Classic VW Campervan vs Modern Rental Fleet in Tenerife
If you've searched "campervan hire Tenerife" from the UK, you've probably landed on a handful of big platforms with a modern Fiat or Citroën fleet: white vans, roof beds, same layout every time. That's a genuinely good option for a lot of trips. It's just not the only one.
There's another route, and it's the one we've built Slow Campers around: a classic air-cooled VW, converted by hand, with the quirks and character that come with a fifty-year-old design. In the UK, brands like Quirky Campers have built a whole following around exactly this — they call themselves the "Home of Handmade Campervans". We're doing the same thing, just based in the north of Tenerife instead of Cornwall or the Cotswolds.
This isn't a sales pitch dressed up as a comparison. Both options are valid. Here's when each one makes more sense.
The look and feel: character vs consistency
A modern rental fleet is built for consistency. Every van from a platform like Indie Campers or Yescapa's professional listings tends to follow the same brief: recent Fiat Ducato or Citroën Jumper base, fitted-out interior from a specialist converter, same finish across dozens of units. You know exactly what you're getting before you arrive, and that predictability is worth something.
A classic VW is the opposite of that. Ours are converted by hand, one at a time, so no two are identical. You get the rounded nose, the split or bay window, the sound of an air-cooled engine, and an interior that was actually built by someone rather than fitted on a production line. If part of the trip is the van itself — the photos, the memory, the fact that people stop to ask about it at petrol stations — that's what a classic gives you and a modern fleet doesn't.
Same licence, different driving experience
This is worth clearing up because it puts people off unnecessarily: you don't need a special licence for either option. A standard UK category B licence covers vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM, and that covers our whole fleet as well as the modern vans you'd hire elsewhere on the island. If you passed your test after 1 January 1997 and drive an ordinary car at home, you're legally fine to drive a classic VW camper here too.
What does differ is the feel behind the wheel. A modern van drives like a modern van — power steering, better sound insulation, more predictable at motorway speed. A classic VW is slower, noisier, and needs a bit more attention on the accelerating and braking side, particularly on the steeper roads inland. We talk you through this at handover, and it's rarely a problem after the first half hour. But if you've never driven anything older than your daily car, it's a fair thing to factor in.
When a modern fleet genuinely makes more sense
We'd rather be upfront about this than pretend it isn't true. If you're travelling as a family of four or five and need fixed beds for everyone plus air conditioning as standard, a modern fleet van is usually the better fit — those platforms are built around bigger groups and newer creature comforts. They also tend to have more pick-up points across the island, including the south, closer to the airport and the main resort towns.
If your priority is maximum boot space, a built-in shower and toilet, or the reassurance of a brand-new base vehicle with the latest safety systems, that's the modern fleet's territory. A hand-converted classic prioritises character and simplicity over square footage.
Where a Slow Campers van fits
We're a small operation — ten vans, all classic VWs, all converted by hand rather than out of a catalogue. We're based in El Sauzal, in the north, which suits people planning to explore that side of the island rather than sticking to the south. Every van in the fleet rents at the same flat rate, so there's no upsell ladder to climb through.
Because it's a small, hands-on business rather than a large platform, you deal with us directly — not a call centre. That covers everything from the handover itself to 24-hour roadside assistance if something goes wrong on the road. We also build custom conversions and sell campervans outright, so if you fall for the van on your trip, that's a conversation we can actually have.
You can see the current fleet, including availability and the flat daily rate, on our fleet page.
Getting here from the UK
Tenerife South (TFS) has a dense schedule of direct flights from the UK with Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and TUI, so there's no ferry leg involved — you fly in and collect the van. Fares vary a lot by season and how far ahead you book, so it's worth checking current prices on the airline or a comparison site directly rather than relying on a headline figure here.
One practical note either way: whichever van you choose, always confirm the exact pick-up location, mileage terms and insurance excess before you travel. That applies to any operator on the island, us included — it's a five-minute check that avoids surprises at handover.