All our motorhomes are under 3.5 tonnes and so are drivable on the standard B License.
https://www.gov.uk/driving-motorhome
You need to be aged between 25 and 72 with at least 2 years driving experience. Older drivers can be accomodated but may need to pay a higher security deposit. No more than 6 points for minor convictions (speeding) and no major convictions (drink driving etc) on your license. No major accidents (involving claims above £5,000) in the last 3 years.
The key factor is the number of people who will be travelling / sleeping and the different layouts, We'd advise you check the website for details on each model. They are all roughly the same length (6.5 - 7.5 meters long). The six berths all have a lounge area in the back (more room for kids), the four berths have a fixed double bed. They've all got the same facilities (cooker, grill, fridge, bathroom / shower). We're always happy to advise which would work best for you.
Our motorhomes are typically under 2 years old, they are all owned outright by ourselves and we take great pride in presenting them in perfect condition. You will be given ample opportunity to inspect them prior to your departure to make sure you're happy. All we ask is that you return them in the same condition they went out.
Of course you can, they are all stored at our depot in Caerphilly (CF83 3HU). You should call to arrange a visit and to make certain the ones you want to look at are onsite. We're open from 7.30am - 6pm weekdays and 7.30am - 1pm on Saturdays.
We currently have 3 automatic motorhomes, two four berth and one 6 berth. If you would like to hire them specifically please let us know well in advance. All the rest are six speed manual gearboxes.
None of them have tow bars, leave the horsebox at home!
Yes all our motorhomes have bike racks and we'd strongly advise you think about bringing bikes with you, particularly for the kids. 2 berths have a 2 bike rack, the rest all have 4 bike bike racks.
They're not the most aerodynamic but they do have 6 speed gearboxes. Obviously your fuel consumption will depend whether you're tootling around country roads or cruising down the motorway but on a typical hre you'll average 25 mpg.
Yes you can travel anywhere in Europe but there is an additional cost. We provide you with all the extra kit you need as part of the price (flourescent vests, breathalyser kits, warning triangles, beam benders etc). You will need to inform us beforehand because it requires a specific insurance cover. It also requires additional breakdown and recovery services. You should budget for an extra £250 for taking it overseas but this will depend on your destination.
During the high season I'm afraid the answer is no, we just don't have time to do a proper deep clean between hires. During the quieter months we have some dog friendly motorhomes available but you need to discuss with us in advance. There will be a small additional fee to pay to cover the deep clean, they all malt (even if yours is a cocker poo!)
Our prices all include VAT, the price also includes comprehensive insurance for 1 x driver, additional drivers can be added for £12 per day.
The hire price includes the rental of the motorhome (obviously!) including insurance. In addition to that you get all the cutlery and crockery, basic cooking equipment, cleaning kit, a microwave, a bike rack, an electrical hook up cable and hose pipe for refilling the fresh water plus a bottle of gas for the cooker (you don't need to replace this). The van comes with a full tank of fuel and needs to be refilled on return. We have a list of handy optional extras which you can hire.
You will use gas for cooking and if you’re not in a campsite with an electrical hook up, you will also use it to power your fridge, hot water and central heating. You will start your hire with two bottles of propane gas on board, one will be full and the other is part full. This should be more than sufficient and the cost is included in the price of the hire.
We offer a number of optional extras, these include duvets, bedding and towels, motorhome levelling blocks, TV/DVD players, wheeled water carriers, out door tables and chairs and portable 1200 watt petrol generators.
Two of our motorhomes, the Swift Voyagers, have Isofix mounts. The rest of the fleet has full seatbelts so standard seatbelt compatible seats can be used. Please check the requirements of your child seats when booking.
Outside of the high season the minimum hire period is 3 nights, you can take it for less but you will pay the equivalent of 3 nights hire. During the high season July and August, the minimum price is the equivalent of 7 nights. We do release shorter hires to fill gaps on occasions so keep an eye on the price and availability area of the website.
Not officially, we work on roughly 850 – 1,000 miles per week maximum. This should be ample unless you’re driving to the North of Scotland or taking the motorhome to Europe. We prefer to discuss your destination and planned route in advance and agree a fixed amount if you’re going exceed this, particularly on shorter hires.
Yes all our motorhomes are covered for breakdown and recovery across the UK. If you are taking it abroad there is a supplement to pay as you will need additional paperwork and Green Card cover which we will supply.
A couple of options here, you can either use the website: pick your motorhomes and your proposed dates and click "enquire" just follow the prompts, fill in your personal details, choose any optional extas you'd like, this will be emailed to us. We will then need to confirm a few things over the phone, we will endeavour to contact you by phone and email within 24 hrs to confirm the booking.
Alternatively you can call us during office hours (7.30am - 6pm) and we can take your booking over the phone 02920 851177. We will need driver contact details, license number and National Insurance number.
We take £200 per week on booking, the balance of the hire needs to be paid at least 6 weeks before your first day of hire.
During the kids summer holidays we get very booked up with hires typically running Saturday to Saturday each week. During July and August you need to book well (months) in advance. Out of season hires can be booked last minute depending on availability but we need at least 24 hours advance notice.
