Over recent years, the tourism market has changed dramatically. While the pandemic did have a significant impact, other factors such as the rising costs of international travel and a move away from staying in hotels, with many travellers now seeking alternatives to traditional holidays.
Many travellers now enjoy staying in unique accommodations, such as treehouses, boats, or properties that are made to look like hobbit holes.
Another popular option is to adapt a vehicle, usually a van but sometimes a repurposed school bus or lorry, into a mobile home that is unique and tailored to your needs.
Living and travelling in a van is becoming increasingly popular in the UK and around the world thanks to the many van living social media influencers who use their online platforms to showcase the many benefits that travelling in a van can offer.
For families, living in a van full-time might seem inconvenient, but travelling in one can be a cost-effective and enjoyable way to see more of the world.
It’s particularly fun because there are fewer restrictions than traditional family holidays. Unlike a traditional resort or hotel, you’re able to take pets, and you don’t have to stick to one particular place.
That means that you can create a custom holiday plan that will suit you and your family and be a truly unique experience that no one else will ever be able to emulate.
If you’re thinking of travelling in a van with your young family, then here are some practical tips to make your journey as smooth and fun as possible.
Buy Your Own Van
While you could rent a camper van for your trip, often the fun of it is adapting your vehicle to suit your family’s unique needs. So, you should consider buying a van and then working to trick it out yourself. Even if you buy a van that’s already adapted for living in, you can still change it further, and if you own it, then you can use it time and time again.
Buying a van for your trip is a cost-effective and long-term option, but it can be difficult, particularly if you’re a mum with bad credit. If you need car finance for your new vehicle, then ChooseMyCar can compare bad credit options and more, so you can find the perfect car financing options to get you the van you want for your trip.
Plan Your Route
The beauty of travelling in a van is that you have more freedom than if you stayed in a hotel or hostel. While freedom is great, too much of it derail your trip. If you don’t know where you’re going, then you could get lost and might not enjoy your holiday as much as you want to.
To avoid this, you should try to plan out a rough route before you set off on your journey. This route will allow you to know where you’ll be going and ensure that you always have enough essentials, such as food and fuel, to get you through any deserted areas.
Discuss Who’s Going To Drive And When
If you’re travelling with more than one driver, then it’s important that you communicate with them about how the driving responsibilities are going to be shared. If you don’t do this before you set off on your journey, then this could lead to resentments later down the line.
So, before you start your trip, you should discuss the driving and how you intend to split it. You and the other drivers will then know when you can drink or rest and when you need to be ready to take the wheel. If you’re travelling with very young kids or other dependants, such as pets, then you’ll also need to discuss how you’re going to split the other chores and care that you need to undertake so that you all know what’s going on and what you need to do.
Pack Everything You Need And Adapt Your Van To Your Requirements
When you have a rough plan for your trip, you can get started on the packing for your journey. You’ll know exactly what you’ll need and can buy everything that you don’t already own. If you start packing before you plan your trip, then you might not pack the right clothes for the weather in the region that you intend to visit.
You also need to make sure that your van is fully equipped with everything that you and your family need to be comfortable during your journey. Travelling in a van doesn’t have to be uncomfortable- there are now a range of solutions designed specifically for van living, so you can find the solutions you need. When you’re travelling with kids, a washing machine could be helpful- there are plenty of washing machines made specifically for vans, so that you can find the right one for your trip. There are other appliances and solutions that can make your trip more comfortable and enjoyable, so you can your kids can have fun. When you’ve put together the perfect van for your journey, you’ll never want to stay in a hotel ever again- and if you maintain your van well then you won’t have to!
Talk To Your Kids Before You Start Your Trip
After all your careful planning and packing, it’s time to get started! Before you set off on your exciting van journey, you should discuss it with your children. Even very young kids will want to feel involved and know where they’re going, so explain the trip to them in a way that they can understand.
It will also help if you can show them the van before you leave and let them know how they need to behave. Young children will need to be supervised while they’re in the van, but by showing it to them before you start your trip, you can make them feel involved and improve their understanding of what’s going on. You can then start your trip and show them the world from the comfort of your unique combination of vehicle and temporary home.
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