Caravan Salon 2026: Off-road motorhomes rise, caravans decline

A new motorhome site with 17 pitches has opened at the Globe Theater in Neuss, operated by Camper-Clean. Booking and management are fully digital, but the lack of a service station for waste disposal and water supply remains an issue. The operator promises improvements and views the site as a testing ground for innovations to be showcased at the Caravan-Salon in Düsseldorf at the end of August.

Mercedes-Benz will for the first time fully convert the V-Class into the Marco Polo camper at its own plant in Ludwigsburg, Germany, reducing delivery times. The updated model features a roof that opens 10 cm higher, new LED lighting, an improved awning, and an eight-speaker audio system.

In Wolmirsleben, Saxony-Anhalt, around 70 people defied a swimming ban and held an unauthorized 'people's swimming day' at the closed Schachtsee beach. Police dispersed them in the morning, but after officers left, the bathers returned. The beach and campsite are closed due to missing building permits and fire safety violations, a decision upheld by two court rulings.

The French price list for Carado motorhomes shows a significant price gap compared to the Netherlands. The compact CV540, a 5.41-meter camper van based on the Peugeot Boxer, starts at €48,390, while the longer CV600 (5.99 m) starts at €49,390. In the Netherlands, the same models start at €66,590 and €67,890 respectively, a difference of €18,200 and €18,500. The main reason is the Dutch bpm tax (37.7% of the net catalog price plus €273 for diesel), along with differences in VAT, equipment, and transport costs. Buying in France does not exempt buyers from bpm and VAT when registering in the Netherlands.

Business Insider has presented five routers that provide a stable internet connection in a motorhome, caravan, or camper van. These include the TP-Link Archer NX200, AVM FRITZ!Box 6850 LTE, TP-Link TL-MR6400, ZTE MC888 5G, and Netgear Night Hawk M3. The devices vary in price and functionality, from budget models to premium ones with 5G and Wi-Fi 6 support.

According to an ACSI analysis, Croatia is Europe's most expensive camping destination, with a night for a family of four costing 78.28 euros, almost double the price in Germany (40.82 euros). Prices have risen due to investments in luxury amenities such as private pools and spas. Cheaper alternatives include Poland (24.19 euros) and the Czech Republic (28.52 euros).