Europe in a car, can it be done?
 

This summer I am interested in travelling around Europe, now the issue is, I have no money or very little of it...
I'm just finishing my university degree and after 17 straight years in education I've had enough of the same 9-5 schedule. I want some freedom, I don't want to be constrained by train times, buses or even when I need to have lunch!

I been thinking about travelling around and living in a car or van on my own and staying wherever I can, truck stops, car parks, etc. Now I've been looking at the best ways to live in a vehicle so I think I've worked that out.

Now here's my question... I don't know if it is illegal to sleep in your car/van in countries other than the UK (its fine here as far as I am aware). If I were to visit the majority of Europe would I have any trouble with the local police in any of those countries?

Thanks for any help you can be.
Ross

what ?!
 

I really wouldn't even begin to worry about sleeping in a car.......??????

I do. but of course it is better to stop first :)

I set up the boot as my kitchen and use the back seat for storage of tent, sleeping bags etc. in my little hatchback. Although I can sleep in teh front with the seat down and soft luggage in front of the seat to make a full length surface on which to lie. You will find that it is very nice to be able to stretch out straight like on a real bed, not easy unless you have an estate car. My old Citroen XM estate was brilliant for that.

modern little diesel cars often do significantly better mpg and with a much greater range than even dedicated "adventure" bikes.

but please be a bit "choosey" where you set up for the night. And opportunistic. I have slept in barns and once in Czech republic in a bus shelter. Bike inside with me. It was out in the country, but dry and being all glass, well lit :) Generally speaking you can do what you like provided you don't annoy someone or rub their noses it it.

Learn to walk on rice paper grasshopper :)

That sounds great, thanks for that advice. The reason I've chosen a car as a bed is literally for the cost. If I do this long term (which I hope to) the cost may add up and so I will try and save money wherever I can even if its only a few euros for the camp site. I will of course try to make money doing free lance work on line whenever I'm short of cash.

I've seen a few guys on YouTube who travel around the US living in a van and they seem to thrive, however some do stay in the same place for more than one night which I wouldn't want to do (I'll see more if I stay moving).

There is also a security risk with staying for more than one night - people learn you are there.

As 'oldbmw' said be selective as to where you stop overnight. Not in someones face is a good start. And be very considerate as to disposal of your waste.

Some places you will want to stop for more than a day e.g. to see a museum might take 2 days. For those places a campground/YHA might be a good idea - you get a shower and security.

First of all, there are very few places you'll get into trouble if you sleep in your car or a van, basically vehicles, where it's not obvious, that you're camping in them.

With a campervan/motorhome however you'd get into trouble immidiatly in places where they don't like you setting up at the side of the road.

As said by others: if you don't rub it into peoples faces, you'll be alright. Especially in areas like truck stops etc.

I drive home to Denmark once or twice every year from Ireland via UK/NL/Germany and do exactly the same. It's just more comfortable in the back of a van with a madress :)

/M

I tried tin tent camping for the same no money reason many years ago and very quickly gave it up as the vehicles I used were phenomenally uncomfortable to sleep in. In the south of Europe (mainly where I headed for) the early sun would often heat the interior beyond the point of comfort and ruin what little sleep I got. I very quickly changed to sleeping outside the car.

I last did it a couple of years ago for one night when I couldn't be bothered to find a hotel and it reminded me of why I stopped and bought a tent. A small (diesel) van would probably be your best bet but make sure you can stretch out full length. I wouldn't do it out of choice in any car I can think of.

Merhaba,
Before choosing the vehicle, would like to remind you;
Your body travels on 4 wheels but your soul on 2..

This is how you can meet freedom and how I ve done while at your ages....
Were unforgottable trips of my life still with great misses...
Plus 2 wheels have so many advantages..
(on a 125, C-90!! or even a bicycle)

Wish you all the best.

