Road Tripping across Ireland is becoming more and more popular. Hiring a campervan is a great way for couples and families to explore Ireland and experience the best we have to offer.
If you’re planning a trip this year, this article should answer some of the most popular questions we hear about getting on the road. Exploring Ireland’s fantastic countryside, ancient ruins and rural communities will create memories that will last a lifetime.
Why Hire A Campervan In Ireland?
Although Ireland is a small country, adventure awaits you at every turn. With a campervan, you can hit the open road on an epic scenic drive, find idyllic coves and hidden beaches along the shore, camp under starlit skies, and go island hopping off the coast. Now is the time to experience an unforgettable holiday in Ireland.
- See More Breathtaking Locations – avoid wasted time on trains and buses. Stay engaged with your surroundings rather than switching off and letting the experience pass you by.
- More Freedom – enjoy the places and experiences that your group likes the most. Allow yourselves to be spontaneous and enjoy the adventure.
- Great Flexibility – journey along the routes that offer the best experience for the moment. Rest when tired or keep exploring when the opportunity arises.
See More, Quicker – Don’t waste your valuable time on tours that skip by areas that interest you.
Get to, and around the places you want to visit without wasting any unnecessary time. Ireland is best toured by campervan.
How Long Do You Need To Rent A Campervan For?
Well, this isn’t the same for everyone. A lot of people choose a three/four-day option when it’s their first time. Family summer trips tend to be week-long to make the most of the experience. Many experienced campers will spend more than a week’s journey to new places and family favorites.
The quick answer is … “there is no answer”.
It’s completely up to you how long you wish to take.
Of course, if you are renting a campervan, there will tend to be specific pick-up/drop-off days. It’s a good idea to plan an itinerary to make sure you have some form of a plan for the trip. It just means you’ll need to sort out a solid route to follow so you can squeeze in as much as possible. There will always be more to explore for the next trip around Ireland.
Planning An Ireland Campervan Itinerary
Craic n Campers is based in Roscommon. Our depot in Roscommon Town is in the heart of Ireland, the ideal starting point for any adventure!
Due to our central location, we benefit from national train and bus services. We are also within 90 minutes driving distance of the cities of Dublin, Galway, and Sligo. Sligo is considered the ‘Gateway City’ to the world-renowned Wild Atlantic Way which meanders for over 2500kms along some of the most breath-taking coastline in the world.
Our Roscommon location is a perfect location to launch your campervan trip. To help give you an idea of what to expect, here are a few itineraries you could follow that we would typically recommend. We would typically recommend many of the Wild Atlantic Way highlights.
Driving A Campervan Or RV In Ireland: What You Need To Know
Before you head off in your campervan, there are a few things you should first know about driving in Ireland.
Driving is always on the left.
No turning right at a red light – this is for you American drivers
The roads can get very narrow, especially in the rural areas and cities. In some parts, you will be unable to get a large campervan or motorhome through. Aim to follow the main roads.
Don’t overuse Google maps. Google maps are great and will be correct over 95% of the time. But it’s important to note that Google maps might suggest you take your campervan down a rural road that is not suitable.
There are motorways between the main cities but often not in the tourist hotspots.
We drive in km/h in the South (Republic of Ireland) & mph in North of Ireland (United Kingdom)
Speed limits signs are posted throughout regularly on each road.
In rural areas, you may see animals on the road such as sheep, cows and deer.
Drive Safely!
We have a video on tips for driving a campervan safely – common campervan driving mistakes.
Do I need a special license to drive a Craic N Campers vehicle?
All our vehicles can be driven on a standard full car license (B Licence.) International drivers will require an International driver’s license if the license issued by their country of residence is not in English.
How old do I need to be to drive a Craic N Campers vehicle?
Drivers must be 25 years of age or over. If you are over the age of 70 years, please contact us prior to booking. A medical certificate is required.
Top Tips For Saving Money On Your Campervan Hire
To help save money on the cost of your trip, here are a few top tips for cutting back on expenses with your campervan.
