There is something iconic about camping vans. It’s impossible to think of camping without picturing a bright and colorful VW camping van, and the reason is simple: Scooby-Doo, which was created in the late 1960s, encouraged many young people then to buy a camper and explore the world. In Europe, drivers picked a VW. In the US, it was a Chevrolet Sportvan.
The celebrated team of amateur detectives, along with their Great Dane, has become a global phenomenon. And somehow, they continue to feed people’s camping inspiration. As a result, more and more families are looking to switch their resort holidays for an adventurous camping style vacation. But, if it’s your first time taking the road at the camper’s steering wheel, you need to avoid these disturbing noob’s mistakes.
You don’t always want to sit INSIDE
Owning a camper means that you’re traveling inside your home. But while it saves you a lot of time and trouble when you’re ready to settle for the night, it doesn’t mean that you can’t plan an outdoor area. Indeed, spending all your time inside a camper van can feel claustrophobic in the long term. Instead, you want to consider camper trailers that let you sit outside under a protective roof. Why does it make a big difference? You’re gaining one extra room, which doubles your living space.
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It’s not quite like a hotel
Ideally, your camper comes with proper bedding, which may be narrow but offers more comfort than an inflatable mattress. However, it doesn’t mean you should prepare your sleeping kit as if you were to sleep in a real bedroom. Forget the typical bedsheets, and aim for a sleeping bag instead. Packing bedsheets is only going to use space unnecessarily. On the other hand, you can roll your sleeping bag and store in under the table or in a cupboard during the day.
Can you survive on sandwiches only?
You can’t cook in a camping van, right? It’s the standard assumption made by countless new holidaymakers. True enough, you can’t throw a sophisticated multi-dish meal. However, you can’t expect your family to eat sandwiches during the entire duration of the trip. Just because you are not staying in a proper house doesn’t mean you can’t have healthy and comforting food. Needless to say, while you might enjoy the occasional sandwich, you can’t base your entire holiday diet on those! Instead, you can prepare simple one-pot meals that are nutritious, easy to make. More importantly, one-pot dinners are easy to clean, which is something you want to favor on a camping trip.
Photo by Charles 🇵🇭 on Unsplash
You need your phone
Lastly, there was a time when going camping was simple and easy. You didn’t need more than a handful of torches and a gas canister for cooking in terms of energy equipment. However, in the 21-st century, a smartphone is an indispensable tool that needs to be recharged regularly. If you don’t want to use up your engine battery, you can look for solar panels that act as chargers. No more grumpy teens claiming they can’t get in touch with their friends! More importantly, you’re sure to keep your Google Maps GPS at hand!
You may be dreaming of the next Scooby-Doo adventure in a camper van. However, you need to plan for comfort and practicality if you’re organizing your first camper tour. There’s a reason we never get to see Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy’s life inside the van: It can be very uncomfortable if you haven’t planned properly!