The Scoop: Quirky Campers invites couples to take the road less traveled and explore the U.K. and New Zealand from the comfort of a campervan. The rental service lists hundreds of campervans that have been well-made and well-loved by their owners. If you’re interested in a date night or romantic getaway under the stars, you can browse Quirky Campers to find one-of-a-kind campervans that have lots of personality and enough features to facilitate an outdoorsy holiday.
During the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people were stuck at home with nothing to do but continuously scroll through social media, hoard toilet paper, and dream about their next vacation.
Lockdowns and travel restrictions changed the way people planned their next getaway. Many turned away from planes, hotels, and cruises in search of more socially distant travel options. And so an era of road trips and campervans began.
Quirky Campers is a bespoke campervan rental agency established in 2010.
Quirky Campers is a unique campervan rental website that helps people rent, buy, or build the campervan of their dreams. Thanks to its resources, couples can take an intimate and engaging journey to see the sights in the U.K. and New Zealand.
The company’s co-founders Lindsay and David Berresford started campervanning when they were dating, and it became an anniversary tradition to take a road trip through the countryside. They outfitted and customized their van to facilitate mealtimes, game nights, and lazy days in bed.
“What we love is getting really cozy in the van, lighting up a fire, and cooking up a meal,” Lindsay told us. “All those simple pleasures are just more enjoyable in that space. It’s so inherently romantic.”
Once they got married, the couple’s romantic getaways became family trips, and they added jump seats and a hammock for their three kids to join the fun. Lindsay and David currently rent their campervan Frida through Quirky Campers when they’re not taking it on an adventure of their own.
Booking a stay in a campervan is a wonderful way to explore beautiful places while bringing the comforts of home with you.
Over 100 Luxury Vans Available in the U.K. & New Zealand
The origins of Quirky Campers can be traced back over 10 years ago when Lindsay and David converted their Sprinter Bella. They used reclaimed items, including an old washing machine, to make it more comfortable and functional on long camping trips.
As much as Lindsay and David loved their tricked-out campervan, they couldn’t use it all the time, so they decided to try renting it to recoup some of the costs of keeping it in good repair.
Campervans give couples the freedom and flexibility to travel to remote places.
Lindsay and David couldn’t find a rental service that fit their interests, so — like any adventurer would — they decided to build it themselves. “We figured either this is a great idea that no one’s thought of yet — or it’s a really bad idea,” she said. “And we won’t know which it is until we try it.”
As it turns out, Quirky Campers was a great idea, and its rentals have enamored thousands of people looking to get away in style. The website launched in 2010 with one campervan, and now it has over 100 campervans available in the U.K. and New Zealand.
Quirky Campers can offer a middle ground between roughing it in a tent and splurging on an RV or hotel. Campervans can hook people up with a sink, a stove, electricity, and other creature comforts while also serving as their means of transportation and place of relaxation.
“We see it as a boutique hotel on wheels, so you can have the outdoor adventure without roughing it,” Lindsay said. “You have time to yourselves to disconnect from the outside world and connect with each other.”
Quirky Campers has something for everyone. Its smaller campervans stick to the basics and are best for staying in campsites. Meanwhile the high-end campervans include solar panels, toilets, and showers so they are self-sustainable miles away from civilization. The rental time frames can range from three days to nine months. It just depends on what kind of adventure the customer wants!
An ebook Guide to Building Your Own Campervan
The Quirky Campers team isn’t just a great resource for vacationers — it can also help campervan owners or builders get into gear. Customers can browse an online shop of campervan equipment and check out a listing of 40 converter services available in the U.K. The seasoned experts at Quirky Campers can guide people through the process of converting and renting a campervan.
Recently, the team has created the ultimate resource for van lovers looking to convert or update. Building a Campervan has 21 chapters of knowledge and advice compiled from people who have completed conversions and spent many happy hours in campervans.
“Building a Campervan” is a handy guidebook for beginners with a van.
The ebook can offer layout designs, budget templates, decorating tips, and other practical tools to support DIY projects and outdoor dating adventures.
“It offers a helpful, step-by-step guide,” said Hannah Redden, an interior designer who contributed a chapter to the ebook. “There’s plenty of handy tips and recommendations, such as which colours will make your space look bigger and how to choose the right window dressings.”
Converting a campervan can be a time-consuming and overwhelming project to take on by yourself. But the Quirky Campers team has been down that road before and can light the way for newcomers.
Couples who have a small van and big dreams can use Quirky Campers as their guide to a brave new dating world. Its guidelines and resources can make vanlife more accessible and achievable — with no prior experience needed.
“It’s been cool to put together everything we’ve learned over the past 13 years,” Lindsay said. “So hopefully people can avoid the same mistakes we’ve made.”
The Team Supports Couples & Families on Their Journey
Quirky Campers makes a relaxing and affordable vacation available to people from all walks of life. The rental service typically sees a broad cross section of couples and families. Some are young daters with a thirst for adventure, while others are retirees who just want to take their pets on holiday.
“Some people follow us on social media and fall absolutely in love with a particular van. It doesn’t matter where the van is, they want that van in particular,” Lindsay said. “For others, it’s more about the right dates, specific features, or a particular drop-off location.”
Campervans can transport couples to a lovely date spot in the great outdoors.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the campervan rentals have become particularly popular among local couples seeking a weekend excursion or a work-from-home escape in their own backyards.
The campervans allow people to tour mountains, beaches, and cities without coming into close contact with anyone outside their van bubble. It’s a great opportunity to spark an intimate connection and make wonderful memories.
As avid supporters of vanlife, Lindsay and David continue to use their creativity and networking skills to make the best of any situation. The last year has been challenging, but it has also made people increasingly eager to get away. In 2021, Quirky Campers has a lot to look forward to — especially as international travel becomes safe again.
Quirky Campers is on the road to becoming carbon neutral within the year. The company already offsets its workforce’s carbon footprint through tree planting, but Lindsay said it is planning on offsetting the emissions of all customer travels as well.
“It’s all about navigating this strange new world we’re in,” she said. “We’re looking forward to continuing to support people building and traveling in campervans.”
Quirky Campers Celebrates Over 10 Years of Cool Experiences
If the open road is calling you, you can head to Quirky Campers to experience what #vanlife is all about. The rental service started with one British couple’s passion for exploration, and it has turned into an international business venture.
Lindsay and David enjoy connecting with campers and giving people the ability to travel on their terms.
Quirky Campers helps couples get far away from their everyday routines.
Whether you’re cozying up to the van’s wood-burning stove in wintertime or throwing up the doors and picnicking in the summertime, Quirky Campers can provide the vehicle to a memorable date and make the journey more romantic and enjoyable.
“People want to have adventures and go outside, but they also want to have basic creature comforts,” Lindsay said. “We can enable people to have both, so they can have an experience that’s both exhilarating and relaxing.”
