The most common question we get from customers looking for campervan hire in Ireland is: which size do we need?It is a reasonable question. The answer depends on a few things: how many people are travelling, how you plan to use the van, and whether you have ever driven something larger than a regular car on Irish roads before.This guide covers the real differences between a 2-berth, 4-berth and 6-berth campervan, based on years of helping customers figure out which one suits their trip. At the end, there is a quick decision guide so you can work out which category you fall into without having to read the whole thing.Browse Our Full FleetWhat 2-berth means in practiceA 2-berth campervan is built for two people. The sleeping area converts either from the main seating area (a drop-down arrangement) or from a fixed rear bed, depending on the model. In our fleet, the V66 and V69 are the 2-berth options.Both are compact enough to handle the narrow roads of Connemara, Kerry and Donegal without any anxiety. The V69 in particular is popular with customers who want to drive something that feels more like a large car than a vehicle that requires special consideration at every junction. Both have a full kitchen (hob, oven, fridge, freezer), hot shower, toilet, and enough storage for two people on a trip of any length.One of our customers described the V66 as perfect for just the two of us after five days in Connemara. A couple who were thinking about buying their own van hired the V69 specifically to test it, with their two dogs, before committing. That is the kind of trip the 2-berth is built for.Who should choose 2-berth: couples travelling without children, two friends on a road trip, anyone who wants to drive something manoeuvrable on Irish roads.What 4-berth means in practiceA 4-berth has two sleeping areas: typically a main double or fixed island bed and a second area that converts from the dinette or drops down from above the cab. In our fleet, the Dethleffs 4-berth and the Sunlight A68 are the options here.The Dethleffs is notable for its island bed. It is a proper double, accessible from both sides, which is a significant comfort upgrade from a van where you have to climb over a sleeping partner. Customers specifically mention the island bed layout in reviews. For a family of three or four, this van has the space to feel like a proper home on the road: a table that seats four, a full kitchen, a bathroom, and a sleeping area that does not require everyone to reconfigure the furniture twice a day.The A68 is similarly capable. It is a well-designed 4-berth that works for small families and groups who want enough space without the footprint of the larger models.The 4-berth is the most versatile category in the fleet. It is big enough for a family with younger children, light enough to drive without specialist experience, and sized to fit into the same spaces as the 2-berth models on narrow roads.Who should choose 4-berth: families with one or two children, two couples travelling together, anyone who wants proper cooking and sleeping space without the bulk of a 6-berth.What 6-berth means in practiceA 6-berth campervan is genuinely large. The Sunlight A72 and A70 seat and sleep up to six people, with multiple fixed sleeping areas that do not require converting furniture every night. The A72 in particular has been to Kerry and back multiple times with full families on board. One customer described it as absolutely immaculate and warm and comfortable for the whole trip.The tradeoff for the extra space is size. The A72 and A70 are noticeably larger on the road than the 2 or 4-berth options. Irish roads, particularly the scenic ones on the Wild Atlantic Way, include single-track sections, passing places, and tight turns that are manageable in a 6-berth but require more attention than in a smaller van. They are not difficult to drive, but they are not something you can switch off about on the narrower roads.For a family of five or six, a group of adults sharing costs, or anyone who wants the trip to feel genuinely spacious rather than cosy, the 6-berth is the right choice.Who should choose 6-berth: families of five or six, groups of three adults who each want a proper sleeping area, longer trips where living space matters more than manoeuvrability.The luxury option: Sunlight T68The T68 is the newest addition to our fleet. It is a premium-specification van that sits outside the standard berth categories, designed for two people who want a notably higher level of finish: a larger fixed bed, a more spacious lounge area, premium materials throughout, and the same full kitchen and bathroom as the other models but with more attention to detail in the fit-out. If comfort and the quality of the interior space matters to you as much as the destinations, the T68 is worth a look. There is a demo video on the Sunlight T68 page.Quick decision guideTwo people travelling: V66 or V69. Small and easy to drive. Everything you need, nothing you do not.Family of three or four, or two couples: Dethleffs island bed or Sunlight A68. The island bed is the detail most customers are glad they chose. Book early it goes first.Family of five or six, or group sharing costs: Sunlight A72 or A70. Allow a little extra time on the narrow roads. The space is worth it.Two people who want the best-fitted van in the fleet: Sunlight T68. Newest model, premium finish, demo video available.How to bookThe full fleet is available to browse on our campervans page, with photos, layout details and availability for both our Roscommon and Greystones depots. If you are not sure which size suits your specific trip after reading this, you can call us and Joe or Christopher will help you figure it out. They have had this conversation a few hundred times and are good at it.Campervan holiday offersThe post Choosing the Right Campervan: 2-Berth vs 4-Berth vs 6-Berth appeared first on Craic N Campers.

