The major difference between a campervan and a motorhome is size, and therefore number of facilities, level of autonomy and ease of driving and parking.
A motorhome will have a more sophisticated kitchen set-up, similar to what you might find in a mobile home. You will have an oven, a larger fridge and icebox. There will often be luxuries like heating, more sophisticated lighting and a TV.
In a campervan, you can expect more basic lighting, a sink, one or two rings to cook on, storage.
You can get vehicles with beds for between two and six people. In larger campervans and in all motorhomes, there will also be a bathroom, but the work involved in emptying and filling tanks may encourage you to use the facilities at the campsite instead.
Campervans and smaller motorhomes generally have enough (secondary) battery power to run your lights and fridge for a day and will then recharge while the vehicle is moving. If you will not be driving, they need to be plugged in to the power of a campsite. Larger motorhomes can be fitted with a generator and where this is the case you would not have to plug in to a campsite’s main power.
While the cost of the pitch at a campsite will be the same, a motorhome will cost more in fuel and on ferries. Also, the larger the vehicle, the more difficult to drive and manoeuvre. Particularly if you are new to ‘vanlife’, we would recommend going with the smallest vehicle possible to accommodate your group.
Another advantage of having a smaller vehicle is that you will be more likely to use it as transport during your holiday, to visit nearby attractions or simply to stock up at the supermarket.