Top tips for couples travelling in campervans

It seems that no matter where you are in the world couples just can’t get enough of campervans. A quick scan of social media and travel sites, will bring up thousands of romantic pictures of couples exploring new and exciting places, cuddling up and spending quality time together.

 

From youngsters just starting out in life together to silver haired gap decaders ticking off locations from their bucket list, everyone seems to be loving van life. But while a campervan can make a wonderful holiday location for many couples, it comes with its own set of challenges.

   

To help keep your relationship – as well as your trip – on track, the caring team at Motorhome Protect have put together these top 10 tips for you to keep in mind when planning for the perfect campervan getaway with your loved one.

 

Whether it’s for a weekend away or a year-long trip of a lifetime always check your campervan insurance is up to date. After all, when mishaps happen the stress levels can rise, but if you’ve got the right insurance cover in place it shouldn’t ruin your trip.

 

Work as a team and you’ll get through anything

 

A vital way to keep any campervan trip harmonious and argument-free is to decide on specific tasks for each of you.

 

It’s a great way to stop you from getting in each other’s way and will ensure that no one ends up feeling like they are ‘doing everything’.

 

Working together as a team to solve problems and create the perfect trip will help build trust and maintain respect for each other. But always remember, everyone makes mistakes and playing the blame game is never useful when you’re on the road together.

 

Travelling in a campervan can throw up a lot of challenges. Not the least of which is driving the van itself. Particularly if it’s been a while since you last drove such a large vehicle, or you’re exploring an unfamiliar area.

 

• It’s important that whoever is driving is made to feel confident in their abilities and is supported along the way.
• Make sure you’re both aware of the most common causes of campervan accidents. 
• In any household someone will have responsibility for ensuring bills are paid on time or checking the campervan insurance is still up to date.
• Having the right level of cover in place is essential to guard against theft, breakdown and damage. A vital job that should never be taken for granted!

Get the balance just right between planning ahead and being flexible

Choosing to spend your nights together in a comfortable home on wheels brings huge benefits to your trip in terms of flexibility and freedom.

 

So, if either of you hears of a wonderful place to visit nearby then just hop into the driver’s seat and get a move on. After all, you’ve got everything you need right there in the van.

 

But remember you’re travelling with your soulmate and you always need to take them into account.

 

Every side trip you go on is a great opportunity for a shared moment that will connect you and lead you to an even deeper understanding of each other. But only if you both want to do it.

 

• Always keep an open mind while travelling and be open to new experiences – particularly if your partner also seems keen. You can always extend your trip or take it in a new direction.
• While it’s great to embrace the go-with-the-flow attitude on a road trip, to avoid any needless stress then it’s also important to plan ahead. If you both know where you’ll be parking when night falls it’ll make you both feel more relaxed.
• Having a reasonable idea of where to stop means you’ll be able to take your time and focus on each other rather than just the road ahead.

 

A nice way to bring structure to any trip is to set yourselves a goal as you travel together.

 

Whether you intend to write a travel blog or perhaps upload your best photos to social media, having purpose brings a whole new level of interest to your trip and your relationship.

 

Only travel with someone you really like

 

It may sound obvious, but when you’ll be travelling in such close quarters you need to be sure you really like them – a lot.

 

• If you aren’t already comfortable getting close together, then you’d better do some hard thinking.
• Away from the usual norms of life you’ll have space to be together and really get to know each other.

 

While this often brings a new depth and understanding to a relationship, it can also create problems – particularly if you run into a rainy day or two on the road!

 

Give each other time

 

Couples work together in lots of different ways and not everybody wants to spend all their time in each other’s pockets.

 

• Planning a few hours or even days away from each other is a good way to mix up your trip.
• Giving you both me-time in which to do your own thing – even if it’s just lazing in a cafe with a good book.
• That said, couples travelling together also need to make time to really be there for each other.

 

Just as in your daily life together, it’s all too easy to fall into the endless rounds of social media updates and camp chores.

 

Remember to sometimes put down whatever it is you’re doing and give 100% attention to each other – being in the moment together is what it’s all about!

Be prepared for a fall out

 

All couples that travel together will eventually fall out at some point. While it might not be a big shouty argument that goes on for hours, you still need to manage your expectations around that.

