Planning a motorhome trip is one of the most exciting ways to explore the UK and Europe. But with rising cost of living increasing fuel prices, campsite fees, and general travel costs, it’s more important than ever to find smart ways to save.
The good news, despite this budget motorhome travel is still achievable; we’ve put together a list of our best practical money saving tips to help you spend less and enjoy more motorhome getaways, without compromising on the experience.
In this blog we’ll be taking you through:
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- Reducing Fuel Costs
- Cutting Campsite & Overnight Stay Costs
- Reducing Energy Consumptiontorhome
- Keeping up Regular Maintenance and AvoidingRepairs
- Tips to on Your Motorhome Insurance
- Best Apps, Websitesships for Saving on Motorhome Travel
- Reducing Your Travel Costs (Ferry Toll Road)
- Further Tips to Save n Holidays (Days Out, Food, Splitting Costs)
- Getting a Competitive Quote Next Trip
Reducing Fuel Costs
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While comparing petrol station prices and avoiding expensive motorway service stations are common well known money saving travel tactics, there are several other simple ways to reduce fuel costs.
Some of our top fuel saving tips include:
- Empty waste tanks before setting off to reduce unnecessary weight.
- Carefully consider vehicle modifications, as additional weight can increase fuel consumption.
- Fill your onboard water tank at your destination rather than travelling with a full load.
- Use fuel price comparison apps or websites to find the best local prices.
- Take advantage of loyalty schemes if petrol stations offer them.
- Walk or cycle when exploring nearby attractions instead of driving short distances.
Cutting Campsite & Overnight Stay Costs
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Campsite Booking Strategies
There are a range of different ways to save money when looking for a campsite. By choosing the right pitches, booking strategically, and exploring alternative overnight stops, you can make your motorhome holiday much more affordable.
Consider the following saving tips:
- Choose a non electric hook-up (EHU) pitch if you don’t need mains power, as these are often cheaper.
- Skip waste or drain hook-up, emptying your grey water at service points is usually free, as opposed to paying for a hook-up.
- Opt for a standard grass pitch instead of premium hardstanding, serviced, lakeside or extra-large pitches which can be more expensive.
- Consider staying longer, as some campsites offer discounted weekly or extended-stay rates.
- Book campsites directly, booking through a third-party website can sometimes include extra fees.
- Book campsites early, especially for peak season travel as many sites will offer discounted advance rates.
- Choose a standard campsite over luxury sites, standard sites may offer similar facilities at a lower cost.
- Check for hidden costs including fees for facilities, swimming pools or electric hook-ups.
- Travel in the off peak seasons to benefit from lower prices and quieter sites.
- Travel inland or to quieter destinations these are often more affordable than popular tourist hotspots.
Low Cost Alternatives to Traditional Campsites
Another option is to use certificated locations (CLs) or certificated sites (CSs). These sites are usually offered through club memberships and offer access to smaller sites at a lower cost.
Motorhome aires and designated stopover sites can also offer affordable overnight parking, particularly when travelling around Europe. However, it’s important to note that these sites are for parking only, usually allowing stays from 24-48 hours. These sites do not allow camping behaviour so you will not be able to cook outside or put an awning down.
Pub Overnight Stopovers and Overnight Parking
Many pubs and businesses permit overnight stays in their car parks providing you get advanced permission or book through a stopover site beforehand. However, you should bear in mind that you will usually be expected to support the business in return.
It’s worth comparing the cost against a nearby campsite as sometimes buying a meal or a drink at a pub for each occupant can cost more than a campsite pitch for the night.
Wild Camping and Off Grid Stays
Wild camping (also known as off grid camping) can be one of the cheapest options making it ideal for budget motorhome travel. However, there are a lot of rules that need to be followed to do it respectfully and legally.
In the UK, you should always seek the landowner’s permission before staying overnight and move on immediately if asked to do so. It’s also important to be respectful of local communities and the environment.
If you choose to stay off grid, follow these best practices:
- Leave no trace of your stay.
- Keep your stay short.
