T R AVEL TALK ASK THE EXPERTS
NEED ADVICE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP? ARE YOU AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS, TIPS AND GUIDANCE? OUR EXPERTS HAVE THE ANSWERS…
THE EXPERTS
Max Schmidt Co-head of CamperDays
Grace Fell Founder of Wild With Consent
Georgia Stephens Commissioning editor, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Paula Hotti Co-author of Lonely Planet Finland
I’m thinking of renting a campervan this year for the first time. What are your top tips? A campervan trip offers the chance to enjoy quality time with loved ones while enabling you to make the most of the outdoors. It’s also a great option for those wanting to try their hand at camping without scrimping on everyday luxuries, such as a hot shower or kitchen. This type of travel is as much
Natalie Kidd Managing director Asia, Intrepid Travel
From left: With a campervan, you can stop in Cornwall for a surf; Uspenski Cathedral, Helsinki; bowl of pho, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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about enjoying the journey as it is reaching the destination, but anyone considering their first campervan trip needs to do their research. For example, familiarise yourself with your vehicle, plan your route and learn the rules of the road if you’re heading abroad. Also, book campsites in advance, particularly during busier months. For first-timers, I’d recommend rural routes with wider, open
NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL
roads, meaning plenty of space for larger vehicles and fewer awkward manoeuvres. A road trip through Norfolk and Suffolk is a great option for first time road-trippers, covering just 268 miles of relatively flat terrain and offering the perfect combination of country and coastal vistas. MAX SCHMIDT
A campervan trip is the perfect outdoor adventure with creature comforts. When hiring, make sure you know which features are important to you — a wood- burning stove is perfect for cosy evenings, whereas four-wheel drive gets you further off the beaten track. Quirky Campers offers handcrafted vans with character, while Northumberland Defender Hire has true off-grid vehicles.
quirkycampers.com
northumberlanddefenderhire.com
Use your van as a launchpad
to get out and explore. No matter what the local weather is up to, you have a warm, dry space to get back to at the end of the day. Make sure you stock up on tea — for me, one of the great joys of the campervan is being able to put the kettle on whenever you feel like it. Plan a route in advance. You
don’t want to be poring over your map to find your next spot for the night instead of savouring the landscape. But leave space for spontaneity. Spotted a lane down to a lake? Head down for a wild swim. Wild With Consent’s off- grid sites give you the freedom of being in nature, knowing you’ve got a remote spot tucked away from the crowds already booked.
wildwithconsent.com GRACE FELL
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