Hi there folks,
I want to find out a little information about camper vanning in europe

Plan to travel with my girlfriend (both of us are 24)
Dont want to spend time in boring campsites full of old folk. Does anyone know much about restrictions or options regarding parking and staying in places like these.

The logic in campervanning over train is to save accomodation costs.. Buy campervan---drive europe--sell camper van...minimum investment.

We really just want to have a great time..no real plan as of this moment..can anyone suggest a good route to see the main landmarks etc. (july/august).

loads of questions here...any answers there????

Nope. We boring old folks don't know anything, don't you know?

Camper vans will either be expensive to buy or "home made". It would be better to rent one. An alternative would be a trailor. Used ones sell pretty cheap, but then you'll ned a good car for towing. Usually you can stay in the street overnight, which should be all you need.

No offence tomboy....but I cant imagine 2 24 yr olds spending two months travelling from campsite to campsite surrounded be so many members of the older generations....even though they have got so much expertise and experience.

Regarding parking on the street....is it legal to sleep in camper on the street...and is it really that safe??...Really like the notion of camper...even if it isnt the ritz...any help would be appreciated..Many thanks

>.is it legal to sleep in camper on the street
"one night only" is legal in most of Europe.
>really that safe?
Safer than on the campground anyway, away from tourist centers, violent crime is virtually non existent in western Europe.

This site has some good offers.
http://www.truckscout24.de/

If parking fines are anything like they are at home, illegal parking could be more expensive than fine hotels all the way. I'd recommend doing this legally.

I have met a couple who did this, but they were middle-aged. They were Australian, bought a camper van in the UK, and then proceeded to drive around Europe for 6-7 months, staying at campsites, and they were going to sell the van at the end. Inevitably, to get into the cities you will need to spend substantial amounts of time on public transit. On the plus side, you get your own "room" and can cook, and you can see things off the beaten track.

I know European families with kids do this too.

Downside of this plan - what if the camper van suffers a fatal failure along the way? I'm not sure how you could insure against such a loss, and such an event could easily wipe out all budget aspirations.

>I know European families with kids do this too.
They call themselves "The Dutch", most of the time without children, however ;-)

Let's see...you want us to tell you about the "main landmarks in Europe" so that you can plan your trip?

My dear, have you had a geography lesson in school, anywhere? Or maybe history?

We "old folks" can't help you with no knowledge of your interests.

I hope you have a "great time". Perhaps the no "real plan" is the best idea.

You would be right at home on the Thorntree. Try it.

Logos999, funny, I thought they were the Germans .

I don't think Fodor's is the best resource for your question. You might try the websites and forums aimed at a younger crowd for backpacking and camping thru Europe instead.

I have a hard time believing a van or camper for a 2 month stay will be cheaper (buying it, insurance, toll fees, country passes, gas, campground admissions, etc.) than traveling by train and staying in a tent or hostels.

And yes, as suggested above, you need to take a look at www.lonelyplanet.com and go to their forum called The Thorn Tree.

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/archives/camping.htm

http://www.caravanninglinks.co.uk/information.htm

I may be an old fogey - but I have traveled around (mostly in the UK) in an old camper van.

I don't think you have really thought this through. To get a van for any sort of cheap price it will be an old one w/ LOTS of miles on it. Therefore not all that reliable. A major breakdown means you lose your investment - plus now have much higher expenses for last minute train/plane travel and hotels. A new-ish van w/ few miles will set you back 10's of thousands of euro and probably in cash.

Then there is the problem of getting from outlying camp grounds into any of the major cities along your route. You won't want to drive into the cities because the traffic, and especially the parking, is a BIG problem. In many cities a day's parking will set you back more than a night in a hostel.

And petrol along the way will also cost a TON.

What you want to do is not impossible - but it isn't the cheap, carefree experience you suppose.

And you need to get out a map and at minimum make a few decisions where you want to go before asking here. There are literally thousands of options so no one can &quot;<i>suggest a good route to see the main landmarks etc.</i> until you narrow things down a bit.

If it were me - I'd take trains and cheap intra-Europe flights, stay in inexpensive hotels and hostels, and bag the idea of a camper van . . . .

JanisJ makes a lot of sense. As a 24 year old you'll meet many more people your age with similar interests on the trains and staying at hostels or pensions. If you had a camper how would you get around some of the smaller towns in Italy? A van would be a major pain to try to park. Most campsites are not within walking distance of the &quot;sites&quot;, so you'd have to pack up and drive it every morning. Worst of all, you'd miss out on the fabulous German, Austrian and Swiss breakfasts that every pension or Gaesthaus offers.

Believe me, you can easily keep your accomodations costs below 20 Euro per person per night with a little research on the internet.