Now I know that this site is dedicated to mostly travelling on a bike however if I weren't to stay at organised camp sites how could I go around on a bike? (Sorry if its a stupid question, I am new after all). Surely couch surfing isn't that easy :rofl: or is it ok just to set up a tent in an empty field?

My girlfriend and i traveled around europa living in a car but allways sleeping in a tent because it was more comfortable. It was great because we even had electricity, music and internet in the car :)
If im traveling alone i use a motorbike and my tent. Its the cheapest way to travel were you can allways decide were you want to go and stay: http://reisemotorrad.eu
Couchsurfing is allso great if you want to get to know people.
In Germany there is a so called mitfahrgelegenheit.de where you can offer a ride for other people and therefore they pay your petrol (5 Euro per 100 km). Wild camping in germany is not officialy allowed but to sleep in your car or tent one night "zum wiedererlangen der Fahrtüchtigkeit" is ok and you can allways ask farmers if you can camp there etc. Trucks have to stop after 8 hours of driving...

Couch surfing definatly is a great approach. Friends of mine use it a lot and have good experience with it.

Aye. Done that before myself on longer trips for example, when I came from Prague and went to Denmark I had somebody drive with me from near the Czech border to Hamburg. Paid for a good bit of my trip.

/M

Get a cheap 250 and a tent. Sorted.

Yes, as everyone has said, it's generally fine to do this, you can always use the excuse of being too tired to keep driving safely if you need to. I did it for the summer out of an old Citroen 2CV van, but not every night because I got hot sweaty and tired once I'd headed south. Ok baby wipes are fine for a day or two, but you can't beat a shower. In France a lot of the larger services have shower facilities, but they're usually on the autoroutes (which you'll pay to use) so it could well end up cheaper to stay in Campings Municipales for a few euros a night.

If I were doing it again, and were as young and flexible as I used to be I'd be sorely tempted to get hold of an old Bedford Rascal/Daihatsu Hi-Jet/Suzuki Super-Carry/Piaggio Porter (same can, many badges) and fit the back out as a simple camper.

http://www.bedfordrascal.com/img/com...on_mainimg.jpg

They are so small, and anonymous looking, and found all over the world, that i reckon you could park one anywhere over night and no-one would notice. At one point in their many badged lifetime there was even a 4x4 model, for when the best place to camp is up that forest track. Sure it'll never be fast, but I reckon it could be fun.

Biking of course could be cheaper, but only if you've got a license, without one you'll add hundreds of pounds on to the cost in test fees before you've even started.

Bit offtopic, but they're extreme amount of fun, the 4x4 ones.



/M

I travelled Australia in a car. The first one I had was a Holden Camira estate. I slept in the back of it for three months, until someone gave me a tent. (I knew it would happen if I waited long enough.........)
The tent was a definite improvement in living standards, I wouldn't sleep in the car that long again.
I pulled up in a layby a few times to sleep, but never really felt comfortable doing it. I was younger then, it wouldn't bother me now.
On balance, a tent is better, especially as I am pretty long in the leg. If it was warm enough, I'd think about creating some sort of platform on a roof rack, and sleeping on that, rather than inside the car.

I love the idea of the Bedford van, I've always liked the look of them just like the little Daihatsu vans I've seen.

Unfortunately I don't have a bike license, only a full UK car license. I think I would feel safer and much more secure (although more costly) travelling in a small van.

I've never really been the greatest of campers but that was from when I was in scouts haha. I would probably bring a tent just in case, but as you've all said it could get a bit too hot in a car in southern countries. Saying that, I would probably try to visit Greece (probably the hottest) in winter, I've been there in summer a few times and our air con was on the fritz....it was like burning in HELL!

I know that most people leave the sunroof or a window open which could combat the hot weather?

Thanks for all of your help guys!
Ross.

Bedford, Daihatsu, Suzuki, Piaggio, they are all basically the same thing. Ages ago I looked into getting a Piaggio Porter 4x4 chassis-cab and using it as a base for a tiny off-road camper. Sadly French bureaucracy defeated me at every turn, it seemed impossible to do it yourself and paying someone was out of the question. Somewhere here therms a thread about it.

