If you had the freedom to drive anywhere you wanted, take as long as you liked, and know that your accommodation was already sorted — where would you actually go? That question is what pushed me into buying a van in Europe.

The idea was simple: freedom. Stay longer when a place feels right. Leave early when it doesn’t. Feel safe, self-contained, and able to follow curiosity rather than bookings. On paper, van life sounded like the perfect way to travel slowly and affordably.

But of course, reality always has a few opinions of its own.

This video comes from my very first month of van life in Europe — the learning curve, the unexpected kindness of strangers, the things that went wrong, and the things that turned out far better than planned. I talk honestly about what surprised me, what challenged me, and why “weird” is actually part of the whole point.

If you’re dreaming about van life, curious about buying a van overseas, or just wondering what it’s really like once the novelty wears off — this one’s for you.

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🎥 Watch the Video

If you prefer watching rather than reading, the full video is here.

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🗺️ What This Video Covers

• Why I decided to buy a van in Europe instead of the UK
• How I bought and registered a van while living in Australia
• Where you actually sleep at night (and how to find spots)
• Apps I use for parking and overnight stays
• First-time driving challenges (new van, wrong side of the road 😅)
• What happens when things go wrong — and why that’s not always bad
• How much money van life really costs
• Why a push bike turned out to be one of my best decisions

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📍 The Story Behind the Scenes

One of the biggest surprises in my first month of van life was just how supportive people are. I started out doing everything very cautiously — driving straight to a campsite for the first few nights so I could get used to the van, work out the systems, and feel confident before free camping. That decision alone took so much pressure off.

People helped constantly. On my first night in the van a couple from Scotland noticed I was struggling to work out how to book into a campsite and came over without hesitation. Later, they even explained how the toilet system worked — information you definitely want before you need it. That generosity became a theme throughout the trip.

Of course, not everything went smoothly. I got lost more than once, drove down streets that felt far too narrow, and had moments where the van suddenly felt enormous. At one point, I lost internet completely and spent a day accidentally touring parts of Amsterdam most visitors never see. Oddly enough, it turned into a really lovely day.

Then there was the mechanical scare — a leak under the van. When I searched for a mechanic, the closest one turned out to be a truck mechanic just 50 metres away. They dropped what they were doing, investigated the problem, rang around for parts, and helped me line up the next steps. Nothing was fixed instantly, but knowing what was wrong — and being treated with kindness — made all the difference.

That’s been the biggest takeaway so far: things will go wrong. But often, the best moments happen because of it.

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🧠 Things I Learned

• Weird is good. Feeling out of your comfort zone means you’re doing the thing you set out to do.
• You need far less than you think. I packed 29kg and could easily lose half of it.
• People are kinder than fear suggests. Help shows up when you’re open to it.
• A bike is gold. It saves energy, covers more ground, and makes exploring easier.
• Van life can be very affordable. Fewer accommodation costs, less spending, more simplicity.
• Internet is the real struggle. Uploading videos from McDonald’s car parks is… a vibe, but not a long-term plan.

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💬 Over to You

Have you ever thought about van life — or doing something that felt a bit weird and outside your comfort zone?
Let me know in the comments — I read every one.

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