Roadsurfer Review: What we REALLY Thought About This Camper Rental Company in Europe

We’ve been living the van life in the United States since 2018, and for the longest time, I’d been SO CURIOUS about what it would be like in Europe.

I Googled a few camper rental companies and decided on Roadsurfer. This German company got great reviews, and there was a wide range of campers to choose from, whether you want a small VW pop-top minivan or a larger semi-integrated camper.

We’ve rented from Roadsurfer a total of THREE times. We traveled through Italy, France and Switzerland in two types of campers.

In a nutshell, we loved our experience with Roadsurfer, even though there were a couple of hiccups in a couple of our rentals.

In this Roadsurfer review, I’ll tell you all about renting from this company for your Europe road trip.

How Much Does a Roadsurfer Rental Cost?

This is the question most people want to know about renting a camper in Europe. And the question people don’t want to hear is this: it varies.

It depends on the type of rig, the time of year, the length of your stay, and whether you want to add extras like bedding kits.

Here is a breakdown of exactly how much our Roadsurfer rental cost in August and September of 2024. We picked it up and dropped it off in France, just across the border from Geneva.

We got 10% off the second part of our rental as a thanks from Roadsurfer for writing a blog post about our experience. I paid half of this bill, while Roadsurfer paid the other half as part of our collaboration.

As you can see from this bill, we rented the Cozy Cottage, a VERY roomy rig with a full bathroom and shower, kitchen, and large bed. We added on two bedding kits for a total of €70. We also chose a higher insurance package called The Complete Carefree Package, which added on €29 per night.

What’s Included with a Roadsurfer Camper Rental?

Roadsurfer includes most of the items you’ll need for a comfortable camping trip. I do wish the company would provide bedding as part of the rental package, as most people are going to require bedding. I don’t know anyone who flies overseas with all their bedding, but maybe that’s just me.

Here are the camping essentials you’ll find in every rental:

• Navigation system (some partly through Apple Car Play / Android Car)
• Air conditioning
• Gas heater
• Awning or sunshade
• 1 outdoor camping table
• 2 outdoor camping chairs
• Kitchen box, which has everything you need to cook
• Propane bottles
• Power cord and adaptor
• Dustpan and broom
• Leveling blocks

Here are some of the items you can add on to your Roadsurfer rental for an additional fee:

• Extra camping chair
• Extra table
• Roof rack
• Bike racks
• Child seat
• Portable camping toilet (this is for the minivans)
• Safety net for upper bed

Roadsurfer rentals don’t come with towels for showers (we wish this was included with the bedding kit), so you’ll have to bring your own or buy some cheaply along the way. We always bring a couple of Turkish towels with us when traveling to Europe.

Also, you won’t find any cleaning supplies in these rigs, and the water tanks are empty when you pick up the camper. We didn’t like this as much because there’s no water for washing hands or showering until you find your first campsite.

Types of Campers You Can Rent with Roadsurfer

There are three main types of campers you can rent with Roadsurfer in Europe.

Minivans (Starting as low as €69/night)

Roadsurfer offers both VW, Mercedes and Ford pop-top minivans. These are the most affordable Roadsurfer rentals in Europe.

We didn’t try these small vans but looked through them. These are great if you’re on a budget, driving extra windy roads or coastal roads, traveling through small towns with narrow streets, or are a solo or couple. They don’t come with a toilet or bathroom, but you can rent a portable toilet to keep inside.

Class B-style Campervans (Starting around €89/night)

We rented the Family Finca for a one-week Roadsurfer Rally through from Geneva, Switzerland to Stuttgart, Germany. This is a Sprinter-size van called the VW Grand California. While it worked okay for us, the interior felt a little cramped with the full bathroom and upper shelving. We slept separately as the main bed wasn’t quite big enough for two to stretch out. This van includes a bed up top with a removable ladder, which is where I slept.

We did like that this camper was way more nimble than our Cozy Cottage, but we missed the roomy interior of the semi-integrated camper.

Here are other models similar to this one:

• Roadhouse
• Couple Cottage

Semi-Integrated Campers (Starting at €99/night)

We used the Cozy Cottage for three Roadsurfer trips in Europe. This camper was our favorite, with plenty of room to hang out, a large aft bed, and a full shower and kitchen. The table and sitting areas were quite roomy, and we loved the built-in heater for cooler nights in the Italian Dolomites.

