REVIEW: Experience the Ultimate Family Adventure with Breeze Campers

My husband and I are always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to spend quality family time - and the more outdoorsy and adventurous the better. So, when we discovered Breeze had just started offering hire of their VW Campervans, we knew we had found the perfect solution. I must admit though that I was slightly apprehensive after an utter camping disaster when my now almost 3-year-old was 1, and we had to cut our 5 day camping trip after 2 nights with a total of 4 hours sleep, but I was determined to give it another try - but this time in a Campervan rather than a tent.

With their range of iconic vans and excellent service, Breeze Campers offer families the chance to experience the ultimate adventure. In this article, I'll share our experience and provide tips to help you plan and get the most from you Campervan Hire Family Break.

Why Breeze Campers

From the initial research on their website, to speaking with their team and collecting the van right through to drop off, we were blown away by the customer service and straightforward process.

Their website clearly displays the different models of campervans available for hire, showing the unique features and specifications which cater to the different needs of families.

After deliberating between the Grand California and California Ocean we opted for the latter. Although the Grand California would have given us more scope for some more wild camping (it has a wet room, shower and toilet as well as a lot of living and sleeping space), we knew we wanted to head to Cornwall, so the California was a good all-rounder; all the amenities and sleeping quarters we'd need in a caravan site, but a smaller vehicle to get up and down the steep Cornish coastal roads!

After a really straightforward booking process, we then planned our trip and I loved that the website shows packing tips for a family break - and actually, the van is so well equipped you can pack very light which is definitely not the case with camping in a tent!

All we needed was bedding, towels, food and drink and clothes and that was pretty much it. As there was plenty of space, we took the kids scooters and some spear fishing equipment (we decided against taking the surf boards as there was no surf forecast, but there would have been room for short boards in the van.

Collecting the Van

Upon arrival at the WV dealership in Poole, we could see the van waiting for us in the car park (much to the kids’ excitement). The friendly and knowledgeable team there showed us all of the features (it's such an impressive feat of design and engineering; the amount of storage is unreal - there's even a small shower!) and demonstrated how to set the beds up. We then went into the dealership for 10 minutes to sign all of the paperwork which was super quick and easy. We were allowed to leave our car on site which was then taken to a lock up but delivered back to the dealership ready for our return which made things even more straightforward.

Holiday Time!

We were going for a weekend break and were expecting terrible Friday afternoon/evening traffic, but we got down to Cornwall in less than 3 hours. Even the journey was fun as the kids were buzzing with excitement and it was a really comfortable smooth drive.

One of the real bonuses of Campervan Hire vs Tent is you have none of the faff of setting up a tent when you arrive at your campsite. We arrived at about 7.30 so needed to get the kids fed and we managed to rustle up a really nice meal quickly and easily using the hob - and the van has all of the cooking utensils you will need.

We had our dinner outside the van under the awning (table and chairs also included in the incredible storage) and were treated to the most stunning sunset - it was a really special moment! Then set up the beds which take less then 5 minutes. The kids were squealing with delight when they saw the pop up bed and I did for a second wonder if they'd be too overexcited to sleep but they were so cosy they dropped off quickly - and I am so pleased and relieved to report that thanks to the comfort of the van and the design meaning it stays dark, we all had 10 hours sleep! I don't think I've slept so much since before the kids were born!

I woke before them to the sound of the dawn chorus which was a really beautiful way to wake up.

We were then geared up for a weekend of fun adventures. But first it was time for breakfast; the van even has a fridge so we had fresh milk in our cereal and coffee which we definitely wouldn't have had camping.

I thought it might be a pain that you need to pack everything away whenever you want to go anywhere whereas with a tent you can leave everything set up, but it is just so quick and easy, it really isn't a problem at all.

We spent the weekend visiting all the highlights of the Roseland Peninsula including St Athony's Head, Porscatho and Towan Beaches, Veryan. We got the ferry from St Mawes to Falmouth and back which was beautiful and a real adventure for the kids.

Even though we were only away for a weekend, it felt like we had been away for a whole week. We had the freedom to travel to different locations at our own pace and explore the beautiful Roseland Peninsula. Quite often, adventurous holidays don't tend to be fully relaxing but due to the ease of having all the amenities you need on hand and being fully mobile, you get to very easily see and do so much without any stress.

Tips for Planning a Family Break in a VW Campervan

Planning a family break in a VW campervan doesn't need lengthy consideration and planning.

I would just recommend having a good read of the different vans on offer to determine the size of the campervan that is suitable for your family and style of trip you are going on.

You may want to have an itinerary of the places you want to visit and the caravan sites you'd like to stay in, but we did everything last minute in June and there were no issues.

You need to take your driving license and NI number upon collection. And to pay attention to the campervan's features and how they work, but it's all very straightforward.

Make sure you pay attention on handover of how to use all of the clever gadgets and to covert the beds, but there are some really handy how to videos on the Breeze Campers website so if you’re in a pickle you can easily sort by having a watch. Worst case there is an emergency number you can call too.

Conclusion

Breeze Campers gave us the ultimate adventure and created lasting family memories - all at a fraction of the price of going abroad and without any of the hassle! Thank you so much Breeze Campers!

Our weekend break cost for the campervan hire was just £441.84 (they are currently running a One Night Free offer for June), plus we paid £60 for the caravan site and apart from food, drink and the ferry trip there were no other costs.

With their impressive range of campervans and excellent service, you're guaranteed to have a stress-free adventure.

If this sounds like an adventure you'd like to arrange for your family, you can browse the vans here or why not take part in our free to enter competition with Breeze Campers for your chance to win a Campervan Holiday and experience the ultimate family adventure.

Find out more about Breeze Campers HERE!