A motorhome holiday is always a brilliant experience but costs can quickly add up if you’re not careful. However, there are some simple changes you can make to ensure you’re saving money when you’re on tour. To set you on your way, we’re sharing some top tips, so you can enjoy an unforgettable – yet bank balance friendly – touring experience…

1 Bring your own food and drink

If you’re planning to head off-site for the day, think about the food and drink you could take with you so you don’t have to eat out – costs can quickly mount up when you’re having to buy lunch every day. Plus, taking your own food will give you the chance to settle down for a picnic in beautiful surroundings such as a park, giving you fresh air and nice views to accompany your feast.

You can also rustle up some delicious dinners, saving you the hassle of having to find somewhere to go each night. Our guide to cooking in your motorhome not only shares some tasty recipes but also provides five simple tips for getting the most out of the experience. You may be surprised by some of the meals you can cook with remarkable ease from the kitchen of your ‘van. It’s also a budget-friendly way of trying out some of the food and delicacies from the region you’re staying in.

2 Plan out your itinerary

Make sure you’re aware of what you’d like to do in the local area – there could be some stunning green areas nearby that could be explored, or perhaps there’s a free museum you’d like to visit.

If you’ve settled on a day out at a particular attraction, it’s definitely worth having a look online too – you might be able to find offers or discount codes that could save you some valuable funds. Try websites such as myvouchercode.co.uk and see what you can find.

3 Choose the right type of campsite

What facilities do you want the campsite you’re staying at to have? Are you looking for somewhere that has plenty of facilities, or would you prefer it to provide a more back-to-basics approach? When you know exactly what you want from the campsite, you can start looking for the one that will give you what you want, for the price you want.

If you would like a hand with choosing somewhere, our guide to the best motorhome sites will be a great place to start, as we pick out the top locations to stay at from across the UK.

4 Get a holiday discount

There are a various types of membership you can look into that will save you money on your campsite bookings.

For instance, the Camping and Caravanning Club offer membership from £42 per year, and you’ll then save up to 30% each time you camp at one of their sites. You will also be able to stay at their member-exclusive campsites (Certified Sites) – there are over 1,300 of these, and prices can start from as little as £10 a night.

Alternatively, there’s the Caravan and Motorhome Club, where membership starts from £56 per year – they also offer savings, and your membership should have paid for itself within five nights of staying at a site.

Another option is CampingCard ACSI. Signing up to this will let you save up to 60% per night at over 3,000 campsites across Europe when you’re touring during the low season. A subscription starts from only €12.95, and you’ll quickly cover the costs within a few nights.


Are you looking for a ‘van but want a more budget-friendly model? Then take a look at our tips for buying a used motorhome, where we outline how you can bag yourself a bargain.


If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.