Two people can take the same Irish campervan trip and spend very different amounts. The difference is not the quality of the van or the experience. It is when they go, how they book, and how they think about what is actually included in the price.This is a practical guide to getting genuine value from your time on Irish roads. Not a guide to finding the cheapest possible hire, but a guide to making sure you are spending money where it makes the trip better rather than where it disappears on things that do not matter.Campervan Holiday OffersBook For Shoulder SeasonThis is the single most effective move you can make for value on an Irish campervan holiday. Shoulder season (April through early June and September through October) gives you:Lower hire rates across the boardFar fewer vehicles at campsites, meaning better pitches and no queuingCooler weather that is, frankly, excellent for drivingEmpty roads, especially in the westThe same landscape, the same coast, the same wildness. Without the August traffic on the N59.Among people who have done the Irish campervan trip more than once, September in Connemara or Kerry is consistently rated better than August. The light is golden and long in the evenings. The roads are quieter. The campsites are relaxed. And the hire rates are noticeably lower.Most hirers offer specific shoulder season deals. Check the offers page for our current availability and pricing. Early booking for shoulder season dates is worth doing, as the best weeks go first.Book Early And In One GoCampervan hire in Ireland works like hotel pricing. The earlier you book, the better your rate, and last-minute availability at peak times is limited. If you are planning a summer trip, booking in March or April secures both availability and a better rate than June.Booking a longer hire in one go is also more cost-effective than booking multiple shorter trips. A seven-night hire generally works out better value per night than two three-night hires separately.Understand What Is Included And What Is NotThe reason some campervan hires feel expensive is that the headline price does not reflect the full cost. Hidden extras (insurance upgrades, linen charges, generator fees, cleaning levies) can add up quickly.When you hire from Craic N Campers, the price includes 24-hour breakdown cover across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK, a full gas cylinder, fresh water, and a fully equipped kitchen and sleeping area. There is no charge for breakdown cover as an add-on. What you can add if you want it: bed linen and towels, a table and chairs, a bike rack.Before you book anywhere, ask the simple question: what is included in this price, and what are the common extras? Customers who have shopped around have specifically mentioned that our transparency on this was a reason they chose us. Knowing the full cost upfront is not a small thing.Choose the right van for your group sizeHiring a van that is larger than you need costs more and is harder to drive. Hiring one that is too small makes the trip uncomfortable.For two people, the V66 or V69 is the right choice. Compact enough for Irish roads including the narrow ones, with everything a couple needs and no wasted space. For a family of three or four, the Dethleffs or Sunlight A68 gives proper sleeping areas, a full kitchen, and space to move around without constant negotiation. For larger groups or families with teenagers, the A72 or A70 is the right call. The space is worth it for longer trips especially. View our full fleet to compare sizes and layouts.Over-hiring on size adds cost at both ends: hire rate and fuel. The narrow roads of Connemara and Kerry in particular are easier in a mid-size van than a large one.Use campsites strategically, not every nightCampsite fees add up on a longer trip. The good news is that Ireland has a genuine wild camping culture, particularly in the west, and responsible overnight parking in scenic areas is common, low-cost, and often the highlight of a trip.A sensible approach for a seven-night trip is two or three nights at a campsite with full facilities (shower, electric hookup, waste disposal) and the remaining nights at quieter spots. This keeps costs down and gives you the freedom that is the whole point of the campervan holiday.Our guide to wild camping in Ireland covers the rules, the best spots, and what you need to know before you pull off the road and stay somewhere unexpected.Think about fuel honestlyDiesel campervans do not return the same fuel economy as a car. Budget for roughly 80-120 in fuel per 1,000km depending on the van size and driving style. For a seven-night trip covering 1,500-2,000km (typical for an Irish road trip) that is 120-240 in fuel.The main variables are driving speed (slower is notably more economical on these roads), route choice (the Atlantic coast roads are slower and more scenic, and are also more economical than motorway driving), and van size.What actually makes a trip feel expensiveThe trips that feel expensive in retrospect are usually the ones where the costs were hidden upfront rather than the ones that actually cost the most. A clear price, a clean van, a quick pickup, and knowing exactly what to do if something goes wrong: those are the things that make a hire feel like good value, regardless of the number on the invoice.Check current offers and available dates to plan your trip. Both our campervan hire in Roscommon and Greystones depot have availability throughout the year, with the best shoulder season deals available for early bookings.The post How to Get the Best Price on Your Irish Road Trip appeared first on Craic N Campers.

