When we decided to sell up, pack our lives into a motorhome, and hit the roads of Europe, we were chasing freedom. We wanted to see every corner of the mainland, from the fjords of Norway all the way to Transnistria and Moldova right in the east. And we did exactly that. Over two years, our motorhome became our sanctuary, our schoolroom, and our gateway to the world of Europe.
But “freedom” has a price, and it isn’t just the cost of diesel. There are challenges too.
Living full-time in a van or motorhome is an intense, beautiful, and sometimes gruelling experience. So, if you are considering making the leap, you need to know what it is really like when the Instagram filters are stripped away.
The good – and the challenges too. It is all worth knowing and what I wish someone had honestly told us before we set out! We only wanted to know what we were in for…
The Hard Truths: The Challenges of Life on the Road
I’m not saying this is a deciding factor or reason not to do it. We’ve done plenty of upbeat and positive blogs all about the zillion reasons TO do it! Travelling in a motorhome in Europe is an epic experience. And if you get the chance to do it – grab it with both hands.
Rather I’m just giving an honest run down of some things that are better to have a heads-up about before setting off.
It makes it smoother to know!
Ready?
1. The Death of Routine
At home, you know where the milk is, where the rubbish goes, and that the shower will be hot.
In a van, every single daily “given” becomes a task. You lose the rhythm of a normal life.
For some, this is liberating; for others, the constant decision-making – Where are we sleeping? Where is the nearest laundromat? – can lead to “decision fatigue.”
2. The 24/7 Proximity
Living in a few square meters with your partner and children is the ultimate relationship stress test. There is no “other room” to go to. You share every mood, every cold, and every cramped morning.
It’s doable! But space is one of the challenges of vanlife. It requires a level of communication and patience that most many people never have to develop.
Trust me, you learn to read the silence and give each other space even when you are only two feet apart. That’s certain. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have last two years with a van driving all over Europe and Morocco in that close a proximity!
Hey! We are AWAY WITH THE STEINERS. Want to know more about buying a motorhome in Europe?
3. The Financial Leap
Selling your house or your belongings to move into a van is a massive psychological and financial shift. You are essentially trading an appreciating asset for a depreciating one. (Sorry!).
While your day-to-day costs might drop, you are living on your “nest egg,” and that can create an undercurrent of financial anxiety if you don’t have a solid remote income or a clear budget. This doesn’t have to be the kind of challenge (or challenges) to hold you back though! Make sure you have a solid plan (of some sort) for after this glorious van adventure too.
4. The Fatigue of the “Move”
In the beginning, you want to see everything. You drive 300km a day, explore a new city, and then hunt for a park-up. Do this for three months straight, and you will hit a wall.
Planning the route, checking the height of bridges, and navigating narrow Italian streets is mentally exhausting. Eventually, you learn that “Slow Travel” is the only way to survive long-term. Truly.
5. The Mechanical Reality
Your house is also a machine, and machines break. We were incredibly lucky that Gavin comes from a family of diesel mechanics and is a professional driver. His confidence was our backbone.
However, even with his expertise, we faced mechanical hurdles that required local help in the Netherlands, complex fixes in Bosnia, and creative problem-solving in Morocco.
If you don’t know your vehicle, a breakdown isn’t just a car repair; it’s an eviction. Get to know your van and do make some dependable connections – either when you arrive or that you can call on back home to ask advice.
6. Hygiene and “Admin”
The glamour fades quickly when you are searching for a place to empty your chemical toilet or realising you only have 5 litres of water left for a family of four to wash.
You become hyper-aware of your consumption. Showers are short, and the “wild” toilet stops are a reality you have to get comfortable with.
This is feeling mighty harsh, and I do apologise. But that’s all I’ve got to say about that!
7. The Search for a Home
Finding a new park-up every night can be the most stressful part of the day. You are looking for safety, level ground, and a place where you aren’t “overstaying your welcome.”
In some parts of Europe, you are met with “No Motorhome” signs; in others, you are met with curious locals. The uncertainty of where you will lay your head can weigh heavy.
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8. Dealing with Judgment
Ah ha. I like this one. Because it is one of the truths before you even leave home…
Not everyone will understand your choice.
You will face “jealousy” disguised as criticism or genuine judgment from people who think you are being irresponsible with your children’s stability.
Learning to shrug off the “When are you getting a real job/house?” comments is part of the journey.
The Counter-Strategy: How to Live a Happy Vanlife
It is a good life! The challenges are real, but they are also what make the rewards so sweet.
Here is how we countered the “grind” to ensure our two years remained a highlight of our lives. Because it really did! It still is!
Set a Plan, but Hold it Loosely
You need a general direction to avoid the aimless “where next?” fatigue. Set a rough itinerary together as a family.
However, the magic of vanlife happens in the detours. If you meet a traveller who tells you about a secret lake in Montenegro, you need the flexibility to change your month’s plan in an instant.
Trust me on that one. It is definitely worth it.
Build Your Community
Vanlife can be lonely if you don’t reach out. Before you even leave, connect with the community online.
On the road, don’t be afraid to knock on a fellow van’s door (politely!). We have met lifelong friends in gravel parking lots. These people understand your struggles in a way your friends at home never will.
You will cross paths with them again in different countries, and that sense of “road family” is vital.
Community for the Kids
If you have children, this is even more important. We actively sought out other “travel school” families. Seeing our kids play with others in a forest in Germany or a beach in Morocco reminded us that they weren’t missing out on social life – they were gaining a global one.
Knowledge is Power
Don’t wait until you are broken down on a mountain to learn how to change a tire or check your oil. (Eek!).
If you don’t already know maintenance, take a basic maintenance course before you leave. Understand how your gas system works, how to prime your water pump, and how to manage your solar levels.
The more you know, the less you fear.
Master the “Daily Admin”
Efficiency is the key to happiness. Develop a routine for the “boring stuff.”
Have a system for who empties the toilet, who fills the water, and how the van is “packed down” for travel.
When the admin is a well-oiled machine, you have more time for the adventure.
Why You Should Do It Anyway
Despite the mechanical scares in Morocco (and the mechanical challenges in Bosnia and Germany) and the rain-soaked nights in southern Morocco, we would do it again in a heartbeat.
Vanlife forces you to live in the “now.” It strips away the clutter of modern life and leaves you with the essentials: your family, your health, and what’s on the horizon.
Sure there are challenges. But there are challenges with normal life too, right?
Our advice? Don’t wait for the “right time.” The right time is a myth. The kids are only this age once, and the road isn’t getting any shorter.
Buy the motorhome, learn how the engine works, pack the kids in, and seriously – enjoy it.
The challenges are just the price of admission to the greatest show on earth. It is one that is worth every bump in the road and will be the best of memories for the rest of your life! Do it.
Ready to find your own motorhome in Europe and hit the road? See you out there!
Read More About Travel in Europe by Motorhome
- The Brutal, Beautiful Truth: What One Year of Motorhoming in Europe Taught Us.
- Buying a Motorhome in Europe: The Kiwi & Aussie Checklist.
- Border Crossing: Kosovo to North Macedonia.
- Things To Do In Podgorica, Montenegro.
- 10 Cities To Visit In Europe By Motorhome.
- Border Crossing: Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Border Crossing: Bosnia to Montenegro.
- Things To Do In Chisinau, Moldova.
Travel Planning for Europe & Beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia.
- Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, adventure ticket, local tours and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have insurance before travel anywhere in the world!