Do people not drive vans across Europe any more?

[Doelegged]

My niece is about to graduate and is at a loose end before she starts "proper" grown up work in September. She said she's frustrated that her friends don't want to go back to Malia this year because she could do with some time out the country where it's hot so I said can't you just grab a ride on a van going to Europe. She said she doesn't know of such a thing. Does this really not happen any more? Young kids wanting to go off renting a van and advertising seats spare for drivers was how I got about when younger. I'd feel really sad if it wasn't a thing now.

I'm middle -aged and have never heard of this.

In my youth you got around by train & ferry and stayed in crappy hostels for £10 a night. Those days are long gone because the cost of rail travel being so expensive now. Inter-railibg isn't what it once was.

I think travelling isn't really what it was anymore as you can google everything, book everything, have uber etc. I'm glad did my big holiday before this. Now you can't have a proper adventure because there is zero spontaneity.

I've also never heard of this, but it's probably difficult or impossible for under 25s to rent a van anyway. Plus in the days of budget airlines where you can fly to southern Europe for very little in a less than half a day, it seems mad to spend £££s and days driving there. Brexit has probably made it very difficult to get casual work in the EU too.

Is she wanting a holiday or is she looking for work? There's sometimes opportunities holiday repping or working on Eurocamp type places, but these are probably filled up for the summer unless there's a shortage and/or people drop out.

People used to hitch but I never heard of vans around Europe. Grape picking yes, nobody picks grapes for the summer now.

It does happen (the van thing, I've never heard of advertising a seat in the van though.) I've travelled across Europe a few times (not by van though) and see them at key funnel borders - Greece/Turkey mainly. My understanding is they buy the van rather than rent. And it's not loads of them so I don't think it's particularly a "thing."

Never heard of that

Most people use things like Workaway ( you help in exchange for food and lodging) now for cheap 2-3 month stays. Either drivings own car, or public transport and cheap flights. You can do Europe or further afield like this as generally no money exchanged so it’s not ‘employment’.

Combined with hostels

Everyone I know who did van tours bought it, usually as a couple or an established small group of friends. I don't remember spare seats being advertised, but I didn't do it myself.

I've travelled a lot on my own though. Why can't she do that?

Second Workaway, I know someone who uses it as a host and looking at the website, it looks like the main way that people are finding cheap ways to travel these days.

I'm in my 50s and have never heard of this!

People still take vans to Europe but they buy them, usually as a couple and usually there’s no spare rear seats as the van (usually a Berlingo sized one) is kitted out for sleeping.

No one under 25 can rent a car let alone a van anyway.

If she wants an adventure try holiday companies like Nelson’s and see what jobs they have left.