Could you live in a Campervan for 3 weeks? Here’s how we did it!

Orange Campers Ltd
Aug 28
5 min read

This summer, we put our Trouvaille Classique MWB Pop Top to the test and hit the road for three weeks through Spain and France.

Could we really live, cook, sleep, and explore in a campervan for that long as a family of four?

The answer is a resounding yes – and we’ve got the surfboards, cider, and a few bumps and bruises to prove it!

From dolphins spotted on the ferry to surf school in Asturias, canoeing down the River Sella, and sunset swims on the French Basque coast, our campervan gave us the freedom to soak up every moment.

Here’s how we did it…

Setting sail: Portsmouth to Bilbao

We set off from Portsmouth on the 28th of July for the long crossing to Bilbao. A day and a half on board with two kids sounded like a challenge, but it turned out to be brilliant.

Sonya even managed some yoga on deck – with dolphins swimming past as if on cue – while the boys enjoyed cinema screenings of the latest Karate Kid. Add in decent food and calm seas, and we arrived in Spain early in the morning ready to roll.

Asturias: our Spanish haven

We hadn’t booked ahead – the freedom of travelling with a campervan – so after one full campsite and a near miss, we struck gold with Camping Arenal de Morís.

Our pitch couldn’t have been better: right by the pool, tennis and basketball courts, and a short stroll to the beach. Within hours, the boys had made friends with two Spanish lads their age, giving us time to relax with their parents over a glass (or two) of local sidra.

Asturias is breathtaking: rugged coastline, green hills, and the odd cowbell ringing in the background. We threw ourselves into surf school, coastal walks, and lazy afternoons in the café by the beach – calamari, squid ink croquettes, schnitzel sandwiches for the boys, and plenty of ice cream.

The famous Asturian cider stole the show. Poured dramatically from a height, it’s cheap, delicious, and best enjoyed outdoors with friends. Here's Richard in action...

And a little more behind-the-scenes here...

We took day trips to Colunga for supplies and sidra, and to Ribadesella, buzzing with canoeists preparing for the International Sella River Descent. Naturally, we had to give it a go ourselves…

It was billed as 15km, but with thousands on the river, a few white-water stretches, and lots of laughter, we made it to 8.5km before calling it a day. Richard picked up an injury, but spirits stayed high – it was tough, chaotic, and completely unforgettable.

Crossing into France

From Asturias, we drove north into France, with Sonya at the wheel thanks to Richard’s sore arm. Our MWB Series 10 Ducato proved a dream – easy to handle, car-like to drive, and high up for amazing views.

This time we’d pre-booked our spot at Camping Eskualduna in Hendaye, a site we already knew and loved from a previous trip. It was reassuring to know we had a pitch waiting, especially as it’s a busy, family-focused campsite in peak season.

The boys wasted no time diving into the pool and discovering pala, a local racket game they couldn’t get enough of. The Basque sun cranked things up past 30°, but our trusty Total Cool portable aircon, zip-out roof canvas and flyscreens kept the van breezy and comfortable.

Our new table feature really came in handy!

Evenings meant outdoor dinners – Cadac barbecues, easy pasta dishes, and picnics. Having a big sink and hot water onboard made clean-up painless. It’s the little comforts that make van life so easy.

San Sebastián & Semana Grande

Being so close to San Sebastián meant day trips into one of our favourite cities.

During August, it hosts Semana Grande, complete with fireworks competitions and papier-mâché bulls parading through the streets.

With a few injuries in tow, we kept things calmer – a wander through the city, the aquarium with its sharks, and a proud moment parking right by Playa de la Concha.

Back at the campsite, Sonya made the most of the classes – aquafit, pilates, aerobics – while the boys rested their tired legs. Campervan holidays are great that way: plenty of choice for everyone.

St Jean de Luz & French highlights

Another stand-out moment was St Jean de Luz, where we parked by the beach, dined at our favourite restaurant Le Spot, and enjoyed an evening swim as the sun set in 37° heat. Calm waters, golden light, and a gentle sloping beach made it one of those magical “remember this forever” experiences.

We also ventured to Wow Park, a local adventure park that the kids adored, even if it didn’t quite wow us. And we played endless games of pala and French boules on site – new hobbies we’ve definitely brought home with us!

Best of all, we met a wonderful family from Cambridge and spent time together swimming, dining, and laughing – the boys have already made plans to see them again back in the UK.

Wrapping up & heading home

The final few days were slower thanks to injuries (Richard’s arm and Billy’s foot), but that didn’t stop us from squeezing in more beach time, boogie boarding, and our last dip in the campsite pool before packing up for the ferry home from Santander.

Looking back, the trip had everything: adventure, rest, new friends, delicious food, and laughter. Most importantly, our campervan made it all possible – giving us the comfort to live easily for three weeks and the freedom to go wherever we fancied.

So, could you live in a campervan for three weeks? We did – and we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat!

Fancy your own adventure?

If our story has you dreaming of your own road trip, why not come and see us in person?

Join us at the Lincoln Show (19–21 September)
Come along to our next Open Day on Sunday 7th September, and keep an eye out for another in October.
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Offers you don't want to miss!

We’ve also got some brilliant offers running right now:

Get a free awning worth £1,000 with any MWB or Micro Camper purchase until 30th September 2025.
Our Tyrollean Blue Micro Camper demo has been discounted by £1,000 – but be quick, this ready-to-go van won’t hang around!
And for anyone dreaming of their own family adventure, there’s £1,000 off the cost of a MWB Pop Top – available until 30th September 2025.