It’s official: we’re in an electric vehicle (EV) revolution. In 2021, the global market share of EVs more than doubled, as people flocked to buy more eco-friendly motors in the hope of slashing their carbon footprints (and saving money over time too). But if you’re an EV owner and want to take a road trip, finding accommodation with charging points can feel like a minefield. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up our favourite hotels, campsites and destinations where you can charge your electric car, including a few of the UK's most EV-friendly cities, courtesy of new research by EV subscription service elmo.
Those wishing to visit the picture-perfect city of Bergen, which is considered the capital of Norway’s fjord region, should check in at Hotel Norge by Scandic. At this historic city centre hotel, which has been around since 1885, you’ll find a revamped modern interior complete with stylish and modern Scandi decor: slate and white walls, LED lights and pops of colour. And when you need to park up, there are three EV charging points available.
If you’re hankering after a ski holiday and want to bring your EV, there are hundreds of options to choose from in the Swiss, French, Italian and Austrian Alps. One of our favourites is Camp Zero, an eco resort in Champoluc, Italy, which is perfectly positioned for experiencing the Monterosa ski area. This 5-star luxury hotel includes spa and sauna facilities, a stunning 82-foot (25m) pool, spacious rooms and an indoor rock climbing gym, plus it’s equipped with two 22 kW Tesla charging stations. Bear in mind that when visiting Italy you might need to bring extra adapters and cables (more information can be found here).
Cosy chalet vibes with a decadent edge are the order of the day at Hotel le Kaila, a 5-star resort in the picturesque French ski destination of Méribel. Across its 18 rooms and 24 suites you’ll find gorgeous wooden furnishings, high, beamed ceilings, cosy fireplaces and plenty of sumptuous fabrics. Dining-wise, there’s a Michelin-star restaurant, L’Ekrin, to be found in the hotel, as well as the more low-key Brasserie 80. It’s also equipped with an EV charging point so you can bring your car too.
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Home to beaches that look like they belong in the Mediterranean (bar chilly temperatures), Cornwall is a seaside haven on the southwest coast of England. And if you’re after a hotel so close to the shoreline you can hear the waves, check out Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa, located on Newquay’s Fistral Beach. At this seaside bolthole there are a range of simple and modern rooms, starting at a very reasonable £50 ($60) per night, while guests can charge their EVs here for just £15 ($18) per day.
Ibiza might not be the first place you’d think of for an EV trip, but this party island has a grown-up side too: it’s been putting a huge focus on sustainability in recent years, with initiatives to tackle waste, pollution and carbon emissions. BLESS Hotel Ibiza, located in the tranquil cove of Cala Nova on the northeast coast, has a variety of EV charging points. Or if you’re not visiting with your car, the luxurious hotel also offers 100% electric, chauffeur-driven transfers to and from the airport, thanks to a partnership with BMW.
Located on Scotland’s Black Isle peninsula, Newhall Mains is a historic 18th-century retreat offering a selection of attractive suites and self-catering cottages. Following a three-year restoration, it reopened in 2021, with each room carefully restored using local slate, bespoke furniture and traditional materials. It’s a charming setting in which to stopover if you’re attempting the North Coast 500, aka Scotland’s answer to Route 66.
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Tuscany may be home to the lively and historic cities of Florence and Pisa, but its quieter countryside in the north is well worth a visit too. The landscape here is all dramatic gorges, valleys hugged by mist and oodles of vineyards, which makes it perfect for a scenic road trip. EV charging stations can be found at Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa. At this award-winning hotel, located near Lucca, there are 180 classically styled rooms, a gorgeous pool overlooking the valley and a wide terrace restaurant for sipping aperitifs at golden hour.
After a quintessentially English countryside break? The Lygon Arms, located in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Broadway. The Tudor building, which dates back to 1620, has plenty of character – rooms and suites are kept traditional with four-poster beds, antique furniture and plaid textiles, while in the adjoining Lygon Arms you’ll find a menu focused on local produce and British cuisine. There are two Chargemaster EV charging stations located just around the corner from the hotel.
The historic spa town of Cheltenham is a great place for a chilled weekend away with your electric car. Luxury hotel Ellenborough Park, which occupies a stately 15th-century estate just a short drive from the town centre, is the perfect place for some rest and relaxation. Rooms are decorated with traditional touches like vintage wallpaper, antique furniture and four-poster beds, while there’s a well-equipped spa in which to unwind. You’ll find one all-purpose EV charging point and two spots for Teslas just outside.
Italy’s Amalfi Coast is all sunshine, achingly gorgeous villages and idyllic beaches. But you might be surprised to learn it’s also a great place for a road trip with your EV. That’s according to research from Compare the Market, which created a list of the most EV-friendly road trips on the planet based on EV availability. With 99 chargers spread across a compact 64-mile (40km) route, you’ll be well equipped for a road trip here, but leave plenty of time to take in all the panoramic views along the way.
