Is swapping the warmth and comfort of a ski chalet for a campervan worth the money you’d save?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/skiing-news/11294759/Would-you-take-a-campervan-to-the-ski-slopes-this-season.html

ByLucy Aspden

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/travellers-guide-camping-in-france-9268480.html

http://www.inspiredcamping.com/kind-camper/

What Kind Of A Camper Are You?

Camping, for those who are particularly fond of this outdoor activity, is primarily a very satisfying act since it allows them to commune freely with nature as well as get away from the daily hustle and bustle for a few days at the least. Most campers can be recognized into what kind of a category they fall into through their style of camping.

Family Camping

Family campers, these days, wish to provide their children with an outdoor experience which is coupled with basic amenities as well, so as to be sure not just of their safety but also of their comfort. Woolacombe Bay Park in Devon, England allows such parents to not just teach their children various outdoor skills but also helps them relax and rejuvenate as a couple by providing various facilities like sauna, heated swimming pools as well with an easy access to the Lundy beach and to various countryside walks.

Wild Camping

There are many who want a pocket-friendly getaway into the heart of nature and do not mind carrying that extra load of freeze-dried meals and a tent, camping into the mountains is the foremost choice. Dartmoor in England provides them with just the right kind of escape and it costs absolutely nothing.

Al-Fresco Camping

Camping outdoors does not always entail lugging tents around but can also entails inhabiting whatever space is available to get the most out of an outdoor experience. It could be a barn or a run-down shack that nobody is using or even a beach. Those who prefer this kind of camping, only have to carry the bare minimum that they require and can do away with the whole hassle of tents and poles.

Laid-back Sites

Camping for many is actually an escape from not just the routine of everyday living but also the rules that society puts on them. Which is why, if one does not want to be ordered around on where to pitch their tent or when to put the lights out, countryside Britain allows such campers an excellent  opportunity in the form of the Stonethwaite campsite in Borrowdale which is surrounded mountains and is at a stone’s throw away from the Blackmoss Pot.

Glamping

Recent times have seen the rise of a new style of camping known as Glamping that involves camping in luxury. For those who are overtly fashion conscious, boutique camping trips are winning favors hands down and allow the glampers a 5-star experience along with soaking in the atmosphere of living out-of-doors.

http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/11143997.Dozens_of_jobs_created_as_GO_Outdoors_opens___1_2m_Taunton_store/

GO Outdoors, which sells outdoor equipment and clothing, has opened a £1.2million store in Taunton, creating 37 jobs and boosting the local economy.

The store has a wide range of camping products, tents, clothing and footwear, as well as fishing, cycling, climbing, running and horse riding equipment.

Staff can advise customers on the right products for their needs, whether it is camping with the family or competing in downhill mountain bike races.

The Taunton store has a large indoor field tent showcasing GO Outdoors’ new range of tents.

The tents are pitched in store so that customers can get a feel for the size and shape of the product, and in-store experts can answer questions.

The Taunton store officially opened last weekend with more than 50 customers queuing from 8am to take advantage of opening offers.

Store manager Laura Humphreys said: “We’re very excited to be up and running in Taunton.

“Somerset is a great base for outdoor pursuits and we’re really keen to get to know local activity groups and individuals who enjoy the great outdoors.

“We had a great reception on launch day and hope to meet many more local families, enthusiasts and adventurers over the coming months.”

GO Outdoors was established in 1998 and employs more than 1,800 people across the UK.

GO Outdoors Taunton is at St John’s Retail Park next to DFS. To contact the store call 08443-876800.

Tents are fine. RVs can be fun. But no transitory home launches as many dreams of running away from it all as an Airstream. That’s something Bill Ward counts on for his Denver-based business, Living Airstream, which rents out the gleaming aluminum trailers for events from camping to corporate. The instantly recognizable bullet-shape trailers are “an American icon like Harley-Davidson,” Ward says.

Recreational renters can call one of his Airstreams, which include new models and vintage ones with 1960s-era amenities, home for a day or for months on end. Prices start at $175 per day for a vintage trailer; a monthlong rental of a new model costs $2,600. Many customers fall in the 50- to 80-year-old range and have been Airstream enthusiasts for decades. “This has the most diverse demographic of anything I have ever been involved with,” Ward says.

