Home Before We Arrived

We left Luxembourg on the morning of February 19th with a full itinerary and one open question: what does it actually feel like to travel with a camper? It was our first camper trip, but the route was mapped: Innsbruck, the Dolomites and a Swiss detour on the way home. We picked up our Bürstner Campeo TD 690 G from the Webcamper team, and from the moment we stepped inside, it was clear this was going to be easy. The van was beautifully equipped. The Webcamper team had thought of everything, so we didn’t have to. We packed a lot, but everything found its place without any effort. One small house rule that became second nature almost immediately: van slippers by the door, so the outside dirt would not come into the van.

Innsbruck: Mountains at Every Corner

Our first stop was Innsbruck, and it set the tone perfectly. Snow-dusted rooftops, the Inn river cutting through the city center, and the Alps rising dramatically at every end of every street. We wandered through the old town with no particular agenda, letting the city reveal itself at its own pace. That evening, we had dinner at Das Schindler, a welcoming restaurant with amazing Austrian schnitzel we would happily recommend to anyone passing through.
We ended the night back in the van with a movie. The next morning, we picked up pastries from Feinbäckerei and made coffee in the camper. A small ritual, but one of those things that quietly becomes the soul of a trip. Breakfast with a view, no rush, at home.

Cortina and the Olympic Energy

From Innsbruck we headed toward Cortina d'Ampezzo, not just for the Dolomites, but because the 2026 Winter Olympics were in full swing and we wanted to feel that energy up close. The roads into Cortina were busy, but the Bürstner made the journey feel effortless. One of the real advantages of traveling with a van: when you need a break, you simply pull over and step into your own living room.

The Olympic atmosphere in Cortina was electric: athletes, visitors, and flags from every corner of the world, all set against the jaw-dropping backdrop of the Dolomite peaks. We found a beautiful spot in the mountains just outside town through Park4Night, an essential app for vanlifers, and parked there for two nights. From where we stood, we were surrounded by the Alps, and we could step straight onto the trail and hike up toward Auronzo di Cadore, stopping for a proper Italian lunch at the peak, warming our hands with homemade tea from our camper thermos along the way. That evening, we cooked dinner in the van with fresh Italian ingredients and a good bottle of wine. A hard evening to beat!

We were not able to ski this trip due to an injury, but Cortina is absolutely a destination to come back to for the slopes.

South Tirol: Where Two Worlds Meet

Descending from Cortina into South Tirol felt like crossing into a different season. The mountain layers we had been wearing started coming off one by one as the temperature rose and the landscape softened into vineyards. South Tirol has that rare quality of feeling simultaneously alpine and Mediterranean.
Our base was Camping Moosbauer, and it quickly became the highlight of the whole trip. Excellent facilities and a pitch framed by the Alps on every side. Definitely a recommendation!

South Tirol is a fascinating in-between: Italian warmth meets German precision, menus come in two languages, and the architecture shifts between Alpine huts and Mediterranean terraces. We took the bus to Bolzano and Merano on two different days, just 20 minutes away, wandering both towns without any particular agenda. In Merano, we treated ourselves to a spa afternoon, perfectly timed after days of mountain hiking. Anyone planning a trip nearby should definitely visit the “Therme Meran”.
Back at the campsite, mornings started with Pilates on the mat, with the sun rising behind the mountains. Long cooking sessions with local vegetables, grilled with simple salads. Backgammon evenings followed by movie nights in our cozy van. It was a perfect mix of moving and staying still, and through it all, a feeling of being completely present that is hard to find anywhere else.

St. Moritz: A Swiss Farewell

Before heading home, we made one last stop: St. Moritz, for a pot of Swiss fondue. The perfect final meal, warm, generous, and exactly right after a week in the mountains. From the Austrian Alps and the Olympic energy of Cortina to the cultural richness of South Tirol and the elegance of St. Moritz, the trip had moved through more worlds than seven days usually hold. To our luck, the weather stayed beautiful from start to finish. Our camper carried us through all of it, and by the time we turned back toward Luxembourg, it felt less like returning a vehicle and more like leaving a home.

Quick Tips for Your Winter Alps & Dolomites Trip

• Get your motorway vignettes or check for any highway’s requirements.
• Mountain roads through the Alps and Dolomites are spectacular but full of curves. Plan longer drives for daylight hours as it gets more difficult at night.
• Use Park4Night and Google Maps to find great overnight spots, hidden farms, and needed facilities. Plan your service stops in advance, and always check camping/parking rules carefully.
• Book campsites in advance, especially near ski resorts or during high season.
• Stock the kitchen with the essentials: fruits, granola, eggs, bread, and local food to cook!
• Trust the van and trust yourselves. Van life is far more comfortable and intuitive than expected!