Have you ever dreamt of driving off into the sunset in your own motorhome – free to explore as you please, stopping as you wish and generally taking life easy? If so, this guide is for you.
If you’ve ever looked into the window of a motorhome parked on the crest of a windswept bluff of rugged coastline and wished you were sitting inside enjoying a warming cup of tea, or looked longingly on at a family sat under the shade of their motorhome awning to escape from the blazing lunchtime sunshine just a stone’s throw from an idyllic sandy beach, you’ve probably already been sold on the motorhome lifestyle.
But are you ready for the reality?
Owning your own motorhome will change the way you holiday. For one thing, you’re going to get away a lot more frequently. The temptation to take the motorhome away for the weekend on a warm bank holiday weekend can’t be denied.
For another, your destinations will be planned around those locations to where you can comfortably drive. This means you’ll be holidaying, for the most part, in Western Europe; unless your motorhome purchase is predicated on taking a few months out, enjoying a career break or following a retirement dream – in which case the world’s your oyster!
Besides the immediate considerations about whether a motorhome will suit the way you plan to holiday in the coming years, there are a number of practical considerations you’ll need to think about before you buy.
Financial considerations
A motorhome is a big investment. Happily, it is an investment that has a much slower rate of depreciation than you’d experience with other vehicles. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the best way to pay for it. Hire purchase and Personal Contract Purchase are popular ways to spread the initial cost.
You’ll also need to plan for the ongoing costs of insurance and breakdown cover – as well as personal travel insurance to cover you while travelling abroad. Bear in mind that this is likely to become more expensive after May 2019 when we leave the European Union as our European health treatments will no longer be covered by the EU’s EHIC scheme and so, even within Europe, travel insurance will need to include health insurance.
Choosing the right van for you
Vans vary a lot in terms of their interior layout and fittings and what you choose can have a big impact on the price you pay. Have a serious think about how you’ll be using your van and what is important to you. For example, how many berths do you need? Is bike storage important?
Visiting dealerships and talking with other motorhome owners will help you think about the ways you will be using your motorhome and what implications that has in terms of the best model for you.
If, having taken a few good tours of different models, you still have unanswered questions or are worried that you haven’t thought of everything, hire a motorhome for a weekend. This is a great way to see for yourself how you would live in your motorhome.
Companies like Freedhome Luxury Motorhome Hire in Bury offer a variety of models to hire; an easy way to test what works for you.
Practical home comforts
Motorhoming is a great way to travel. It exposes you to the culture of a country in a way you would not experience if staying in a hotel – without having to compromise on any of your home comforts.
Yet there are some trade-offs to consider. While motorhoming might offer more luxurious accommodation that camping, it will never be as luxurious as a hotel. Yes, you gain convenience and the ability to take all the comforts of home with you – as well as bring many more comforts and souvenirs back with you. But motorhome life isn’t without its practical considerations; you do have to fill up with water on a regular basis and find places to safely empty your toilet cassette and grey water.
However, some of these practical considerations can be the changes that make motorhoming so special. Yes, you might be cooking more – but those early morning treks around local markets can provide some of the most memorable – and mouthwatering – moments of your holiday.
Have fun!
Owning a motorhome introduces you to a different way to travel, get away together and immerse yourselves in different places and cultures.
Whether you dream of having a motorhome for the freedom to set off into the British countryside every weekend or are harbouring ambitions for a grand-tour style adventure, owning a motorhome opens up new holiday possibilities.
TMC Motorhomes is the North’s largest Roller Team & Sun Living by Adria dealership. With a huge range of both Roller Team & Sun Living by Adria motorhomes available to view on their forecourt, TMC Motorhomes will be exhibiting at the Royal Cheshire Show this June and offer a try before you buy on most layouts. Find out more information here.
