For many people an Airstream is the ultimate in caravanning.

The trouble is that in the past few years you’d need to part with a six-figure sum to get a new one of these luxury caravans.

Earlier this year, however, a new model arrived at Lowdhams – currently Airstream’s only UK dealer. The Airstream World Traveler 22RB has been designed to be more affordable and appeal to an international audience. More models should be on the way later this year. I went to Lowdhams to take a look.

Pitch and set-up

The Airstream World Traveler 22RB looks pristine, but it achieves that look by not having any grab handles. Given that it weighs 1800kg unladen, you are going to need a caravan motor mover.

The awning can be rolled out with supports attached at each end to the caravan. It looks more stylish and is possibly more secure than average. There’s also a hot and cold external shower.

It also has its own onboard water tanks for both fresh and grey water. The onboard toilet isn’t a cassette toilet as such – it’s connected to a 41-litre black waste tank, emptied via a hose to a portable Fiamma waste-water tank that you empty the same way as you do with a cassette (see: how to empty a caravan toilet if you need a reminder).

Lounge in the Airstream World Traveler 22RB

You notice the sound deadening effect of the semi-monocoque design of this caravan as soon as you walk in. Headroom is impressive, too, which is always going to be important in the best caravans. The only seating area is immediately to the right.

Lowdhams plans to enhance the backrest cushions pictured here with something that looks more traditionally European, curving around the corner. It also plans to replace the felt-effect sliding locker doors with acrylic ones, and put uplighters inside the lockers.

The Airstream's lounge
The lounge feels cosy thanks to Airstream’s distinctive rounded edges, while the storage under the seats in the lounge are taken up with infill cushions. Aeroplane-style door is pure Airstream and there’s an external mains socket

That should create a pleasing effect at night, to add to the existing downlighters under the locker, and the four large LEDs that run down the centre of the ceiling, all of which can be dimmed.

The clip-on table is sturdy. There are USB ports in the little cubbyhole next to the offside settee, and the mains socket, like all the mains sockets in this van, is designed to work in the UK, Europe, and America. To the left of the door you will find controls for a Bluetooth sound system. This van also has an inbuilt air conditioner.

Kitchen in the Airstream World Traveler 22RB

The side kitchen has an impressive amount of workspace – and you get an extension. It’s well lit, too.

The kitchen, with the extension pulled out
Large window in the kitchen floods it with light and makes washing up less of a chore, while a handy pull-out worktop adds useful extra space for food preparation, or just a place to put a cup of tea

There’s a sturdy sink, complete with a swan-neck tap with different spray controls. You only get a two-burner hob, and the caravan fridge is half height. But underneath the settee next to the door there is a ‘cooling drawer’, which works as either a freezer or a fridge.

Beds in the Airstream World Traveler 22RB

For those who are looking for the best 4-berth caravan, the sleeping setup will always be important.

In the Airstream World Traveler 22RB, the single beds at the back are huge, although they don’t come with double bed-creating panels. The window in the back means you only get a minimal headboard, although the curves in the corner mean you should still be comfortable reading in bed – or watching the TV on its bracket.

The American-sourced mattress in the World Traveler
More UK-suitable mattresses will replace the American-sourced ones on this model

You make up the bed at the front by dislodging the table leg and swinging the table top down between the settees.

Washroom in the Airstream World Traveler 22RB

The washroom door shuts with a clunk just as impressive as the main door. There’s a shaving mirror facing you above a small corner basin, and the area is well lit via a large window with a blind.

The washroom in the Airstream
Shower cubicle has a curtain and only one drain hole, but it’s a well-lit space with the window

The neighbouring shower cubicle has quite a step to get into and feels a bit poky, due in part to intrusion from the wheelarch (which could be used as a seat).

Storage in the Airstream World Traveler 22RB

When it comes to your options for packing a caravan, there’s a large wardrobe, with a drawer underneath it, and overhead lockers at the front and back. Kitchen storage is impressive.

The locker above the kitchen
Locker above the kitchen is big enough for storing dry goods and more

The base unit includes three large drawers inside them, and a cupboard that contains a bin. There is plenty of space for pots, pans and kitchenware.

The bed lifted up to provide access to the small lockers underneath
The slats on the beds at the back stay up, allowing access to useful small lockers underneath

The washroom has a small cupboard under the basin and a shallow one behind the mirror for cosmetics.

Alternatives to consider

You could always consider the Coachman Lusso IV, a tourer which launched at the February NEC Show. The four-berth provides good storage, comfortable seating and a large kitchen.

Or there’s the Swift Elegance Grande 845, a spacious and well-equipped caravan which has Alde underfloor heating and an excellent washroom.

Technical specification

  • Price: £72,995
  • Berths: 4
  • MiRO: 1700kg
  • Payload: Up to 300kg
  • MTPLM: 2000kg
  • Interior length: 5.84m
  • Shipping length: 7.21m
  • Overall width: 2.29m
  • Web: airstream.com
  • Seen at: lowdhams.com

Spec list

  • Welded painted steel chassis
  • Galvanised EU-approved A-frame semi-monocoque aluminium shell
  • Aluminium exterior skin with fluoropolymer coating
  • Seamless aluminium roof and composite floor
  • 3M stone guard film on front panel
  • Awning
  • Exterior hot and cold shower and mains socket
  • Spare wheel
  • 70-litre onboard fresh-water tank
  • 85-litre onboard grey-water tank
  • 40-litre waste tank
  • 2.2-2.7kW floor-mounted air conditioner
  • Truma Eco Plus heater
  • 300W solar panel
  • 310Ah leisure battery
  • 110-litre compressor fridge
  • 30-litre cooling drawer
  • Multi-speed roof vent
  • LED interior lighting throughout
  • USB S and USB C ports
  • Flush toilet
  • Magnifying mirror in washroom
  • Beds: Front double: 2.0 x 0.75/1.0m
  • Rear double: 2.08 x 0.95/1.25m

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