We picked up the van (the dreamland) from Escape Campervans depot San Francisco We saw that the van was very old, we asked how old it was, they did not know this but it was very well maintained according to them. it had 235.000 miles already. we got a very short and quick briefing about the Van. 1st day we drove to Sonora (160 miles), the air-conditioning was working then but along the way the electrical system was not working very well, only the door at the drivers site opened, the rest stayed closed. while driving, every time when we hit the brakes, all door locks where clicking. In Sonora we found out that the refrigerator was not working and the door would not stay closed so it also had no use of putting ice in it. 2nd day (Tuesday 16-7) we started to drive from Sonora towards the Tioga pass on the east entrance of Yosemite NP the air-conditioning did not work anymore, it became very hot in the car. after 20 or 30 miles driving we decided to call Escape San Francisco what to do. it was very hard to get in contact with San Francisco, we got Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles on the line, when we finally got San Francisco they asked us to come back to San Francisco so they could fix it. we said that we didn't want to loose 2 extra holidays by driving back, wait for the repair en drive back again we asked if we couldn't stop at a garage for fixing, that was ok. We stopped at a auto Repair shop near Pinecrest. The mechanic looked under the hood and was really amazed of what he saw. the bad condition of the car shocked him. we phoned again with San Francisco to tell that the car was a piece of junk and that we wanted a new car, they could not do that and they hang up on us! The whole Air-conditioning system was leaking there was no lid on the oil-break system there was hardly any oil in the break system! there was a balloon on the hose which would explode definitely within a week according to the mechanic and then there would be no oil at all in the break systems!! there was leaking oil everywhere another hose broke when the mechanic touched it lightly the mechanic said this car would not last a week the Van was 12 years old and totally worn out with an engine in a very bad condition. The mechanic said to us that it was a very dangerous car, he could see that it had no maintenance at all for a long time!! he told us we could have been killed with that car if we would go down from the Tioga Pass without breaks. We phoned the general manager, Shawn, to say that we wanted another safe car because this was a piece of junk. He told us that the car was fine!!!??? And he didn't have another car for us till Friday which we could pick up in Los Angeles!!! he said to us that we had chosen an old car????!!!!!, (the only this we could choose was the type of car, never an age, we would never have excepted a car in this condition) We asked the mechanic to give Shawn a call to explain what was wrong with the car because he thought that we exaggerated. The mechanic was starting to fix it in order of Shawn but whiles fixing he found more and more and didn't managed to repair it that day. we already had spend the whole day at the garage and were very stressed about the way we were treated and the dangerous state of the car. the Van didn't feel right anymore for us, we did not wanted to strand somewhere in the middle of death valley or so and get killed. we really feared for our lives, our holiday was ruined at that moment. We called again with Shawn to tell him that we didn't want to drive this Van anymore. He told us ok, leave the car and now you are on your own. He just left us on the street in the middle of nowhere, without transportation, without anywhere to sleep. Only with the force of the credit-card company we got our money back, first they did not wanted to pay back out our 200 dollar down payment in advance but finally we got that back as well. The garage was about to be closed for the night, luckily they were very helpful, they said there was a hotel 5 miles further op the road and gave us the phone number and told us that there was a Hertz in Sonora and gave us their Phone number as well. Luckily the hotel had a free room and Hertz had a normal car for us (no camper or so). a nice gentleman (customer) hear our story and gave us a ride to the hotel. Hertz was so nice to pick us up at the hotel the next day by noon. when Hertz picked us up we passed the garage, the Van was outside, we stopped, the mechanic told us that the Van was repaired, but he told us again, " it is repaired but I still would not want to drive it because he heard a lot of thing while driving it that where not ok" In Sonora we got a new, great car, luckily there was a Wall-Mart in Sonora so we could buy a whole camping gear, we did not wanted to stay in expensive hotels. We got after that a nice holiday but were very mad about all that happened to us. NEVER, NEVER NEVER ESCAPE CAMPERVANS AGAIN. read more

