Hostel On Wheels - How Campers
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLisbon, Portugal
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hostel On Wheels - How Campers does
HOW Campers (legal entity: HOW - Hostel on Wheels, Lda.) is a privately held Portuguese campervan rental company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Sobreda/Almada, near Lisbon. The company rents a fleet of five vehicle classes — Overlander roof-tent Dacia, Boxer mini-camper, Adventure compact camper, Explorer mid-size camper, and Navigator full-size Fiat Ducato motorhome — to leisure travelers exploring the Iberian Peninsula, with daily rates ranging from €69 to €179 depending on vehicle and season. Pickup and drop-off service is offered at 11 airports across Portugal (Lisbon, Porto, Faro) and Spain (Madrid, Seville, Granada, Malaga, Coruña, Vigo, Santiago de Compostela), enabling one-way and cross-border itineraries. The company is operated by its three co-founders (Hugo, Luís, and Rodrigo) and holds the Clean & Safe certification from Turismo de Portugal.
The business model is direct-to-consumer: customers book online through a multilingual (English/Portuguese/French) reservation system, with revenue streams spanning daily rental fees, tiered protection plans (BASE/PLUS/ULTRA), equipment add-ons (bed kits, surfboards, bikes, WiFi), and curated itinerary packages including enotourism experiences. All rentals include unlimited kilometers and 24/7 roadside assistance. Marketing relies on organic content (hashtag #howcampers), Instagram, Facebook, TripAdvisor listings, and a blog featuring Portugal road-trip content. Differentiators center on Fiat Ducato reliability (holding two-thirds of the European motorcaravan market), rotating front-seat interior configurations, and a curated routes content library rather than proprietary technology. The company has not raised external funding, has 1-10 employees, and shows no AI/ML or software-platform capabilities — it is an asset-heavy, owner-operated tourism services business.
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hostel On Wheels - How Campers
- Legal name
- HOW - Hostel on Wheels, Lda.
- Website
- https://howcampers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Campervan Rental Services
- NAICS
- Truck, Utility Trailer, and RV (Recreational Vehicle) Rental and Leasing (532120)
- SIC
- Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Campervan Rentals (Class B / Converted Vans) (THADAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Off-Road / 4x4 Camper Rentals (Overland Rigs) (THADAIAH)
Keywords
Where Hostel On Wheels - How Campers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisbon
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices11 records
Markets served
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Campervan Rental Fees: The primary revenue stream comes from renting campervans with daily rates ranging from €69 to €179 depending on vehicle type and season. Pricing varies by season: Low (Nov-Feb), Medium (Oct, Mar-Apr-May), High (Jun, Sep), Peak (Jul-Aug).
- Protection Plans: Three-tiered insurance options: BASE (€0/day, €2000 security deposit), PLUS (€17/day, €900 deposit), ULTRA (€25/day, €300 deposit). Higher tiers include additional drivers and driving coverage in Spain.
- Equipment and Activity Add-ons: Extra equipment rentals including bed kits (€9/rental), towel kits, outdoor furniture, WiFi routers, surfboards, wetsuits, bikes, and camping gear. Also offers activities like skydiving, surfing lessons, ballooning, and water sports.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Overlander (Dacia Sandero with roof tent) - 4 passengers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Boxer (Mini campervan) - 3 passengers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adventure (Campervan) - 2/4 passengers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Explorer (Campervan) - 2/4 passengers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Navigator (Large campervan) - 3/5 passengers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Additional Driver |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Pet Fee |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Late Return Fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hostel on Wheels (HOW Campers) rents a fleet of converted campervans and overland vehicles to leisure travelers for self-driven exploration of Portugal and Spain. Customers select from five vehicle classes (Overlander, Boxer, Adventure, Explorer, Navigator) accommodating 2 to 5 passengers, with daily rates from €69 to €179 depending on season and vehicle, all-inclusive of unlimited kilometers, 24/7 roadside assistance, and GPS navigation. Pickup and drop-off are available at 11 airport locations across the Iberian Peninsula, with optional tiered protection plans and equipment add-ons.
Product overview
HOW Campers (Hostel on Wheels) operates a campervan rental business in Portugal with a portfolio of five distinct vehicle classes: OVERLANDER (rooftop tent on Dacia Sandero), BOXER (mini-campervan on Fiat Doblo), ADVENTURE (compact campervan for 2-4 sleepers), EXPLORER (mid-size campervan with solar panel and interior bathroom), and NAVIGATOR (full-size Fiat Ducato motorhome for 3-5 sleepers). The offering includes pre-planned itineraries for road trips across Portugal and Spain, tiered protection plans (BASE, PLUS, ULTRA) with varying coverage and security deposits, and a comprehensive catalog of extra equipment (surfboards, bicycles, camping gear, WiFi routers, etc.). All rentals include unlimited kilometers, 24/7 roadside assistance, and multiple pickup/drop-off locations at airports in Portugal and Spain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HOW Campers Campervan Rental Fleet Core daily-rate rental service offering a fleet of converted campervans and overland vehicles for self-driven travel in Portugal and Spain, with five vehicle classes accommodating 2 to 5 passengers, unlimited kilometers, 24/7 roadside assistance, and airport pickup/drop-off.
- OVERLANDER Dacia Sandero Stepway equipped with a roof tent for 2 people, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, portable gas stove, solar shower, and cooler; accommodates 4 passengers with safety belts. Priced from €69/day.
- BOXER Mini-campervan on a Fiat Doblo Maxi platform featuring an outdoor kitchen, 25L fridge, interior bed for 2 (200cm x 125cm), solar shower, and parking sensors; accommodates 3 passengers. Priced from €99/day.
