For experienced camper enthusiasts, camper trips are the quintessence of adventure and freedom. Traveling on the road with everything you need at hand, accompanied by friends or family, with the possibility to stop and sleep anywhere in nature, fully autonomous in choosing your itinerary and without being bound by hotel schedules is, according to many, the absolute best way to travel and have fun.
If you’ve arrived here, you’re probably considering the idea of traveling by camper on your next vacation. As beginners, you might be wondering whether it’s better to rent or buy a camper, how to organize life on board and the itineraries, but above all, which destinations are best for your first trip. In this article, we’ll provide a little guide to resolve all these doubts and help you fully experience the excitement of camper trips!
Useful Tips
Let’s start right away with a list of essential tips to keep in mind when organizing a camper vacation!
Choosing the Right Camper
First of all, for a camper trip it’s necessary to carefully choose the vehicle. For your very first road trip, we recommend relying on a qualified dealership and renting a camper. This way, you’ll be assisted and guided on which model to choose based on your needs.
You can then test life on board and better understand what you’re looking for and what you don’t need in a camper, and based on your experience decide whether to buy one or give up the camper lifestyle altogether!
Also, we recommend testing the vehicle before setting off completely unprepared. So before the official vacation, organize a day or a weekend on the road to get familiar with the camper and check for any possible issues.
Planning the Trip and Itinerary in Detail
Once you’ve chosen your destination, dedicate some time to organizing the trip. Lay out the complete itinerary of the route you’ll take, planning stops and breaks, with a road map in hand to choose the best roads to travel.
This doesn’t mean there won’t be room for discovery and adventure, but it’s useful to know where you can stop with the camper, which cities, for example, prohibit vehicle entry into the historic center, and where you can find a campsite for the night if needed.
Gathering information about the places to visit will also help you understand the best times to visit, especially if there are events or special shows planned.
Creating a detailed map of the tour won’t spoil the joy of discovery, but will protect you from unforeseen events! This way, you can also have a complete overview of the total costs of the trip, including fuel, tolls, and stops.
Finally, if you’re traveling with children, planning becomes even more essential. Especially if it’s their first trip, try not to overdo it. Plan many stops and breaks to keep their interest alive and prevent boredom and restlessness from long hours in the car. Also plan some games to play on board to keep them entertained, and make a meal list.
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Packing Only the Essentials
Setting off literally with a house on your back might tempt you to pack all sorts of things. Once again, however, it’s essential to travel light and bring only the absolute essentials. Here’s a list of essentials to have on board for any eventuality:
- Sufficient food supplies , dishes and cutlery, grills and gas stoves.
- Change of clothes, from swimsuits to raincoats for every situation.
- Bathroom and bed linen.
- Books and board games.
- Chocks to properly park the camper on uneven ground.
- A hose for water supply and a full jerrycan for emergencies.
- Flashlights.
- Camping chairs.
- Toolbox with spare parts and power cables.
- Road maps.
Where to Go
Now that we know everything needed to travel by camper in the best way, it’s time to choose a destination. We’ve selected some options for you in Italy and Europe, suitable for beginners but still full of charm and architectural and natural beauty along the way!
Itineraries in Italy
Italy, with its art cities and many landscapes ranging from mountains to the sea, has always been the perfect country for camper trips.
The most beautiful and wild destinations to discover gradually on wheels are undoubtedly the two largest islands, Sardinia and Sicily. This way, you can visit the most touristy and seaside areas without falling into luxury tourism traps. But you’ll also have the chance to venture into more inland and less frequented areas by tourists to discover the most authentic people, history, and culture.
Other camper-friendly stops are the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, where you can move around completely independently.
For families with children, it’s also a great idea to include stops in the tour specifically dedicated to them. A wonderful experience to share on the road that involves the whole family is visiting amusement parks. Northern Italy is perfect for this as it offers many entertainment options.
The Veneto region is ideal for traveling with children, especially if you consider the Lake Garda area, full of wonders. Here you can visit Gardaland near Verona or the Movieland Park in Lazise.
Camper trips are usually associated with summer and good weather, but it’s also a great idea to travel on wheels during the Christmas holidays and explore the wonderful markets that light up the country from north to south. and set off to discover the wonderful markets that light up the entire country from north to south.
Itineraries in Europe
If you want to organize your first road trip abroad, before venturing into the world, we recommend exploring Europe. Our continent offers thousands of destinations perfect for an unforgettable camper trip, always between nature and history.
Among the most beautiful trips is the so-called blue highways, roads running along the Blue River crossing four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and reaching Russia.It’s a fascinating route that will take you into the heart of wild nature and to visit places like Oslo and North Cape with a greater sense of freedom compared to traditional trips!
Equally magical will be your camper holidays if you choose to travel in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland or Scotland. The tour along the North Coast 500 in particular will lead you through the Scottish Highlands among castles and bagpipes. This is one of the best places to travel on wheels because it’s literally dotted with rest areas.
But you don’t have to go that far; camper enthusiasts also love itineraries between France and Germany. In France, especially the Route Napoléon, the road Napoleon took returning from exile, which also touches the French Riviera. In Germany, the most beautiful area to explore by camper is the Black Forest, with woods, lakes, and towns frozen in time!
These were our tips for camper trips. If you liked them, check out our other articles and travel guides. If you’d like to experience new adventures with other travelers in Italy and around the world, don’t hesitate to join Meeters: visit our events to find the ones that suit you best!