The most common feeling people describe before their first campervan hire is a vague nervousness that they cannot quite explain. They are not nervous about driving. They have been driving for years. They are nervous about the unknown: what happens on the day, what is actually in the campervan, what to do if something goes wrong at midnight on a quiet road in Connemara.Most of those worries dissolve within an hour of collecting the campervan. But it helps to know what the process looks like before you arrive. This guide covers everything from booking to return, based on exactly how the hire works at Craic N Campers.Browse Our Full FleetStep 1: BookingYou can book online through the booking engine on our site, or call us directly. Phone bookings take a 250 deposit to secure the dates. Online bookings take 50% of the total hire cost at the time of booking.If you book by phone, Joe at our Roscommon depot or Christopher at Greystones depot will walk you through the options: which campervan suits your group, which dates work, what to consider for your route. Most first-time hirers find that a five-minute phone conversation answers every question they had. The balance is due a couple of weeks before your start date.Once you have booked, the dates are confirmed and the campervan is held for you.Step 2: Choosing your security deposit optionThis is the part of the process that generates the most questions, so it is worth explaining clearly.We offer three security deposit tiers. Each one sets your excess the maximum you would be liable for in the unlikely event of accidental damage and the lower two tiers carry a daily charge to bring that excess down.Standard Cover 2,000 excess: no additional daily charge.Mid-Level Cover 1,000 excess: an additional 15 per day.Premium Cover 500 excess: an additional 50 per day. This is also our most comprehensive tier on top of the lower excess, it includes cover for damage to mirrors, windscreen and tyres.In short: the more you pay per day, the lower your excess and the more youre covered for. Premium Cover gives you the most protection of the three.All deposits are fully refundable if the campervan comes back in the same condition it left.You choose your deposit option when you book. You can change it right up until the online check-in two days before pickup. Many customers take time to think it over and adjust their choice once they have read the full details.Think of it like choosing an excess on a car insurance policy: the lower your excess, the more you pay per day for that lower risk. Most customers on shorter trips choose Mid-Level Cover a middle ground between no daily fee and full peace of mind. Customers doing longer or more remote trips more often choose Premium Cover, since it carries the lowest excess of the three and is the only tier that also covers mirror, windscreen and tyre damage the kind of wear-and-tear that becomes more likely the further and longer youre on the road.Step 3: The online check-in (two days before pickup)Two days before your hire begins, you receive an email with a link to the online check-in. This is where the trip actually starts to feel real.In the online check-in you will: upload a photo of your driving licence, confirm your personal details, finalise your deposit tier choice, and add any extras you want, such as a table and chairs. A bike rack comes as standard with every hire, so theres nothing to add there.By the time you arrive at the depot, the paperwork is largely done. The online check-in takes about ten minutes.Step 4: Pickup dayArrive at the depot at your agreed time. Plan for about 30 minutes for the full pickup process. It is thorough but relaxed.When you arrive, you will sign the rental agreement and confirm your return time. A member of the team will sit down with you and be realistic about return. This is worth taking seriously: we dont offer Sunday drop-off, and our minimum rental is three nights, so a Friday pickup means a Monday morning return. The return time is agreed at pickup, and being late when the next customer is waiting is the one thing that causes the most friction in the hire process.After the agreement is signed, the security deposit is taken.Then comes the demonstration. A member of the team will take you