A long time ago I was a backpacker, staying in hostels for incredibly low prices. As I turned 30, this became hotels, as I started to enjoy the finer things in life. Every trip revolved around booking stays, scanning ratings, checking in and out like clockwork. They always started with a confirmation email and ended with a checkout bill. However, recently we have been contemplating whether something like a caravan might offer a different way of having a UK holiday, especially now we have dogs.
We bought a motorhome, hit the road, and haven’t looked back. This isn’t a travel trend piece; it’s our story of how swapping hotels for a motorhome changed how we live, work, and see the world. Let me tell you why it became one of the best travelling decisions of our lives and can be yours as well!
Why a Motorhome Could Change Our Travelling Experiences
For us, a motorhome could unlock a life where travel and home are the same thing. We could give up the predictability of hotels for the unpredictability of the road, and that unpredictability has been tempting with two dogs, one of which is very anxious and we hate leaving at home with a dog sitter.
We could wake up in places we choose, not places we booked because they were available or near to a station or airport. Our expenses could go towards experiences rather than lavish hotel rooms and overpriced breakfasts consisting of croissants and fruit.
So below are some of the main motives for us:
- Freedom To Travel On A Budget
One of the best things when swapping to a motorhome is that you’re able to travel whenever you want, not sticking to off-season around school holidays or avoiding popular dates in the calendar (e.g. Edinburgh Fringe Festival sees a 1,000% increase in hotel prices). It’s not just the room charges, but meals, laundry, tips, and parking. Every new city meant starting over.
In contrast, a motorhome is a one-time investment that keeps paying back in experiences. The expenses shift from ‘nightly rates’ to manageable monthly costs, which includes fuel, campsite fees and occasional maintenance.
- Freedom To Travel At Your Own Pace
This was another perk of travelling in a motorhome, where there is the liberty to travel slowly, without rushing to hotel checkouts. So, we get enough time to explore towns at our own pace and get enough time to explore and connect with local culture (I do love a cooking class as well when visiting a new place).
- Get Home-Like Privacy And Comfort While Travelling
Initially, we were nervous about the idea of giving up hotel comfort, but with two dogs we can’t always find one that’s dog friendly. Would we miss the clean sheets, the room service etc? We worry that living in a small motorhome would mean living cramped, maybe getting stressed at each other or feeling like we can’t do our own things.
Instead of worrying about limitations, we are focusing on designing a motorhome according to our aesthetic tastes and comfortable sections for sleeping, cooking, and even a tiny living room section. Every meal could taste like home because it was cooked at home (sort of). It isn’t luxury in the traditional sense, but it does mean we can make health meals that are tasty and don’t have to spend a fortune in restaurants every night.
- We Could Work While Travelling
This is a big appeal (providing we can get the internet to work). We both work remotely, so the idea of heading to a new place, then setting up our laptops and working, but then getting to do what we want from 5pm in a new town is quite exciting. Especially if that town happens to be filled with hills that we can take the dogs. We could stop at places during our lunch break, enjoy views, and then start to travel and work simultaneously. This kind of freedom is quite thrilling.
Most motorhomes have a small desk where we could sit and work while enjoying the outside views. While sometimes the Wi-Fi drops or the weather turns tricky, but honestly, we’d still pick this over hotel conference rooms any day.
What Problems You Might Face While Swapping To A Motorhome And How To Fix Them
While travelling in a motorhome has its own perks, we cannot overlook its potential shortcomings. Well, these challenges can be solved with smart planning and actions if we consider them from the start. There are flat tyres, leaky sinks and times when finding a good parking spot takes hours. We hadve to learn basic maintenance skills, understand our vehicle’s limits, and plan routes more carefully. Some days might be tiring, but the satisfaction of solving problems on the road is something no hotel could ever teach us.
Another important thing is that when your home moves with you, insurance becomes your lifeline. It makes sense to get a comprehensive Motorhome Insurance in 2025 to ensure everything is covered, from basic fixes to the really important bits.
We compared multiple plans, checked exclusions carefully, and have found a good few that fit our travel pattern and what we require, but it is certainly worth doing the research beforehand. Having that safety net lets you travel with true peace of mind, knowing that if something unexpected happens, your journey won’t end there. It doesn’t just cover accidents but also protects your personal belongings, roadside assistance, and even third-party liability if something happens at a campsite.