He has sent Airstreams out for everything from camping trips and guest housing for weddings to hipsters looking for a backdrop for stylish selfies. They’ve also been used at Burning Man, the counterculture festival that takes place each summer in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.

Playing on the power of Airstream’s iconic image and utility, Ward’s company rents out units for corporate customers, too. The Airstreams have served as vinyl-wrapped mobile billboards (one-month minimum rental) and temporary office spaces (average rental time: five months). The bulk of the consumer rental business comes during warm weather, but the corporate usage generates income year-round. Ward estimates that the corporate advertising business brings in 10 percent of total revenue.

And for those who really fall in love with the Airstream lifestyle, the company sells restored vintage trailers (outsourcing the renovations) for an average of $15,000. Living Airstream’s team of six part-time employees and independent contractors manages everything from deliveries to introductions to companies that make the vinyl wraps to finding folks who can do repairs and restoration.

Living Airstream has a constantly shifting inventory, with more in stock during warmer months. In the first quarter of 2014, the company expanded to San Francisco, where the proximity to outdoor recreation and the population’s affinity for retro styling are expected to help the venture triple its revenue this year. Living Airstream is also expanding to Arizona.

Eventually, Ward hopes to move to “an inventory-less model.” He is starting another business, Rentbowl.com, which he describes as Airbnb for Airstreams, ATVs, boats and other recreational vehicles. Customers will use the website to book the vehicle they want in the location they want; Rentbowl.com will take a cut, but won’t have to take possession of or deliver the vehicle.

The new model adds to the “idea of a community” upon which Airstream was founded in 1931, Ward says. “We have such a solid start on what’s next.”

http://www.northjersey.com/travel/236909601_Hitting_the_road_in_a_VW_camper.html

Cruising somewhere under the speed limit, we rounded a curve to find nothing but a painted line on the road separating us from the rugged coast and crashing waves below. The Pacific Coast Highway is not a place to drive quickly with its steep turns, hills and sections with no guardrail. That made our vintage blue and white Volkswagen Westfalia, dubbed Ala Lani by the rental company, the perfect choice.

The chance to drive and live in a classic VW camper was the reason my girlfriend and I came to California. For years we’ve admired vintage Westfalias from afar and long fantasized about hitting the open road with the freedom to camp in comfort wherever we parked for the night. In our wildest dreams we own one, in reality we were very happy that we could rent one.

We picked up the VW in Costa Mesa and after a thorough explanation of the camper’s capabilities and many features, we were on our way. At home we have no-frills compacts; so we were a bit nervous about driving something that was considerably larger.

Westfalia was one of several companies outfitting Volkswagen buses with a camping interior in the 1970s. Our Westfalia was a deluxe model and came equipped with an elevating pop-top roof, a stove, sink, icebox, and room enough to sleep four.

The inside had a vintage decor but conveniently featured a modern radio with an auxiliary jack, making it possible to play the California-themed playlist on our iPod through the speakers. The camper is shaped like a loaf of bread with the driver situated at the absolute front. Turning around to check for obstacles reveals that the rear window is some 12 feet away.

Our camper was an automatic so putting it in motion was as easy as shifting into drive and hitting the gas. Pulling into traffic it became apparent that the large steering wheel, which resembles the type you see on a city bus, was not simply an aesthetic choice. The camper does not have power steering, so the robust wheel is a necessity when turning, especially at lower speeds. The VW was built in the 1970s and does not handle like a modern vehicle. Bouncing along in the bucket seats with a commanding view of the road, the thrill of driving was immediate and it did not take long to feel completely comfortable behind the wheel. The plan was to drive north on the PCH through Big Sur to Santa Cruz, staying in the VW at campsites along the way.

