Van Life: Is It Actually Worth It? An Honest Guide for First-Timers

We're going to be straight with you.

Before we tried van life, we thought it would be one of two things: either the most romantic, life-changing experience we'd ever had — or a complete disaster involving a broken fridge, a flooded campervan, and a parking ticket somewhere along the Portuguese coast.

The truth? It was both. Sometimes on the same day.

We Didn't Plan to Become Van People

It happened almost by accident. We were looking for a way to explore Portugal without the usual "book hotel, arrive, leave, repeat" loop that makes you feel like you've been somewhere without actually seeing it.

Someone suggested renting a campervan. We said sure, why not.

Three days in, we'd already wild-camped above a cliff with a view that no hotel in the world could have given us, made pasta at 9pm with the van doors open and the Atlantic in front of us, and completely forgotten what day of the week it was.

That was it. We were done.

What Van Life Actually Feels Like (Not the Instagram Version)

Here's what no one shows you on their perfectly lit van life Reels:

The parking spiral. You arrive somewhere beautiful. You want to stay. You spend 40 minutes on Park4Night trying to figure out if the spot two kilometres away is legal, has space for your size van, and doesn't flood when it rains. Sometimes you find it. Sometimes you end up in a supermarket car park at 11pm eating crackers.

The size problem. Two people in four square metres is a very effective personality test. You will discover things about each other. Some of them delightful. Some of them... not.

The logistics. Our van had hot water, heating and air conditioning — so a lot more comfortable than you might expect. But every two days we'd stop at a campsite anyway: recharge the battery, top up the water, empty the toilet, and enjoy a proper shower without thinking about it. It becomes a natural rhythm. Not a problem — just how it works.

And then. You wake up one morning and the light through the van window hits differently. You make coffee. There's no sound except the wind. You're parked somewhere that doesn't have a name on Google Maps. Your only plan for the day is to drive until something looks interesting.

And nothing — absolutely nothing — feels better than that.

Before You Go: The Things That Actually Matter

We've put together a free checklist guide with everything we wish we'd known before our first van trip — the real indispensables, the honest pros and cons, and the rental companies we'd actually use again.

You can download it for free on this page. No email required.

But if you want the short version: download Park4Night before you leave, bring your own pillow, and always ask about the insurance excess before you sign anything.

Those three things alone will save you from 80% of first-timer van life stress.

Portugal Specifically: Why It's the Best Place to Start

If you've never done van life before and you want to try it somewhere forgiving, accessible, and genuinely spectacular — Portugal is it.

The country is small enough that you never feel lost. The roads are good. There's a strong van life culture especially along the Alentejo and Algarve coast, so you're never the only one trying to figure out where to park. Wild camping is more tolerated here than in most of Western Europe (though always check local rules — they do change). And the sunsets along the Atlantic coast are, frankly, unfair.

We spent 10 days driving the Portuguese coast and it's still the trip we talk about most.

Which is why we wrote the full guide.

What's in the Portugal Van Life Guide

The free checklist on this page covers the basics — pros, cons, essentials, where to rent.

The full Portugal by Campervan guide goes deeper:

• The coastal route we'd follow again without changing a single stop

• Wild camping spots and overnight areas that actually work (with GPS coordinates)

• The places we found by accident that aren't in any travel blog

• Where to eat when you've been cooking in the van for four days and you need a real meal

• Practical notes on fuel, tolls, vignettes and parking rules

• What we'd do differently if we were going back tomorrow

It's the guide we wanted when we were planning our first trip and couldn't find anything honest enough to trust.

One More Thing

Van life won't be for everyone. Some people try it for a week, decide they need a real shower and a wardrobe, and that's completely valid.

But if you're someone who finds it hard to slow down, who always feels like you're rushing through places, who wants to feel like travel is actually an experience and not just a series of check-ins and check-outs — give it at least one week.

One week is enough to understand it. And for most people, one week is enough to get completely addicted.

The van doesn't care about your itinerary. It just waits for you to decide where to go next.

Download the free Van Life Checklist above, or grab the full Portugal by Campervan guide below.

— Eli & Tom

@eli.tom83 · Eli & Tom Studio