Campervan, motorhome or roof tent: which vehicle should you choose for your holiday?

Imagine driving through breathtaking scenery, stopping wherever you like and enjoying the comfort of a home on wheels. At WeVan, we offer you three vehicle options for your holidays: the campervan, motorhome or the roof tent on your car! 

But before you hit the road as a couple, a family or with friends, let us guide you in choosing the right solution for your trip: destination, season, number of travellers, desire for comfort or adventure... There are so many factors to take into account when choosing your vehicle.

Campervan, motorhome or roof tent hire: advantages and disadvantages

 

Comfort, convenience and budget: we take a look at the pros and cons of our three options to help you choose the right solution for your holiday!

• The campervan, the all-purpose solution

Hire a campervan for its manoeuvrability and discretion — it’s ideal for couples or small families. Its compact size means it’s easy to park, even in town or in high season, and it’s easy to zip along winding roads. The significant economic advantage is that it consumes less fuel than its cousin the motorhome, and has the same toll charges as a conventional car.

From a practical point of view, a campervan allows you to stand upright inside thanks to its pop-up roof. Underneath, it has a fold-out sofa bed that unfolds and folds away every day. Up top, a roof tent conceals a comfortable mattress above the campervan’s ceiling, providing a second bed that’s always ready for use.

However, you have to deal with limited space and storage, and adopt new habits for showering or going to the toilet, as there are generally no on-board toilets (although there are exceptions, such as the Ford Nugget Plus model with its built-in toilet). The clean water tank for the kitchen or outdoor shower, although modest in size, ensures a comfortable camping experience. Finally, the insulation in the sunroof tent canvas is lighter (but make no mistake, it’s also your best ally in keeping out the summer heat).

In short, hiring a campervan is the perfect choice for travellers looking for freedom and convenience, spending most of their time exploring the great outdoors while enjoying significant comfort on board. After all, what better way to make the most of your holiday than to be outdoors a lot?

 

Advantages

Disadvantages

More convenient for parking, especially in high season and in urban areas. Easier to manoeuvre and drive, especially on winding roads. More fuel-efficient, which is important if you’re on a tight budget. Tolls are the same as for a car. More discreet, which can be an advantage if you plan to sleep at spots in the middle of the countryside Perfect for couples or families with one or two young children.

Less space and storage than a large motorhome. You need to open the roof tent to stand up. Removable bed to be unfolded and refolded each day. No shower and no fixed toilet solution (with the exception of rare models such as the Ford Nugget Plus). Smaller clean water tank, so needs to be filled more frequently. Less insulation, particularly with the sunroof, which may mean that you need more equipment in cold weather (sleeping bag).

 

See all our campervan rentals

• The motorhome, comfort first and foremost

Renting a motorhome, a real home on wheels, offers generous space and storage — perfect for couples of all ages as well as families. You’ll enjoy the comfort of a built-in hot shower and toilet, as well as a larger clean water tank for greater autonomy. A spacious fridge (45 to 60 litres, depending on the model) means you can store your provisions for several days’ travel. Reinforced thermal and acoustic insulation ensures greater comfort in all seasons, particularly for motorhome models that do not have a pop-up roof.

However, its larger size can be felt when driving, parking and manoeuvring, especially in town. Forget seaside car parks, even for the day, which generally have height restrictions. Expect a larger fuel budget and higher tolls because of the category. It’s less discreet than a campervan, and the logistics are more complex for one’s first experience of vanlife.

In a nutshell, hiring a motorhome is an ideal choice for those looking for comfort and independence, but it does require a certain amount of adaptation when it comes to driving and parking.

Advantages

Disadvantages

More space and storage, ideal for couples of all ages and families. Allows you to stand up at all times. Shower and toilet available on board, with a larger clean water tank for greater autonomy. Better heat and sound insulation, for greater comfort in all seasons.

Driven more like a small utility truck, it can be daunting to get to grips with for the first time. More difficult to park and manoeuvre, especially in town. Less fuel-efficient. More expensive tolls given its size. Less discreet than a small campervan for sleeping out in the open. Less forgiving if you choose the wrong spot when it comes to turning back or reversing several metres; More logistics to manage with the toilet cassette to empty.

 

See all our motorhome rentals

• The roof tent — adventure at a low price

Renting a roof tent is a little-known money-saving solution which is particularly attractive because it can be installed on your own vehicle fitted with a roof rack. It brings you closer to nature and immerses you in the authentic roadtrip experience. Installation is carried out by your WeVan agency before your departure. Once you’re on the move, it only takes a few minutes to unfold and fold up every day, providing comfortable sleeping space for two people (or three if you’re travelling with a child). Its ability to adapt to almost any flat surface, such as stones or other irregularities, makes it more versatile than a traditional camping tent placed on the ground (and the view from above when you wake up is all the more pleasant).

Budget-wise, renting a roof tent is considerably cheaper than renting a campervan or motorhome. However, you can expect more basic comfort and equipment than in the other options. You need your own stove for cooking, your own cool box for storing food, your own portable shower and even your own folding toilet. Finally, tents are more sensitive to bad weather (wind, rain, etc.) and access to the tent from outside the vehicle can also be inconvenient for some people.

