Campervan essentials packing list

What to pack for your Quirky Camper campervan holiday

Booze, games and obviously spandex: Lindsay from Quirky Campers lists her campervan essentials…

When I sat down to write this blog I soon realised that my favourite thing about going away in a campervan is actually all the things you don’t need to pack! Compared to tent camping, it’s so easy. No need to dig the tent out of the shed, or find (and patch up) the inflatable mattress. You never have to squeeze the stove, the pans, the crockery and cutlery around the kids’ seats in the back of car, and then realise when you get there that you’ve forgotten to take any cups and will have to drink your first morning’s tea out of a saucepan. All the practical items are already in the campervan, including cooking utensils and cleaning equipment. Some campervans even come with basic ingredients and cooking spices. So with this covered, it actually opens up a world of opportunity of things you can pack in a van’s generous storage space, including but not limited to…

Your favourite tipple and cocktail kit

There is nothing like relaxing with a proper drink in a proper glass in a field under the stars. So why not pack the angostura bitters? After all you’ve got a fridge and cupboards to keep all your cocktail paraphernalia in, and you’re not going to have to carry it for three miles in a rucksack. Many of our campers have proper glassware and some even have freezers for your ice.

Your bikes

Some of our vans have their own bike racks, otherwise why not borrow one or even just stick your bikes in the back. There is an amazing sense of freedom that comes from being able to park your van wherever you fancy and hop on a bike into the sunset. Our favourite place to do this was the Isle of Mull: we even took them over to the blissfully car-free island of Iona for the day.

Lots of lovely bedding

Grown-up camping is the name of this game, and now is not the time for roll mats and sleeping bags. Pack your fluffy pillows and thick, warm duvets, of course. Or if you’d prefer not to even have to think about this, just add bedding as an extra to your booking.

Lots of yummy food

Having time to prepare a leisurely dinner while enjoying a drink is one of the chief joys of being on a campervan holiday. If you love to stir a soup to the sound of the Archers in the background, or if nobody else can whip up mussels in white wine quite like you can, then take advantage of the vans’ fully kitted-out kitchens. And if you can’t bear the thought of going a week without pizza or your Sunday roast, then take one of the vans that has a full-size oven – yes, really!

Need campervan cooking inspiration? Check out this series of campervan recipes created for Quirky Campers by chef duo Simon and Cecile.

Dressing up clothes

Obviously an out-there outfit or two are essential if you’re going to a festival, but why not take a floor length gown, a pair of wings or your spandex collection on your ‘normal’ holiday, just in case you fancy wearing them? You’ve got space to put them and space to get dressed, after all!

Books and games

Our family loves sitting round a campervan table for a board game or snuggling up in bed with a book – something we don’t often have time to do in ‘ordinary’ life. If you’ve got a particular favourite, bring it along: Monopoly, Articulate, or why not get serious and have a week-long Settlers of Catan tournament? Many of our campers come with a selection of games and books already inside, so you might even find a new favourite from the ones left behind by other campervan fans…

Your sense of romance and adventure

We all know the British weather can be somewhat moist. Well if, for you, this usually means squatting on a tent floor with a pan collecting the water that slowly drips from the roof, you are in for a treat! You’ll be in cosy, dry-socked comfort while your tent-dwelling neighbours are struggling with guy ropes. On the other hand, if you usually stay in a hotel with the telly on while you wait for the weather to become a bit less ‘British’ then don’t be put off: the sound of the rain on the roof actually makes a campervan feel even more romantic. Lots of our glampervans have log-burning stoves to drive out any draughts and if you choose one with an indoor toilet you won’t need to venture out for any reason at all.

Your laptop

It’s your holiday, so if you can’t bear to miss your latest favourite series, or you like to watch a film of an evening, go for it. If you are lucky enough to have a job that lets you work from anywhere, you can make the most of it and go on a working adventure where your office has a different view every day. Some of our vans have charging facilities and otherwise you can always plug in at your nearest café.

Some practical items

A torch is very handy, especially in the vans that don’t have inside loos
Toilet roll – always handy
Coffee or tea – whatever your favourite is. Campervan mornings are not complete without it!
Fuel for your campfire – some vans offer this has an extra, or maybe your campsite will do the rounds. I’d take enough for one fire, just in case!

We do offer a host of optional extras such as camp chairs, satnav, or even breakfast hampers, so you can concentrate on the fun stuff. We want you to have a stress-free, comfortable holiday, and when we say a Quirky Camper is a home from home, we mean it.