The Cozy Cottage has a huge garage area underneath bed where we stored our two mountain bikes. This is also where you’ll find the camping table and chairs.

This camper is best for two people as there is only one large bed. If you’re traveling with kids, we’d recommend the larger campers called the Camper Castle, which I outline below.

Larger Semi-Integrated Campers (starting at (Starting at €99/night)

We never used Roadsurfer’s Camper Castle as it was too big for our needs, but it would be ideal for a family of three or four. There’s a large bed in the back, and then a dropdown bed perfect for kids in the main living area.

What Was it Like Living in Roadsurfer’s Cozy Cottage?

We LOVED living in this camper while traveling through Italy and France in 2023 and 2024. In total, we’ve spent about six weeks living in the Cozy Cottage. There were a couple problems, but they were minor compared to our entire experience.

Here’s what it was like.

Spacious Kitchen

We cooked most of our meals while traveling around in Europe. The kitchen has a two-burner stove, sink with hot running water, lots of storage, and a pull-out side table for extra space.

While the kitchen box included with the rental was well-equipped, we found that during just ONE of our rental experiences, the dishes and pots were dirty and scratched.

And sadly, the refrigerator didn’t work properly for the Milan-based Cozy Cottage (it only worked when we were plugged into power, and not while driving or parked for the day), so some of our food went bad and made our travel much more difficult.

The second time we rented the Cozy Cottage out of Geneva, the fridge worked beautifully.

Comfortable Living Area

I loved working and eating at this large table in the Roadsurfer Cozy Cottage. There’s also a flip-out table at the end to make the table even longer. Both of the front seats swivel, creating a cozy and spacious living area.

I also liked the two sunroofs that let in plenty of light and fresh air.

Shower and Bathroom

The shower and bathroom in the Roadsurfer camper rental were a breeze to use. It was SO NICE taking a hot shower after a day of mountain biking or hiking. I liked that the

We also quickly learned how to use a cassette toilet. Dump stations are very easy to find in Europe and are often called a “Camper Wash.” You empty your gray water tank into a grate in the ground beneath the camper, and then you carry your cassette to a small dump area, which also has a hose for rinsing.

‼️ In Europe, you do not empty your cassette toilet in public bathrooms like you would in the United States. Europeans find this gross and unsanitary.

Large Bed

The Cozy Cottage has a large bed that takes up the entire back area of the camper. This comfortably fit two of us and we were able to sprawl out. There’s a short ladder leading up to the bed area.

Easy to Drive

The Cozy Cottage was easy to drive on European streets. Sometimes, we had to go slowly through small villages with narrow streets, and we had to abide by the road signs. Some small towns don’t allow campers, so you’ll have to keep a sharp lookout for those signs.

Driving got a little dicey for us along the Italian coastline (narrow streets and crazy drivers) and on parts of the Route de Grandes Alpes in France (narrow roads, steep drop-offs).

We mostly had a great time driving this size of rig in Europe.

Where Can You Rent a Roadsurfer Camper in Europe?

Roadsurfer is ALL OVER Europe and only does round-trip rentals, not one-way rentals unless you do a Roadsurfer Rally.

Here are the countries where Roadsurfer campers are available:

• England
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Switzerland
• Ireland
• Norway
• Netherlands
• Scotland
• Portugal
• Spain
• Sweden

When we traveled to Italy, we got an International Driver’s License because it’s required by Italian law. This was VERY easy and affordable to get at an AAA office in the U.S.

When we returned the next year to rent in France, we used our United States-issued driver’s licenses, and no problems or questions were asked.

Would We Recommend a Roadsurfer Camper for a European Road Trip?

The resounding answer is YES! We loved the ease of renting with Roadsurfer, and the variety of campers and locations makes this company a great choice for Europe.

The pickup and drop-off process is very easy, and Roadsurfer sends you a video walkthrough of your camper before you pick it up so you understand how everything works.

Roadsurfer campers come fully equipped with everything you need for camping except bedding, which you’ll have to pay for separately. Also, make sure you bring your own towels or buy some cheap ones for your trip.

If you want to learn even more about renting a camper in Europe, check out my Camper Rentals in Europe Toolkit here.