Tips för en lyckad vanlife-semester

Today we present a guest article

Caravan holidays are a historically prominent phenomena among Swedish holidaymakers and has been part of the Swedish national psyche since after the Second World War. It was then that international and Swedish caravanning experienced a real boom.

On the one hand, all Swedes were now entitled to two weeks' holiday by law, which was later doubled to four weeks' holiday in 1963, and on the other hand, there were now cars that could pull the caravan. With paved roads, car parks and more and more privately registered cars on Swedish roads, the tent holiday was increasingly abandoned in favour of caravanning, not least because of the convenience factor. In the late 1940s, the first caravans were manufactured in Sweden and in 1955 the caravan model popularly known as the 'Egg' began to be produced.

Despite its popularity, caravanning has long been frowned upon by many, as it was seen as unglamorous and demanding compared to exotic foreign destinations. In recent years, however, 'vanlife' has become a big hit with city dwellers in their 20s and 30s. Vanlife basically involves travelling and living in various eco-friendly vehicles. By having a home on wheels, you save on accommodation and travelling costs while having more flexibility to discover new gems both within and outside the country. In this article, we wanted to share some tips for a successful van life.

Good connectivity

Vanlife often has a glamorised image, especially on Instagram where followers post dreamy pictures of mirrored lakes, beautiful forest trails and majestic mountain peaks. However, life on the road can be challenging and boring at times, and you may need to unwind to release energy.

A good internet connection in the form of Wi-Fi or a mobile network is therefore essential to be able to work remotely, to ask for help in case of an accident and to be able to relax online as you would at home - the latter in the form of films and series on streaming services such as Netflix, audio books and e-books through sites such as Storytel, or by playing classic games such as blackjack on platforms such as PokerStars Casino and even chess tournaments on sites such as Chess.com.

Not all experiences in your van have to be natural and adventurous. Your van is ultimately your home, and with a good internet connection, you can create better conditions for both problem solving and work as pleasure.

Proper packing

Van life means you have limited space to store your personal belongings. It is therefore important to pack properly when preparing for life on the road. A good first tip is to minimise your wardrobe as much as possible and only take things that you really need or that bring you joy. Think about the kind of lifestyle you want to have to determine which clothes and gadgets are best suited.

In general, we advocate function over fashion, but in the best case scenario, clothes are both stylish and functional. Avoid taking items that you don't wear at home as there's a good chance the garment will remain unused on the road, and prepare for all kinds of weather so you don't get cold or sweaty. As a rule, it's good if your clothes are wrinkle-free and made of more durable materials that also clean easily and dry quickly.

Choose the right van for you

On the more technical side, it is important that you choose the right van for your specific needs. Think about the areas or countries you intend to visit and the terrain you will need to drive and park in. This will give you a good idea of what size and model you should go for and whether or not it's risky to invest in a used motorhome compared to a new one.

You should also take a position on which functions you will need inside - will sleeping on the sofa work or do you need to invest in a bed? Will you bring a gas cooker or do you prefer to install a stove in your van and what size fridge should you go for?