The idea would have been something like this with clip on canvas sides to give a huge amount of living space from a tiny vehicle.

http://images.autosupermarket.it/Pia...12005717_2.jpg

The perk to a van is that it's anonymous, as long as you don't paint it wildly. You've got privacy and space to create something inside. You can line it to keep the temperature reasonable and you could easily add one or two of those rotating roof vents to give some fresh air.

If you're starting from scratch, with no vehicle at all, I'd be tempted by a van.

Just bolt one of these onto the back of the van for an instant camper :rofl: -


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps3b23e0b2.jpg


I'm sure I saw something similar being used as a sidecar at this years Elephant rally

Then again, you could always go even smaller (and slower).

Ha ha, perfect - that's Badgeman's transport query solved. I particularly like the cab-over version that's pictured in the end credits. Just got to get the trip in before they ban two strokes all over Europe.

I seem to remember a version of the Bedford Rascal et al with a dismountable camper section - you unfolded legs (like in the film) when you stopped in a campsite and the living section became free standing. You could then use the front part as transport. When we had a big camper about 10yrs ago that was one of the annoyances - you stopped in a campsite and had to take the bus if you wanted to go into town. If you took the van you couldn't park anywhere and then when you came back to the campsite someone else was in your pitch.

Yep. There's a Honda Acty just like that in my town (same thing as the Rascal). Brilliant setup.

/M

I traveled (and slept)in a car around europe.
It's not legal, but if you stop at some "logical" place ("you were to tired to drive") no one will bother you.
At petrol prices it's not a cheap way to travel.

travelling by car has lots of postives but I agree with francs that it won't be as cheap (petrol in the UK isn't that expensive once you start looking around europe)
I would definitely take a small tent & camping gear for those nights you'd rather not sleep in the car - if it's hot at night a tent would be far better to keep cool in & it'll be mosquito free (unlike sleeping with a car window open) :)

Here's a French couple currently in SAmerica with an OLD (but lovely) Citroen!

“If you have a dream, you can make it happen” – Meet Julie, Jean Baptiste and their 1977 Citroën 2CV Fourgonette

I have been travelling arond France, italy and the Balkans with my old giant Volvo for the last 2 months.
I prefer to stay in a campsite when it is affordable cos I am a girl travelling alone and dont want to offer an easy target.

When its not affordable ie Italy, France with no camping communal in the vicinity..
I find a spot with not too much foot traffic, ie not outside a bar and other parked vehicles. Service station parking, residential area whatever where there are other vehicles parked.
Noone has ever bothered me, but I aim to be low key, leave again in the morning, car looks clean no weird paint job etc
A van or factory tint windows is great, I had this on all my road trip vehicles in north america and NZ
in a rural isolated area I feel I stand out as the only parked vehicle, foreign plates and the news is all over the district in 10 min!!

France camping communal only a few euros
Serbia camping or cobe (room) only a few euros and they sometimes throw in breakfast, look on the site for mini campings
Montenegro camping 5 euro
Albania seems more like 10 euros and not many camping sites
Good thing about a campsite is you are paying for safe parking while you go and look at the local town/historical/national park and no worries about your gear in your car.
you can cook your own food and buy it in advance somewhere cheep so it costs me 5euro/day for all my food.

I've been staking in truck stops in Italië for the last few days, iets fine there is always a few other people overnight in the car area plus a lot of trucks in the truck area.
The autogrill ones are open 24h and often have a free shower :)
Have fun!!

Hi

I have used to travel europe in a small van, and sleeping in it was never a problem. just keep away from the highways, there used to be thieves who are specialised on sleeping tourists on the highway parking grounds. a couple of friends have been robbed in their sleep, even with a dog aboard.

apart from that, there has never been a hassel with sleeping in a car, even close to the cites. Much less than sleeping in a tent, as far as i am concerned.

Have fun on your Trip!

Arne