There’s not much to this blog yet, so I wanted to give you something to whet your appetite. These were the most helpful resources we used to figure out how to retire early and become van-vagabonds in Europe.
I haven’t monetized my site so no money will change cyber-hands if you click on these links. BUT, wanderlust is contagious and there’s no guarantee you won't start seeing travel ads because I have no idea how to stop the internet from following you.
Travel Blogs:
British couple that tour in Europe - chock full of helpful info.
Mike Hudson is a young Brit who converted an old van himself and travels full time.
http://vandogtraveller.com/
Retired American couple who have traveled to 58 countries and ship their motorhome as they go.
Retired American couple who have traveled to 58 countries and ship their motorhome as they go.
http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/index.html
American family who travel long-term in Europe. Informative YouTube videos.
https://worldtowning.com/
American family who travel long-term in Europe. Informative YouTube videos.
https://worldtowning.com/
US based site focussing on Roadtreks. Author “Campskunk” wrote a series on shipping his to Europe and back.
Books:
How to Live in a Van and Travel by Mike Hudson. This is vandogtraveller (see above).
Europe by Van and Motorhome by David Shore and Patty Campbell. American couple who traveled long-term in Europe - published in 2007 so some sections are dated.
Europe by Van and Motorhome by David Shore and Patty Campbell. American couple who traveled long-term in Europe - published in 2007 so some sections are dated.
Lonely Planet's Where to go When. Great photography. Caution: may cause itchy feet.
How to Make Your Money Last by Jane Bryant Quinn. Most likely available at your library.
Renting:
It would have been easier to trial run our retirement dream in the U.S. but it wouldn't have given us the joys and perils of European roads we needed to make an informed decision. Renting in the U.K. provided all that plus driving on the wrong side of the road! Most rental agencies either didn't have or wouldn't guarantee us a Class B. Matt Sims of the Motorhome Holiday Company did and would. He also provided excellent customer service including a completely above-and-beyond-the-call night drive way out of his way to troubleshoot a refrigerator problem we created. We peppered him with questions having nothing to do with the rental and he graciously answered them all.
Facebook Groups:
These are groups you have to request to join. We were accepted right after renting the campervan so there were pictures on Facebook proving we had a legit interest (read not potential spammers). These are a great source for the nitty gritty details of living in a motorhome. They discuss electrical, battery and, ahem, toilet issues with equal enthusiasm. There's a big community out there with experience and knowledge who help strangers at the drop of a hat. It’s truly heartwarming.
hymer owners group - over 5,000 mostly European members at the time of this post.
class b camper vans - over 8,000 mostly American members at the time of this post.
burstner motorhomes - less than 1,000 mostly European members.
Future Topics
Dermot has an Irish passport so he can travel Europe freely but many of the coolest countries belong to the Schengen region and they invite Americans to spend no more than 90 days in any 180 day period. After that, they want you out. They’re VERY serious about that - as in bar-you-from-coming-back serious. A long stay visa for France was the ticket for me but it's a very involved process that needs its own page. You can learn more here: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com
Buying a van in Europe is easy but insuring it there is really tricky. This was a BIG stumbling block that requires its own page too.