Travel ‘Out of Season’ when hiring rates are considerably cheaper – typically in the Spring/Autumn, especially when you can make huge savings on both the cost of the van and any campsites. The peak season is typically June-August. – typically the Spring/Autumn, especially when you can make huge savings on both the cost of the van and any campsites. The peak season is typically June-August.
Travel with a Group – Sharing the costs with Family and Friends in a larger berth vehicle will reduce the overall costs per person. Bringing an additional tent may also cut down on the costs to cover additional sleeping space.
Reduce Eating Out – Make use of the great cooking facilities that are available with every campervan. Eating out with a group can be expensive if you are buying all your meals throughout the whole trip. Why not embrace the cooking experience with a BBQ. Spending wisely will reduce the costs of the whole trip.
How Do You Find Campsites For The Night?
Our team can recommend a series of campsites that you would be welcome to book. There are hundreds of campsites across Ireland.
Other useful websites include:
Is It Safe Driving A Campervan In Ireland?
Driving a campervan is a task that needs to be taken seriously. Road accidents occur throughout the world every day. Ireland is quite safe for traveling as a tourist. If the weather is wet, pay particular attention to winding roads and reduce speed where possible. Road users are typically patient when it comes to accommodating camper drivers. Campsites are usually safe, but take care where possible.
What Happens If I Break Down?
It depends on what company you hired a campervan from. As long as you hire through a reputable, decent campervan company, you should have full breakdown cover included.
Make sure to check the small print to see if you are covered, and get any necessary breakdown numbers when picking up your vehicle.
At Craic N Campers, all of our vehicles are modern and meticulously maintained by our own SIMI-registered workshop. We have a team of specialist cleaners on-site to ensure sanitization & hygiene standards are maintained to an industry high.
What To Look Out For When Choosing A Campervan
Choosing a Campervan to travel around Ireland can be confusing for many people. In this section, we will briefly explain what you should look out for when choosing a campervan.
Before you decide what type of campervan you need, it’s equally important to choose what campervan company you choose to rent from.
When making your decision of which company to go with, here are some important things to look for.
- Solid reviews – Google Reviews and Facebook reviews are always a good starting point. As well as seeing what other bloggers have said about them by typing in “COMPANY NAME review”.
- Modern vehicles – To save money on fuel, and ensure you have a safe trip without breakdowns, it’s best to find a company offering vehicles that are no more than a few years old. Campervans easily rack up tens of thousands of kilometers, even in their first year, and any decent firm will always be reinvesting in modern vehicles.
- No added extras – Check the small print to see what is actually included in your rental. Things that typically aren’t included in the initial quotation are bedding and any cooking equipment. Also, some firms might have limits on the number of kilometers you can drive, and then charge you extra for going over.
- Affordable insurance cover – If you want real peace of mind when hiring a campervan in Ireland, you can pay a set amount for every day of the hire in order to reduce the excess in case of damages. We had the choice not to get this but felt a lot better having it. For larger campervans, it’s often not possible to entirely remove the excess charge.
- Breakdown cover – There’s always a chance something will go wrong on your travels, and any decent hire company should offer full breakdown cover as standard with your hire.
Why You Should Choose Craic N Campers For Your Irish Road Trip
Craicncampers is the best Irish campervan rental company in the market. We offer a huge selection of modern, top-quality vehicles available for hire at the most competitive rates.
We have a modern, stylish and safe fleet that provides all the facilities necessary for your trip. Our vehicles are maintained to the highest industry standards by our SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) approved workshop.
Unlike other companies, each of the benefits of our vehicle is from a private toilet area plus gas-fired central heating & water heaters to ensure cozy sleeping and hot showers. Each vehicle has a 12v power inverter to provide charging facilities for phones & electronics regardless of location.
At Craic N Campers, we pride ourselves on providing a professional and personal service to our customers. We have integrated our knowledge and experience into our website to ensure a smooth and informative booking experience. We understand that everyone is different & therefore we use informational videos to help familiarise you with your chosen vehicle prior to pick up. If you cannot find the answer to your question on our website we are simply an email or phone call away.
Plan Your Next Epic Adventure In Ireland Today!
Are you planning your next adventure? Contact Craic N Campers and let us know how we can help you with your upcoming trip. We would love to hear from you.
Visit our Contact Us page.
