Travel News: French Campervan Rental Company Expands Fleet

ORIGIN Campervans adds fully equipped and creatively decorated 2010 Volkswagen vans in time for travelers seeking to beat the summer crowds.

By Bill Basore

Let's face it. You'd never be able to navigate a stereotypical motorhome down a quaint European street! Yet many travelers like the independence and convenience--not to mention the savings--of a vacation house on wheels.

Seeking to fill this market niche, French company ORIGIN Campervans has announced it is offering new VW vans for hire at "very affordable prices" (from 50 euros a day, which includes, according to the company, taxes, insurance, and unlimited mileage). In addition to the traditional VW Kombi that sleeps two to three people, ORIGIN has expanded its fleet with new VW California Comfortline vans, which accommodate up to four.

"A van allows you to combine transport, accommodation, and self-catering for the price of a rental car while enjoying total freedom," says ORIGIN's Céline Fauvarque. "With a van, your holiday budget takes you further and the choice of destinations is as wide as your imagination."

Road trips taken by ORIGIN customers have ranged from commemorating D-Day on the beaches of Normandy to a Basque surf trip to exploring the Norwegian fjords. One group headed to Loch Ness to search for the legendary monster; another followed the Tour de France. Exploring the castles of the Loire Valley was the ideal tour for one family, while hopping from ski resort to ski resort was the simple agenda for another group.

Each ORIGIN campervan includes a bed, a camping table and chairs, a CD/MP3/USB player, a refrigerator, a sink and water tank, a gas burner, cooking utensils, and an electric hook-up cable. Bring a sleeping bag or rent the company's sheets and blankets.

If a campervan road trip is just one part of your European vacation, ORIGIN provides complimentary lock-ups at their depots for your extra bags.