The motorhome offers an extremely affordable and practical source of leisure time. But if you’re tempted to make the investment, the world of the motorhome can seem a little bit arcane and intimidating. Let’s explore what’s on offer and how the various options differ from one another.
What is a Motorhome?
The motorhome should be distinguished from the caravan. The former is a complete, self-contained vehicle, while the latter is towed behind another vehicle.
Within the motorhome category, we find three sub-categories: A, B and C. To confuse matters further, there are slightly different rules in the United States. In the UK, we might refer to a ‘class B’ motorhome – those which have been created by modifying an existing van.
Whatever sort of motorhome you’re driving, you’ll need to be insured. Motorhomes come with different insurance requirements than normal cars, since you’ll need to not only insure the vehicle itself, but its contents – which are similar to those of a fixed residence. Shop for specialised motorhome insurance, and you’ll solve this problem at a stroke.
The Motorhome Industry
The motorhome industry has been in extremely good health ever since the COVID-19 pandemic produced a boom in domestic holidaymaking, and the popularity of the motorhome has been consistently high ever since.
In 2021, we saw a surge in demand as around 32,000 vehicles were sold, bringing the total number of vehicles in the UK up to around 225,000. This makes Great Britain the second-largest caravan market anywhere in Europe, with an industry that makes around £9.3 billion every year.
Why own a motorhome?
So, what is it that’s persuaded so many people to invest in a motorhome? There are several distinct advantages.
Enjoy freedom and flexibility
When you own a motorhome, you can go on holiday whenever you fancy. Moreover, you can change the direction of your holiday on a whim. If you feel like visiting a particular part of the world, then you won’t need to worry about booking accommodation at the last minute – because you’ll be carrying your accommodation with you. For a spontaneous personality, it’s an ideal way to travel.
Work from the road
Nowadays, many of us are enjoying a new kind of working lifestyle: that of a digital nomad. Provided that you have a wireless internet connection, you can plug in from wherever you are, and finish a day’s work. In some cases, you can get your work done even without an internet connection. If there’s a long project that you need seclusion to finish, then you might drive into the wilderness and get it done!
Save money
This also tends to make for a frugal way to travel, since we’ll be cutting down on the cost of accommodation. Motorhome holidays also allow us to cut down on our air miles, which makes them greener as well as more affordable. As such, you’ll be able to take more trips, at different times of year.
Take your pet on the ride
When you’re holidaying in your own motorhome, you’ll set the rules. That means that you can take your family pet along for the ride, and save on kennel and cattery costs. If you’re close to the dog or cat, then this might be a significant plus point!
