Campervan, RV & Vanlife News

On September 3, 2026, a caravan caught fire in the Slovak village of Sučany. The blaze began spreading to nearby vegetation. Firefighters responded and brought the fire under control. The incident was reported by Žilinak.sk with photos.

On August 31 at about 1 p.m., a caravan caught fire on the D1 motorway at kilometre 337 near Levoča. The flames engulfed the entire vehicle. Firefighters from Levoča and Poprad extinguished the blaze using one high-pressure and one C-hose stream. A propane-butane cylinder was removed from the burning caravan and cooled. Preliminary damage is estimated at €20,000. The cause is under investigation; no injuries were reported.

On Monday, a caravan caught fire on the D1 highway in Slovakia at the 337th kilometer. Firefighters arriving at the scene found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. A propane-butane cylinder was removed from the burning vehicle and cooled. No injuries were reported, and preliminary damage is estimated at 20,000 euros. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

On Monday afternoon, a caravan caught fire on the D1 motorway at the 340th kilometer in the direction from Spišský Štvrtok to Poprad. The motorway is closed, with a detour via road 1/18. Police urge drivers to exercise caution.

The Swedish company Västra Götalands Husvagnsskrot, which specialized in dismantling old caravans, was declared bankrupt on August 24 by the district court in Gothenburg. The cause was a dispute with Skrotfrag AB, to which a debt was not paid. A warehouse of almost 1,000 square meters is full of spare parts that will be sold off. The price difference compared to new parts can reach 500 euros; for example, a Dometic Seitz S4 window costs about 778 euros, while a used one could be bought for under 300 euros.

The Slovak village of Bušince will build a small campsite with four pitches for caravans on the site of a former border guard barracks. The project also includes the purchase of a trailer for transporting canoes and bicycles, as well as an off-road vehicle for towing it. The campsite will be located near a pedestrian bridge over the Ipeľ River, and pitches will be connected to electricity, water and sewage. The project is part of the cross-border Interreg Hungary-Slovakia programme, with a contribution of €62,525.55 from the EU.

A severe storm hit the Duchonka campsite on Monday evening. A tree fell on a parked caravan; firefighters freed the vehicle and secured the area.

A campsite in Tornala, Revuca district, has reopened after more than ten years of closure and decay. New mobile homes have been installed, adding 25 beds that the local authority intends to make available year-round. Before installation, the site was cleared: old trees were felled and 22 dilapidated 20th-century cabins were removed. The town of over 6,600 residents has no hotel, so the new accommodation is meant to ease the shortage of lodging. The campsite is located about 200 metres from the Morske oko bathing area; next year the municipality plans to add a tent camp area and parking spaces for caravans.

Slovak singer Marika Gombitová, who uses a wheelchair, went on holiday in a specially adapted motorhome. She shared photos of the interior, which includes a spacious maneuvering area, an accessible kitchen, and ample storage. This vehicle allows her to travel without having to check hotel accessibility.

Nissan, in partnership with German converter Eifelland, has presented the Eifelland Relax electric motorhome based on the Interstar-e van. The model will have its public premiere at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. It is equipped with an 87 kWh traction battery, a WLTP range of around 410 km, and an electric motor producing 143 hp and 300 Nm of torque. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology powers onboard appliances from the main battery, DC fast charging supports up to 130 kW, and a 22 kW AC onboard charger is available. The interior features a 1.90 × 1.60 m bed, a kitchen with an induction hob and a 90-litre fridge, and up to 2.6 m³ of storage space under the bed. The kerb weight is 3065 kg, leaving a payload of 435 kg within the 3500 kg gross vehicle weight. Pricing in Germany starts at €89,900 including VAT.

Slovak campsites welcomed about 250,000 visitors last year, up 7% from 2024. There are over 100 campsites and caravan parks in the country, many recently modernized. Average prices: €6 per day for adults, €5 for children, €9.70 for caravans, and a mandatory fee of €1.10. Glamping accommodations start at €100 per night.

Actress and singer Dorota Nvotová rented a Defender and set off on a two-week solo caravan trip without a fixed route. She previously bought her own caravan and parked it at the Leharo campsite near the Tatras, calling it her 'hotel with the best view of the Tatras'. Other Slovak celebrities, including Gombitová, Tormová, and Koščová, also choose caravan holidays over hotels.

Slovak actresses and singers, including Nvotová, Tormová and Koščová, have traded hotels for caravan holidays. According to journalist Natália Podhorná, caravanning is not always cheaper: renting a motorhome in high season is expensive, plus fuel, campsite fees and food add up. Campsites have evolved into full-fledged resorts with shops, entertainment and concerts, and in Italy prices can seriously strain a family budget.

A Slovak family business founded by Igor and his daughter Bronia rents out four camper vans across Slovakia. Converting one van costs around 25,000 euros, excluding the price of the vehicle itself. Rental costs 100 euros per day, with a minimum rental period of 7 days in summer and 4 days in winter.

Sweden's right of public access (allemansrätten) allows camping on private land, provided visitors follow the principle of 'do not disturb, do not destroy'. Tents can be pitched at least 150 meters from homes, for a maximum of two nights. Motorhomes and cars are not covered by this right, so driving off roads onto meadows or beaches is prohibited. Fire bans are common in summer, and foraging for berries and mushrooms is allowed only for personal use. Official campsites cost between 300 and 450 SEK per night and often require a Camping Key Europe card.

Jaroslav Vrábeľ and his wife Iveta founded Karavanovo, a company selling, renting and servicing caravans. The business grew from a family holiday in Croatia 20 years ago. The company offers new and used caravans, rental, full service and accessories including solar panels and lithium batteries. Customers come from all over Slovakia.

On July 24, a car and a caravan collided in the Ovčiarsko tunnel on the D1 highway. One person was injured. Traffic toward Žilina was temporarily closed.

Demand for modern fully equipped motorhomes in the Czech Republic is rising. According to Lukáš Janoušek from the digital rental platform Campiri, semi-integral models are the most popular, comfortably accommodating a family. A well-equipped motorhome for four costs around 1.8 million CZK. Renting is also in high demand despite the cost.

A car and a motorhome collided on the road from Drienovec towards Turňa nad Bodvou. The car ended up in a field. Two people were in the car, six in the motorhome — including four children. The motorhome driver received on-site medical treatment; no other injuries were reported. The road remains passable. Police and firefighters attended the scene. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

On July 18, the first edition of the Radimov Karavan Fest will take place, featuring caravans and motorhomes, caravanning equipment, family attractions, dog training and traffic police demonstrations, boxing matches, and live music by TIP TOP Band and country band Prospektori. Admission is free.