through the entire campervan: every system, every switch, every compartment. You will learn how to turn the gas on and off, how the water system works and how to fill the fresh water tank, how to set up the sleeping areas, how the heating works on electrical hook-up and on gas, how to use the toilet and where to empty the cassette, and how to hook up to an electric pitch at a campsite.This sounds like a lot. In practice it takes about 20 minutes, and by the end you know the campervan well enough to feel comfortable. Its worth giving this demonstration your full attention every campervan also has QR codes on board linking to quick refresher guides for each system, so you can check back any time during your trip if something slips your mind. Members of the team have done this demonstration hundreds of times and are very good at it: calm, patient, and good at reading whether you need more time on any particular system.After the demonstration, you load your bags, and you are on the road. Most people say this is the moment the holiday actually begins.Step 5: During the hireThe campervan is yours. Go where you planned, or change the plan. Both work.If something slips your mind while youre away how to reset the heating, how the waste disposal point at a campsite works the QR codes on board are the quickest way to find the answer, the same ones covered in your pickup demonstration. Our out-of-hours number is there for genuine emergencies during your trip.Every hire includes full 24-hour breakdown cover across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. If the campervan has a mechanical issue, you call the breakdown number, not us. But it is included, it is real, and it covers you throughout the trip.Step 6: Returning the campervanYou receive a text message the day before your return to confirm the time. Arrive at the agreed time.When you return, you unload first. Then the campervan is inspected together with a member of the team you are present for the whole check, and nothing happens out of sight. If there is no damage, the security deposit is released. If there is minor damage, it is discussed at that point.A few days later, we send a personal thank-you email. If the deposit is being returned, it is confirmed in that email. There is also a link to leave a review. No obligation, but it genuinely matters to a small business, and we read every one.What is inside the campervanEvery hire includes:Fully equipped kitchen: hob, oven, grill, fridge, freezer, crockery, glasses, cutlery, pots and pansA hot showerA private toiletThe main sleeping area12V power inverter for charging phones and devicesCentral heatingCab air conditioningWhat you need to bring:FoodPersonal toiletriesClothesBed linenThe question everyone asks: is it hard to drive?Shorter than you think to get used to. Most of our fleet is automatic, which makes a significant difference on Irish roads though it is a mix, so do check when you book if this matters to you. Width awareness takes a day. After that, most customers report it feels normal.The one thing worth knowing: in Connemara, Kerry and Donegal, some roads are single-track with passing places. You slow down, one of you pulls in, the other passes, everyone waves. It is not stressful once you accept it as the pace of the west of Ireland.Getting startedBrowse our full fleet to choose the right campervan for your group. If you are picking up from our Greystones depot and arriving from Dublin Airport, the Dublin Airport pickup guide has the full directions and journey time. Our FAQ page has answers to the most common pre-hire questions.If you are still unsure about anything, call us. First-timer questions are what Joe and Christopher answer most days, and they are genuinely good at it.Browse Our Full FleetThe post First Time Hiring a Campervan in Ireland? Here Is Everything You Need to Know (2026) appeared first on Craic N Campers.

Somewhere along the way, England quietly became a proper wine country. Not in an ironic, "isn't-that-sweet" way, but in a winning-blind-tastings-against-Champagne way. Those chalky southern hills that gave us the white cliffs turn out to be almost identical to the soils of northern France, and English sparkling has spent the last decade collecting medals to prove it.

