By Monika
Happy Campers Iceland: an Honest Review of Our Campervan Experience.
Renting a campervan is one of the most popular ways to explore Iceland, giving you the freedom to travel at your own pace and wake up surrounded by some of the country’s most incredible landscapes.
But with so many rental companies to choose from, deciding which one is right for you can be challenging.
For our recent Iceland road trip, we rented a campervan from Happy Campers Iceland and spent 9 days driving the Ring Road, staying at campsites around the country.
Let me share our honest review of our experience – from the booking process to pick-up and drop-off, our van features, plus everything in between.
If you’re trying to decide whether Happy Campers is the right choice for your Iceland adventure, this review will help you understand exactly what to expect before you book your campervan.
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Why we chose Happy Campers
I started researching campervan rental companies long before our trip.
I compared reviews, van features, costs, insurance, and what was included with the rental vs what we would have to either rent from the company for an extra fee or bring on our own.
So – these are the reasons why we decided to rent from Happy Campers:
It’s a local company
I like supporting local businesses.
Just like we always rent a car in Iceland from Blue Car Rental, we chose a local business for our first campervan adventure.
They offer the best value for money
Were they the least expensive? No, just looking at the base price, they were not. But by the time I added up the full insurance and all the items that I would need for this trip, Happy Campers turned out to be the best.
They included bedding in their base price, which was great and saved us from having to bring sleeping bags and pillows, which would have taken up room in our luggage.
Also, the road tax is included in the rental costs and there was no limit on the mileage we were allowed to drive.
They offer the best insurance bundles
We chose the most comprehensive insurance bundle and were covered for everything, including things that other companies excluded from their packages, like tire damage assistance, getting locked out of your vehicle and putting the wrong fuel in the tank.
Explore all insurance options and bundles here.
I highly recommend the “Happiest Bundle”, as in the long run, it gives you the most comprehensive coverage and the most benefits.
With that bundle, in addition to the full insurance, we also had access to all available “extras” that we would have had to pay for otherwise.
We grabbed folding chairs, trekking poles, a kettle, an inverter, a clothesline, extra fleece blankets and extra towels.
Check out the complete list of “extras” here.
They have excellent reviews
Really wonderful reviews!
And bonus – who can resist their beautifully painted vans! They are so adorable and easy to recognize in the parking lot in the sea of other, mostly white vans!
Great communication
Happy Campers team is very easy to communicate with – they respond to emails quickly, answer calls with minimal wait, and send you reminders after you book, as well as clear instructions a few days before your pickup date and before your van is due to be returned.
Booking Process
The booking process is very easy. Just visit the website, choose your van, choose your insurance, apply a coupon if you have one and you’re done!
Check the Happy Campers van selection – pay attention to how many people it can both sit and sleep, as that number may not be the same!
You’ll receive an email with your reservation details and login information so you can easily manage your booking – adjust dates, change insurance, even cancel with no fees.
You can also adjust your insurance package and add extras when you pick up the van.
Inside the booking confirmation email, you’ll also receive an e-book with a ton of information about Iceland, especially helpful for first-time visitors, and a page with discount codes for tours, activities, spa lagoons, restaurants, etc. that Happy Campers partnered with.
We took advantage of many of those discounts – the seemingly small savings do add up to a good amount in the end!
After you book your camper, you’ll also get access to Happy Campers Facebook Community, where you can ask your questions and learn from the experiences of other campers.
How to save on your reservation cost
- sign up for the Happy Campers newsletter and be informed about special offers
- check the website for advertised discounts and promotions
- reserve your van as early as you can to get the early booking discount
- the more days you book, the less per day you’ll pay
Pick-up process
When you know your flight details, enter them in your reservation portal and choose your pick-up time.
Happy Campers office is located a short ride (less than 10 minutes) away from the Keflavik International Airport.
A friendly driver will meet you at the airport arrival hall with a Happy Campers sign and take you to their free shuttle.
Helpful hint: make sure you contact the company via email or phone a couple of days before you arrive to let them know how many people are in your group, so they can accommodate everyone.
Once at the office, you’ll finish your paperwork, finalize insurance, get your extras, and a team member will take you to your van.
With our bundle we got a portable wi-fi hot spot to stay connected (very useful as some remote spots we visited had no cell reception at all!), as well as free extra drivers.
We got a full tour of the camper and were shown how everything works, all the storage spaces, and how to turn the benches and the table into beds.
📌 The only things we didn’t go over were how to turn on the headlights and how to open the gas tank – so make sure to ask! It took us a minute, but we figured it out!
We were also given a phone number for the 24-hour emergency roadside assistance which made me feel at ease.
There is a section of the office called the “Free Zone” where you can grab some things left by other campers, like spices, coffee, paper good, instant meals and more.
We took advantage of it when we arrived and gave back when we were leaving.
It’s an excellent way to help each other out and reduce waste.
Then we got some coffee Happy Campers offers to their clients and we were on our way – off to conquer the Ring Road!
On the road
The van was great! It was much easier to drive and park than I expected.
We chose a Happy 4×4 van as I needed a 4WD vehicle with room for 3 people.
▶️ Watch this video to see exactly what it looks like.
It handled great both on bumpy gravel tracks (like the road to Háifoss in Þjórsárdalur Valley or Dettifoss East Side parking lot on the Diamond Circle), winding turns on mountain passes to Seyðisfjörður or Borgarfjörður Eystri in the Eastfjords, and everywhere else we went.
Cooking area
The van “kitchen” was set up in the back of the front seats.
