the preferred rental firms. I’d additionally keep away from McRent. Each of those bigger rental firms have reputations of getting horrible customer support and help.
I’ve rented twice with Wherever Campers and the following time we hop throughout the pond, I’ll possible select to hire with them once more for just a few key causes. Maintain these issues in thoughts as you select which rental firm is greatest for you.
1. Rental Inclusions
We selected Wherever Campers throughout our first journey RVing in Europe as a result of they included sheets, dishes, pillows, and so on. and lots of rental firms don’t. They even embrace bikes, tenting chairs, an out of doors desk, and a grill.
I don’t like the concept of beginning my vacation with a visit to purchase a number of units of sheets and towels and pillows simply to depart them within the rental as a result of they received’t slot in my suitcase on the way in which residence.
As you search for a rental firm, you should definitely see what’s included with the rig. I at all times search for:
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Bedding and pillows
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Towels
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Cleansing provides
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A “Totally Geared up Kitchen” (This could embrace a espresso pot, dishes and silverware, pots and pans, utensils, and so on.)
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Toolbox
We had a latch on a cupboard that saved coming unfastened, so having a screwdriver helpful is one small, sudden factor you’ll need in your rental. And, in fact, ensuring a espresso pot is included is a should!
2. Mileage and Distance Limits
Some leases may have caps in your day by day mileage pushed, though limitless mileage isn’t too exhausting to search out.
That is one thing we prioritize when reserving any camper rental, particularly if we’re planning on taking a multi-week or multi-month journey. It’s a simple approach to keep away from the stress of monitoring day by day mileage limits that some leases impose.
Throughout one earlier camper rental, we coated over 5,000 kilometers in our motorhome. That’s over 3,000 miles! In case your rental has a day by day mileage restrict or a most distance you may journey, there’ll possible be a payment for added kilometers pushed. I’ve seen charges as excessive as $.50 for every kilometer pushed over the restrict. Since a kilometer is a bit more than half a mile, you may incur a hefty payment invoice for those who go over your restrict.
For those who’re choosing a shorter rental in a small area, you may most likely keep inside mileage limits, however for those who’re going for a cross-country European highway journey, e-book a rig with limitless mileage.
3. Car Transmission
Within the States, you’d be exhausting pressed to discover a guide transmission RV. It may be troublesome to discover a guide automotive lately!
However overseas, guide transmissions are the norm—even in RVs. In our rental expertise, we’ve had each. In Italy, Heath needed to shortly study stick shift within the Dolomite mountains…and it was hectic to say the least!
Even for those who’re used to driving a guide transmission, driving an additional massive automobile on tiny European roads out of the country is a load of additional stress. For those who can, I extremely suggest choosing an computerized transmission motorhome in your rental to offer your self one much less factor to consider as you tour Europe.
Learn Subsequent: Full Van Tour of Wherever Campers Campervan Rental (Video)
4. Gasoline Sort
All the RVs now we have rented overseas have been diesel engines and diesel is simple to search out each fuel station we’ve seen.
Diesel, nevertheless, isn’t known as diesel relying on the language. In France, it’s referred to as gasoil or gazole. Fairly complicated when fuel in English is a very totally different kind of duel! In France, diesel is often famous by a yellow pump (black and orange are additionally used). Unleaded fuel or petrol, labeled with the numbers equivalent to the kind of gas it’s, is usually famous with inexperienced pumps in Europe.
For those who’re touring from the States, that is the precise reverse of the pump colours we use, the place inexperienced at all times means diesel! Don’t mistakenly replenish your diesel motorhome from a inexperienced pump. Pumps are, in my expertise, clearly labeled and you may ask an attendant for assist if wanted.
5. Fleet Availability
E book just a few months forward of your journey to be sure to can get the RV that most closely fits your wants. Our France journey was deliberate final minute and we took the one out there rental left within the fleet. It labored for our household, but when we had booked sooner we might’ve gotten a barely bigger RV that will’ve match our household of 4 a bit of higher.
Needless to say many of the rental choices I discussed above service an excellent portion of Europe. Which will imply that they don’t have any RVs out there the place you need it once you need it. It additionally means you may typically discover good offers on “repositioning” leases, when an RV must make it from Norway to Portugal for its subsequent reserving, for instance.
Which brings me to what I take into account crucial element for any campervan journey…
6. One-Method Leases
If I might impart one piece of recommendation to anybody who desires to hire an RV in Europe, it will be to decide on an organization that enables one-way leases!
Once we RVed in New Zealand and Canada, we needed to drive all the way in which again to the place to begin to return the RVs and it felt like we misplaced three days of our journey simply returning to the drop-off metropolis. Theoretically, you’ll take a special route again to the drop-off metropolis than once you left it, however we’ve discovered that we at all times spend a lot time exploring and adventuring that we wait till the final second to make the return journey again and are compelled to hurry via it.
For those who’re RVing overseas, chances are high this can be a once-in-a-lifetime journey. It’s not yearly that you simply’ll get to RV throughout the UK. Reserving a one-way rental makes seeing the whole lot you wish to see at your individual tempo way more possible.