Amazing campervans, cool people, and hassle free prices. I love the vibe of the company- super chill and friendly. My girlfriend and I rented the campervan for 4 days, got a free upgrade to a Ventura van, and even had our surplus mileages waived (we went over our 100 mi/day by a bit)! These are awesome people. We drove the campervan from LA to SF one way. If I could, I'd buy one of their campervans for myself one day. Overall, the price for the campervan was $363 for 4 days (insurance included, gas not included). Notes on our Ventura van: (Space on the Ventura is best suited for 2 people + stuff. Everything below is based on items included in the most basic option) Driving/handling- It was a Dodge, a little larger than a minivan? Handling was great. Gas mileage was decent. The engine was a little weak on acceleration, but we were also carrying a bit of stuff. The A/C wasn't very cold until it kicked in the last day. It could have been just us not figuring it out. Overall it was enjoyable and had a very solid feel. Paint job - Our van was beautiful. It was a great icebreaker as we met people along the way. Bed- It was at least queen sized, and surprisingly very comfortable. The included pillows, comforters, and blanket were thick and warm enough for us at night. The van also included black cloth "curtains" you could roll down for extra privacy (my girlfriend definitely appreciated this). Features- Comes with multiple cigarette lighter ports, so bring inverters to charge your electronics! Had an aux in, which is great for smartphone DJing. Enough holders on the sides and dashboard to hold all your random stuff for the day. The included sink, propane stove, 2 propane canisters, utensils, pots/pans, and fridge were all functional and made our trekking week a comfortable luxury. We appreciated the included table and 2 folding chairs, but ended up not using them. Oh, and definitely get the $9/day insurance. It'll save you stress and ended up helping us out when we bent the radio antenna at the last minute (oops) Call the day before turning it in. they're pretty cool about you turning it in late if there are no immediate reservations. read more

Hi Guys, Just wanted to send a message of thanks to the whole team at Escape!! Special shout outs to Chris & Nick in San Fran and Raphael in LA... all of these guys show great passion and enthusiasm in making sure all Escapees get the most out of their experience... WE SURE DID so thanks guys! We wanted to do something "different" and different is exactly what we got! 1500 miles around California with our Escape Campervan was such an incredible experience... one we would absolutely recommend to ANYONE!! The van was new and modern and ran like a dream, had everything we needed! Spacious, extremely comfortable bed, refrigerator, propane gas stove, sink, curtains, utensils etc etc etc.... We loved having the ability to stop where we wanted and for as long as we wanted... in our time and at our own pace.... no hotel bookings, no schedule, no dramas.... Chris and Nick in LA were great.... they really took some time to understand what kind of experience we were hoping to get out of our trip and help us work out a rough itinerary that totally worked for us! They told us about some funky things happening in San Fran that night, gave us their number and even offered a place to shower if we needed to! It's great dealing with real people who honestly want you to enjoy your trip! Raphael in LA was a champ too! Nothing was too much trouble, plenty of good advice for taking in LA and even makes a good coffee!! We dropped off the van (sadly) in the morning and had a late night departure from LAX so he gave us a secure lock up for that we could access after hours to pick up our luggage. If you are thinking about doing it DO IT..... and if you are doing it DO IT WITH ESCAPE!!!!! We did and we couldn't speak more highly of the whole experience..... from booking, costs, service, vehicle, staff and the unbelievable adventure we had along the way .... we had the best time!! Transport and Accomodation all for well under $100/day... no hidden extras or nasty surprises! 10 out of 10!! Thanks again Cat and Corey Brisbane, Australia read more

We rented out of San Francisco and drove the campervan all over central California. It was a fabulous experience. The van performed well, especially through the multiple harrowing drives through the Sierra Nevadas. The bed was spacious and surprisingly comfortable. The linens were clean and comfy, too. We slept like babies all week long. The van was stocked with everything you need to camp like a champ: stove, propane, matches, can opener, silverware, knives, cutting board, corkscrew, pots & pans, pot holders, dish towel, picnic chairs, & interior table. The fridge was larger than expected, and worked great. We were able to keep drinks, cheese, and produce fresh all week. While on the road, we only needed to purchase dish soap and a sponge. We spotted lots of Escape vans while in the National Parks. Each was unique and beautiful in its own way. Our van, "The Sunflower," suited us well, as the paint job was subtle and serene. All vans have limited advertising, but ours was the only van we saw that had no advertising on the back doors or front hood. I'd suggest requesting a van without advertising if you'd like a more anonymous drive. All the guys at the shop were a pleasure to work with. They're pretty flexible with pick-up/drop-off times. And they'll allow you to stash your bags in the building if you want to explore the city before or after your rental. Nick threw in a solar shower without charge and also supplied us with several packets of tips for our journey. Shortly after hitting the road, we noticed a chip in the windshield that we missed during the inspection. We called it in, and it wasn't an issue in the least. Jimmy and Nate were super helpful checking us back in and seemed genuinely interested in our trip. Thanks for the dinner recommendation! I'd absolutely recommend Escape to friends. We'll use them again as soon as a we can. read more