It was easy to cook meals, we had enough storage for everything, despite the camper being occupied at full capacity.
The fridge was a great size and big enough to hold a few days worth of food that needed to be refrigerated. Easy to slide out and access but securely locked in place while we were driving.
We stored dry goods in the shallow storage space under one of the benches.
Sleeping
There was enough room to sleep for three people, although if you’re 6 ft tall or taller, your feet will dangle off the bed 😊
And the pillows and comforters were amazing – warm and fluffy, like at home.
We had gorgeous weather for most of our trip but we still used the extra fleece blankets we got at pick up.
The curtains were helpful at night but since we visited in June they didn’t block the midnight sun completely. We were tired enough from long days of exploring, so it wasn’t a problem for us, but if you need total darkness to sleep, just bring a sleep mask in the summer.
Storage
We had two 25-inch suitcases, and one carry-on luggage, plus our 26-liter hiking backpacks.
The suitcases were the perfect size to fit in the back of the van, under and in between the benches. We placed loose items on the sides around the luggage.
There was a deep, roomy storage space under one of the benches and that’s where we placed the bags our bedding came in, trekking poles, extra paper towels and other things we didn’t use daily.
The folding chairs came in very handy to sit outside and enjoy the sun and the views, as well as drying bathing suits and towels. They just traveled under the table for easy access.
There is also a broom and a dustpan in the back of the kitchen, super helpful to keep the van clean.
Lighting
We had no shortage of daylight in June! But there were reading lights in the back and over the cooking area that we sometimes used at night.
Heater
Our van had a really efficient Webasto heater that we just kept on “low” overnight, and it did a great job keeping us warm. Despite the nice sunny weather we had during most days, nights were still cool.
Running water
Having our own sink, complete with a button to turn on the water, was very convenient for quick dishwashing on the road or brushing teeth when the campsite bathrooms were busy.
Just make sure you refill the water jug underneath!
Finding campsites
We used the super convenient interactive campsites map from Happy Campers, and it couldn’t have been easier.
Drop-off process
Returning the van was just as easy as picking it up.
You just pull up to the van return line in front of the Happy Campers office, unload your luggage and all your belongings, as well as chairs, trekking poles and other small items you took from the office at pick up. Leave the bedding, blankets and towels inside the vehicle.
A staff member will check the van, finalize the paperwork, and you’ll be all set to board the free shuttle to the airport.
Make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before the shuttle to give the team enough time to check you out.
The shuttle runs every hour within the office opening hours.
What I didn’t love
There was only one thing I wasn’t a fan of and while I understand why it was the way it was, I still found it a bit inconvenient – the location of a cup holder.
It was located in the left corner on top of the dashboard.
It was close enough to the windshield that I had just enough room to place my coffee mug in it – in hindsight, I should have taken the coffee press/coffee mug that Happy Campers offered me, as it was not as tall and would have been easier to handle.
What could be improved
This van was nearly perfect – it had everything we needed to make this trip as easy and enjoyable as possible.
The only thing I wish it had is some sort of a basket/container that could be attached to the top of the small counter area to prevent small items (like our tissue box, empty camera bags, etc.) from constantly falling down, especially on bumpier roads.
We made it into a guessing game – what will we find on the floor when we arrive?
It’s a small thing and not a huge deal, but it could make the experience even better as every inch of storage space counts when you travel.
Would I rent from Happy Campers again?
Absolutely!
I can wholeheartedly recommend this company to anyone looking for a hassle-free campervan Iceland adventure, especially if it’s your first experience camping in Iceland.
You’ll be well taken care of from the moment you book your camper through your road trip and return day.
I am definitely hooked on the idea of campervan travel in Iceland and will be returning to Happy Campers to book a van for my next trip.
READ MORE: Camping in Iceland: A Complete Guide and Tips from My Campervan Adventure.
👉 Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE! I don’t travel without it. Get a quote from my personal #1 choice – Travel Guard – or check more options here!
Need some travel inspiration? Check out these ICELAND ITINERARIES to start planning your road trip!
Let me help you plan your trip!
Get organized with this printable, fillable 45-page ICELAND TRAVEL PLANNER – keep track of flights, hotels, tours, daily itineraries and even your trip budget!
BONUS! The planner has journal pages for your memories!
You may also like:
- 10-day Iceland Itinerary – Epic Road Trip on the Ring Road and into the Highlands.
- Golden Circle in One Day – Full Guide to the Main Stops and Best Detours.
- Road F35 in Iceland – Epic Drive Through the Highlands.
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula – A Complete Guide and Top Things to See.
- Laki Craters Iceland: How to Visit Lakagígar + Things to Do.
- Möðrudalur – a Complete Guide to the Most Charming Farm in Iceland.
- 8 Best Things to do Around Lake Mývatn – a Complete Travel Guide.
- Best Things to Do in Vik, Iceland – Your Ultimate Guide.
For more Iceland inspiration and travel guides click HERE.
Need more help planning your trip? Join my Explore Iceland: Travel Tips & Advice FB Group community to ask questions, share your experiences, plus get expert travel tips and advice from a supportive community of Iceland enthusiasts! Join today!
🎙️ Prefer to listen to the travel guides instead? Check out my Explore Iceland Travel Podcast and easily plan your trip on the go!
About Monika
An avid traveler and a passionate trip planner, mildly obsessed with being organized and prepared 🙂
Well aware of how precious travel time is, I’m here to share my experience and help you get the most out of your vacation time.
“Taking the hassle out of trip planning”
