I looked to the list about six months ago because I was going to be
transferred to Germany and was looking to do the same thing you are.  Our
goal was to pick up a van and use it for camping.  While we did end up
camping every weekend, we didn't use a van.  Here were the issues that
prevented it.
1.  You can only rent Euro vans called T4 over here.
2.  T4's run about $75/day for a California model.  The California is like
the Winnie conversion in the U.S.
3.  Two of the three rental companies I talked to required the entire rental
in advance (one insisted on cash).  Since I was going to be here for three
months, that came to something like $5000.
4.  Campanje (sp?) in the Netherlands was very helpful and I would be able
to purchase a van through them, but since I am in southern Germany, driving
8 hours each was to pick up a van didn't seem such a good idea.
5.  Since I was going to be in Germany for only three months, I didn't have
an apartment and so purchasing a vehicle without Camanje's help would have
been difficult.
6.  Since I was here on business, I didn't want to get locked into some long
term contract.  The T4 rental companies wouldn't refund any money if I
returned early.

So I ended up going to Hertz and getting a midsize Renault called Kangoo
which seats five and camped all over Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.  The
cost of the car was only $25/day.  Overall it worked out well.  The camping
facilities were usually clean and simple.  My wife, who isn't the 'roughing
it' kind of girl, was happy with the accommodations.

BTW: I have an '80 Westy at home.

If you're going to be in Europe for more than three months, purchasing a van
might work in your favor.  I'd also check what it would take to register the
van since that varies by country.

If you have any questions, just call.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Clayton Trapp
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 2:20 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: BARCELONA BY BUS

Howdy,

I'm new to this list, don't have much of a frame of reference, don't know
nuthin', etc.  The closest I've ever been to owning a Volkswagen bus is a
couple Porsche 914s.

BUT!  In May my family (wife, four kids, big ole dog) and I are going to
run all over Europe, starting in Barcelona.  Obviously the 914 won't do, so
I'm going to sell it before we go and we're going to buy a VW bus in
Barcelona.

Which is why it would be nice to know more than I do.  We're going to live
on the campgrounds of Europe, so we need something camping friendly.  My
wife says that if we get something with a pop-top we should be able to all
sleep inside in case of hurricanes.

I kind of lean towards the Vanagon types over the old hippie vans, just
because it seems they've got a little more room.  Price is going to be a
big deal, the difference of a couple hundred bucks will swing us.

A lot of the point of a VW van, besides the obvious mystique, is that we
figure everyone everywhere (except us) knows how to work on them.

I appreciate all thoughts, since you are the experts and I want to make
generally good moves.

Groove on!

Clayton