We just got back from a round trip from SF, up I5 across the Rogue Valley and down the OR/CA coast. It was AMAZING and we LOVED our camper van Scotty. Everywhere we went people asked to see inside and took pictures of the company name so they could book a trip. We are a family of 4 (kids 9&11) and it was perfect. We loved cooking breakfast, many lunches and a few dinners using the kitchen. I loved having the sink and the solar refrigerator (I want one for all of our camping trips now!). We made bacon and eggs every morning, coffee & hot chocolate. It was so easy! I slept with my 11 yr old on top and we were so comfortable. Loved having the included bedding instead of 8 nights in a sleeping bag. The 'upstairs' was awesome, great breezes, lots of space and VERY comfortable (we camp a lot in our tent and I never sleep). My husband and 9yr old slept "downstairs" and were comfy as well. We each brought a big duffle bag and a daypack and had plenty of room. We also rented the sunshade. The main compartment had plenty of space during the day as all our gear fit in the back. We met a group who rented a similar/smaller van from another company and they had to pay extra (or bring their own- not an option for us since we flew into CA) for all the great stuff we had included (bedding, dishes, cookware, chairs....). The only thing that could be improved would be a more modern radio, but a $4 Aux cord at the gas station solved that. It would be nice if there were some kind of airport shuttle (Hayward to Oakland) but Lyft worked ok. The staff were very responsive and answered our pre-trip questions right away. The guy in Hayward almost joined us on our trip, he was so excited to talk about our plans and using the camper. We are totally sold on this kind of road tripping. Fortunately there is an office in Denver where we live so we WILL be renting again. read more

This was my first time renting a camper van, and I think I've been converted! This is definitely the way to travel through national and state parks. We picked the van up in LA and then spent four nights in Big Sur, California, camping at a different place in the park each night. The best part of the experience for me was realizing that, when you carry your home with you, everywhere can be a home! So the trip had a very different feel than staying in a hotel, hostel, or lodge. Of course, it was cushier than actual camping, but I still felt immersed in the landscape, which is wonderful in a place as beautiful and invigorating as Big Sur. The whole rental process was very smooth--from picking out a car, to learning about all the features, to using it, and returning it. Everything was pretty much worry-free. We even got a free upgrade and got to use a brand-new van with a gorgeous paint job. (The Ventura is an excellent model!) The van comes with a sink, all your cooking utensils, an easy-to-use propane stove, a table, a really comfortable bed with a tempur-pedic mattress, pillows, blankets--pretty much everything you need, which is great because that means you don't have to bring a big suitcase with you. As many other people have said, the paint job on the car is a great conversation starter and also a good way to bond with other people using Escape. We met lots of Escape campers in Big Sur and instantly had something to rave about together--our experience with Escape. Great company, and I am really hoping to get myself back out west to use them again soon! read more

Escape mise tout sur le look accrocheur de ses fourgons, mais pour ce qui est du reste (accueil, équipement, motorisation), ils font le strict minimum. Nous avons loué un Maverick au départ de San Francisco. Le personnel de l'agence est très froid et indifférent, pas un sourire, il faut leur arracher la moindre info. On a vraiment eu l'impression d'être du bétail. Le van n'était pas super confortable pour le couchage (lit en 4 parties qui ne font pas tous la même épaisseur : résultat un lit bosselé) et pas non plus super équipé (même pas de table extérieur, fauteuil inconfortables... le strict minimum, quoi). On aurai également apprécié avoir une couverture supplémentaire à cette époque de l'année (mai) ou il neige encore dans beaucoup de parcs nationaux. Obligés d'acheter un sac de couchage. Sinon, niveau confort de conduite, ce camion est nullissime. Vous ne risquez pas de faire d'excès de vitesse, ça n'avance pas. C'est hyper bruyant, et les amortisseurs sont réglés pour vous faire regretter de vous être engagé sur une piste non goudronnée (bon en même temps, ils précisent bien que ce n'est pas prévu pour). Pour les point positifs, car il y en a quand même : - On a beaucoup apprécié le petit frigo qui marche du tonnerre. - La déco de notre camion etait sympa (mais attention, on a eu de la chance, on en a vu des bien moches aussi). - l'habitacle est spacieux et confortable. - le petit rechaud marche bien. - ne consomme pas tant que ça. read more