- Dispose of waste responsibly.
- Don’t draw attention.
- Comply to requests.
- Take care when using cooking equipment or open flames.
It’s also worth noting that although Scotland permits wild camping, these rights only apply to those travelling on foot and using tents, not to motorised vehicles like motorhome and campervans.
You should also take into account safety when camping off grid. As these locations are often unlit and secluded, they can leave you more vulnerable to theft, vandalism, or other crime compared to a standard campsite. If you choose to wild camp, select your location carefully and be cautious of your surroundings.
Mix On Grid and Off Grid Stays
For many motorhomers, the best approach to budget camping is a combination of both off grid and on grid stays. For example, you could spend 2 nights off grid at a designated aire followed by one night on a campsite. This strategy can help you save money while still benefiting from facilities such as showers, waste disposal points and electric hook ups at campsites when you need them.
Make Your Camping Budget Go Further
If you travel frequently to maximise your savings consider using camping discount schemes like ACSI, CCI and CKE cards, which can provide discounts for sites in the UK and Europe.
Furthermore, camping events and rallies can also provide great camping stays at low prices, and are a great way to get to know the local motorhoming community.
Reducing Energy Consumption in Your Motorhome
Managing energy usage is an easy way to save money on motorhome trips. Small changes can significantly reduce your battery drain and energy consumption, helping you save money.
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Motorhome Battery & Energy Saving Tips
You don’t always have to spend a lot of money to save some. Here are different ways your energy consumption can be minimised:
- Where possible use gas over electric for cooking.
- Install or make use of solar panels and portable power banks.
- Switch to LED lighting.
- Using energy efficient appliances.
- Avoid using 12V items while you’re on the road.
- Unplug items like microwaves, kettles and chargers when not in use.
- Be more mindful by only using what you need.
- Track your usage and identify where it could be optimised.
- Check your fuse box to see what your system uses and keep spares handy.
- Keep your leisure battery well maintained and fully charged to maximise its lifespan.
- Make the most of natural daylight instead of relying on artificial lighting during the day.
- If you’re staying on a campsite with an electric hook up (EHU), take advantage of mains electricity for charging devices and running higher consumption appliances instead of using your leisure battery.
How to Reduce Heating Costs in a Motorhome
Heating in the winter can be a tricky one while trying to keep spending to a minimum, unless you know some useful tricks. During the day, you should park your motorhome/campervan in the sun, so it collects heat from the sunlight and then insulates it at nighttime using items like thermal blinds/screens, cab covers and curtains. You should also use extra layers, like coats as blankets, and lightweight rugs to retain natural heat, whilst not drastically increasing the vehicle’s weight.
Safety Tip: Make sure to avoid using your oven as a form of heating due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Keeping up Regular Maintenance and Avoiding Expensive Repairs
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A key way to save money on motorhome travel is to stay on top of regular maintenance. Keeping up with regular routine checks can help identify minor issues before they develop into costly repairs, which will help keep both your vehicle and budget in better shape!
Before each motorhome trip make sure to carry out checks on the engine, brakes, tyres, oil, fluid levels and battery. For a comprehensive guide of what to check before you travel, check out our motorhome maintenance checklist.
Learning a few basic maintenance tasks can also help reduce costs. However, we always recommend leaving more complex repairs to qualified professionals, as incorrectly completed repairs and mistakes can sometimes lead to even greater repair bills.
Keep an Emergency Fund
Set aside an emergency fund for your travels; even well maintained motorhomes and campervans can sometimes experience unexpected breakdowns or need repairs. By setting aside an emergency fund you can have peace of mind while you’re travelling that you have a financial safety net should the worst occur.
Tips to Save Money on Your Motorhome Insurance
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Motorhome insurance or campervan insurance is an essential expense, but there are steps you can take to help keep your premiums down without compromising on cover.
Some of the most effective ways to save money on your motorhome insurance include:
- Reducing your annual mileage, review your annual mileage and if appropriate reduce it if you’re not reaching it as fewer miles on the road can mean a lower risk of claims.
