4 Budget-Friendly Options for your Campervan Hire in Ireland
Most people are surprised to hear that the planning phase is one of my favourite things about travel. I love researching new destinations, reading about places I’ve never heard of and even browsing through the travel section of my local library when in need of inspiration. No matter how spontaneous our trips may be, there’s a chance I’ve spent hours reading reviews and going down a rabbit hole of posts and videos online. Wes isn’t always pleased with how long it takes me to book accommodations and plan our itineraries but it definitely pays off in the end.
I realize not everyone is like me since most normal people probably find this seemingly endless travel research to be both daunting and overwhelming. Take, for instance, the vast number of options you’re faced with when looking for a campervan hire in Ireland. When searching on Google, you’re faced with a whopping 205,000 results. But where to start?
In the hopes that I can save you from hours of online research, I’ve compiled a list of budget-friendly companies to consider for your memorable Ireland road trip. I took a thorough look at the key offerings of many companies in Ireland and gathered the most economical options in a neat little package for you in this post.
Car Rental vs. Motorhome vs. Campervan
When it comes to driving across Ireland, there are options available for every budget and style of travel. Car rentals are the way to go if you want the freedom to explore the countryside at your own pace and appreciate the comforts of a hotel or bed and breakfast each night. A motorhome is more spacious and often equipped with everything you need from a bathroom to a kitchenette and sometimes even a tv. If you’re not picky about where you sleep, can go a day (or two) without the luxuries of a hot shower, and would rather save your money for a fun night at a local pub that you can likely park at for free, then you and I would get along just fine! And a campervan might be the ideal choice for you.
Though they’re each viable options in their own right, we’re focusing on campervan hires in Ireland for a few key reasons:
Their size is very manageable for navigating Ireland’s narrow and curvy roads.
They can easily be parked in a regular parking space which comes in handy when visiting some of Ireland’s more popular tourist attractions.
They’re cost-effective when compared to motorhomes and car rentals since these require booking overnight accommodations or staying at a campground overnight.
They’re more fuel-efficient than motorhomes.
When comparing these 4 campervan options, their cost dictated whether they made it on the list or not. Basically, you’re reading about the cheapest campervan companies in Ireland but I’ve made a few assumptions based on our Ireland and Northern Ireland road trip. I specifically looked for vans that sleep at least 2 people with pick-up and drop-off options near Dublin’s airport. Most companies require a minimum rental of 3-7 days (depending on the season) so I looked at rates based on a full week rental. I entered Canada as a driver’s license whenever an option was requested and selected my age (30) if asked for in the booking process. These options below are also limited to driving within Ireland and Northern Ireland though some companies do allow for ferry crossings and driving in other parts of Europe (sometimes at an additional charge).
Wicked Campers UK
Website: Wicked Campers
Phone: +44 203 086 8606
Email: info@wickedcampers.co.uk
Rental Location:
Unit 37 Cherry Orchard Industrial Estate
Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 Dublin
Getting there from Dublin Airport: Their location is about 15 minutes away from Dublin Airport and about 1 hour away via public transit. Take the Aircoach to Westmoreland Street and then transfer to the Number 40 'Liffey Valley' bus from Dame Street.
Manual or Automatic: Both
Campervans: Wicked Campers has a fleet of 5 and 2-seater vans which are mostly Toyotas. The company is known for funky graffitti designs that are spray-painted on nearly all of their vans which is a look that might not suit all travellers. Their popular 2-seater has automatic transmission, a gas cooker, kitchen utensils and a cooler.
Extras: GPS available at some locations for an additional charge.
Daily Rates: Wicked Campers offers the most budget-friendly option for travellers looking to rent campervans in Ireland with competitive rates as low as €35/day for their Iconic 2-seater (even during the summer months). The Premium 2-seater camper is available for €44/day and the Fantastic 5-seater is available for €94/day.
Insurance: All drivers must select a Damage Cover option when booking which is not included in the daily rate. Standard Liability is available for €10/day if you’re over 25. Most drivers opt for Liability Reduction at €20/day which reduces your bond amount to €0.