In France, we booked our rental to be picked up Paris and returned in Barcelona, Spain. Since our rental was one month lengthy, we beloved the pliability this one-way rental gave us. We have been free to discover throughout France with out making a protracted return journey to the northern metropolis of Paris. Plus, this allowed us to cross over and go to a few of France’s neighboring international locations as we explored. In Italy, we booked from Venice to Rome and beloved having the ability to go to all of the cities we wished throughout the nation.
For those who can’t discover a one-way rental possibility, I’d suggest an extended rental so you may have loads of time to tour you nation of selection and make the return journey.
Learn Subsequent: Right here’s The best way to Do a One Method RV Rental in Europe
7. Insurance coverage
The final consideration relating to renting is insurance coverage. Insurance coverage might or might not be included along with your quote for a camper rental. It nearly at all times is included with the quote or quoted individually.
For peace of thoughts whereas touring, you might test to see if any journey bank cards you carry supply further rental insurance coverage or you might be provided further insurance coverage protection from the rental firm. This possible received’t cowl for those who break something contained in the RV, just like the bathe head or a door, however it’s going to defend you within the case of an accident.
Forms of European RVs
European RVs are considerably smaller than American RVs. Whereas the smallest RVs within the States are round 21-24 toes lengthy, the longest RVs in Europe might be 24-26 toes lengthy.
The smaller the RV, the extra comfy you can be maneuvering it throughout Europe. Roads, campsites, and parking spots are smaller over there! Assist your self out by selecting a smaller RV.
European RVs may have cassette bathrooms as an alternative of a black tank and doubtless received’t have any air con. And so they undoubtedly received’t have slideouts! For those who’re used to a motorhome within the US, a motorhome or camper in Europe will really feel much more like van life.
Associated: 16 Variations between RVing Overseas versus Rving America
Prices
Renting an RV (campervan, motorhome, tenting automotive, autocaravan, insert country-specific identify right here) may be costly. Common costs vary all over the place from $100-$175/evening. The season you journey in and the international locations you go to will have an effect on your worth.
For a month, we paid round $4,000 USD, which breaks down to only beneath $145/evening. This looks like quite a bit (it is quite a bit!) however is considerably cheaper than inns or Airbnbs, plus it permits us to interrupt away from the cities and see the countryside.
Fuel costs are sometimes larger than within the US (typically twice the value), however RVs are considerably extra fuel-efficient in Europe on account of their measurement.
The place you camp might be one other main price to issue into your journey, however I’ll cowl that in additional element in a minute.
One perk of RVing relating to price is that you simply usually find yourself consuming in or cooking meals within the RV. Generally that is merely since you’re in the course of the wilderness and there’s nothing round, however generally this can be a small manner to save cash. Needless to say European RVs received’t have an oven or microwave, so that you’ll have the stovetop for cooking or, in case your rental presents it, a grill.
Nations The place You Can RV
The fantastic thing about Europe is that you would be able to simply cross most borders in an RV. Your RV rental might even include the motorway permits required to drive in international locations like Switzerland, Austria, and Czech Republic.
Most European international locations are RV-friendly. You will discover an entire checklist of nations all over the world the place you may RV right here.
Finest Occasions to RV in Europe
We at all times—ALWAYS—RV overseas throughout the “shoulder season.” For many international locations all over the world, meaning April/Might and September/October. Children are in class, the seasons are altering, and campgrounds aren’t too busy.
With most RVs in Europe not providing air con, I like to recommend skipping a summer time rental for those who can. A motorhome in Spain in August might be HOT. If you’re locked into summer time dates, head north, like Iceland or Norway.
One factor to bear in mind is what main sights you’d like to go to in your camper. Many locations might shut seasonally. Throughout our final go to to Italy, throughout the first half of our journey seashores have been empty and there have been solely a few eating places open usually. By the tip of Might, the seashores have been packed each day and the whole lot (eating places, amusement parks, mini golf) was slowly opening. We didn’t really feel like we missed out on something, nevertheless it was a bit of logistically troublesome to determine what companies have been open for the season.
The place to Camp in Europe
Identical to within the US, there are an array of tenting choices along with your motorhome—each paid and free.
Paid Tenting
Campgrounds and RV Parks
A campeggio in Italy, a vacation park within the UK, referred to easily as “tenting” in France—these are what you may name an RV park or campground within the States.
(You will get a glimpse of Italian campeggi on this video ⬆️ )
Typically, RV parks in Europe supply smaller websites which can be often electrical solely. There might be a dump station and water fill station some other place within the park, in addition to a chemical bathroom for dumping your cassette bathroom. Your web site could also be nothing greater than a stretch of pretty stage grass.
However what the websites lack, the campgrounds make up for with different facilities.
Swimming pools, scorching tubs, on-site eating places with actual meals (no convenience-store-style pizza is served at these eating places! See the above video for what Italian campground eating places are like), markets, laundry, non-public seaside entry, riverfront campsites, playgrounds, bogs for youths—utterly with a child bathtub and kid-sized showers, youngsters programming…the checklist goes on and on. We’ve had all of those at campgrounds they usually’ve blown us away.
