Icelandic camper van rental Kúkú Campers’ concept of renting cheap and cheerful vans which roll transportation and accommodation into one is taking on in their new US location, Vísir reports. Steinarr Lár, one of the company’s owners, says the idea is wholly Icelandic.
The sometimes controversial company opened their first foreign branch in Colorado last spring. “Americans are loving the Icelandic concept. We put out 20 campers to try it out and they’ve been fully booked all summer,” he stated.
Steinarr started Kúkú campers six years ago with a single used van. Now that the growth in domestic tourism seems to be slowing somewhat, it makes sense to branch out, he stated. “Colorado is a huge market with 80 million tourists who are looking for nature, freedom, and safety so it’s a great spot to start out,” he says.
When asked whether the company plans to expand elsewhere, Steinarr told Vísir “we receive at least five requests every year from individuals who want to use the Kúkú brand in their country. Usually they’re customers who are fans of the concept.”
Kúkú campers have previously received criticism for potentially misleading advertising in Iceland. Many critics also argue that camper vans without toilets encourage tourists to “do their business” wherever they may park. Steinarr says the conditions are much better for camper van travel in the US, with an extensive infrastructure of national parks, and toilets and free parking widely available.
“We receive almost exclusively five-star reviews both at home and abroad. People love the freedom that comes with travelling in a camper van and that’s clear in our customers’ satisfaction.”