 

It will feel awful when it does happen but it’s important that you already have a strategy to resolve the fall out, whatever the cause was. We all get hungry, angry and tired on even the most heavenly vacation.

 

• Being aware of potential flashpoints is a good way to stay on top of any tense situations before they get out of control.

 

Check and double check your gear before you go

 

Pre-journey checks of your camper and its contents are an easy way to avoid early tensions.

 

Even if you know your camper inside and out it’s always useful to take a careful look at what’s there.

 

Is everything safely stored away inside the van? Is something missing? Before you turn the keys, have you checked the oil and water? Has it been a while since your last trip? Is the spare tyre pumped up and ready to go?

 

As well as the van itself you also need to take care you don’t forget the essentials.

 

• Packing and shopping lists are a necessity. Make the most of your trip by making sure you’ve got all these items at the start, so you can focus on the fun.
• That said, it’s important not to overpack. There’s only a limited amount of space in a campervan and even less if there’s two of you! So, do you really need three swimsuits and four jumpers? Perhaps not.
• Consider what’s really going to make your trip enjoyable, then leave everything else at home. Be sure to pack something nice to go out in though! You never know when a romantic dinner out is just the right end to a perfect (or even not-so-perfect) day.

 

Check you’ve got your campervan insurance and any breakdown cover arranged before you leave home. You don’t want a lack of preparation to ruin your trip.

 

Food always brings people together

 

The way to many people’s hearts is through their stomachs and if you ignore this fact then things won’t go well.

After a long day travelling, having no food to eat or something really uninspiring isn’t going to leave anyone feeling like cuddling up.

• Figuring out what meals you will cook and where you’ll store items is important even if you don’t know exactly what you’ll be eating on any particular day.
• Picking up local food and delicacies along your trip is a great way to get the taste buds tingling in anticipation for your next meal.
• But stocking up on the basics before you head off is also important, particularly if you’re hoping to explore secluded beaches.
• When people become hungry and angry it can lead to a ‘hangry’ outburst – a terrible situation for a couple to find themselves in.

And don’t forget snacks. Lots of snacks. You need to keep yourselves energised during any hiking, biking, or paddling excursions. And don’t forget yummy treats for those inevitable late-night cuddles in front of the campfire.

Be realistic about campsite spots

 

Campervans are wonderfully flexible when it comes to finding the best place to camp, but it’s still important to be thoughtful when choosing your campsite.

 

If you don’t choose the right spot then you could be setting yourselves up for a bad night’s sleep and recriminations in the morning. Tired campers are never happy campers, no matter how much they love each other.

 

• Always make sure the campsite is level, private, away from noise and lights, and in a spot that best showcases what the area has to offer. If it’s at the beach, get that sea view.
• If you’re in the hills, look for the panoramic vista. Looking at nature together is a wonderful way to connect.
• Be aware that not every camping spot will have those perfect Insta credentials of distant hills or spotless sands. But if you’re with someone you love then there’s no place on earth you’d rather be.

 

Keep your shared space neat and tidy

 

Mess can soon lead to stress. Different people have different quirks when it comes to how tidy they want everything to be.

 

However, at least if everything has a place at the start of your trip it’s a lot easier to put it all away at the end of the day.

 

• But whatever you do, always find a spot for your shoes.
• Leaving smelly or dirty footwear lying around in such a confined space is a recipe for an argument.
• And not only will your van stay clean, but there’ll be less likelihood of tension when you’re searching for them in the morning.

 

Have fun

Take the opportunity to see each other at your very best; glowing from the sun, laughing and carefree.

You’re sharing life together, and remembering this version of yourselves will help you get through the tougher times.

Hold on to the memories you forge together during this time – they’ll be with you forever.

Protect your romantic road trip with campervan insurance

 

Whatever romantic spot you find yourselves in, to get there you’ll need to make sure the essentials are in place.

 

Just as with any relationship, putting time into arranging the right kind of coverage for you and your vehicle means you’re much more likely to finish your trip on a happy note.

 

Motorhome Protect can provide a range of quotes for campervan insurance with the following benefits:

 

• Cover for up to 365 days a year which can include foreign use
• Up to £3,500 of cover for your camping personal effects
• Up to six months cover to complete a self-build conversion
• Quotes available for customers with claims and convictions

 

Get a quick quote for campervan insurance today.

 

Policy benefits and features offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.

 

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