Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of questions commonly asked by our customers.
Please click on a question to see the answer. Can't find what you're looking for? Then don't hesitate to contact us here, email us or call us on 0800 678 5984 . We will be glad to help.
What type of campers do you have for hire?
Can I come to see the camper van?
What are Spirit Travel’s office hours?
Where are Spirit Travel (UK) Limited based?
Do you deliver the campers or should we collect?
Can you meet me at the train station?
What about our car, can we leave it with you while we are away?
What time do we collect / return the camper?
What happens if the camper van breaks down?
What age do I have to be to rent a campervan from Spirit Travel?
Can more than one of our party drive the camper?
Can we take the camper van abroad?
What is the booking deposit required?
Is driving insurance included in the hire charge?
Are my personal belongings covered by the insurance?
I have points on my driving licence, is it still OK for me to hire from you?
I have a non-UK driving licence, can I still drive a Spirit Travel camper?
What do we need to bring with us for the
Do we need to book a campsite in advance?
What type of fuel does the camper take?
What are the overall dimensions of the vehicle?
Can we take our bikes with us?
Can the campers take baby / child / booster car-seats?
Are dogs allowed in the campers?
All of Spirit Travel's vans are the new, world famous Volkswagen Type 2 Rio Classic campers. These are manufactured by VW Brazil and powered by a fuel injected, water-cooled cooled modern and reliable engine. Electronic ignition, catalytic converter exhaust system, front servo assisted disc brakes and rear drum brakes are now also standard.
Please bear in mind that these campers are not built for speed. Spirit Travel's philosophy is all about having the freedom to travel, to escape and to enjoy, all at a more leisurely pace than our daily lives! The comfortable maximum speed of all our campers is around 60/65 miles an hour.
We are proud of our campers and you are very welcome to come and see them although prior booking MUST be arranged. Telephone us on 0800 678 5984 to arrange a convenient time and day.
Our office is open Monday to Friday 9:00am – 10:00pm, and Saturday from 9:00am – 6:00pm. These hours will give you plenty of time to duck out of your busy day and call us to discuss an adventure at a more leisurely pace! Alternatively get the kids tucked up in bed and call us in the evening when your pace of life is slowing down too.
These are our OFFICE HOURS though and not necessarily the times the depot is open, so please do pre-arrange with us if you wish to come and view the campers.
We are based in Bedford, Bedfordshire at the following address:
Elstow Road,
Kempston,
Bedford,
Bedfordshire
MK42 8PL
Click here for a map showing Spirit Travel’s location
It is always best to collect your camper as we like to meet you, run through exactly how everything works and answer any questions you may have.
We are happy to arrange delivery of our campers within reason, usually to train stations, service stations or a similar meeting point. This delivery service is offered at an additional cost so please contact us to discuss this charge.
We are happy to meet customers at train stations, though of course our hand-over and explanations will not be in the amount of detail we would like.
This delivery service is offered at an additional cost so please contact us to discuss this charge.
What about our car, can we leave it with you while we are away? |
Spirit Travel want you to have the perfect holiday experience - so that doesn’t mean you should have to worry about your car whilst you are away.
We offer secure parking for your vehicle whilst you are gone, at an additional cost per week. Please contact us with regard to our latest pricing.
Peak Season Weekly Hire – 7 nights
hire:
The peak season (mid June to mid September) is our busiest time,so camper van rentals run from Friday afternoon (from 2pm – 5pm). Return of the camper is on Friday morning before 10am. We must have the camper back in time in order that we can have it ready for the next hirer.
Long Weekend Rental – 3 nights
hire:
Campers are available for collection from 2pm – 5pm on Friday afternoon, and should be returned to us by 5pm on the Monday.
Out of peak season and wherever we can, we are happy to be more flexible with collection/ return times by prior arrangement. Please contact us if you require alternative collection/return times.
With modern VW technology this will hopefully be extremely unlikely, however for your peace of mind, full roadside assistance cover from the AA is included in the hire price. This means that assistance is available wherever you go, 24 hours around the clock. Each camper comes with an AA card with a 24 hour telephone number on it. On collection of the camper we will also provide you with a telephone number to reach us on outside of office hours should the need arise.
What age do I have to be to rent a campervan from Spirit Travel? |
25 years and over. Unfortunately this age limit has been set by our insurers.
