Traveling by motorhome is another way of traveling. Surely you have seen them on many beaches, in the mountains or rolling on one of the roads . You find them anywhere, because motorhomes go everywhere.
There are those who are truly in love with these vehicles and the peculiarities of making their vacations in one of them. These, normally, have their own motorhome and take care of it and pamper it like a member of the family. For them, the motorhome is a vacation style in itself. In short, they are people for whom the trip is as important as the destination.
There are those who think it is a “horror” and do not even consider trying them. It is also true that, normally, they are people who have never seen a motorhome inside and usually make an automatic association of this way of traveling with an uncomfortable low-cost trip, and they are wrong. But, perhaps, the largest group is that of those who have never thought about the possibility of traveling by motorhome and are yet to discover whether or not they may like this experience.
For those who do not know anything about motorhomes, but have an open mind to new experiences, below we offer a little practical information about these vehicles and their peculiarities.
What is it like to travel by motorhome?
A motorhome is a vehicle designed to carry the house on one’s back. It is literally a “mini” house on wheels, but like everything in life, it has its advantages and disadvantages.
There are many different motorhomes, many models and with benefits of all kinds . We would have to take all this into account if we are thinking of buying one, but if we have never traveled by motorhome and want to try what this experience is like, it is best to rent one for a vacation or a weekend getaway.
How is a motorhome inside?
The offer of rental caravans is wide, but there are a number of characteristics that are the most common in the offer of these vehicles.
In all of them they can travel with a seat belt and sleep between 4 and 6 people. They have a small complete bathroom -basin, toilet and shower- and a basic kitchen that usually has one or two burners, a small refrigerator and some come with an oven or microwave.
They also have a small living-dining room that is usually very versatile since at night it becomes a single bed, a double bed or both . They also have storage space and each corner is a small closet.
Many have an awning that protrudes from the side of the motorhome, where the access door is located. With this advance and garden tables and chairs, you will have a perfect porch. This system to create the porch is essential and is something you should ask about before renting the motorhome. It must be borne in mind that it is a very small space and this can create some friction in coexistence, so these outdoor meters provided by the awning are almost essential.
How does a motorhome work?
These little mobile homes drive almost like a car, although they are slower. Average travel speed is 80-100km per hour. The average consumption of these vehicles is between 9 and 12 liters per 100km, higher figures than those of the car.
The motorhome usually has a range of 3 or 4 days . That is, for 3 or 4 days you can park anywhere and sleep wherever you want. Then you will have to go through a campsite or a specialized car park since the batteries that give it autonomy must be recharged. You will also need to fill the shower tanks and taps with clean water and empty the dirty water tanks from the bathroom and kitchen. Neither of these tasks is complicated, but they take time. The average price in a campsite for a motorhome is between € 11 and € 25 per night and includes all these services.
How to rent a motorhome?
There are many pages specialized in the rental of these vehicles. The price is usually between € 100-130 per day for the small ones -maximum 4 people- and € 180- € 200 for the large ones (maximum 6 people). They are usually semi-new vehicles and in very good condition.
Many pages have also appeared in recent years for the rental of motorhomes between individuals. In this type of website the price is usually more affordable, they can be found from € 70 per day.
The important thing is that the motorhome rental includes insurance . Just like when you rent a car, you most likely don’t need it, but you always have to hire it. It’s better to prevent than to cure.
Advantages and disadvantages of traveling by motorhome
The main advantage is freedom : if you like a place, you just have to park and you will be at home. This is the only type of vehicle that allows you to see sunsets and sunrises like you have never dreamed of or sleep in that natural viewpoint that you like so much. It offers you a whole world of possibilities.
This does not mean that, as in the rest of your trips, you do not have to have certain aspects planned: You must know where the camping sites or car parks that have services for motorhomes are . Every 3 or 4 days you will have to go, so you must know all the possibilities in the area you are going to travel through.
Another advantage that we must mention is that with the motorhome you can carry the house on your back. In any place you will have everything you need at hand and that is, without a doubt, an important advantage. But it has its dark side, if you want to move to the nearby town or make short trips for excursions during the day, you have to move the whole house with you. This can be solved by taking bicycles since space is not a problem.
Kids love and are excited about traveling in a motorhome . This is a great advantage and will help when you explain that you have to keep everything in order. The limitation of space is evident and, if we also add clutter, it can be chaos.
Another advantage that you should take into account is the security offered by this type of vehicle. Modern motorhomes incorporate quality safety tools so that, at night, everyone can rest without any inconvenience. In addition, there are usually guarded and dedicated areas for travelers who move by motorhome.
A motorhome is much more than a vehicle that takes you from one place to another . The journey is part of the journey and so you have to enjoy it. Do not hesitate and do it, it will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
