Caravanning for beginners

Caravanning is the magic word: more and more people are opting for camping holidays with a caravan or motor home. The advantages are obvious: travel freely and independently from place to place, your own bed always with you. Especially at the time of the Corona pandemic, people prefer their own four walls and a private retreat. With its own toilet, shower and kitchen, caravanning offers complete independence, with only the members of a household living together. No wonder, then, that the caravan industry experienced the best first half-year in its history in 2020, with more than 54000 new vehicles already registered during this period.

As a beginner in the field of caravanning, it is worthwhile to take a close look at the subject in advance: What options are there? What equipment is important to you? Which vehicle suits your travel plans? Is it worth buying a vehicle or is renting the better alternative?
Motorhome or caravan? Motorhome or caravan: each vehicle has its advantages and disadvantages. Which you choose depends on how you want to organise your trips and how much money you want to invest. Find out more about motorhomes and caravans here.

Rent or buy: this is the question you have to ask yourself before your first camping holiday. If camping has been a foreign word to you so far and you only know a caravan or motorhome from the outside, it is advisable to rent a vehicle for your first holiday. After the first few rainy days in a caravan or motorhome, you might realise that caravanning isn't quite the right thing for you after all. In a rental vehicle you can try out life in a caravan or motorhome without having to worry about anything. The vehicle is fully equipped and ready to drive, you don't have to worry about equipment, vehicle care, maintenance, storage space, taxes and insurance. Qualified dealers can offer you a rental vehicle that fits your needs and expectations. During your journey, you will quickly realise which features are particularly important to you.

Anyone who thinks that holidays with a motorhome or caravan are only for young families is very much mistaken: in fact, around 60 % of campers are between 50 and 69 years old. The manufacturers of motorhomes and caravans have adapted to this and offer age-appropriate equipment in many vehicles. When buying or renting a motorhome or caravan, you should pay attention to several points:

• Step: In most motorhomes, the electrically extendable step is standard. In caravans, only a few models have an under-mounted step to extend, but it can be retrofitted. Mostly a single or double step is presented.
• Beds: Sleeping in the alcove, bunk beds or loft beds are space-saving but not always suitable for older people. Loft beds are often only accessible via narrow ladders and offer little clearance to the ceiling. Level beds to the side of the centre aisle, on the other hand, offer easy entry and exit.
• Wheelchair-accessible: In the motorhome sector, there are several dealers who offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles for rent. They have an extra-wide motorhome door, a wheelchair lift and a spacious living area where a wheelchair can manoeuvre. The toilet and washbasin are barrier-free accessible. Sleeping spaces are available for up to four people. Development has also progressed in the caravan sector in recent years, although there are still no standard wheelchair-accessible rental caravans.
• Vehicle and technology: If you do not have many years of motorhome experience, you should make sure that your vehicle makes driving as easy as possible: Automatic transmission, reversing camera, cruise control and air conditioning, a clear cockpit, a small turning circle and a body that is not too high.

As a beginner, it is best to plan a short holiday close to home before your first trip. This way you can familiarise yourself with the vehicle and life on the campsite in a relaxed way. How does it feel to drive a sidecar or a motorhome? How do electricity and water connections work at the campsite? What is the best way to load the vehicle? How is the cassette toilet emptied, how is the grey water disposed of? The first trip with a camper van or caravan is exciting, but after just a few days you feel as if you've never had another holiday.

Camping holidays with a caravan or motorhome offer independent travel and at the same time the security of your own four walls. Before you decide to buy or rent a vehicle, it is worthwhile to take a closer look at the subject. In this way, you can find out which vehicle and which equipment are best suited to you and your travel habits. In a driving safety training course, you learn to recognise dangers in good time and to react appropriately. A short test holiday before the actual journey familiarises you with the vehicle and camping life.