On the way back, we wanted to drive inland and visit Pinnacles National Park. Before leaving Costa Mesa, we stopped for tacos and after wrestling with the wheel in the parking lot I managed to pull the camper into a spot. We sat in the back of the VW, eating lunch and soaking in the beauty of the blue and white interior. In possession of the camper for only about 15 minutes, we were already in love. Going north toward the coast and PCH, drivers waved and smiled when they passed and we easily got the VW up to its advised top speed of 65 mph. The engine is in the rear and with the windows and vents closed, it’s surprisingly quiet in the front seats. Approaching Malibu, light seemed to reflect off the Pacific and fill the cabin of the camper with an orange glow. When the sun set, we were still driving and I found myself stealing glimpses over the ocean while keeping one eye on the road. It was after dark when we pulled up to a campsite at El Capitan State Beach. The pop-top, when open, is a triangular shaped tent that houses a bed for two and sits above a large opening in the ceiling of the camper. The deploying mechanism is spring loaded and activated by pushing on an overhead bar; the entire process can be completed in minutes. Accessing the loft involves stepping on part of the front seat, standing on a countertop and pulling yourself up. If you don’t feel like climbing each night, the camper also has a pullout rear bench seat that sleeps two. The rental company supplied pillows, sheets and several blankets.

The original plan was to lie on top of sleeping bags as a way to soften the mattress, but at the last minute we decided we had packed too much into the camper and left them behind. That was a mistake. The bed was too firm and we ended up buying a mattress pad midway through the trip. We woke early to a cold morning, but were able to warm up with coffee thanks to a French press that was stashed in one of the many cabinets. Cooking with the stovetop in the camper is no different than doing so at home. An onboard propane tank feeds two burners and once lit they supply an ample flame.

The VW came stocked with utensils, plates, cups, pans and other kitchen essentials. With the pop-top open I had more than enough room to flip pancakes and freely move about the middle area of the camper. This added airspace is limited to the VW’s midsection only, a concept that was difficult to grasp as evidenced by the staggering number of times we hit our heads while moving around. When the time came to leave camp, we were able to easily collapse the pop-top and quickly get back on the road. Somewhere north of San Simeon, the beautifully scenic coastal highway began to climb recklessly among the cliffs.

As we meandered along, with a line of cars behind us at times, the relaxed tempo of the VW created the perfect opportunity to admire the deep blue of the ocean and the endless rocky shore below. We pulled over whenever possible to let faster traffic pass, often while the driver held up a peace sign. We had been impressed with the sights on PCH thus far, but when we got to Burns State Park in Big Sur we were awestruck. As day began to fade and light poured through the towering redwoods, the coast we had grown so accustomed to seeing was now completely obscured at times.

Driving late one night, the road illuminated only by the lights of the VW, we felt as if a perfect balance had been struck between the challenge of the winding cliff-side road and the capabilities of our vintage camper. As if mesmerized by our slow approach, a great horned owl stared us down from its perch on a bridge before taking flight in the darkness. Throughout the trip, temperatures would often soar during the day and plummet after dark. Cooking in the VW at Pinnacles National Park, heat from the stove fogged the windows and kept some of the chill away as we sat bundled up on the back seat talking about how our time with the camper was coming to an end. We reminisced about the excitement of seeing the VW for the first time at the rental shop and soon found ourselves standing outside the camper admiring the glow of the interior lights under the clear night sky. The next day we drove south toward Refugio State Beach. Arriving after dark and settling in for the last night in the camper, the crackling open fire painted the VW with light. We’ve camped before and enjoyed it, but the experience we had driving and living in the Westfalia felt different.

It really is the ultimate vehicle for living on the road and it’s incredibly fun to drive. When we arrived late to a campsite we didn’t have to set up a tent in the dark, we simply popped the top and climbed up to our loft. While on the road as long as we could find a place to park we could rest in comfort or cook a meal. A modern camper could offer the same conveniences, but the vintage Westfalia provided something more. Symbolizing a spirit of adventure from a foregone era, and lacking any perceivable aerodynamic design, the VW’s lumbering pace was the perfect compliment to California’s natural beauty. Often on vacation we tend to overextend ourselves, racing around in an effort to see as much as we can in the short time we have. The VW demanded a more easygoing approach and we found ourselves happy to oblige