In short, the roof tent is an economical and practical solution that considerably improves comfort compared to traditional camping, while offering an authentic and immersive experience in the heart of nature!

Advantages	Disadvantages
Can be installed on your own vehicle Enables you to get closer to nature and enjoy traditional camping. Unfolds in minutes to provide comfortable sleeping space for two people Lower rental costs than a campervan or motorhome.	Less comfort and equipment than a campervan or motorhome. Sensitive to bad weather (wind, rain and snow). You have to climb up and down a ladder to get into the tent, which may be difficult for some people.

 

See all our roof tent rentals

Season, duration, destination and crew: the right vehicle for every journey

 

Your choice between hiring a campervan, a motorhome or a roof tent will also depend on your destination, the length of your trip, the season and your crew members.

• Season

Summer, the high season, is the ideal time to go on holiday in a campervan. The temperatures are pleasant, the days are long and there are plenty of destinations to visit. The campervan offers the flexibility you need to make the most of this season, as it makes parking easy, even in busy coastal destinations. What’s more, its compact size means it can easily squeeze under 2-metre height-limit barriers, allowing it to be parked like a conventional car.

Spring or autumn can be more uncertain in terms of weather. If you’re going away for a weekend or a few days, a campervan is always a good option, but if you’re going to be away for more than a week, you might be better off renting a motorhome. The latter offers greater thermal comfort, particularly on cool, damp nights, and has more space for storing your belongings and leisure equipment.

Finally, winter is a different matter, as it’s low season and there are few campsites open, so you need to be more self-sufficient. If you still want to go on a road trip at this time of year, a campervan, well equipped with a stationary heater, is still an option for a weekend or even a week’s skiing, for example. For greater comfort, however, we recommend opting for a motorhome. Its superior thermal insulation and greater storage space (for carrying your skis, for example) will enable you to make the most of your stay, even in difficult weather conditions.

• Length of journey

The length of your trip is also an important factor to consider when choosing your accommodation.

If you’re just going away for a weekend, whatever the season, hiring a campervan is THE best choice. It gives you the freedom and flexibility to make the most of your getaway, without excessive space constraints. For your summer holidays, the campervan is the most attractive solution, especially if you’re looking for a simple, minimalist way of life. So you can enjoy the pleasures of camping with a basic level of comfort.

On the other hand, if you’re going away in spring or autumn, or even winter, and your stay lasts a week or more, the choice between a campervan and a motorhome will depend on your destination.

• Destination

If you’re going on a road trip to coastal areas such as the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean, the campervan is the all-purpose solution. Its compact size means it’s easy to park, even in busy seaside resorts, and it’s often more discreet than a motorhome. It’s also less sensitive to height restrictions, which can be common in coastal car parks. 

If you’re going to the mountains in the summer, a campervan may be a good option, as it’s easier to drive and generally uses less fuel than a motorhome.

• Crew

Your choice of accommodation also depends on the number of people in your crew. For two people, renting a campervan or motorhome is perfectly suitable, whatever your preference in terms of range (with comfortable spaces for sleeping, cooking and storing your things). If there are three or four of you on board (with one or two children, for example), you might consider hiring a 4 or 5 seat campervan, although you should keep your luggage to a minimum. Although more spacious, it’s important to note that many vans are only designed for two people. Some exceptions offer options for up to four people, but the sleeping capacity may be limited compared with campervans (which often offer two full-size longitudinal beds and up to an optional fifth berth at the front). If you’re travelling with a baby or young child, the motorhome seems to be the most suitable choice. Its interior space can accommodate an umbrella bed, and its under-bed storage area can be used to stow baby’s belongings. What’s more, the built-in bathroom means you can easily wash inside.

Factor	Roof tent	Campervan	Motorhome
Season	Summer only	Ideal for summer, possible in spring or autumn	Ideal all year round
Length of journey	Ideal for weekends and stays of 7 to 10 days	Perfect for weekends and stays from one week to 10 days	Suitable for stays of a week or more
Destination	Ideal for more natural and less crowded destinations	Suitable for all destinations, including the most popular tourist destinations	Suitable for all destinations
Crew	2 adults + 2 young children  or 2 adults + 1 child	2 adults or 2 adults and 2 (sometimes 3) children (minimalist)	2 to 4 adults (depending on model) or 2 adults and 2 children (including young children)
Autonomy	❌ Ideal if you’re used to camping in a tent. Other solutions to consider: staying hydrated, cooking and washing up	✅ 25 to 60 litres Temperate outside Stationary heating Electricity	✅✅ 80 to 120 litres Warm inside and temperate outside Inside Stationary heating ???? Electricity
Budget	€	€ €	€ € €

 

Campervan, motorhome or roof tent? As you can see, there is no right answer and no best option. Take the time to think carefully about your needs and preferences to make the right choice for your holiday.

 

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>>> Article written by Chloé Ferrari

>>> Photos by Gürkan Yildirim, Pierre Lesueur, Gang of Croissants