Karma Campervans Calgary — Attraction in Calgary

UPDATE: Karma Campervans reached out to assist with the claims reporting to BC Public Service, who confirmed that WE actually can submit a claim. That said, my rating still stands. They handled this situation poorly, and should really reconsider charging for damage that occurs due to circumstances beyond the renter's control. Our 11 night trip now cost over $500 a night (FYI it's cheaper to stay at the Fairmonts), just be sure to consider this all when booking a campervan. You never know what could happen on your trip, even if you are being as careful as possible.

I really wanted to give them 5 stars but can't get past how unethical their company is. We rented a campervan for 11 days...the van itself was clean and well laid out. We experienced some minor hiccups from the start (1) two instances of interior damage were not reported (2) water jugs under the sink were leaking which required us to turn around. (3) Portable kettle didn't work. 4 days after we dropped off the Campervan we got an email stating that there was paint damage to the van. We were completely unaware of any damage until it was brought to our attention, and looking back at all our pre-trip and post-trip photos, it just looked like dirt. Nonetheless, we took the matter seriously and, being unsure of the cause, initiated our own investigation. I decided to reach out to both BC Public Service and Alberta Public Service to inquire about any roadwork or maintenance activities that could have impacted the vehicle during our trip. There were road line paintings on the Okanagan-Kootenay boundary during the duration of our travel. They noted that any claim or action regarding damage caused by such activities would need to be pursued by the vehicle owner, Karma Campervans, and not by the renter. Our hands were tied, so we relayed the information to Karma since it would be fair and reasonable for Karma Campervans, being the vehicle rental company, to take appropriate steps to address and rectify the situation, especially when damage occurs due to circumstances beyond the renter's control (we had to drive on the narrow highways - and no wet paint sign postings were visible). They refused. ANYWAYS, long story short, they charged us $1812.24 to "repair" the vehicle. I contacted over a dozen nearby automotive centers who confirmed that the paint damage pictured could've easily been removed with the right solution and power washer for less than 20% of the cost. I understand they have the right to charge for damages, but this was just absolutely ridiculous. My personal recommendation would be to rent elsewhere...despite the damage charges, they are on the HIGHER end of the rental costs, and there are other more reputable campervan companies in Alberta/BC that are more people/customer focused. The van itself felt like it was missing some basic kitchen stuff....e.g., scissors, tongs, etc., UV refrigerator was also very small and finicky. That said, the interior was clean, tastefully designed and...

We were so excited to pick up our Karma and we are so happy we chose her for our journey from Calgary to Tofino! There were many pros to having a Karma but also a few cons, it should be noted that the Pro's far outweigh the cons!

Pro's: Roomy: We had so much space, I was nervous living in a van for 10 days but it was wonderful! We could stand up straight while parked, stretch our legs while driving and had plenty of storage space. Yet, she fit in a normal parking spot!

Gas: We were so nervous Gas was going to be $$$$$$$$ and it was but not nearly as terribly as we had expected.

DEcor: This van is comfy and cozy! The bed is fab, the duvet is warm and cozy, the pillows soft and comfy. Wonderful touches like the art, the living edge shelf, placemats, and even a plant. Which totally changed the vibe.

Supplies: This van had everything you need! Dishes, pots, pans, knives, french press! We had everything we needed to cook and most of the supplies needed to clean up after.

Con's: Inventory Check List Inaccurate: I am organized, and prior to our trip I read through the inventory list of everything included in our Karma in order to know what to bring. Unfortunately a few things on the list were not included. It indicated 4 pillows would be included only two were. Had we known we would have brought extra pillows. Tea-Towels were also supposed to be included but were not, another item I would have brought had I known. Overall, not a deal breaker by any sense, but this attention to detail is what goes above and beyond.

Cleanliness of Dishes: When we received our camper the dishes were not clean. Plates and Mugs had stuck on food and coffee :( Frying pan was pretty dirty and our cutting board needed a good soak. Again, not a deal breaker but I would have rathered not clean up someone else's food.

We were also surprised to receive an email the morning of pick up that our van was damaged :( It greatly impacted our photos, and we received many comments on our travels. Note if booking Karma 8 you will have damage on the rear passenger side.

Sharp Sharp Sharp: I have many tiny gashes on my hands from sharp edges. Be warned the flip up cubies beside the bed will catch your hands if you aren't careful. I'm not a cabinet maker but my husband is and he indicated a simple sand may be helpful. Just be careful!

Squeak: The compartment the cooler sits in is a wonderful storage solution however, every bump you go over the cooler squeeks. It may not sound like it matters but oh dear is it annoying. Just wrap it in a blanket and it will stop!

I know we are picky, and many don't care about this small things BUT, just suggestions for others in the future :) Who may be as picky as we are.

All things considered, Karma was wonderful to rent from and we will rent from them again. They have a good thing going and with a little more attention to detail would be a leader in the van rental industry. :) The Hines Family,...

For the longest time I had wanted to rent a campervan. My wife and I had the pleasure of renting from Karma Campervan for a one week trip from Calgary to Vancouver and back in August of 2020.

The online booking of the campervan was simple and easy. The website was very user-friendly and provided in detail all of the features of the van, along with tips for your trip.

The pick up of the van was completely independent. They sent us via email the van we were taking, where it was parked and with the door code, and we just needed to pick it up, with no hassle and hit the road. Any vehicle I had rented in the past always required a walk around with a employee, so this was strange feeling for myself (I still did a walk around lol) but the pick up of the van was very easy.

The van was clean, and fully stocked with all the items we requested, such as the powered cooler (which was cool), and bike rack.

The trip my wife and I took was an absolute dream and re-fueld a love for the outdoors for myself.

The van itself was the Ford Transit, with the high roof. As I am six feet tall I appreciated the tall ceiling as i could comfortably stand. The van drove as you would imagine a large van would, handles like a bathtub, and acts like a sail in the wind. The fuel milage on our campervan was a bit better then we were expecting which was nice. The bed in the van was extremely comfortable, and bedding was clean. All items in the van were of good quality, for the most part, except the curtain which covered the front window, as the velcro seemed to be a bit worn out and would occasionally fall down. The refrigerated cooler kept our food cold, and they also provided a regular cooler. The van had a aux port, which allowed us to play our music in the van, The passenger seat was a swivel seat, which was a very nice addition as provided more seating in the van when we were set up at a camp. The heater was very user friendly and worked well, And the van was dog friendly which was a huge plus as it allowed our dog to share in on our adventures.

Alright, time for the small issue we had, the cost of the van was a bit high, but we thought it was reasonable, especially as we were renting during the summer months. But then there was add on charges for our powered cooler, and bike rack ( again, these charges was reasonable) But they milage is what really bumped our cost up. With the additional milage we needed to purchase to be able to make the trip from Calgary, to Vancouver and back to Calgary in 7 a day trip bumped our cost up nearly $600.00. With only being allotted 200km a day with the rental price, this really does not let you adventure very far each day. So with the rental cost + add on costs + additional milage costs, it did add up.

Overall I was very happy with Karma Campervans, and I know we will be renting from Karma Campervans again, hopefully in the near...