Security Deposit: A bond/liability of €1,000 is required unless you have opted to reduce this amount in the Damage Cover you select.
Booking: Request an instant quote online via their booking page. You will be asked for your credit card details to secure your booking with a €500 deposit. Your rental is confirmed once Wicked Campers sends you a booking confirmation and they have received your deposit.
Pick Up and Drop Off: Wicked Campers is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and on Saturday mornings during the summer months. They are closed on Sundays.
Age Restrictions: All drivers must be 21 or older.
License Restrictions: Must have held a full driver’s license for at least one year.
Pet-Friendly: Yes - subject to a compulsory €60 pet charge
Terms and Conditions: Available here
Worth Noting: Their daily rate is very appealing but Wicked Campers does not offer unlimited mileage and each rental has an allowance of 160kms per day. You can double this allowance for €10/day or opt for unlimited kilometres at €20/day. They also have a higher booking fee at 5% of your subtotal.
Spaceships Campervan Hire Ireland & UK
Website: Spaceships UK
Phone: 020 8573 2300
Email: info@spaceshipsrentals.co.uk
Rental Location:
Just off, R147, Philpotstown
Garlow Cross, Co.
Meath, C15 V9TW
Getting there from Dublin Airport: The 109A bus runs from Dublin Airport to Navan. Get off at the Garlow Cross bus stop and walk towards the pub called Tara Na Ri. After your pint, take the first left before the pub and then another left to walk down a gated farm. At the bottom of the field is the Spaceships Branch. In some cases, an attendant can arrange to pick you up at the Garlow Cross bus stop. Airport transfers can also be arranged through a third party, Danny’s Cabs, for a charge of €80 each way (accommodating up to 8 people).
Manual or Automatic: Both
Campervans: The most budget-friendly of 3 Spaceships campervan styles is the Delta Premium campervan with automatic transmission which sleeps 2, seats 4, has a power hookup and fridge. The next option in their fleet is the VW Camper Car which sleeps 2, has a manual transmission, cooker and cooler box. Both have storage space for luggage, AUX input cables, come equipped with cooking utensils and have side and/or back awnings. Their website shows a handy comparison of all campervans available for hire.
Extras: GPS, alternators (12V to 240V), table and chairs are available for an additional charge.
Daily Rates: Booking in advance pays off with Spaceships as there seems to be a pretty large variance for daily rates. For instance, I was just quoted £63/day for a June rental, £53/day for a July rental and £46/day for an August rental. Rates start as low as £19/day in the winter months.
Insurance: Minimum insurance is included in the daily rate. Half cover is available for £10 per day and all-inclusive coverage is available for £20 per day.
Security Deposit: A hold of £1,500 is placed on a credit card (referred to as the excess) unless you’ve opted to purchase additional insurance.
Booking: The Spaceships online booking system allows you to easily get a quote for your travel dates. Bookings are confirmed once you’ve made a non-refundable deposit of 20% online and the remaining balance is due 7 days prior to pickup.
Pick Up and Drop Off: Campers can be collected 7 days a week from their Navan location between 9am and 4pm.
Age Restrictions: Drivers must be a minimum age of 21 years old and be no older than 75 years old for campervan hires. Some motorhomes have a minimum age of 25.
License Restrictions: You must have held a driver’s license for more than 1 year.
Pet-Friendly: No
Terms and Conditions: Available here
Lazy Days VW Camper Hire Ireland
Website: Lazy Days
Phone: +353 (0) 872885771
Email: sue@lazydays.ie
Rental Location:
Lazy Days, Kernow,
Cullen Lower, Three Mile Water
Wicklow, A67 WD30
Getting there from Dublin Airport: Lazy Days is located 10 minutes south of Wicklow Town or 35 mins south on the N11/M11 from the M50 Dublin ring road. The Bus Eireann 133 Coach Service departs hourly from Dublin Airport and an attendant can meet you with your camper at the Wicklow Monument bus stop. Alternatively, you can take the 740A Coach from Dublin Airport where an attendant can meet you at the Grand Hotel in Wicklow bus stop with your campervan.