- Installing parking sensors and a reversing camera will often give you a discount from your insurer as it helps to minimise risk of accidental damage and claims.
- Fit an insurance approved tracker, this will help recover your motorhome in the event of a theft and cut insurance costs. (Trackers that we recognise are a Thatcham S5, S5+ or S7 tracker.)
- Keep your campervan in a secure storage facility, using a CaSSOA-approved site when your motorhome is not in use can reduce the cost of your insurance.
- Obtain an advanced driving qualification, these can reduce insurance premiums as they can demonstrate a lower risk profile to insurers.
- Compare cover levels, not just price, the cheapest policy isn’t always the best value if it offers less protection. Use websites like Defaqto to compare the comprehensiveness of a policy.
Best Apps, Websites and Memberships for Saving on Motorhome Travel
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Apps for Motorhome Travel on a Budget
- Travel Spend: An expense tracking app which helps split costs with friends and family, and convert foreign currencies.
- Wi-Fi Map: Provides travellers and everyday users with a map of free Wi-Fi locations worldwide. Make sure you are staying safe while using public Wi-Fi and taking the steps to keep your personal information safe.
- AllTrails: Discover hiking, walking, cycling and running routes near your travel destination, helping you enjoy free outdoor activities.
- Too Good To Go: This app helps combat food waste and saves you money by offering a range of surplus meals and groceries at heavily discounted prices.
- Apps for sites and stopovers: Popular motorhome apps include Searchforsites and Park4Night, they’ll help in finding sites and stopovers and comparing prices.
- Seat filler apps/websites: These apps and websites offer access to discounted tickets for concerts, theatre performances, comedy shows and other events.
Coupon Browser Extensions
Discount browser extensions are amazing ways to save money on everything from campsites to attractions and day to day online purchases. These extensions work by scanning the internet for available discount codes and promotions that you can use at checkout.
Popular platforms include:
- Honey
- Coupert
- VoucherCodes
Cashback Websites
Cashback websites are also a great budgeting tool, these sites allow you to earn a percentage of your spending back when booking travel, attractions or making online purchases. Although individual savings may seem small, they can quickly add up over time helping you save money!
Popular cashback providers that have free membership tiers include:
- TopCashback
- Quidco
Discount Websites
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for additional savings through various discount programmes that can provide thousands of discounts across retailers, dining, attractions, events and more.
- Blue light card: Available for retirees, volunteers, or workers in the NHS, emergency services, armed forces, social care, and education.
- UNiDAYS and Student Beans: Available for free for students over 16 in full time education such as university, college, sixth form.
- WeDonate: A free discount site for blood donors and plasma donors.
Motorhome Club Memberships
Joining a motorhome or camping club can be a great way to access discounted campsite fees, exclusive offers and give you access to members only camping locations.
Independent owner’s groups and associations are also great options to look at, in fact we ourselves at Comfort got our start in motorhoming through family motorhome trips to rallies through the Motor Caravanners Club!
Reducing Your Travel Costs (Ferry, Eurostar, Toll Road)
Toll Roads
Many motorhome owners avoid toll roads by using country roads and scenic routes to save on expenses, as paying for toll booths and vignettes/windshield stickers can add up.
However, avoiding toll roads often means longer journeys, and if it’s much longer the total cost could end up being more than paying the tolls, especially due to fuel usage.
Every journey differs so be sure to check which choice is more cost-effective for your trip.
Ferries and Eurostar
When planning a motorhome trip to Europe, ferry or Eurostar costs can quickly add up. However, with a bit of research and flexibility it can be possible to find cheaper fares online. Fares can vary significantly depending on travel dates, departure times, routes and demand, so it always helps to shop around and compare before you book.
Here are the best 10 ways to save money when booking the Ferry or Eurostar to Europe:
- Compare different routes and departure ports/terminals.
- Book as early as possible.
- Look for special offers, promotions, and discount codes.
- Be flexible with travel dates and times.
- Compare ferry vs. Eurostar prices.
