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We wanted out.
After six months without a vacation, a change of scenery was necessary, we wanted to shake off this feeling of being locked in and regain a little freedom.
Break out of the lockdown dreariness and dare to venture out to see new things and clear your mind.
But how should that work now that travel is frowned upon or even forbidden?
At a time when hotels and holiday apartments in Germany are taboo for tourists?
And where trips abroad are almost impossible due to travel warnings and require quarantine when returning to Germany?
Or with a shit storm that would have awaited us if we had traveled to Mallorca?
The answer for us was: rent a mobile home - in the hope of a little freedom in our “own” rolling vehicle.
Although my wife and I had no idea about motorhomes and we have never taken such a vacation, it seemed to us the only feasible solution in times of pandemics.
Lessons for beginners in RV rental
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Fortunately, our friends are absolute motorhome freaks, they have already traveled all over Europe with their "own apartment on wheels".
For a long time they had raved about the feeling of adventure and the total independence of such a trip.
And when they offered to join us (in their own vehicle and of course in compliance with all safe-distance rules), we booked an entry-level motorhome for us.
It shouldn't be too long and not too big, but because of my size, two long beds were important.
We finally found one for a good 1000 euros a week;
Fully comprehensive, 3000 kilometers, two gas bottles and all necessary papers included.
During the handover, the landlord explained to us all the features and characteristics of the vehicle for an hour: gas bottles, electricity, fresh water, service water, all kinds of control buttons.
The taboo subject of the toilet was not left out either.
I paid close attention to how such a tiny mobile home toilet was emptied and prepared for the next "large-scale operation", because we wanted and had to be independent on the way.
Campsites in Germany closed due to Corona
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Before we really set off, of course, the thing first had to be loaded.
Apart from the technical equipment, rental motorhomes usually have no utensils on board.
Dishes, saucepans, spoons, forks, cups, bed linen, towels - everything must be taken with you.
Conveniently, our landlord had provided an extensive checklist that felt like 45 pages long, which we worked through point by point.
However, it cost an extra day of vacation.
Of course, you have to know and be prepared that all camping and mobile home sites in Germany are currently officially closed due to Corona.
However, there is no driving ban for mobile homes.
So you can take a motorhome tour, but you have to look where you can stay wild or tolerated.
Finding a parking space for your motorhome is not always easy at the moment
Source: pa / dpa / Hauke-Christian Dittrich
A rule in the German road traffic regulations that allows you to rest in the car or in the mobile home in order to be roadworthy again is helpful.
As a rule, one night in one place is allowed, ten hours are usually considered sufficient.
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However, two nights or more exceed the permitted duration of the recovery phase.
The principle that you only park your motorhome is also important - this is not the same as camping.
You should therefore refrain from setting up camping furniture or extending an awning.
Motorhome owners are best on the lookout for public parking spaces or hikers' parking spaces that have a motorhome symbol, where temporary parking or overnight stays are possible to “restore your driving ability”.
Apps such as “Park4Night” or “Stellplatzradar” help with precise descriptions and current situation reports.
However, you should find out in advance which regulations apply locally.
In the event of a violation - for example against curfews or the limitation of the radius of movement - otherwise there is a risk of fines.
The toilet and shower were built for dwarfs
Finally, after a lot of research and preparation, our first trip in months could begin.
It felt wonderful.
Freedom to travel is a valuable asset - the pandemic has shown that it can by no means be taken for granted.
Our first destination was the Hercules in Kassel in the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe.
We were lucky, just in time for the start of the hike (500 steep steps to the top) the sun broke its way through the previously heavy rain and we had a wonderful view when we reached the top, drenched in sweat.
But no matter, the happiness of being on the road outweighs all the hardships.
Back down, we drove to the Weserstein parking lot in Hannoversch Münden.
According to the app, mobile homes and campers are tolerated there.
And so it was: The car park for mobile homes was not blocked, it cost nothing and was right on the Weserstein.
Very idyllic.
There was even fresh water at the seat for one euro, so we (still soaked in sweat) took the opportunity and jumped in the shower.
Or: we squeezed under it.
Because the wet room was as narrow as a coffin, turning around or moving was hardly possible.
It was only with great effort that I managed to move my hand with the shower upwards - our friends had told us about the tightness of the sanitary facilities, but as a motorhome novice you are surprised when you try it out for the first time how cramped it is.
Pretty tight: the wet room in the mobile home that the author rented
Source: Peter Tomasch
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I had also learned that when soaping up you turn off the shower (to save water), then you only rinse off very briefly.
In the end, I succeeded in having the first RV shower of my life: There was still plenty of fresh water in the tank, I had just used 25 liters.
Our on-board toilet right next to the shower was unfortunately built more for dwarfs.
Every time I struggled to get into an “enterprising” position with my 191 centimeters when I went to the town.
One thing is certain: our next mobile home will definitely have a larger sanitary area, with a toilet and shower completely separated from each other.
The refrigerator went out in the middle of the night
On the first night on board I slept restlessly and kept waking up - this may be part of the real camper feeling.
