Family holidays with a feel-good guarantee? Effortless thanks to caravan and motorhome
Fun, games and excitement—a family hotel holiday can hardly fulfil these three children’s wishes as easily as travelling with a caravan or motorhome. The sense of freedom is almost limitless: whether it’s the sea or mountains, swimming or hiking, relaxation or adventure—a camping holiday offers alternatives for every eventuality, so everyone enjoys their break.
To make sure you enjoy your time away with your loved ones to the fullest, be sure to follow these tips before setting off.
Tip 1: How to choose the right destination
The foundation of a relaxing holiday is careful and timely planning. Choosing the right holiday destination is especially important! Be sure to select a destination that keeps driving times reasonable—this will help you avoid the classic children’s question: “Are we there yet?”. It’s better to reach your final destination in shorter stages than to undertake a marathon drive in one go.
Just as crucial is finding a child-friendly pitch that promises adventure and fun. Special campsites with playgrounds, an own entertainment programme, or exciting attractions nearby are ideal for this.
Tip: Find out in advance about any possible extra costs or requirements for reservation. In general, it’s essential that your children are involved in the planning. Camping and site guides or matching apps are particularly helpful, for example the DCC 3in1campen app, which allows you to filter for child-friendly pitches.
Tip 2: How to make sure you have everything you need
Once the destination is set, the next crucial topic soon follows: packing. What is absolutely necessary? What can be left at home? What might be even cheaper to buy locally? Of course, essentials such as medication, toiletries and your child’s favourite cuddly toy should always go with you. Choose clothing based on weather conditions and the nature of your trip. You should also check that your motorhome or caravan is ready for the journey, so you are prepared for anything.
Tip: Make a detailed checklist. The handy app PackPoint also offers extra help. It compares your destination, duration and planned activities with the current weather forecast and creates a packing list for you.
Tip 3: How to pack and save space
To avoid the typical luggage Tetris before you set off, use a few simple tricks. Stick to the key words: functional and organised. Only take items—especially clothing—that can be reused, are washable, versatile and easy to mix and match, such as quick-drying performance wear or towels.
If you are starting your trip with a caravan or motorhome from abroad, these tips may also help: take soft travel bags instead of bulky suitcases, and pack small items in shoes. Soft bags can also be stacked and used like open cupboards.
To help you keep track of everything, it’s a good idea to write down where each item is stowed during packing and loading.
Tip 4: How to reach your destination with peace of mind
Once your caravan or motorhome is fully packed, there are two essential questions you must check to ensure a safe journey: Is the luggage securely stowed? Has the permissible gross weight been observed? Keep to the following basic rules: light luggage should be stored as high as possible, heavy items at the bottom and over the axles. Try to distribute the weight evenly between the axles to maintain good driving stability.
To avoid overloading, eliminate unnecessary weight and weigh your fully loaded vehicle including all passengers before setting off.
Expert tip: Save even more weight by choosing a motorhome with an AL-KO VT chassis that features innovative lightweight construction technology.
Visit https://www.alko-tech.com/en for everything you need to know about chassis and accessories for motorhomes and caravans.
