10 advantages and disadvantages of travelling with a van.

Last summer we did a roadtrip with a self-converted van. In this post we want to shortly give you an overview of the biggest advantages and disadvantages of a van trip.

Advantages

The freedom to choose and change your destination.

Travelling with a van gives you an amazing amount of flexibility. Seeing a bad weather forecast for your initial destination? You can just drive somewhere else.

Saving a lot of money on overnight stays.

One of the biggest advantages of travelling with a van is how cheap it is to spend the night. You can just find a quiet spot and park for free. Many cities also have dedicated camper parkings that offer water and electricity. Prices for this are mostly around 10 euro.

No luggage limits.

In times of strict luggage restrictions when flying, it feels great to take whatever you want. You can take your favourite food, beer and clothes. Plenty of space in the van!

Having your own kitchen.

Cooking your own meal can be a huge cost saver. Above that, it can save you the struggle of finding a restaurant in some remote areas. Especially when you follow a specific diet.

Waking up with the best view you ever had.

A van can be parked in places with amazing views in the middle of nature. On a hilltop, in a forest,…away from concrete and surrounded by amazing landscapes.

Always having a comfortable bed.

When travelling with a van you always sleep on your own proper mattress, giving you a quality sleep and plenty of energy during the day.

Ending up in unexpected places.

Sometimes the search for a good spot to park overnight brings you to an amazing place away from the usual tourist spots.

Always having a toilet and fridge around.

Need to pee while on the road? Feel like having a cold drink? No need to search, just get in the back of the van.

You see a lot of beauty on the road.

Travelling with a van forces you to travel and drive a little slower, which makes you have time to look around and take the most beautiful roads.

You feel safe.

Your van is your own little home. In days with rain and thunder the van felt like a safe and cosy place.

Disadvantages

It gets dirty and chaotic fast.

A van is relatively small, and if one corner gets a little messy you see it from everywhere.

Finding a place to sleep can get stressful.

It’s not always easy to find a good place to sleep, especially during high season. Sometimes places are full, hard to find or just feel unsafe.

Power and water anxiety.

We found ourselves checking the battery and water tanks all the time, afraid to run out in the middle of nowhere.

Driving through cities and parking can get challenging.

A van is both much longer and wider than a usual car, which can cause tricky situations in small city streets.

You live together very close and don’t get personal space.

There’s only one room in a van, so it’s hard to take some time for yourself.

You don’t get the complete relaxation from hotel life.

There’s no staff to clean up and no chef making breakfast when travelling with a van, so it’s impossible to get a day of doing nothing at all.

You don’t experience the local way of living.

We like to stay with locals when travelling, because it puts you in their culture and way of life. With a van however, you always stay in your own place and lifestyle.

It can get smelly.

Sweaty clothes, dirty shoes, trash, dishes…it can make the whole van smell, so keep it clean and keep your doors open as much as possible.

No warm shower.

Our van didn’t have an inside shower and no warm water. This is fine for a few days, but we have to admit we started to miss it rather fast.

Fuel costs can run up.

The fuel consumption of a van is more than what you get with an average car, so be aware of these costs.