- Travel outside school holidays and bank holidays.
- Sign up for operator newsletters and look out for deals.
- Consider single journeys instead of return tickets if it works out cheaper.
- Travel overnight or at less popular times to reduce your costs.
- If you frequently travel across the channel, check if the ferry operator has a loyalty scheme programme.
Travel Off-Season to Save
Travelling off-season/off-peak is one of the simplest yet cost effective methods to prevent you from overspending. Rates for campsites, attractions, ferry crossings and popular tourist destinations are often significantly cheaper outside peak travel periods, helping you stretch your budget further. You’ll also find that popular campsites are more likely to have availability, reducing the likelihood of having to pay premium rates for last-minute bookings.
And the benefits of off-season travel aren’t just financial. Travelling outside of the peak tourist periods also often means quieter roads, less crowded attractions and a more relaxed and tranquil camping experience.
Travelling Longer for Less: Slow Travel Benefits
Slow travel might be a new phrase or even concept to most travellers but is becoming increasingly more popular especially with motorhome and campervan owners. For budget conscious motorhome travellers, slow travel offers a combination of affordability, adventure, and often an overall more immersive travel experience of a location. Slow travel promotes rather than rushing between multiple destinations and being constantly on the move, you cover shorter distances and spend more time exploring each location, thus reducing the overall spend of your trip.
When slow travelling in your motorhome you spend less time driving and more time enjoying your surroundings, reducing your fuel costs, and taking in the local culture, breathtaking views, and other hidden gems often missed by tourists.
Shorter travel distance provides other benefits such as:
- Lower fuel costs and reduced travel expenses.
- Less stress and planning needed.
- Less time spent driving and more time enjoying your destination.
- Greater flexibility and spontaneity.
- More time for relaxation and local activities.
- A lower environmental impact and reduced carbon footprint.
- More authentic experiences of local culture.
- The freedom to discover scenic routes and hidden attractions.
Further Tips to Save on Campervan Holidays (Days Out, Food, Splitting Costs)
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Finding Cheap or Free Days Out
National parks, coastal paths, forests and woodlands are a great place to start! With most natural landmarks being free to enter, they’re a great way to take in stunning natural beauty, explore walking and cycling trails, spot local wildlife and take part in a range of other outdoor activities without stretching your budget.
Most towns and cities also offer all kinds of free activities. Consider looking out for free museums, public art installations, historic landmarks, local markets, and guided tours run by tourism boards. If you plan ahead you could also research free community events, festivals, or performances taking place during your visit, or book free or discounted advanced tickets on events like concerts or comedy shows.
If you’re planning to visit multiple paid attractions in an area, city passes or attraction bundles can often offer great value by combining entry fees, transport, and additional extras into one discounted ticket.
Families travelling in the UK this summer should also take advantage of the Great British Summer Savings Scheme which offers discounts on a range of family attractions, kids meals, and activities, making summer staycations more affordable!
Save Money on Food While Travelling
A simple yet greatly effective way to reduce food expenses is by avoiding restaurants, cafes and even campsite shops. Instead, purchase groceries from local shops/markets or supermarkets and cook your own meals or bulk meal prep.
As well as this cheaper alternative offering more flexibility, you can have fun trying some new recipes. For cooking inspiration for on the go meals check out our Camping Cookbook!
Split Costs
A great way to share a family or friend adventure for less is to do a group trip and split the costs. You can equally divide the cost of everything, or each take turns paying for fuel, campsites, food, etc.
Getting a Competitive Quote for Your Next Trip
While budget motorhome travel can help reduce everyday costs, one area where it’s worth investing is the protection of your vehicle and the adventures that come with it.
A comprehensive motorhome or campervan insurance policy helps protect you against unexpected expenses, including accidental damage, windscreen repairs, theft, and cover for your personal belongings and general camping equipment.
Ready to travel with confidence? Join thousands of satisfied motorhome and campervan owners, get a personalised quote online in minutes or call 0208 984 0666 today and let our expert team help you find the right cover for your next adventure.