Depending on availability, we offer Monday to Saturday collections and returns (No pick up or return on Sundays or Bank Holidays). Collection is typically around midday on the first day, we will arrange a more specific time with you in advance, on occasions it may be possible to collect earlier but don’t rely on this. Book a late afternoon ferry if you're going abroad.
It is important that you are punctual, we have a large number of turnarounds during the busy season, and if you’re late you may miss your slot and have to wait till much later.
Unless agreed in advance, all motorhomes must be returned by 10am on the final day of hire. This is particularly important in the high season when we have very tight turnaround times. You wouldn't want to be delayed leaving if the hirer before you brought theirs back late, so please plan to be back before 10am.
No problem, we have secure parking on site but we cannot accept responsibility for damage or theft.
Drivers will need to come holding their license, plus another form of ID with your name and address on it (utility bill, official letter etc) and a credit or debit card (in their name) to pay the security deposit. Security deposits are taken on the day of hire, everything else is paid in advance.
Standard security deposit on a UK license (staying within the UK) is £1,200. This increases to £1,500 if you're on a foreign license or leaving the UK. This is typically pre-authorised on a credit card. The money does not leave your account but will be ring fenced by your bank. If you pay using a debit card, the money will be physically taken. Provided the motorhome is returned in the same state it was when it left, it is full of fuel, the toilet is empty and clean, none of the utensils are missing and it is generally clean and tidy you will receive your full deposit back. Unless a deductin needs to be made, we aim to get the deposits returned within 10 working days. Whislt the money is ring-fenced we do not hold it, your own bank may need chasing if the preauthorisation has not been released within 10 working days.
We want you to have a great time but you need to be fully aware that you are responsible for the motorhome and its contents. Accidents do happen and unfortunately things do get broken. Due to their lightweight design, they are pretty flimsy, remember they are made out of fibreglass not steel so when you hit something you will come off worse!
Likewise the internal fittings are lightweight so also delicate, please go easy and never try and force anything.
We are completely transparent when it comes to charging for damage repair, we try to make it as painless as possible but there will be some extra costs. We charge you for the cost of the replacement part and the admin time it takes to source it, send it and fit it.
• Window blinds and window stays
• Door locks (they are made of out of plastic inside so be gentle)
• Roof lights and side windows, do a quick check they're shut tight before driving anywhere, they will blow open and off!
• Wing mirrors getting clipped by oncoming vehicles (particularly vans).
• Waste taps and pipes underneath (they’re very low so often get knocked off on bumpy tracks)
• Bed slats getting snapped if they're stood or knelt on or jumped up and down on!
We do not but there are plenty of companies online who will. Just google motorhome hire excess deposit insurance. Depending on your age and destination you will typically pay about £70 to cover the £1,200. In the event of a claim we will deduct money from your card and then present you with an itemised repair bill for you to present to your insurer for a refund. You should read your insurance cover carefullly as you may find they do not cover certain things (like roof damage).
The initial booking fee is non refundable. However if your motorhome is re-rented to someone else, for the full period that you had originally booked, we reserve the right to return the initial booking fee pro rata, minus a £50 admin fee. We will always offer you the option to postpone the booking to a later date and use the advance booking fee as a credit against that hire.
We will offer you the chance to postpone the booking, this is subject to availablity. All payments (other than the security deposit) are non refundable. Holiday insurance cover is advised to safegaurd against this possibility.
Many of our customers are first timers, don't panic. Everyone gets a thorough handover and instructed on how everything works before their hire starts: hot water, heating, control panels, gas and electric, bed making. It's a lot to take on so we provide you with easy to follow guides (with pictures!). By the second night you'll be doing it like a pro. If you get stuck the best thing to do is ask someone in a motorhome on your campsite, they'll be only too happy to help. If you're really stuck you can always call us during office hours.
Provided you are on private property and you have the permission of the landowner to park there, you can park pretty much anywhere and sleep. Don't park on the side of the road, you will likely get moved on in the middle of the night. Your best bet is to plan a route and book into somewhere official. There are hundreds of campsites and caravan parks around the UK. These range from farmers fields to purpose built resorts but do check if they can accomodate motorhomes of more than 6 meters long. In the summer months book well in advance, particularly around July and August time. We've got some routes around Wales with campsites that all take motorhomes.
We operate a no smoking policy in the motorhomes for obvious reasons, please smoke outside and avoid ashtrays inside the motorhomes, they stink!
Motorhomes are subject to the same speed limits as cars unless their weight exceeds 3.5 tonnes, or they exceed 8 passenger seats.
The Caravan Club has produced a table of general European speed limits here: http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/17540058/speedlimitsapril2015.pdf
The motorhome is completely self-sufficient in terms of hot water, fridge freezer and heating this can all be run off the gas. The internal lights run from the on-board leisure battery. This can be recharged whilst driving or by plugging into a 240v connection at a camp site. Please note, If you're not hooked up to the mains, the microwave and plug sockets in the van WILL NOT WORK. If you are going to be wild camping for seveeral days without the ability to hook up, you might consider hiring one of our petrol gennys' these will rechage the leisure battery.