Being independent and flexible on vacation is even more in vogue today than ever before. Especially after the Corona pandemic and the times of lockdowns, many people are drawn back to vacation. Being able to decide for yourself when, how and where to spend the best time of the year is becoming the ultimate in vacation planning for more and more people.
Whether the vacation is spent on the Moselle, in the vineyards or elsewhere - camping vacations always ensure maximum flexibility. However, there are some restrictions. Especially flexible are all those who sleep in a tent. For more comfort, however, a caravan or motor home is needed. But does it make sense to buy a caravan or motor home instead of renting? What financing options are there and for whom is financing suitable?
The following article provides the most helpful answers to these questions, so that the purchase of a caravan or motor home becomes realistic and feasible. In case the purchase succeeds, there are also a few vacation tips for the Moselle region.
In the midst of a beautiful landscape and surrounded by vineyards lies the Moselle. To spend your vacation as close to nature as possible, a camping vacation in this region is particularly suitable.
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How to finance a caravan or motor home easily?
This is probably the most important of all questions that many ask themselves before buying, if the amount X is not available in cash form. To start saving when the desire already exists is usually much too late or the idea would certainly take years, since caravans or motorhomes are nevertheless talking about big sums.
Credit and financial institutions offer a wide range of financing options, such as installment loans, balloon loans, leasing offers or earmarked car loans. Which variant is the most suitable and which model is financially feasible can be discussed with a bank advisor at the local bank. Online platforms, such as Finanzcheck.de, also provide information on loan variants as well as individually tailored offers, which are usually based on these financing options.
- An installment loan is usually not earmarked, which means that the loan amount is freely available. Due to the often higher loan amount, this type of loan is usually more difficult to obtain or high interest rates must be expected. The advantage, however, is that no exact purpose has to be specified in advance. That is: The loan allows the financing of the motorhome and the equipment details that are purchased around the motorhome. These can be awnings, table sets or structural changes.
- At first glance, financing via a so-called balloon loan is very attractive due to the usually quite low interest rates. However, it must be clearly mentioned in advance that a final installment must be paid at the end of the loan term, which is very high in most cases. Many borrowers underestimate this horrendous final payment and have to take out a new loan to pay off the final payment via follow-up financing.
- The principle of leasing is familiar to many - and especially to those who own a company or company car. In classic leasing, however, the vehicle, in this case the camper or caravan, is not purchased. Leasing means renting a caravan or motor home. At the end of the term, the customer is free to buy the vehicle directly from the dealer or possibly renew the contract and lease it again. The sticking point with the leasing contract is often the agreed mileage, which may not be exceeded during the leasing period, otherwise additional costs will be incurred.
- The so-called car loan is the most common way to finance a mobile home. This is an earmarked loan that often has more favorable terms than a free installment loan. Those who take out an auto loan through an outside lending company (i.e., not at the local dealership) to use the loan to buy the RV can often save, because the buyer can now negotiate - with the loan from the bank - like a cash buyer. The catch: throughout the term of the loan, the vehicle title serves as collateral for the bank and must be deposited there. Until the end of the repayment period, the title remains with the bank and is only transferred to the owner once the debt has been settled.
Which loan is suitable to finance the motor home or caravan can be found out via a loan comparison portal. For many, it is important to get the money they need quickly and easily. However, it should be researched carefully and the fine print should be read, so that at the end of the repayment debt is not another loan is needed.
Whether caravan or motor home - the appropriate financing and the loan to be paid off must be well thought out and checked in advance.
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The Moselle region - why it is so popular with campers
If the purchase of the motor home or caravan has worked out, it is now necessary to select a vacation region that is suitable for camping. Camping within Germany is becoming increasingly attractive for many and the Moselle region regularly ranks among the top camping regions in Germany. Especially those who want to travel with their school-age children during the summer vacations cannot and do not always want to fly south or travel to the Adriatic Sea. Instead, exploring the home country is very much in vogue when summer temperatures are high.