We’ve stayed in beachfront campgrounds and household campgrounds within the US…however they’ve at all times price upwards of $100/evening. In Europe they’re a few third of that worth. Probably the most stunning campsite of all time in any nation we’ve ever visited must be this one in France:
Free Tenting
Europe has a status for plentiful free tenting (additionally known as wild tenting) and it’s lived as much as the hype in our e-book. There are just a few choices:
Aires
Aires are motorhome stopovers meet relaxation stops meet fuel stations. You’ll see indicators for aires about each 10 minutes on the freeway in our expertise they usually have various ranges of niceness. Some are like picnic areas within the States—a spot to park and a few tables. Others are full blown fuel station relaxation stops that join the east and west sides of the freeway with a sky bridge, supply a number of eating places, and all of the basic issues campers want like dump stations and showers. It’s fairly the vary.
These are typically first-come, first-served parking spots. Many aires are free, however some might require a small payment (lower than $10 and often provided that they provide providers like electrical energy). You will discover aires and different free tenting on the Park4Night app.
Aires usually seek advice from free campsites in France, however the time period is usually used throughout Europe. You may even see Space Sosta Campa in Italy or Space para Autocaravana in Spain.
Park4Night
That is our go-to app without spending a dime tenting. We tried a number of apps throughout our first time RVing in Italy, however Park4Night had probably the most choices, probably the most correct listings, and was probably the most dependable.
Not a nasty view for a free campsite, eh?
Park4Night contains extra than simply Aires and free campsites. In addition they checklist campgrounds and agritourism campsites. The app is free to obtain and straightforward to make use of.
France Ardour
Regardless of what the identify may call to mind, this isn’t a French courting app. French Ardour is the equal of Harvest Hosts—a membership program the place you may camp without spending a dime at farms and wineries throughout the nation.
Earlier than heading to France, we signed up for a membership on-line. Their on-line search perform is a bit clunky and exhausting to make use of, however they mailed us a e-book with our membership card so we will use it to search out free locations to camp throughout the nation. France Ardour boasts over 10,000 parking spots and a membership is €30. (So not utterly free, however undoubtedly price getting for all of the free tenting choices it presents!)
Many European international locations have the equal of this, like Brit Stops for the UK.
Driving in a International Nation
Earlier than RVing overseas wherever in Europe, take a second and google “driving ideas in _________”.
Signage and highway legal guidelines will fluctuate by nation, so it’s greatest to take ideas particularly for the nation the place you intend to RV. For instance, Italy has ZTLs. Zona traffico limitato means motorhomes can not drive in that space. This can be a time period and signal you’ll solely see in Italy and one thing we wouldn’t have identified if we hadn’t learn a free e book we discovered on-line sharing driving ideas.
That’s additionally a great way to study if the nation you’re visiting (or international locations) require any automobile permits. Switzerland, for instance, requires a driving allow on all autos. Throughout our final journey to Italy, we really thought of crossing the border into Switzerland for a fast journey. However we couldn’t determine methods to get the driving allow we wanted! (Wherever Campers gives one, in order that was one much less factor for us to consider once we cross over the French Alps into Switzerland throughout this journey!)
What you save in not needing to buy a driving allow, you’ll shortly spend on tolls. Toll roads aren’t too frequent within the US (principally within the cities or within the northeast), however many highways in Europe are toll roads. Most of those toll roads will settle for bank cards and have a British flag icon you may push in order that the display screen prompts are in English. So whereas the tolls sound like they add a bit of further driving bother, they’re simple to navigate.
One last factor to notice as you may even see it on rental agreements: You most likely don’t want a world driver’s license. It is determined by what international locations you go to, however most international locations don’t require one.
I Love RVing in Europe—Can I keep without end?
Nope.
You possibly can get pleasure from RVing within the Schengen (checklist of Schengen international locations right here) for 90 days inside a 180-day interval earlier than it’s worthwhile to:
A) Get a vacationer visa, or
B) Strategically depart for a non-Schengen nation just like the UK or Eire
FAQs About Renting an RV in Europe
Can I hire an RV in Europe?
Sure, RV leases can be found in most European international locations with exceptions within the anticipated locations (like Ukraine and Russia).
What’s the largest motorhome rental firm in Europe?
McRent is taken into account the largest. However is larger at all times higher? I feel not.
What are RVs known as in Europe?
Campers, motorhomes, caravans (the equal of trailers), motorized caravans, autocaravan, tenting automotive—there are many names! Camper is the perfect catch-all time period.
Do you want a particular license to drive an RV in Europe?
Test along with your rental firm, however most international locations don’t require any particular license. You might want a world driver’s allow, which you will get out of your native AAA for about $20.
Remaining Suggestions
To any and each beginner to RV life that I speak to, I give the identical recommendation:
Journey slowly.
When you hit the highway, you might have an itinerary, however one can find so many gems off the overwhelmed path once you give your self the time to correctly discover. (We’ve discovered the best choice is giving ourselves a minimum of a month in every nation if we will!)
Journey slowly and benefit from the journey!