TLDR: We're already planning another trip for next year. Our experience with Escape was excellent. We had "Floyd," one of the Mavericks vans. We spent two weeks on the road, going to Yosemite, then up to the Madras, OR area for the eclipse and down to the coast for the ocean and redwoods. We ended up just leaving it in "bed" mode, because it was a little clunky doing the conversion - but every campground has tables, so it didn't really matter. The kitchen area, with sink, propane stove and refrigerator, was perfect for our needs. The fridge is powered off a solar panel on the roof, so it doesn't drain the car battery. We rented the sun shade, which we'd thought would be a retractible shade on the side of the van, but turned out to be a large external shade tent. It took up valuable storage space and we only used it once, so we'll skip it next time. The only issues we had were very minor. One of the 3 picnic chairs they provided was completely broken, but since there were only 2 of us, it didn't matter. The can opener didn't work, so we replaced it. The employee offered to reimburse us, so I'm sure that if we'd needed a 3rd chair and purchased it, they would have reimbursed us. Bottom line: This is a great way to see the country, and it is a conversation starter wherever you go. We met so many great people while on the road, and many of those conversations started with comments and questions about the campervan. read more

We at Zip Records in San Francisco have utilized Escape Camper Vans multiple times over the years. They are the perfect solution for our Touring Bands visiting from abroad. We comfortably accommodate 4 people in each van while saving loads of money on eating out and hotels by using the included fridge, stove, sink and fold-out bed+bedding. Also, escape vans are about the same price as a regular rental car without the corporate non-sense! They get decent gas mileage, excellent when you account for per-person MPG and gear capacity, are easy to drive, have a good sound system (very important), and are easy to park even in the super crowded cities we visit on tour. Nick Fong at Escape SF is very easy to deal with and always makes sure we have all the extras we need (silverware, aux cable, atlas, duvets, pillows sleeping bags, etc.) and also consults with us to determine how many extra miles, insurance, and accessories we need to make our trips a success! We live out of these vans for weeks at a time on a very tight touring schedule. We love working with Nick @ Escape and can't wait to get on the road again with Escape Camper Vans. Oh the places you'll go... www.ziprecords.com read more

We are a family of 4 (with 2x teenagers). We went on a 2 week road trip, and hired the pop-up roof tent. We found the beds (inside and above the van) to be really comfortable, particularly the bed inside the van. Inside the van is insulated against noise too. The bedding was in good condition - although we could have done with some extra blankets when visiting Lassen National park (which was cold at night). The storage arrangements and kitchenette are well designed, and the fridge was ample for our needs. We cooked for ourselves the whole of the two weeks, and could have done with a few more kitchen utensils - the kit is pretty basic (for instance a vegetable peeler would have been handy). It was great to be able to brew up a cup of tea whenever we felt the need! We all fell in love with the van, and found it hard to hand it back. We would hire one again without hesitation. We had no technical problems, so can't comment on the roadside assistance service offerred by the company. read more

We have had 3 great trips in Escape vans...twice out of San Francisco and once out of Las Vegas. Destinations: Yellowstone, Glacier, Tetons, Canadian Rockies, Arizona, New Mexico.and amazing places along the way. The vans were so convenient and the Escape folks great to work with. We are a couple in our 60s who are used to car camping and backpacking so the van was a luxury. In the van you are able to get to places that would be inaccessible by motor-home. And yes, they are great conversation starters as "I thought only hippies drove those things". The vans are equipped with all you need except your clothes and food and there is enough room to store your stuff. We kept the back folded down into the bed (really comfortable!) the whole time and did not seem to need the table and bench set up. Next trip 2015 to Olympic National Park! As long as you are OK with public restrooms and showers, this is a really fun and economical way to see the U.S. and Canada. read more

My wife and I just finished our two week trip around California in an Escape campervan; it was a blast! We essentially went from San Fran to Yosemite to Kings Canyon/Sequoia to LA then back up the coast on Highway 1. We chose the big "Mavericks" model which has plenty of room for two. Theoretically you can convert the bed into two benches around a table, but we just left it in bed mode which saved us some time at the campgrounds. The campervan is surprisingly easy to drive and comes with all sorts of equipment (a decent map, all dishes and cutlery, pots, pans, a camping stove with propane cartriges, electric cables for hook-up on bigger campgrounds, camping chairs, etc.). It even has a built-in sink which is great if you're planning to visit more remote campgrounds that do not have water. And there is a fridge which runs on a second battery. These guys are awesome - Jimmy was extremely helpful - and we'll definitely be back. Coachella anyone? read more