Yes. Up to three different people can be named drivers. We will need to see all driver's driving licences and a utility bill belonging to the main driver.
Yes, you can now experience a European adventure with Spirit Travel (UK) Limited.
HOWEVER, we DO NOT supply AA cover for our camper vans in Europe.
We have, however, negotiated favourable rates from a trusted insurance supplier. Please click here to apply. Whilst, you are not obliged in any way to take insurance from this particular supplier, none of Spirit Travel (UK) Limited's camper vans will be available for hire to you unless the relevant European cover is arranged by yourselves. Any and all European insurance MUST be arranged by yourselves.
WE WILL NEED TO SEE PROOF OF EUROPEAN INSURANCE COVER BEFORE ANY HIRE IS AGREED FOR EUROPEAN TRAVEL.
Please see our Terms & Conditions for further clarification.
1. Please make your enquiry either over the telephone (0800 6785984), by emailing us or by using the contact us page.
2. Once you have been informed of availability, please telephone us to finalise your booking requirements and to arrange deposit payment either by cheque, credit or debit card (see deposit requirements below).
3. We will then send you a booking confirmation letter, which tells you about the camper and your hire, together with a receipt for your payment which will also let you know the due date of any balance payable.
4. When making your reservation you will be asked to complete our online Confirmed Booking Form which is a secure website page. The information asked for on the form is required by our insurers to ensure the validity of those hiring our campers. These details are not passed on to anyone other than our insurers, and are shredded or incinerated once your hire is complete.
5. You will need to send us photocopies of the following
documents:
the paper and card driving licences for all
named drivers;
a utility bill or bank statement (less than 8
weeks old).
If necessary, we will contact you the week preceding your hire to make any final arrangements with you.
Please do feel free to contact us between making your reservation and your hire start date if you have any queries on 0800 678 5984 or fax on 0800 678 5985.
To secure a reservation we require a non-refundable deposit as detailed below, with the balance due 6 weeks prior to the reservation start date. If you are hiring within 6 weeks of making the booking we require the full balance to secure the booking.
Long weekend booking – 1/2 hire charge required as deposit.
1 week booking – 1/3 hire charge required as deposit.
2 week booking – 1/4 hire charge required as deposit.
Yes, the hire charges we state always include UK insurance for one named driver, aged 25-70 with no convictions or endorsements on their licence. Please see here regarding European Travel.
No, the insurance provided within the hire charges does not cover you for loss / damage / theft to or of possessions and so we recommend you take holiday / travel insurance to cover this.
I have points on my driving licence, is it still OK for me to hire from you? |
Yes, you can still drive a Spirit Travel camper although there are surcharges on a daily rate for those with driving penalties - please telephone us on 0800 678 5984 for an exact quote.
I have a non-UK driving licence, can I still drive a Spirit Travel camper? |
Unfortunately this is not possible at present.
The campers are fully equipped with crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils etc. You will need to bring your own bedding (sleeping bags work well as they are neater to store), pillows and towels. A torch/ lantern is a good idea if you are intending to use the bed in the pop-up roof.
We recommend that you travel light - the less you take with you, the more space the camper can give you!
Remember to bring with you driving licences (both parts) for all the named drivers, together with a utility bill addressed to the main named driver.
We would advise that you book your campsites in advance during the peak season and school holidays, particularly if you would electric hook-up which will enable you to use all the camper facilities to their full advantage. Take a look at our inspiration page for campsite suggestions and campsite directories.
All of Spirit Travel’s campers run on unleaded petrol only.
The camper is supplied with a LPG gas bottle which fuels the stove - this is included within the hire charge. We endeavor to ensure there is adequate gas supply for the length of your trip, but if you should run out please replace the bottle at a petrol station, camping shop or Calor Gas centre and we will reimburse you the cost on your return. Please retain your receipts for this.
Dimensions of the campers can be found here - on the Our Vans page.
Yes. Bike racks are included in the price of your rental. Each rack holds four bikes.
Yes. Each van is fitted with LAP belts in the rear and one 3 point rear belt.
Only dogs specifically pre–authorized by Spirit Travel are allowed to travel in the camper, however we do ask that a blanket / towel is used to protect the upholstery at all times and that the dog is not left in the camper unattended. There is room on the floor of the camper for a dog bed. We charge £25 for dog travel for the inevitable extra valeting required at the end of the hire.