Europe's camper season opens with deals and one-way rentals

Almería is putting up physical barriers to keep motorhomers off its former fairground — while Turkey simply evicts them from the beach. Lightship is quadrupling its electric-caravan factory in Colorado, even as 50% of Italian motorhome renters turn out to be under 35. Plus 800 kg of hashish in a motorhome at the Spanish border, Anker's 800 W charger running off the alternator, and Carstay as the mobile HQ of a Tokyo festival — all in this issue.

In 2025, EU camping nights hit 413 million, up 28.5% from 2015, outpacing hotel growth. Greece now allows parking of motorhomes up to 7.5 meters in residential areas with no time limit.

Spain introduced new road sign S-128 and banned camper vans from parking near beaches. Germany responded with a 3.82-metre electric camper van — fits anywhere, furniture not included. JAL now rents out motorhomes from Narita with miles earned per rental. Storm Ali blowing a traveller's caravan off an Irish cliff, and the Outbound demo for PS5 — all in this issue.

Motorhome owners are warned about a serious defect in a popular chassis. A leak in the Fiat Ducato fuel line can lead to a vehicle fire. The recall involves 18 chassis variants, including Citroën Jumper and Peugeot Boxer, manufactured primarily in 2025.

The European motorhome market was valued at USD 25.48 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 51.62 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 8.16%. Growth is driven by a preference for flexible and safe travel, the rise of domestic tourism, and smart technology integration, but is restrained by high costs and stringent environmental regulations.

Overnight stays at campsites, RV parks, and caravan sites in the EU reached 413 million in 2025, a 28.5% increase compared to 2015. 67% of stays were concentrated in the summer months, with France leading at 154 million nights, accounting for 37.2% of the EU total. France was followed by Spain (49.8 million), Italy (49.1 million), and Germany (45 million).