My car is also a tiny home. These are the comforts I can't do without
Is File Also Cosily Travelling Well, Is Fortably Good Important But And Light And Travelling Picture All
When I first converted my car into a campervan I wanted to keep things minimal. I don’t like clutter at the best of times, and I liked the idea of travelling light and free.
Turns out I also like the idea of travelling cosily and comfortably, so I have since accumulated some superfluous accessories which serve only to add additional atmosphere and convenience to my trips. None of these accessories are necessary, but all bring a little something extra fun, which is the whole point of the endeavour. Here are all my favourite things that you absolutely don’t need but might want anyway.
This one is downright ridiculous given I only do short trips in my tiny micro-camper, but it’s possibly my favourite item in the van. I got this as a Christmas present from my dad last year in a creative answer to “What do you get the woman who has everything?”.
We are a family with a strong tradition of Christmas Eve pints in the local, and Dad and I often tend to lose all control and tear into the Christmas presents when we get home, full of mirth and beer, no patience left to wait until Christmas morning. Thus I opened this present half-cut late last Christmas Eve and fell about the place laughing at the absurd excess of an electric washing machine in a tiny campervan.
Joke’s on me because I’ve used the thing on mucky pants and sandy towels a few times now and it’s a true saviour. In the spirit of travelling light, it means I can pack less, as items can be washed and re-worn (assuming the weather cooperates enough to dry them). I should note you can get washing machine bags that probably do just as good a job, but what I have is a joyful mix of unnecessary, surprisingly useful, and a super-fun gift.
I am an active person but I find there is actually quite a lot of free time on a typical day camping. Even after a swim, a hike, another swim, more walkies, and burnt sausages on a stove there are a couple of hours left over to kill.
Of course, someone talented may be around to pull out a guitar and get a sing-song going around the campfire, but if you’re the kind of person who wants to punch that guitarist in the face then stock up on games instead so you can offer the crowd a welcome distraction. My favourite is Monopoly Deal, a very portable and highly addictive card game that I can’t get enough of, or a regular deck of cards is always a winner.
We are spoiled for watersports in Ireland and there are few campsites that don’t have a shoreline nearby. I cannot surf on waves despite trying desperately for years, but I can just about stay upright on a stand-up paddleboard. The inflatable ones are a dream — they blow up easily with my bike pump and fold down to a portable size.
Paddling around a lake or even in the sea on a calm day is a really fun way to explore and get some exercise in. I bought mine second-hand for a song on Adverts.ie and it does the job perfectly. Remember that you need a lifejacket when paddling in Ireland — I got a very small neat one in Decathalon.
I can’t articulate why camping and bunting go so well together, but I can’t travel without it now. Camping is so fun and festive, and what’s more immediately festive than a string of bunting? I bought the gorgeous Carolyn Donnelly Eclectic Floral fringed bunting from Dunnes on sale last summer for €5. Instant atmosphere.
I don’t need extra lighting because I have plenty in my van, but I can never say no to fairy lights. Similarly to bunting they just create an immediate cosy atmosphere, and they’re small and portable, so why not? My favourite ones are solar-powered — they come with a little panel that you can put on your dashboard to charge during the day. I picked mine up in Woodies for €4.99.
I have a hammock for my garden which folds up nice and small, and I often throw it in the van when I’m heading away. It requires two sturdy tree trunks and some sunshine for effective use, which aren’t always readily available, but if you get the right location and a sunny day it’s hard to beat a couple of hours lazing in the hammock with a good book. I bought tree straps from hammocks.ie which come with a protective wrap to prevent damage to tree bark, and they work a treat. You can buy folding hammock frames which eliminate your reliance on tree trunks, but I haven’t tried these personally.
I’m not sure this one belongs on a superfluous accessories list because it has been absolutely invaluable. I have the tiny Eufy cordless handheld car vacuum cleaner, which cost around €40 if memory serves. Travelling with a dog in a tiny micro-camper means there is often some cleaning up to do, and maybe a small brush could do it but the vacuum cleaner does it so much better.