Press – Welle Niederrhein

Welle NiederrheinYou're listening to Welle Niederrhein with Julia Rosendahl at a quarter past six. Good morning! Getting from A to B without any fuss and then stopping and spending the night at the most beautiful places – a motorhome lets you do just that. They have really been in fashion, especially since the coronavirus pandemic. Within the last year, the number of motorhomes in Krefeld, for example, has risen by around eight percent, according to a study by a large law firm. Michael Jöbkes of Friedas Camper in Krefeld rents out exactly these motorhomes and has a good idea why they are so popular.

Michael JöbkesI do think people like the freedom of being able to drive anywhere they want to relax, at any time. They are not tied to a hotel or a holiday flat. If the weather is bad, I can simply drive a few hundred kilometres further and park in the sun. Freedom is really what people love most about us.

Welle NiederrheinAnd there is something else: it is so much easier to take your pet on holiday, too. That was also why Michael started his business himself – after he got a dog.

Michael JöbkesThe next time I wanted to book a hotel, the first one did not take guests with dogs at all, and the next one wanted a flat 15 euros per night for the dog. That adds up over time, of course. So we thought about what we could do. We borrowed a motorhome and said: okay, this is for us, let's buy one too. And then friends who also have dogs often asked us whether they could borrow it. And that's how it all came about.

Welle NiederrheinThat is why his campervan rental is named after his dog – Frieda. And he is pretty busy right now: especially over the summer months, an incredible number of enquiries come in, Michael told us. Can you understand that? Would a motorhome holiday be something for you, too?

Welle NiederrheinThe summer holidays start here on the Lower Rhine today after school, and for many it's straight off on holiday – maybe even in their own motorhome. This is Welle Niederrhein with Julia Rosendahl at a quarter past seven. Especially during the coronavirus pandemic, it felt like every other person bought or rented a motorhome, and demand has not dropped since. Michael Jöbkes of the campervan rental Friedas Camper in Krefeld notices that too, he told us.

Michael JöbkesI notice it because there are still a lot of rental enquiries. That means two or three enquiries come in almost every day, and most people want to rent at short notice.

Welle NiederrheinEspecially now in summer, it can get tight if you want to rent a camper from Michael.

Michael JöbkesSometimes we do have to turn someone away or say: look, why not rent a week later. It does happen that we are overbooked, but we can always sort it out – so far nobody has ever actually gone home without a vehicle.

Welle NiederrheinBut it is better to sort it out early, if it is something for you. How do you like to spend your holiday – in a camper, in a hotel or at home on the balcony?