I wasn’t sure if this kind of travel was for me. Tents, campgrounds, outdoor toilets, not exactly my idea of romance. But my husband had dreamed about it since the very beginning of our relationship and had spent six years trying to convince me to give it a chance.

Everything changed when, at the 150th anniversary celebration of Emile Weber, we saw a modern, cozy camper van clean, compact, and, most importantly, comfortable. That was the moment I thought, maybe it could actually work. Half a year later, we were already road tripping through France.

How it all Started:

We spent a long time browsing the Webcamper website, choosing a model and planning our route. Eventually, I promised my husband that this trip would be his birthday present. On October 3, on my husband’s birthday, we picked up our Weinsberg Cara Compact MB 640 MEG, went through a detailed briefing (tip: record it on video, it’s a lot of information), and started loading up.

Packing took us the whole evening and the next morning, not the fastest process with a child. But at least we didn’t have to worry about the essentials. Dishes, bedding, towels, a grill, and even outdoor furniture were all included in our rental package.

The Route: From Burgundy to the Volcanoes of Auvergne

Our little home on wheels had everything we needed, and just a few hours into the trip, we found ourselves settling into a new rhythm. In less than a week, we managed to visit:

  1. Domrémy, the birthplace of Joan of Arc.

  2. Beaune, vineyards, a vintage boulangerie, dinner at L’Alentour, the Hôtel-Dieu museum, and of course, delicious Burgundy wine.

  3. Mont Beuvray, a mountain with breathtaking views of the Burgundian landscape and a museum dedicated to the region’s Gallic history.

  4. Vichy, a historic spa town where we filled a bottle with mineral water straight from the source.

  5. The Volcanoes of Auvergne, we went hiking and saw some of the places featured in the Tour de France.

  6. Mont-Doré, one of France’s oldest ski resorts, charming even outside of the season.

  7. Clermont-Ferrand, we visited the Micheline museum and strolled around the city.

  8. Autun, impressed us with its authenticity and picturesque charm.

We returned home late on Thursday night and brought the camper back the next morning.

The Challenges

Since it was already the end of the season, many campsites were closed. One evening, we managed to find a place to stay only on our fourth try. Websites often said open until 7 PM, but in reality, no one was there. So it’s better to book ahead or call directly.

The size of the camper van took some getting used to. Parking in city centers wasn’t always easy, but we found spacious parking areas on the outskirts.

And yes, always double check how things are packed before hitting the road. Some cupboards had a bad habit of flying open on turns.

Traveling with a Child: Easier Than Expected

We rented a camper with two sleeping areas, but one bed turned out to be plenty of space for all three of us. We never even opened the second one, the child car seat was too tall to lower it anyway.

Having a toilet on board was a lifesaver, our daughter never had to wait until the next stop. We gave her a small shelf for toys above the bed, and at every stop she loved climbing up the ladder to her play corner.

For her, it was a huge adventure, living in a house on wheels and spending all day outside. And for us, it was surprisingly comfortable. 

Final Thoughts

Our friends kept messaging and calling us, even those who don’t live in Luxembourg, asking, So, how is it going? We felt a bit like rock stars. Apparently, many people dream of a camper van trip but hesitate to take the leap. They just need to see real examples, and we became one of them.

To sum it up, we came back tired but happy. For the first couple of weeks, I wasn’t sure if I’d do it again. But after some rest, I knew, absolutely yes. Just in warmer weather next time. We’re already planning our next route for the May holidays, this time toward the Basque Country.