After years on the road, and countless missteps, there are a few things I always recommend to new vanlifers. Here are a few of my top tips of sage advice from one traveller to another:
Slow down
Things in van life just take longer. Simple.
Things you once took for granted, like electricity and water, are less readily available than they once were. These van life chores can feel time-consuming and exhausting at first. Learning to slow down and appreciate that they are just part of the experience will help you get so much more out of this lifestyle.
Budget your travel
Vanlife can be a great opportunity to save money or at least extend it. If that’s your goal, I recommend travelling slowly, planning meals, reducing eating out and opting for free activities.
Google maps
One of the best things about van life is the community. And this community delivers when it comes to recommendations about the best places to stay, places to avoid and more. Depending on where in the world you are, there is bound to be an app to help you navigate this lifestyle. Whether it’s iOverlander in North America or campermate in Australia – there is a ton of info on where to sleep, get water and so on.
That being said, part of the joy of van life (and one of the best parts of van life) is going where the wind takes you. In these cases, I do not live without my google maps in satellite mode. If you find yourself in a town with no recommendations (or just want to find your own), you can jump onto google maps and zoom in to peruse the streets to find a quiet place to park away from prying eyes.
Have an emergency fund
When you travel and live in a car, there is a likely chance that things will break, need fixing, or that general unexpected maintenance will show up. This obviously will vary greatly depending on the vehicle you buy/ where you travel/ how fast etc. Buying a newer van wasn’t in the cards for us at the time. So we paid what we could, and in our case, that meant paying for it down the line.
That being said, I have also known newer vehicles to have similar troubles and older vehicles to go by without a hitch. Sometimes it’s just the luck of the draw. As much as possible, focus on buying a mechanically reliable car within your budget. Regardless of whether you buy new or second-hand, it’s important to have an emergency fund, so those unexpected maintenance days don’t catch you off guard.
Create a daily routine
I have seen travellers burn out time and time again. In a life of constant motion, it can be easy to get swept up in the busy momentum of endless opportunities. The best antidote? Have a practice, ritual or routine that grounds you and serves as a way to help you get your bearings each day (sometimes literally). For some, it may be a morning stretch, while for others, reading a book may suffice.
For me, it has always been a cup of coffee.
No matter the weather, location or the day ahead, I know I will have that one constant of a cup of coffee in my van while I take in my surroundings and plan out this new adventure of the day ahead. Plus, I’ve found this is always a fun way to integrate the local places we visit as we hit up roasteries and try their blends. This is especially important when I’m working from a van. I like having an afternoon walk routine for my work days, so I don’t get caught inside all day.
Create boundaries with work and play
While there are many great things about working from a van, one of the downsides of working remotely from a laptop is being able to separate working from a van and enjoying life from the van. One of my top tips for van life is to create a work zone, be that physical or mental. Having some boundaries around when you work and when you don’t can be essential to longevity on the road and sustaining working from a van long term.
