Van life has a certain allure, having the freedom to jump in a van and head to any destination and not having to worry about booking accommodation. We’ve been toying with the idea of a van conversion project for a while now, but with it being such a big commitment (both time and financially) we wanted to try a rental first to see if we ‘van life’ was actually a good fit for us.
Camptoo UK reached out to us to see if we’d be interested in teaming up with them on a trip collaboration to review the van and write an honest account of our experience, so obviously we jumped at the chance! They provided us with a budget to spend on a campervan hire of our choosing. Scotland has been on our bucket list ages, with the breath-taking driving views and vast beauty spots, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to plan the trip.
How does it work booking with Camptoo UK?
Ever booked a stay through Airbnb? Well, it’s the same concept but for campervans! The website is easy to use, simply select your pickup location, set your travel dates, number of travellers and hit search rental vehicles. This will then pull a list of available camper vans for you to browse and choose from. Once your results loads you have a few more filter options such as vehicle type and search radius.
When you click into each result listing, you will see a price quote, further information about the vehicle from house rules to facilities. Be sure to check and terms and conditions and restrictions before you make a booking. We found one just 11 miles from home, which was perfect for us based on wanting to pick the van up and have time to pack and prep before heading off.
Submitting the booking enquiry was super easy; we had to set up an account, upload proof of driving licence and started the reservation. Within 5 minutes of submitting, the owner accepted the booking and sent us a message to confirm everything.
What type of campers are available for hire?
The database is massive, with a range of options from fully integrated motorhomes to smaller campervans. After setting our dates and pick up location radius to 10 miles form home, we got 30 results to review, which I thought was quite impressive.
How much is it to hire a campervan UK?
Depending on the type of vehicle you’re looking for and the length of time you want it for, prices can be around £80 to £150 per night. We booked a beautiful 4 berth VW campervan called Orla, which come with a bbq set, awning, camping chairs and dining area.
What about insurance?
When you hire a vehicle through Camptoo UK, your insurance is covered by the owner. Before paying our deposit, we had to submit our driving licence numbers and a picture of each side so they could run checks and sort the insurance for the trip. It was as simple as that.
When we went to collect the camper from the owner on the first day of our trip, they run through all the insurance documents so that in an emergency, we had all the right numbers to call.
Would we recommend Camptoo campervan hire?
In short, absolutely!
Campervans are a great way to staycation in the UK, from family holidays to couples getaways, if you love spending time outdoors then a campervan hire is definitely worth the money, it offers a freedom you don’t get with a B&B or hotel stayover. We drove from Liverpool to Glencoe first, which was the longest part of our trip, the campervan handled well on the motorway and on the A roads around Scotland. We also took the campervan over to Skye on the ferry, which was really straight forward.
Things to consider before booking a campervan:
1. Plan your destination and itinerary first, some campervans have restrictions on distance so be mindful of this when booking, check the details carefully and and terms and conditions.
2. Research the local rules and regulations for campervans and parking. If you’re planning a road trip, we’d recommend pinning a few campsites on Google maps, or even pre-book if you have a set agenda. The campsites we stayed at in Scotland were around £10 for park and stay, or £20 for electric plug in.
3. Ensure you have the right type of licence
4. Make sure you check what facilities are in the campervan before you pack; does it have a stove, kettle, utensils, chairs etc.
5. If you are paying a deposit, ensure that you inspect the campervan before you leave with the owner, and point out any marks or damage.
6. Does the van have a power supply? If not, you will need to take battery packs etc.
7. Read the terms and conditions, make sure you don’t get caught out with any extra fees or restrictions.
8. How many passengers are you taking, does the van have enough space and sleeping / sitting.
9. Will you be staying at a campsite? If not, there are plenty of public showers and toilets dotted around the Scottish Highlands and Skye, but remember to take coins with you, most have a machine for entry and require £1 coins.
