Ruby our VW T25 Holdsworth Villa 3 Conversion

I have just returned from a two-week trip round the UK with my 2 teenage kids in Ruby and I want to share the experience.

Firstly, the process of renting was a straightforward one and Tony came to meet us and introduce us to campervan life. He took the time to give us a thorough introduction to the workings of the van and I would say that at this point, it is worth taking a few notes if you haven't driven a camper before.
We specifically chose an original VW campervan over more high tech newer versions as we wanted that full campervan experience - at least once in our lives - and Ruby was no disappointment: all our fantasies rolled into one beautiful van!

Inside: the conversion was great, the rock and roll bed surprisingly comfortable and with the extra mattresses provided by Tony and Janine, along with duvets, blankets and extra pillows, we were all very comfortable.
My son slept in the awning - it took us about 20 minutes to figure it out on the first go, but after that, we got the set up time down to about 6.5 minutes!
It was great to have a cooker that made toast and combined with the awesome little gas BBQ provided and the all-important wind break (also provided) it allowed us to make pasta and fry stuff up at the same time instead of the usual camping problem of a long wait to cook each thing consecutively.

Improvements: the fridge worked great when plugged in at the campsites, but we couldn't get it to work while driving and we never really got the heating to work. We noticed a small oil leak over the two weeks too - nothing that stopped us in our tracks and we were able to contact Janine and Tony along the way to consult them.
The support they gave us throughout was excellent. Tony was kind enough to take time out from his own holiday in Wales to catch up with us, check the engine over and find a solution.

We covered almost 2000 miles and honestly, she was a bit of a tough drive, my back suffered from the tough pedals, lack or power steering and challenging gears, which I wasn't prepared for, but only to be expected from a vintage van. On the other hand the waves from like minded folk were just wonderful... and yes it is great to be on the road in any campervan but when your camper has something unique it is even more special!
Altogether this was an experience not to be missed and the memories we made in Ruby will keep us smiling for a long time to come.

We had a great time touring in Ruby (2 adults, 2 kids). She's a lovely old lady with loads of character, equipped with everything you need and would certainly recommend. Tony and Janine were great too - really helpful and flexible to our needs. Would book again without hesitation.

Renting Ruby was overall an fabulous experience and I would rent this vehicle again. Communication with Tony and Janine was excellent both before and during my trip. They were both very friendly and helpful. However Janine hasn’t used the vehicle herself, Tony was not available for handover and I haven’t been away in a Campervan before. Janine did her best but I found I had quite a few unanswered questions about such things as how the gas and electrics worked. Fortunately both were only a phone call away to answer my queries and Tony ‘talked me through ‘ changing a gas bottle! There was a manual provided with the vehicle but it didn’t answer all my questions. Driving Ruby was quite an experience as the gear change was very different from my car and there is no power steering as she is a vintage vehicle. For me this was part of the adventure. There was everything provided in the kitchen, like plates, cups, pans etc. The bed was comfortable, but I’m not sure that two big/tall people would fit comfortably, maybe ask Tony to measure the dimensions to see if you would fit! The curtains that pulled all the way round, and the gas heating, made it very cosy at night. The pop up roof provides good headroom in the middle of the vehicle, where the kitchen is. I didn’t use the awning because I didn’t need the extra space but this would more than double the usable space. The porta potty toilet is really only suitable for emergency use, I would recommend staying on a site with toilets. Overall Ruby is in very condition and was clean. Renting Ruby enabled me to have a fabulous few days away walking in the beautiful peaceful countryside of the Lincolnshire wolds. I’m so glad I did it, it was a wonderful experience and I would definitely recommend hiring from Janine and Tony.