Maybe it was just the excitement of finally being on the road again.
After all, my unsteady sleep ensured that I noticed in the middle of the night that our motorhome was no longer receiving electricity.
The refrigerator filled with groceries turned off, a light blinked as a warning.
I peeled myself out of the cramped bed, opened the vehicle's door at 2:30 a.m., waded through the rain-soaked muddy ground to the electrical box to add a euro.
Shortly afterwards the refrigerator hummed again, as it should be.
Collecting one-euro coins became my hobby for the next few days, because without such coins, nothing works on parking spaces.
You constantly need them for power boxes or water supplies when you are out and about, card payments are not possible.
Experienced motorhome owners probably always have a whole sack of one-euro coins in their luggage.
An app helps you find a parking space in Travemünde
Our journey continued to Lübeck.
Many shops were kindly open here, unlike in our Hessian homeland.
I didn't even know how nice it can be to just go into a store again, browse a little and do some shopping.
Pure freedom, an attitude towards life like before Corona - of course with a mask and distance.
Our wonder app was very helpful for the subsequent search for a parking space in Travemünde.
She informed us that the motorhome parking lot in the city was cordoned off (which was actually the case), but she drew our attention to the regular parking lot next door: It was close enough to connect a motorhome to the power supply.
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I was skeptical, but it was true: We could easily park next to the actual parking space for motorhomes and still use all the amenities of a parking space.
The public order office was obviously occupied at the weekend, at least no official bothered us.
Enormous interest in traveling by motorhome
In Grömitz, our next stop, we stayed in a nice car park for mobile homes, a little above the city, even with a view of the lake.
When we arrived there were already about ten mobile homes, but there was enough space so that everyone could park at a distance.
Electricity, fresh water, sewage disposal were also available.
A brand new mobile home was parked next to us.
It turned out that the owners, like us, had never been in such a rolling house before.
They actually wanted to fly to Egypt, but they wanted to avoid quarantine and had bought the mobile vehicle.
In times of the Corona, some people invest a lot in a change of scenery - which can also be seen from the fact that, according to the Caravaning Industry Association, the number of newly registered motorhomes has increased massively in the past twelve months: by 37.3 percent.
Deliciously dined with a view of the Rhine
After a trip to the beach promenade, however, our exhilaration was dampened: Suddenly two police officers knocked on the door, asking us to pack up immediately and leave - after all, this was not a campsite.
The officials refused to accept our objection that there was no prohibition sign and that everything else was open and even parking fees were charged.
“You hear from the community that it costs at least 88 euros per person,” said one of them, then he and his colleague chased away all the other vehicles.
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After this sobering experience and another administrative offense (alleged wrong parking in front of a supermarket) we decided to slowly drive back home.
The restrictions, the impenetrable parking bans, the threats of fines temporarily put people in a bad mood.
The feeling of freedom was gone, Corona had caught up with us again.
In the Harz, where we wanted to spend the night, all the parking spaces we drove to were blocked.
Only shortly before sunset did we find a place in Lautenthal.
We quickly allowed ourselves two glasses of wine to make sure that we were no longer roadworthy and could no longer be driven from the parking lot - which in the end no one tried in the deserted village.
The crowning glory of our trip was a stop at the parking lot of the “Rheingold” inn in Gernsheim.
You can park there, with a view of the Rhine, and the restaurant delivers the food you have ordered directly to the mobile home - on porcelain!
We felt like we were in paradise eating steak, french fries and salad.
And have decided: we will do it again, this tour was not our last motorhome trip.
Waiting for the big boom
Ulrich Hartz is desperate.
He has bought 70 mobile homes.
To rent because it was a safe way to travel in pandemic times, he thought.
Now everything has been canceled over Easter - and he is not entitled to bridging aid.
Source: WORLD
-> Rent a motorhome - tips and information:
Renting a motorhome for private trips is usually not a problem, with a
class 3 (old)
driver's license
you can drive motorhomes up to 7.5 tons, driving license B entitles you to drive motorhomes up to 3.5 tons.
Rental costs of 100 euros per day are realistic.
There are many
regional and national providers
in the network.
Usually they first send a non-binding offer that customers should check before making a binding booking.
The majority rent to private customers, a few companies have a clause in their contract stating that the rental is only for business purposes.
The vehicles are usually
fully insured
, but you have to
include
a deposit and a deductible in the
event of
damage of 1000 to 1500 euros.
If you want to avoid this, you can take out special deductible insurance (for around 50 to 100 euros).
Anyone who
would like to find out
more about the
rights and obligations
of motorhome travelers can find out more from Stiftung Warentest.
At test.de/FAQ-Urlaub-im-Wohnmobil-was-ist-erlaubt-5153650-0/, they published a comprehensive information package with important tips on questions such as parking and accommodation, insurance and maximum load limits.
The foundation has also published “The Large Motorhome Handbook”, in which you can find out everything about costs, technology, equipment and mobile travel (288 pages, 29.90 euros).