Rented Maverick campervan for family of four doing nine days of camping at Utah national parks. Easy to navigate, easy to convert from what we called table-mode to sleeping-mode. As noted, it sleeps two really comfortably, three is ok. We didn't even try four people. We went two in campervan and two in a tent. Loved that the little fridge runs off solar power and can run constantly. Kept our beverages and food cold at all times. Sink takes a work, but a nice thing to have for small cleanup jobs. We're real familiar with camp stoves, so that was no problem for us, and we never got close to using the second bottle of propane fuel provided, though it was nice to know it was there. Kids liked traveling in the back of a van; a rental car would not been nearly as much fun for them, and we saved money by camping instead of paying high-season hotel prices near the national parks. I would definitely use escape campervans again on a future trip out west. read more

I can't say enough good things about my experience with this company. The check in and check out process was really great! Chris, Brian, Steve all of them! Really nice people and did a great job of explaining how things work in the van. We were given a van that had just returned that morning from another trip and it was cleaned out and ready to go immediately. We didn't have any issues with the van itself in our 1600 mile trip! During our trip we actually ran into another group with a van from the same location and some of our kitchen ware got taken by the other party by accident. We let the guys know about that when we returned and they were really great about it! The first things we were asked when we arrived to return the van was if we had a great time, and if we had any issues with the van. Not only was the camper awesome, but the customer service at this company is outstanding!!!!!!! I can't wait for my next trip! read more

This was hands down the coolest, most affordable way of seeing the country and camping. We didn't have a plan - it was more of a route - and this campervan DID NOT disappoint in any way. Drove up the Pacific Northwest and camped in 7 different spots. We traveled over 1300 miles in 7 days and only spent about $175 in gas. They take GOOD care of these vans. Not one problem whatsoever. UH. MAZING. So much fun! Everything in the van is so easy to set up and break down...the back where you cook is so accessible and there is much more storage throughout the van than you would think. The bed is SO comfortable. I could go on and on..........reccomendations for camping in this beast......REDWOODS, GOLDS BLUFF AND WHALESHEAD BEACH! Get after it people - you're missing out. There are memories to be made in these things! Enjoy :) read more

We rented a camper van for the family for two and a half weeks and went travelling around various national parks in the south west. It was all very well organised and the communication with the office beforehand was excellent. Pick up and drop off very easy and convenient for airport. The van stood up to a family of five (3 boys, aged 18,15 and 11 and two adults) and we even managed to sleep three of us inside the van and two on top when it was cold (we also took a tent). We didn't really use the sink but the stove worked, we just seemed to use a lot of gas. The only negative comment would be that you need more blankets if it is cold (it hit freezing in Kings Canyon). Would certainly recommend the company and all our children enjoyed the experience. read more

The Escape-team made the great holiday we had possible. It began with an understandable and easy booking of a camper. When we picked up the camper, it had all the utilities we needed. The team was helpful and we have to say thank you for the great tips you gave us. We had no problems at all with the camper, and it was comfortable to drive, to cook and to sleep. Other people also really like these colored vans and often came and talked to us about them. And it was always easy to find our car on a big parking space It was a real home for unfortunately only 18 days. Looking forward to our next trip, which will sure be with a camper from espace! We can recommend it to everyone who wants to travel in the USA!! Many greetings from Germany. read more

Only had the van for 3 days but it was awesome! I worked for 2 months back and fourth with a similar company in the area that rented old VW vans and it was hell! They would take days to respond to emails and would ignore my calls. After finally putting down a deposit they wanted my insurance company to call them directly to confirm coverage. I live in a province that only provides one insurance company that is mandatory and they are not going to be able to call a company up directly. So after being fed up with them I found escape campervans it was a breath of fresh air. We had everything booked and confirmed within the day. Such a relief! Camper was great no complaints bed was more comfortable than we expected. Thanks again!! read more

By far, THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL! My husband and I wanted to travel the coast down Hwy 101 from San Francisco to LA and over to Vegas. The van accommodated the sense of adventure we were looking for along with the freedom to be mobile and explore whenever the urge hit us! The bed was easy to pull out and put back, there was plenty of room to sleep my husband who is 6'3 and I (both of us are not small people). We had the Maverick in Camo and while it is large in size, the gas mileage was pretty impressive. We spent MUCH less in gas than we would have on hotels and a car rental. We definitely plan on using Escape again.....seriously the best way to travel if you want some adventure! read more