Manual or Automatic: Manual
Campervans: Lazy Days has a fleet of 8 Volkswagen 2+1 Berth and 4 Berth T5 campervans. Each will comfortably fit 2-4 people (depending on the model) and come equipped with beds, 240v electric hook up, gas cookers, utensils and cooler boxes. Some have iPod compatible systems.
Extras: GPS, Wifi hotspot, tables, chairs and more available at an additional charge.
Daily Rates: Ranging from £120/day in low season to £155/day in peak season. Click here for more details on their rates and booking.
Insurance: Fully Comprehensive Insurance for one driver is included as well as AA Breakdown Assistance. They do not accept the use of any other insurance cover.
Security Deposit: Requires a security deposit of €1000 for each vehicle on hire (cash or credit).
Booking Process: Make an inquiry via their online booking page, await confirmation on availability, credit card payments are then made over the phone.
Pick Up and Drop Off: Campervans can be collected Monday to Saturday (there is no collection available on Sundays or public holidays). Campers may be returned 7 days a week.
Age Restrictions: All named drivers must be over 25 and under 70 years of age.
License Restrictions: All named drivers must have held a full license for at least two years. US and Canadian licenses must be held for a minimum of 8 years and EEA licenses a minimum of 5 years.
Pet-Friendly: No
Terms and Conditions: Available here
Worth Noting: A €20 cleaning fee is added automatically to every booking. Additional fees may apply if other cleaning is necessary upon return.
Bunk Campers Ireland
Website: Bunk Campers
Phone: +44 (0)28 90 813057
Email: enquiries@bunkcampers.com
Rental Location:
Unit 7B Advanced Business Park
Old Airport Road
Cloghran, County Dublin
Getting there from Dublin Airport: Bunk Camper’s Dublin depot is only 5 minutes away from the Dublin airport and transfers can be arranged when booking.
Manual or Automatic: Manual
Campervans: Bunk Campers has a wide range of campervans with a total of 6 different models available for hire from Dublin. Their best budget option is the Roadie which is a compact VW camper that sleeps 2, has a sink, fridge and gas burner plus an electric hook up and 2 240V sockets. The Nomad is the second-most affordable option at Bunk Campers.
Extras: GPS, Wi-fi, child seats, outdoor table and chairs, microwaves and more options available at an additional charge.
Daily Rates: There seems to be very limited availability for the Roadie during the summer months and many “Hurry! Last Vehicle!” messages came up during my search so demand must be quite high for their cheapest camper. I was quoted £92/day for a September booking while the Roadie is advertised at £45/day in low season. The Nomad comes in at £115/day for an August booking and is advertised at £55/day in low season.
Insurance: Fully Comprehensive Insurance for one driver (25-69) is included in the rate and no alternative insurance is accepted. Options are available to insure seniors over 69 and under 75 years of age.
Security Deposit: A security deposit of £1300 / €1700 is payable via credit or debit cards upon collection of the Roadie, Nomad and Ranger vans while other campers have a higher security deposit.
Booking: Reservations are paid for in full at the time of booking which can all be done online (check).
Pick Up and Drop Off: Bunk Campers seems to have the most narrow window for this with collection time listed between 3-5pm and returns listed between 9-11am unless otherwise agreed upon. Early drop-off and late collection is available for an additional charge of £50.
Age Restrictions: Drivers must be between 25 and 69 years of age. Some vehicles (like the Roadie) are available for drivers between 21 and 24 years old at an additional charge.
License Restrictions: Drivers must have held a valid license for at least 24 months.
Pet-Friendly: A limited number of pet-friendly vehicles are available upon request.
Terms and Conditions: Available here
I hope these 4 options help with your decision on which campervan company to hire in Ireland! There’s truly no better way to explore the country than by putting yourself in the driver’s seat, taking the scenic route and having the flexibility to stop at any (or every) viewpoint along the way.
