A couple spent £16,000 on a van off eBay and converted it into the perfect mobile home in order to travel across Europe with their Dalmatian.
Natasha and Vinny Ware took more than a year doing up the old Peugeot Boxer which had its own shower, kitchen, solar panels, diesel heater, portable toilet, hob, and even a bed for their pet pooch, Pippa.
The married couple bought the used Peugeot Boxer for just £6,000 from ebay and spent a further £10,000 doing it up.
Natasha and Vinny then embarked on a whirlwind tour across Europe where Pippa strolled through Valencia city centre, hiked in En Xativa, Spain, drank fresh water in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, chased kites in La Manga and sunbathed in Benalmadena, Spain.
Natasha, 33, said: “It felt so liberating being able to go everywhere and anywhere we like.
"We had everything we needed in the camper van including our dog.
“She loved cruising along with us and going for different walks in the Swiss mountains or on a Spanish beach.”
The tour started in October from their home in Abergele, Wales, and saw the couple travel to Switzerland, Spain, France and Italy before returning to the UK on December 15, 2021.
"Vinny used to be a builder for 10 years so he is very handy," said Natasha.
"He did an amazing job. The van has a pull out double bed but is spacious as there’s only two of us.
“We didn’t feel cramped at all during our trip - even with Pippa. She had her own bed but mostly stayed in ours. It was amazing waking up daily to different scenery with Pippa by our side.
“She looked so happy to be with us.
"The only difficulty was wanting to go somewhere without her such as a restaurant for dinner. We had to make sure we were parked somewhere safe.
“We would only leave her for an hour or two.”
And what was the best thing about travelling in a van? Natasha said it was the freedom.
"We could just get up and go every few days," she said.
“We were mainly chasing the sun so spent a lot of time in Spain but we did drive through France and spent a day in Italy. Pippa has a lot of energy as she is a Dalmatian so she was happy to walk everywhere too.”
The couple now allow members of the public to hire their silver van.
She adds: “With everything going on in the world at the moment, people are opting for staycations. So we have put the van on multiple sites including Air BnB for £120 per night including insurance.
“We want other people and dogs to enjoy our quirky mobile home.”
