Being sick in the van - The quiet side of vanlife

Vanlife sounds like sunsets, wide beaches, and freedom on four wheels.But sometimes another moment slips in: the body stops, strength collapses – and life in the motorhome becomes quiet.

I experienced this in Spain. An unexpected clinic, a taxi instead of the motorhome, a night full of questions. For two weeks I could barely do anything, and when we continued driving, the exhaustion came back – this time in France. Emergency room, medication, keep rolling.

It was a different kind of vanlife. One that people rarely talk about.

Here I share how we handle it – and the little things that help when you get sick on the road.

The body says stop – and the world shrinks

When you get sick, the direction changes. Suddenly it’s not about the most beautiful spot anymore, but about where the nearest doctor is.

Life slows down: short walks, lots of sleep, soup from the tiny pot, wrapped in a blanket.

And in between there is Yasuo, our Shiba, lying close beside me. He senses when something is wrong. He becomes quieter, more watchful – and somehow the small van becomes a good place again.

Finding a doctor abroad – between uncertainty and trust

Being sick far from home feels overwhelming at first. A different language, unfamiliar systems, new routines.

But the truth is: everywhere, there are people who want to help.

This is how we handle it:

• Google Maps + reviews – often the quickest way. “Centro Médico”, “Urgencias”, “Clinique”, “Urgent Care”…

• Pharmacies – especially in Southern Europe, pharmacists are little rescue stations. They listen, advise, and point you in the right direction.

• Ask campsite or parking hosts – they know local doctors and emergency procedures.

• Taxi instead of the motorhome – no stress, no packing up, no driving with a fever. Just get there and receive care.

Nearly every time, we’ve been met with kindness, patience, and real willingness to help.

Documents & insurance – the unromantic but important part

Freedom is beautiful, but it shouldn’t leave you unprotected.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Covers basic care in EU countries – often already included on your German insurance card.Good, but limited: private clinics are usually not included.

Travel health insurance

In our experience: essential.

Important factors:

• Valid for many months

• Covers doctor visits, medication, treatments

• Includes transport back to Germany

• Easy reimbursement

Most insurances reimburse afterwards: you pay on-site, submit the invoice, and get your money back.

Offline emergency folder in the van

A small folder is enough:

• Insurance documents

• Copies of ID

• Allergies & medications

• Emergency numbers

• Addresses of clinics (saved offline)

It takes almost no space, but gives peace of mind.

Our tiny van first-aid kit – minimalist but useful

Not much fits in the van – and not much is needed:

• Pain & fever medication

• Electrolytes & magnesium

• Stomach remedies

• Bandages & disinfectant

• Nasal spray & eye drops

• Personal medication (double supply)

Small, organized, enough.

Being sick in the van – the emotional side

Being ill in such a small space is not only physically draining.

For us, it's also a shift in roles.

One becomes weak, the other has to carry more.

It’s crowded, loud, sometimes frustrating.

And yet, you grow closer than almost anywhere else.

We found our own little “sick-day routine”:

• Switch into calm mode – bed ready, dim lights, bring stillness

• Tea & small rituals – warmth soothes

• A hot-water bottle – our hero on grey days

• Short, slow walks when possible

• Yasuo as mood compass – his pace becomes ours

• Many breaks – because vanlife is not a race

You learn to accept your limits.And that freedom also means: being allowed to stop.

The quiet side of vanlife

Being sick on the road shows that vanlife isn’t only joy and freedom.

It’s also vulnerability, a pause you didn’t choose, a pace set by the body, not the map.

You realize how little you truly need.

How generous strangers can be.

How close you grow when space is small and life becomes quiet.

At the same time, it shows how important preparation is:Knowing doctors abroad, having insurance ready, keeping a simple first-aid kit in the van.

And one day, when your strength returns and the engine hums again, the road feels different —not like escape, not like adventure,but like a gentle continuation,with more calm, more awareness,and the certainty that even the quiet moments belong to the journey.