On vacation, there's nothing better than experiencing the promise of freedom while cruising through beautiful landscapes with the car window open. Maybe that's why van vacations are going through such a boom. Because once you've tried this kind of traveling, it's hard to get away from it. Exploring new places and countries on your own, directly experiencing the country and its people and setting up camp in the most beautiful places - this form of vacation is contagious. 

With its diversity of countries, languages and cultures, Europe is one of the top vanlife destinations. But you're spoilt for choice: would you rather drive along the picturesque cliffs on the Atlantic in Portugal, take the all-time classic trip to Croatia, or explore uncharted territories in France? Or do you just follow your nose? Here's a little help in deciding: a list of the top travel countries in Europe, with the most luxurious campsites in each case:

From Rovinj to Dubrovnik, Croatia

You can't go wrong with a vantrip through Croatia. The country with the beautiful coastline is a true road trip classic that definitely belongs on the bucket list. The route from Rovinj in Italian-influenced Istria to Dubrovnik at the southernmost tip of Croatia, can be completed in one to three weeks. You can expect pretty harbor towns, beautiful mountain landscapes, quaint villages and picturesque bays. If you have time, you can also make a detour by ferry to one of Croatia's many islands.

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Falkensteiner Premium Camping Zadar
Majstora Radovana 7, 23000 HR, Zadar
Web: falkensteiner.com
Tel: +385 (0) 2377 7630
Price: from € 151

Côte d'Azur, France

Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez: these cities on the Côte d'Azur are associated with stars and red carpets. But the southern French coast also offers spectacular nature, charming country life and authentic places, which makes the area between Cassis near Marseille to Menton on the Italian border, the ideal road trip vacation. The recommended starting point is Monaco, from where you work your way along the coast, with stops in the legendary Principality of Monaco Monte Carlo, the fishing village of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Nice, until you can end the trip in Cannes. 

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Camping La Pierre Verte - camping Frejus
1880, D4, 83600 Fréjus, France
Web: campinglapierreverte.com
Tel: +33 4 94 40 88 30
Price: from € 139

Cinque Terre, Italy

Liguria offers both: a beach vacation on the rocky coast and a hiking vacation in the mountainous hinterland. The area around the Cinque Terre National Park is particularly popular. It's no longer an insider tip, but it's definitely worth taking a van trip here before the high season. The national park, characterized by steep coasts, colorful houses and vineyards, is perfect for easy to challenging hikes. Besides, the five picturesque main villages are waiting to be discovered.

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Camping Villaggio dei Fiori
Str. Tiro a Volo 3, 18038 Sanremo, Italy
Web: villaggiodeifiori.it
Tel: +39 0184.660635
Price: from € 102

Andalusia, Spain

The small town of Tarifa in Andalusia has become one of the most popular surfing areas in Europe due to its excellent wind statistics. This also makes Tarifa synonymous with a wonderful van trip for the more sporty vacationers - because 99 percent of surfers travel to the beaches with a mobile home. There's a lot to discover around the town, such as the mountain village of Rona, known for its bullfighting arena in the middle of the center, and there are also trips to Seville, Málaga and Gibraltar.

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Teacampa
N-340, kilometer 74, 11380 Tarifa, Cadiz
Web: teacampa.com
Tel: +34 722 673 691
Price: from € 95

Algarve, Portugal 

The Algarve, Portugal's southernmost region, is a van-trip dream vacation with its rugged rocky coastline, green hills and winding country roads all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. To explore the Algarve to get a diverse mix of city and countryside, you should consider the route from Faro to Lagos, with stops in the coastal towns of Tavira, the miles of beaches near Altura and the mountain village of Vila do Bispo. There are plenty of opportunities for day trips into the mountains and other sightseeing spots along this route. 

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Turiscampo - Camping and Bungalows
N125 Km 17, 8600-109 Lagos, Portugal
Web: turiscampo.com
Tel: +351 282 789 265
Price: Price on request.