Campervan or motorhome? Which to choose for your trip from Alicante

Lots of people use "campervan" and "motorhome" as if they meant the same thing. On the road, they don't. They change how you drive, where you park, how many of you can sleep and how much room you have when it rains.

At OneVan we have both at the same base in San Juan de Alicante: 2 campervans and 5 motorhomes. So we're not going to sell you one over the other. We'll just tell you who each one is for.

What's a campervan and what's a motorhome?

A campervan is a large van converted into a home. From the outside it looks like a van: same body, same width, side windows. Inside it has a bed, a kitchen, a bathroom and cupboards.

A motorhome is living space built on a vehicle chassis. The back is a "habitation unit" that's wider and taller than a van. There are a few types:

• Over-cab: has a bed above the cab, which you can see as a bulge from the outside. It's the classic way to sleep 5 without making the vehicle longer.
• Low-profile: the cab roof joins the living area with a lower, more aerodynamic profile. It usually has a big bed at the back and sometimes a drop-down bed as well.
• A-class: the cab is part of the living space. We don't have any in our fleet.

Our fleet, by type

Here are some real examples:

• Campervans: Living (Sun Living, 6.00 m, 4 seats) and Pilou (Pilote, 6.36 m, 4 seats, with bunk beds and a rear garage).
• Over-cab: Sport (Benimar, 6.77 m, 5 seats).
• Low-profile: Zefiro (4 seats), Queen (5 seats), Kronos JR (5 seats) and Kronos (5 seats), all Roller Team, 7.45 m.

You can drive all of them on a standard category B car licence. They all have a bathroom with a toilet, a shower inside, a kitchen, a fridge with a freezer, heating and hot water. This matters: in our fleet, choosing a campervan doesn't mean giving up the bathroom.

Differences you'll notice on the road

Driving and parking

The campervan wins here. It's narrower and shorter, and it drives almost like a delivery van. It fits into normal parking spaces more easily and gets through the narrow streets of inland villages better.

A 7.45 m low-profile needs more care on roundabouts, at petrol stations and in old streets. It isn't difficult, but it's longer. If you've never driven anything big, stick to motorways and park in wide, open areas for the first few days.

Not keen on a clutch? The Queen and the Kronos are automatics. The rest of the fleet is manual.

Space inside

The motorhome wins here. The living area is wider, so you have more room to move around, cook and sit down to eat without juggling. If you get a rainy day, you'll really notice it.

In a campervan the space is very well used, but it's still a van. For two people it's plenty. For four, you need to be tidy.

Beds and seats

• 2 people: any van works. The campervan is easier to get around in; the low-profile is more comfortable to live in.
• 3 or 4 people: the Pilou, with bunks for the kids, or a low-profile with 4 or 5 seats.
• 5 people: Sport, Queen, Kronos JR or Kronos. These are the ones with 5 belted seats and 5 places to sleep.

Storage

Motorhomes have more cupboards and, in general, more storage space. If you're travelling with bikes, a surfboard or lots of luggage, check the rear garage or storage carefully. The Pilou is a campervan, but it has a rear garage.

Which to choose for your trip

A couple's break of 3 or 4 nights

A campervan. You can park easily by the port in Santa Pola or in a Costa Blanca village, and get around without thinking about size. The Living is the cheapest in the fleet: from €99 a night.

A family with children

An over-cab or a 5-seat low-profile. The kids get their bed and you get yours. If the children are small and there are four of you, the Pilou with its bunks works really well too.

Your first time in a motorhome

Any of them, because they all use a standard car licence and we show you round the van before you set off. If driving worries you, a campervan or an automatic takes the pressure off.

A long trip or a winter month

A low-profile. When you spend weeks inside, the space and the big fixed bed make a difference every day. With the Winter month, 28 nights or more starting between 1 November and 21 February get 25% off.

Mountain routes and villages with narrow streets

A campervan. Inland Alicante and on mountain pass roads, a shorter, narrower vehicle is calmer to drive.

Coast, motorways and campsites

Any type. If you're going from campsite to campsite and driving on motorways, you'll hardly notice the size difference. What counts is how much room you want inside.

And the price

The price depends on the van and the season. It starts at €99 a night, and every van includes 200 km per night (300 from 7 nights), fully comprehensive insurance and 24-hour assistance. The final clean, €35, is in the total.

You'll find the real price table by van and season on our prices page. From 7 nights you get 10% off, and from 14 nights, 20% off. If your dates are flexible, have a look at our last-minute deals.

What stays the same, whichever you choose

• Collection in San Juan de Alicante from 4 pm and return by 12 noon.
• You pay the full amount when you book, by card, with no second charges.
• A €900 security deposit when you collect, on a credit or debit card.
• Your dog travels free.
• You can travel anywhere in the EU, ferries included.
• A route tailored to you is included: ask for it whenever you like.

Still not sure? Compare all 7 on our motorhomes page, or write to Isaac and tell him how many of you there are and what route you have in mind.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a special licence to drive a motorhome?

No. All our campervans and motorhomes can be driven on a standard category B car licence. You need to be at least 25 and to have held your licence for 2 years.

Do OneVan's campervans have a bathroom?

Yes. The Living and the Pilou have a bathroom with a toilet and a shower inside, just like the motorhomes.

Which is easier to drive, a campervan or a motorhome?

The campervan, because it's shorter and narrower. If it's changing gear that worries you, the Queen and the Kronos are automatics.

Which is best for 5 people?

One of the four vans with 5 belted seats and 5 places to sleep: Sport, Queen, Kronos JR or Kronos. The campervans have 4 seats.