UK holiday parks change hands · VanLife Weekly #21
Sun Communities sells UK chain Park Holidays for $1bn. Plus: 4 ADAC routes through Hesse, barriers in Alghero, Singapore family heads to Turkey.
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Small town · North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
VanSky index for Bad Driburg, Germany — 83 out of 100 (Ideal). Decide in seconds: temperature, precipitation, wind and solar output. Data refreshed every 3 hours from real weather observations.
Bad Driburg, Germany — VanSky 100 out of 100. Ideal conditions for motorhome travel. Ranked #5 of 1768 cities in the country (as of 30 May 2026). Temperature 23°C, wind 9 km/h. Solar panels yield 3.0 kWh/day at 400 W — enough for full autonomy.
Period
Temperature
Wind
∅ 7-day average
No optimal window today — wind or rain throughout the day.
Cities with a close score — route alternatives
Weather index for vanlifers: from 0 to 100. Calculated daily from real weather data — temperature, precipitation, wind and sun.
How it's calculated:
Data: Open-Meteo · Updated every 3h
Updated: 30.05.2026
Diesel
$2.23 /l
€1.92 · £1.66/l
111 of 127
pricier than 87% of countries
Petrol
$2.30 /l
€1.98 · £1.71/l
115 of 126
pricier than 90% of countries
LPG
$1.37 /l
€1.17 · £1.02/l
44 of 46
pricier than 93% of countries
Awnings attached to motorhomes and caravans are popular for providing shade and rain protection, but can be damaged by strong winds. To prevent damage, it is recommended to use anchor plates to secure support legs and storm straps with springs to absorb wind loads. An expert advises retracting the awning when it is uncomfortable to stay outside and using tension rods to prevent water pooling.
The campsite on Lühesand (Stade district) opened on May 29, delayed from the planned Easter start due to extensive cleanup and renovations. New tenant Philipp Köhnken completely replaced water, sewage, and electrical lines and added internet access. The site features a family beach club with six bouncy castles, two beach volleyball courts, a children's water slide, and a beach soccer field. The season runs until the end of October; the campsite was closed in 2025.
In Bad Gandersheim, unknown perpetrators broke into a motorhome at the Rio Grande parking lot. They pried open a window, searched the interior, and fled. Damage is estimated at 500 euros. Police are asking witnesses to come forward.
An expert from Promobil magazine offered advice on reducing heat inside a motorhome during hot weather. Key measures include using a light-colored body, heat-reflective mats, and roof vents.
The Geisingen municipal council approved an increase in the overnight fee at the motorhome parking area in the Danuterra leisure zone from €14 to €16 as of January 1, 2028. The decision is justified by upcoming investments, including new charging stations. In 2023, the 37-space site recorded a record 7,150 overnight stays, followed by a slight decline to 6,800 in 2025.
Wild camping is illegal in Germany and can result in fines up to €5,000. However, several apps offer legal alternatives away from crowded campsites. These include Park4Night with over 12.5 million downloads and 650,000 registered spots, Campspace with a 17% commission, Hinterland Camp with prices from €5 to €577 per night, and AlpacaCamping with over 2,000 spots in Germany and Austria. Roadsurfer Spots and Landvergnügen (annual membership €69.90) also provide options for motorhomes, while Dachgeber by ADFC caters to cyclists.
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