If you’re after somewhere to stay, Airbnb allows you to filter its properties based on whether they have an EV charger, which will take the hassle out of planning. On the Amalfi Coast, this gorgeous 5-star-rated agriturismo (farm stay) near the village of Pianillo – within easy reach of Positano and Amalfi – is the ideal location for a little rural relaxation. It has four spacious rooms with wooden beams, whitewashed walls and rustic decor, but the setting is the real star of the show. It occupies a gorgeous spot surrounded by farmland and vineyards.
Another unbelievable EV-friendly Airbnb in the region is this stunning coastal property. Set in the coastal commune of Maiori, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, this decadent private villa is perfect if you’re looking to stay with a group, as it has capacity for up to eight guests. As well as bucketloads of beautiful views, it has a large living space and kitchen, sweeping terraces and a fabulous pool from which you can peer out at the ocean.
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Ranking in third place on Compare the Market’s list of best EV road trips is Transfagarasan, a hair-raising route through Romania’s Carpathian Mountains which has a whopping 80 serpentine bends. The iconic road trip has 38 EV chargers along the way, plus a smattering of good accommodation with charging facilities. We recommend checking in to Hotel Subcarpati, a 4-star hotel in the town of Curtea de Argeş, which has spacious and comfortable rooms, a sun terrace and a luxurious hammam spa.
Known for its scenic walks, historic landmarks and quaint villages, the Brecon Beacons is one of Wales’ top destinations. Those looking to visit with their electric car should consider booking this gorgeous self-catering cottage in Crickhowell, which is a convenient base for exploring the National Park. The attractive townhouse boasts a generously sized kitchen and open-plan living area, complete with a cosy fireplace to gather around after a day’s walking.
As the only constituency with a Green Party MP in the country, Brighton is miles ahead when it comes to sustainability. There are more than 200 EV chargers dotted around its streets, as part of a broader initiative to make the city carbon neutral by 2030. Head to Hotel du Vin, an upscale boutique hotel with a prime location in the heart of The Lanes. Across the 49 colourful and uniquely decorated rooms, you’ll find plush Egyptian cotton bedding, vibrant artworks and roll-top baths, while there are four EV chargers located at The Lanes car park.
Set across a magnificent 58-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands, The Torridon is another great place to stop if you’re attempting the North Coast 500. This historic shooting lodge, which dates back to 1887, has 18 bespoke bedrooms, offering sweeping views across the expansive grounds, which look out to Loch Torridon and the surrounding mountains. As well as offering EV charging points for guests, the hotel recently launched a Porsche Driving Experience, allowing visitors to discover this iconic road trip route in a Porsche Taycan 4S electric sports car.
Wanting to visit Europe from the UK (or vice versa) with your electric car? As of May 2022, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle – a railway service which transports cars and passengers – has a 32-mile (52km) electric cable installed, meaning its service runs on 100% electric power. This has allowed the transport provider to reduce emissions by 55% since 2006, with the average cross-channel journey producing just over four pounds (2kg) of CO2 emissions compared to 324 pounds (147kg) for the average ferry crossing. What’s more, there are 16 free-to-use chargers at the terminals on both the French and English sides.
As the EV capital of the world, Norway should be at the top of your list for an eco-friendly road trip, with plenty of striking views guaranteed. In fact a whopping 54% of new cars sold here in 2020 were fully electric, thanks in large part to the country’s forward-thinking initiatives to get its fleet of vehicles to zero emissions by 2025. You’ll find almost 17,000 charging stations spread across the country, even in the most remote parts of the northeast.
According to research by elmo, there are a higher number of EV charging points at London's Airbnbs and hotels than in any other UK city – a grand total of 879. But you won't even need to book accommodation with a charger necessarily, as companies such as Source offer the ability to book and charge your car at more than 17,000 locations across the capital. You might want to park up and explore the city on foot, however, as high congestion charges and a large Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) have been put in place to reduce inner-city traffic.
With stately homes, wildlife parks and historic buildings all within easy reach of Doncaster, this Yorkshire city is perfect for a weekend getaway. It's also an unexpected EV hub: 274 hotels and accommodation options come with EV charging points, according to elmo, which means it has the highest number of chargers per 100,000 people out of any UK city. While there, be sure to check out Brodsworth Hall, a Victorian mansion set in gorgeous grounds, as well as Conisbrough Castle, a ruined fortress dating to the 12th century.
As one of the UK's oldest cities, York is bursting at the seams with historic attractions. Better yet, it's home to 156 hotels and Airbnbs with charging points, which makes it the third most EV-friendly city in the country. Top things to do here include touring York Minster, a gothic cathedral renowned as one of Europe's finest; wandering the higgledy-piggledy cobbles of The Shambles; and popping into independent cafés and shops (of which there are plenty).
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