Why I take Camper Van
Europe by Camper Van (RV): My First RV Adventure, Costly Mistakes & Essential Tips
If you’ve been following The Lost Mumbaikar, you’ve probably noticed one thing.
Whenever I travel with my family across Europe, I often choose a camper van, also known as an RV (Recreational Vehicle). For my solo adventures, nothing beats the freedom of a motorcycle. But when it’s the four of us exploring Europe, an RV becomes our home on wheels.
A camper van isn’t just a vehicle, it’s your car, hotel room, bedroom, kitchen, dining room and living room and all in one.
Over the years, we’ve enjoyed some unforgettable Europe camper van trips through Finland, Iceland, Germany, France and Luxembourg. Some of our greatest family memories were created not at famous landmarks, but while driving scenic roads, cooking dinner beside lakes, waking up in forests and parking beside breathtaking landscapes.
That freedom is exactly why so many travellers fall in love with campervan travel in Europe.
But before you book your first RV rental in Europe, let me tell you something many travel influencers don’t.
Driving a camper van in Europe is completely different from renting a normal car.
My First Camper Van Experience in Finland
My first campervan road trip began in Helsinki, Finland. Like many first-time renters, I was excited but completely underestimated the experience. Back home in Dubai, I drive an automatic car every day. Most European camper vans, however, are manual transmission.
Suddenly I had to manage a large vehicle with manual gears while driving on unfamiliar roads, following Google Maps, learning European traffic rules, watching speed limits and constantly checking the height and width of the vehicle.
For the first couple of days, my confidence disappeared. Every roundabout felt unfamiliar. Every narrow village road demanded concentration. Every bridge and parking entrance made me wonder,
Will the roof clear this obstacle? Could the vehicle hit something at the back, and will I be able to reverse and park it properly?
If you’re planning your first campervan trip in Europe, don’t assume it’ll feel like driving your everyday car.
It won’t.
My Costliest Travel Mistake
That lesson became expensive. Near Rovaniemi in Finland, I entered a parking area without paying enough attention to the vehicle’s height as I was excited to see Northern Lights first time.
The roof struck the overhead structure.
The repair bill?
Almost €4,800.
That remains one of the costliest travel mistakes, I’ve ever made.
Looking back, I realised my biggest mistake wasn’t hitting the roof.
It was my insurance. I chose basic insurance instead of comprehensive cover because I thought,
“I’ll drive carefully. I won’t need it.”
I was wrong.
If you’re renting an RV or motorhome in Europe, spend time understanding the difference between third-party insurance, collision damage waiver (CDW), excess, and comprehensive insurance. Paying a little more before your trip can save you thousands of euros later.
Every Europe Camper Van Trip Teaches Something New
Even after several European road trips, the lessons never stopped.
During our Luxembourg campervan trip, the heater stopped working late one winter evening because the gas cylinder had emptied. I assumed replacing it would be as straightforward as it had been during our Finland campervan road trip drive to a petrol station, exchange the empty cylinder for a full one, plug it in, and continue the journey.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I soon discovered that different suppliers use different gas cylinders, and more importantly, different connectors. Buying the correct gas cylinder wasn’t enough, the connector also had to match the camper’s system.
It’s one of those practical lessons that no rental company really explains, and one you only discover when you’re standing in freezing temperatures, trying to get the heater working before your family spends a very cold night.
That’s when I realised something important. Travelling in a camper van isn’t simply about driving. You’re also managing heating, electricity, water tanks, waste tanks, batteries, cooking gas and campsite facilities.
It’s a small home on wheels.
And like every home, it requires attention.
Why I Still Love Campervan Travel in Europe
After reading all this, you might wonder why I keep renting camper vans. Because nothing gives me the same feeling of freedom.
One morning you’re parked beside a peaceful lake in Finland. The next you’re overlooking glaciers in Iceland. A few days later you’re driving through vineyards in France or forests in Luxembourg.
There are no hotel check-in times.No packing and unpacking every day. No rushing.
Just open roads, changing landscapes and the freedom to stop whenever something catches your eye.
Some of our best family conversations have happened inside a camper van while driving through Europe.
For me, that’s what a European road trip is all about.
Tips Before Renting a Camper Van (RV) in Europe
If you’re planning your first campervan holiday in Europe, here’s what I wish someone had told me.
- If you’re not comfortable driving a manual vehicle, specifically book an automatic camper van.
- Understand the difference between third-party, CDW, excess reduction and comprehensive insurance before collecting your vehicle.
- Know the vehicle’s height, width and weight, and keep a reminder near the dashboard.
- Watch tutorials explaining the heating system, water tanks, electricity, waste disposal and gas cylinders before leaving the rental depot. Tell your kid to attend it and record it.
- Check exactly what’s included. Bedding, blankets, kitchen equipment and camping accessories vary between rental companies.
- Test the heater and check the gas cylinder before your first winter night.
- Avoid entering underground parking without checking the height restriction.
- Take photographs and videos of the entire vehicle before driving away.
- Spend an hour getting comfortable with the vehicle before starting a long-distance drive.
- Remember that you’re driving a home, not just a car. Slow down, relax and enjoy the journey.
Would I Rent an RV Again?
Without hesitation.
Despite the €4,800 mistake in Finland.
Despite the freezing night in Luxembourg.
Despite the steep learning curve.
Every challenge taught me something that no guidebook ever could.
Our Europe camper van road trips have given us some of our happiest family memories. Watching the Northern Lights in Finland, waking beside glaciers in Iceland, driving through vineyards in France, and wandering the quiet forests of Luxembourg.
Hotels gave us comfort but the RV gave us stories.
For me, the greatest luxury in travel isn’t a five-star suite. It’s opening your door to a new view every morning, brewing a cup of coffee, and realising your backyard has changed once again.
The Lost Mumbaikar Says:
“Driving an RV isn’t about comfort. It’s about trading convenience for freedom and every kilometre is worth it. Because the best views in life rarely come with a hotel reception.”
An RV doesn’t just take you across countries, it changes the way you experience them.
That’s why, no matter how challenging it can be, I’ll always choose the open road.
Because destinations give you photographs, the road gives you memories.
Your Turn:
- Have you ever travelled in a camper van or RV? What was your biggest lesson?
- If you could take an RV road trip anywhere in Europe, which country would you explore first?
- What’s the biggest travel mistake you’ve ever made and what did it teach you?
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