- ADVENTURE Compact campervan with 2 or 4 sleeper configurations (2 double beds, 188cm x 120cm), exterior shower, chemical toilet option, 62L fridge, Bluetooth radio, rear camera, and 160L water tank; accommodates 4 passengers. Priced from €109–€119/day.
- EXPLORER Mid-size campervan with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, solar panel, rear view camera, fixed chemical toilet with flush, interior hot shower, diesel heater, 80L fridge, and 160L water tank; accommodates 4 passengers with 2 or 4 sleeper options. Priced from €139–€149/day.
- NAVIGATOR Full-size Fiat Ducato MH2 motorhome with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, rear view camera, interior bathroom (washbasin/hot shower/chemical toilet), 160L fridge, gas heating, and 100L water tank; accommodates 5 passengers with 3- or 5-sleeper configurations. Priced from €169–€179/day.
- Protection Plans (BASE, PLUS, ULTRA) Three-tiered insurance and protection packages: BASE (€0/day, €2,000 security deposit), PLUS (€17/day, €900 deposit, additional drivers and Spain coverage), and ULTRA (€25/day, €300 deposit), progressively reducing security deposits and expanding coverage.
- Extra Equipment Rentals Additional rental equipment including bed kits (€9/rental), towel kits, outdoor furniture, barbecue, WiFi router, surfboards, wetsuits, bodyboards, SUP boards, bicycles, camping gear, child safety seats, and board games, sold as one-time add-ons per rental.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.9 out of 5 star average rating on Google Reviews based on 348 reviews
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hostel On Wheels - How Campers
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Roadsurfer: Germany-based campervan rental company with multiple European locations offering converted van and motorhome rentals; highly comparable on product type (Ducato-based campervans) and target market (international tourists seeking self-driven road trips), though more pan-European than Iberia-focused.
- Indie Campers: Portugal-headquartered campervan and motorhome rental platform operating across Europe; directly comparable to HOW Campers on product (Class B converted van and motorhome rentals), customer base (international leisure travelers doing road trips), and geography (Portugal and Spain are core markets).
- Goboony: European peer-to-peer campervan rental platform operating in Iberia and other European countries; overlaps with HOW on customer demographic (international road-trippers) and Iberian geography, differentiated by its asset-light marketplace model versus HOW's owned fleet.
- Yescapa: European peer-to-peer motorhome and campervan rental marketplace active in Portugal and Spain; comparable to HOW in product category and Iberian coverage, but differs via marketplace aggregation model rather than owned fleet.
Emerging players
- Outdoorsy: Peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace initially focused on North America with international expansion; overlapping with HOW on customer use case (self-driven road trips with rented RVs/campervans) but operating with a marketplace rather than owned-fleet model.
Broad incumbents
- Cruise America: North America's largest RV rental company; comparable to HOW on motorhome rental model and leisure traveler target, though operating at much larger scale in a different geography (US/Canada vs Iberia).
- McRent: One of Europe's largest motorhome rental companies with broad geographic coverage; comparable to HOW on rental model and product (motorhomes for leisure travel), though McRent operates at significantly larger scale and broader European footprint than the Iberia-focused HOW.
Others
- Campercontact: European campsite and motorhome stop directory/platform; not a direct rental competitor but complementary to HOW because routes and campsite recommendations underpin the same end-trip use case and could become a partnership or content distribution channel.
Regional players
- Lusitano Campers: Portugal-based campervan rental specialist serving the Portuguese market; directly comparable to HOW on product type (converted campervans), geography (Portugal), and customer target (inbound leisure road-trippers), making it a close regional competitor.
- Autocaravanas Roma: Iberian motorhome and campervan rental company; comparable to HOW on product category (campervan/motorhome rentals) and Iberian Peninsula focus, but typically positions around longer-term and traditional motorhome rentals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers social profiles
Digital presenceHostel On Wheels - How Campers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hostel On Wheels - How Campers
What does Hostel On Wheels - How Campers do?
Hostel on Wheels (HOW Campers) rents a fleet of converted campervans and overland vehicles to leisure travelers for self-driven exploration of Portugal and Spain. Customers select from five vehicle classes (Overlander, Boxer, Adventure, Explorer, Navigator) accommodating 2 to 5 passengers, with daily rates from €69 to €179 depending on season and vehicle, all-inclusive of unlimited kilometers, 24/7 roadside assistance, and GPS navigation. Pickup and drop-off are available at 11 airport locations across the Iberian Peninsula, with optional tiered protection plans and equipment add-ons.
Is Hostel On Wheels - How Campers a public or private company?
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hostel On Wheels - How Campers founded?
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hostel On Wheels - How Campers based?
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Hostel On Wheels - How Campers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Campervan Rental Fees are the primary driver. The others are protection Plans and equipment and Activity Add-ons.
Who are Hostel On Wheels - How Campers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Roadsurfer, Indie Campers, Goboony and Yescapa. Outdoorsy is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Cruise America and McRent. Campercontact is listed as an others. Regional players are Lusitano Campers and Autocaravanas Roma.
Does Hostel On Wheels - How Campers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hostel On Wheels - How Campers.
What industry is Hostel On Wheels - How Campers in?
Hostel On Wheels - How Campers's product category is Campervan Rental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THADAIAA, Campervan Rentals (Class B / Converted Vans), with a secondary code of THADAIAH, Off-Road / 4x4 Camper Rentals (Overland Rigs). Its NAICS code is 532120 and its SIC code is 7510.