The area on the Moselle is increasingly establishing itself as a hotspot, as it offers families everything they need for a perfect vacation. The proximity to France and Luxembourg is also regularly cited as an advantage of the German vacation region, after all, a trip to a nearby foreign country can be realized at short notice. But first, let's look at the advantages of the Mosel region itself - and they are quite impressive.
The natural environment along the Moselle River, which meanders through the countryside for a total of 544 kilometers, is unique. Due to the mild climate and soil conditions, the seemingly endless vineyards that produce fine German wines stretch along the river. The wine-growing region of Rhineland-Palatinate is known all over the world for wines such as Riesling, Rivaner, Silvaner or the Sauvignon Blanc. The white wine varieties grow here with about 1,600 hours of sunshine throughout the year. In summer, the average temperature is 23 degrees Celsius, while in winter it is around minus four degrees.
Those who would like to explore the region can do so excellently by bike or on one of the countless hiking trails, most of which lead through the vineyards. An absolute vacation highlight could then be a sightseeing flight over the vineyards, where a dreamlike view from above is guaranteed. Water rats also get their money's worth in summer along the Moselle and could enjoy themselves at the Pulvermaar bathing lake, at the Stuben monastery ruins, in Bruttig near Bremm, behind Kövenig or even on Moselle Island. If the motorhome is winterized, even a short vacation in the cold season would be conceivable. Then the Moselle region is very popular with fans of winter sports. Skiers and snowboarders get their money's worth here and regularly praise the Saint Maurice sur Moselle ski resort.
Vacation tips for a stay in the Moselle region
Scenically, the area around and along the Moselle is very natural and captivates with a breathtaking panorama. Located directly in the border triangle, on the border with France and Luxembourg, it is the perfect starting point for Excursions and activities.
The following excursion tips represent only a small selection of the possibilities in the region:
- Trier
If you travel to the Moselle, you can't miss Trier. Here the list of sights is long and should be visited in any case. The Porta Nigra is probably a household name to many. The UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to 170 AD and is a Roman city gate. The sight of this imposing building, which was also briefly converted into a church, is almost majestic. Years later it was rebuilt into a gate and can also be visited from the inside. Also a top destination in Trier is the amphitheater. Many think directly of the Colosseum in Rome when amphitheater is mentioned. But in this country, too, the Romans held their games at just such battlefields. As early as 100 AD, 20,000 people in Trier attended such games in the amphitheater.
- Koblenz
Koblenz is one of the oldest cities in Germany. Besides castles and palaces, the old town in particular is one of the very special sights. Culture and art meet and are exhibited in Stolzenfels Castle. From here visitors have a fantastic view over the Rhine terrace. The Lahneck Castle and the Braubach Marksburg Castle can be seen when looking in the direction of the mouth of the Lahn. The Ehrenbreitstein fortress can also be sighted from here. In addition, a detour to the German Corner and the monument in honor of Kaiser Wilhelm are obligatory during a visit to the city. The view from here of the two converging rivers Rhine and Moselle is unique.
- Castles, fortresses and a lot of history
Along the Moselle there are many castles and fortresses that are still well preserved today. Some of them date back to the Middle Ages, others are much older. What is unusual is that most of the historical buildings are very well preserved and open to the public. So anyone who would like to be a damsel or prince can experience the world of yesteryear from a different perspective.
The perfect campsite as a starting point for activities
Important for every camper is first and foremost the perfect pitch for the vacations. This serves as a starting point for the planned undertakings. Situated directly on the river, with a view of the vineyards, is of course the most popular ambience in the Moselle region, where a vacation mood arises in an instant. The Erden campsite, for example, is located on the banks of the Moselle and the Moselle cycle path passes right by it. In the direction of Koblenz is the historic campsite at the mill Vogelsang, which is praised as very idyllic and close to nature. Recreation and peace are very important here. Especially those traveling with children or dogs will be warmly welcomed in the Mosel region and can find one or the other highlight at the campsites along the Mosel.
The Porta Nigra is the landmark of Trier and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every year the gate is visited by thousands of tourists.
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