Meet the UK's 2025 Legend Award Winners: Juan and Teresa from Reading

The 2025 Camplify Owner Awards celebrate the people who make our community brilliant – and this year's Legend Award for the UK honours a couple who've been with us almost from the very beginning.

Juan and Teresa from Reading joined Camplify seven years ago, not long after emigrating from South Africa with a dream of exploring the UK by road. Their six-berth family motorhome has since been to Glastonbury (more times than they have), hosted repeat hirers who've become friends, and helped fund everything from visa applications to a new chapter of life in Britain.

"This whole experience has been life-changing," Teresa says. "I love it. And I'll never stop."

From South Africa to the open road

On how it all started...

"We emigrated to the UK and I had this big ambition to just travel and road trip," Teresa explains. "I convinced my husband to buy a motorhome. We were looking at used ones, older ones – and we actually bought a brand new one."

They walked into a dealer near Reading and couldn't resist. Their first two trips? Winter. A proper UK winter.

"We're South Africans – we had summer holidays back home. Camping in winter was different!"

But working six days a week in their first year meant the motorhome sat on the drive. Teresa had an idea.

"I said to Juan, 'I think we need to investigate hiring it out.' He was not into that idea at all."

She found Camplify immediately.

"There was nobody else out there that stood out for me. The website, the feel – it's literally a community of people. I got us set up so quickly. It was so easy to do."

Their very first hirer? He's now hired from them three times.

Hire Juan and Teresa's motorhome →

Seven years and still going strong

Teresa and Juan are among Camplify UK's longest-standing owners – proper legends of the platform – and their commitment shows.

"It's not just a side hustle," Teresa says. "It's part of who you are. I had to rearrange my office yesterday because it's storage space for extra mattress protectors and all kinds of things for the motorhome. It becomes you."

The six-berth motorhome is a proper family home on wheels: bunk beds at the back that kids adore, a fully-kitted kitchen (ice bucket, corkscrew, grater – "we could go away tomorrow"), and heating that works off-grid or on hook-up.

"I tell the kids when they arrive: 'Come into your house, this is your home for the next few days.' I let them in first and they're all over the place. They're in awe."

Where the motorhome has been

Teresa keeps a Google Maps full of hearts and crosses – recommendations she shares with hirers, many of which she hasn't even visited herself.

"My motorhome's been to places I've never seen. It's got a lot of stories to tell."

The highlights:

• Glastonbury: Every year it's on. Teresa's never been herself, but her motorhome has.

• Wales: "People bring back the most beautiful photos. I quite like Wales myself – the Brecon Beacons, up north. It's just beautiful."

• Wilderness Fest, Carfest, Henley Festival: All without issues. ("I have rules about festivals, but those ones are fantastic.")

• Combe Martin: A memorable family trip – "It rained most of the time, but it was one of the most beautiful campsites. The boys were fishing, and I actually finished two books."

For hirers heading out from Reading, the location is perfect: easy access to Wales, the Cotswolds, the coast, or up to the Lake District.

"A lot of people come from London," Teresa notes. "They go to the coast, Wales, Dorset – wherever. And because we're on the Thames Path, you've got Henley, the Chiltern Valley, beautiful campsites in Hurley. You could catch a train to Windsor. England does a great pub, I tell you."

Teresa's approach: heart, not robots

What makes Teresa and Juan legends isn't just longevity – it's how they treat every hirer.

On communication...

"Be yourself. Don't fall into the trap of becoming robotic. Answer your messages immediately and with sincerity and a bit of heart. I send them a heartfelt email – I don't ChatGPT it because it can't be robotic. It has to be in your heart."

On preparation...

Teresa created YouTube tutorial videos for every system – gas, water, heating, the lot. Most are seven years old but still accurate.

"I realised people forget because they're overwhelmed. They look at this vehicle with all the tech, the control panel, the heating – not everybody's tech-savvy. So I had to create videos and little tutorials."

She also prints everything in a document for areas with poor signal. Belt and braces.

On availability...

"We have a WhatsApp group chat with every hirer. At any point, they can send a message: 'I can't remember how to do the heating again.' Juan would answer or I would, depending who's there first. You have to be available at night as well. People go to festivals, go out for dinner, come back late – and then they can't remember where the bathroom light is."

On handovers...

"I'm never rushed. I will never rush a handover. Even if you've hired from me five times already, I will still do the proper handover because things change. Minimum half an hour, showing exactly where everything is, any niggles, any scratches – you have to be transparent."

Top tips from a Camplify legend

Teresa's advice for anyone thinking of listing:

Don't treat it as just a side hustle...

"If you put your heart and soul into it, you could really do very, very well. It's not a job, but it's 24/7. You have to be committed."

Keep a day between hires...

"In case we need to do a small fix or check something and to do a proper clean. It doesn't always make business sense, but it's worth it."

Ask questions...

"I always tell my guests: I have to ask you questions. I want to know who you are. You are hiring my bread and butter. It cost me a fortune. It's my home that you're taking away."

Be transparent about everything...

"If there's a scratch here or there, you have to be upfront. People don't want surprises when they collect the van."

The best bits

On repeat hirers...

"Colin and Karen – I had to cancel their booking this year because our ECU broke. It broke my heart. And they invited us to join them at Carfest next year. So this time, I'm not booking that weekend for anybody else. I'm going to Carfest."

Harry, one of their very first hirers, still texts to book. "I just love that people have my number on their phone and it's like, 'Can I book?' Yes, go for it. The van's there."

On what surprised her...

"We came over and did not realise that people in the UK are such outdoorsy people. When the sixth of July hit after COVID, it was chaos and mayhem. I couldn't stay ahead. It was constantly in and out, in and out. I was also surprised at how lovely people are. They become friends, really."

On why she does it...

"It's a bit of both – I love people, I love meeting people. But definitely the income. It was a tremendous help. We had visa applications, citizenship for a family of four – it cost us a fortune. This helped us through."

On the future...

"I bought a Caddy Maxi and I've got plans. I'll probably add another listing soon. You can't be stagnant – you need to reinvent yourself a little bit. But we're definitely not selling the motorhome. I love my motorhome."

Hire Juan and Teresa's motorhome

Whether you're heading to a festival, exploring Wales, or just escaping London for the weekend, Juan and Teresa's six-berth motorhome is ready – fully kitted, immaculately maintained, and backed by seven years of legendary hosting.

Browse Juan and Teresa's listing and book your trip →

Collect from Reading – perfectly placed for the M4 to Wales, the M40 to the Cotswolds, or south to the coast.

Got a motorhome gathering dust on the drive? See how Teresa and Juan turned theirs into a life-changing seven-year journey. List your vehicle on Camplify →

Meet all our 2025 UK Owner Award winners and discover more inspiring stories from our community. See all winners →