Jon Doran enlists his partner to help review Rabs latest daysack for womenReviewSpecsGalleryRetailersRab might not be a traditional pack brand, but the Sheffield-based down and clothing outfit has drawn heavily on the expertise of its pack-specialist Lowe Alpine stablemates to create an ever-expanding range of backpacks including the impressive new Airox ND22L day pack, a hot-weather friendly, lightweight womens pack with a difference.The ND designation it stands for Narrow Dimension is actually Lowe Alpines longstanding womens-specific pack marker. It means that the packs are narrower and shorter, mainly to suit the female anatomy, but also to cater for anyone of a slighter build. Its all based on genuine research and design rather than a performative shrink and pink process too. Theres lots more to the Airox than that, but our tester appreciated the neat, female-friendly fit. On a hot, heat-wave weekend, the pack was just the right size for everything needed for a day in the hills, up to and including a lightweight shell jacket just in case.xxxxxHydrationThere are multiple water-carrying options, an internal sleeve and central outlet for a hydration reservoir, but also two mesh side pockets that can take a water bottle each and, a feature borrowed from running vest and adventure race packs, a wide shoulder-strap pocket designed specifically to hold a soft-flask within easy reach.Theres also a mesh phone, bar or gel pocket on the other shoulder, two cavernous hip-belt zipped-pockets, a big bucket stash pocket on the front of the pack and a zipped top-pocket too. And then, of course, the main compartment with zipped access.Even this is a little bit different. A deep zip means you can pretty much open up the entire back panel like a big trekking pack, for easy access to deeply buried treasure. All of which is fantastic and optimal for organised kit loading. Fun fact: a Lowe Alpine research project back in the day, found that women appreciated having multiple pockets far more than men, who in turn would happily carry their kit in a pack modelled closely on a large bin liner.xxxxxIn the hills, those pockets were brilliant. It turned out to be very straightforward to access snacks, wallet, phone, a sun-hat, a 5m dog long line, sun cream, a one-litre water bottle, an actual paper map, a lightweight windshell, some very fetching sun-glasses, two apples, a banana and the sort of bunch of keys traditionally carried by prison warders, without ever having to open the main compartment. Mind blown.There is one potential downside to the runner-vest, pocketed shoulder straps though, theyre quite wide and have noticeable edging, which our tester found slightly uncomfortable for her narrow shoulders. Theres also the thorny and personal issue of the boob-strap interface. Our advice is to consider trying before buying to be on the safe side.Back systemIf two of the packs design influences are running and trekking, the back-system is squarely cadged from the sort of ventilated, trampolene-type back systems Lowe Alpine has been producing and perfecting for years. Theres nothing massively radical about the AEROFIT back, think maximum mesh area, a perimeter frame and board to keep the air-gap, erm, gapped and shoulder straps and hip-belt lined with comfortable, but lightweight, perforated breathable mesh.xxxxxThe good news though, is that it works very, very well indeed, both in terms of giving a really comfortable, evenly spread carry. And, to our testers delight, keeping her back enviably dry on the sort of summers day when most packs leave your back a sodden, soggy mess, dont ask how I know etc. You can equally well use it in cooler weather conditions too, but its one of the most effective hot weather harnesses weve used, which given the state of the UK climate, is probably just as well.While were talking weather, the pack also comes with a neat-fitting. waterproof, zip-out rain-cover housed in a handy base pocket and very effective at prolonging dry spells, at least during our testing. Other stuff? Weight is impressively light at 850g, particularly considering all the bells and whistles that come as standard and build quality feels excellent with tough 140D and 212D ripstop nylonfabrics and industry standard buckles and zips.xxxxIf youre a trekking pole user, youll be glad to hear theres a small, but perfectly-formed bungee-based pole-holding system. And if the stripped-back 22-litre capacity isnt quite enough for you, there are also narrow dimension ND28 and ND34 versions of the Airox with more conventional lidded access to the main compartments, but the same back system and running-type shoulder pocket arrangements.Also in the range, so men dont feel too left out, are standard dimension Airox 18L and 24L packs, the latter basically a mens version of this pack, as well as larger 30L and 36L models.VerdictAll in all the Airox ND22L is a really neat, well-designed and impressively effective hot-weather pack designed with the female form in mind. The multiple pockets and stowage options make it easy to organise and access your kit for a day out on the hills. It carries really nicely, as well or better than many non-ventilated packs and overall, is a great advert for Rabs burgeoning pack range, which is well worth considering if youre in the market for anything from an all-round day pack right up to a full-on 80L trekking load-hauler. The good news is that womens options are offered right through the range apart from climbing and mountaineering packs which are designated unisex.The Rab Womens Airox ND22L retails for 120 and should keep your back dry and comfortable for years to come.More info at: www.rab.equipmentWeight: 850g / 1lb13.9oz (Size S-M)Main fabric: 140D nylon (69% recycled) with yarn dyed nylon 210D rip stopSecondary fabric: 420D NylonFabric lining: Embossed 200d Polyester (100% recycled)Volume: 22 / 1343cu.inDimensions: 50 x 28 x 25cmBack system: AEROFITBack length: 16-18 / 41-46cmFind your local Rab stockist using the store locator below:https://rab.equipment/uk/stockists

Packing for a backpacking trip can be a complicated endeavour, but my handy backpacking packing list will walk you through the absolute essentials to invest

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