I'm a city girl who experienced van life for the first time. Here are 12 things that surprised me most.

I booked my trip through "Camp Hox," a three-night journey organized by The Hoxton hotels that uniquely combines nature with luxury.

My $1,200 "California Coast" trip took me from Los Angeles to Paso Robles and finished with a one-night stay back at The Hoxton in downtown LA.

With almost zero prior camping experience, and after spending the last 10 years in big cities, I knew I was in for an adventure. My time at "Camp Hox" — which you can read all about here — taught me so much about van life, road trips, hidden gems, and the beauty of the great outdoors.

Here are 12 things that surprised me most about the experience.

When I first heard about Camp Hox's luxury camper van experience, I imagined that it would involve a huge RV — or maybe one of those cool school buses that #VanLifers always seem to be renovating.

So when my friend Kristen and I walked out of The Hoxton in downtown LA to see our home for the next three days, I was shocked to find that our van was fairly average-sized.

And the Cabana van, which Hoxton partnered with for its California trips, is actually barely bigger than a standard SUV. It measures nearly 20 feet in width and 10 feet in height. That means it can fit into any standard parking space, which proved very helpful on a road trip with a lot of sightseeing breaks.

The night before our trip, I called Kristen in a panic and asked if it was extremely stupid to bring a rolling suitcase on a camper van trip. I didn't own a duffel bag and, unless I wanted to try and stuff three days' worth of clothes in a small backpack, my carry-on luggage was the only option.

Kristen, who was flying to LA from San Francisco, admitted that she was doing the same. But, to our surprise, it wasn't an issue at all. Our van featured two pull-out drawers in a closet that could easily fit two standard-sized suitcases, plus a whole "gear garage" under the bed that was clearly designed to fit plenty of large items.

I stored my luggage there instead and loved that I had a separate place to put my bag so Kristen and I weren't on top of each other when we were trying to get ready in the mornings — an experience I've had many times with friends and strangers in cramped hostels.

A fold-out table hidden behind the passenger seat gave us extra space to prep for cooking. It was also the perfect size to hold the burner stove that Camp Hox provided, allowing us to cook breakfast or late-night ramen inside the van when it was chilly on the farm.

There was also a hidden chair that pulled out from under the sink, while the passenger seat had swiveling capabilities, creating an entire dining space inside the van that you'd never expect at first glance.

I thought these clever storage hacks were such a smart way to save space in the camper van — which you can find a full tour of here — without sacrificing comfort.

To keep the drawers in place while on the road, all we needed to do was simply press down on their lock buttons. But, on more than one occasion, we sent the snack drawer flying off its own rails after forgetting — oops!

Kristen, who was behind the wheel, has driven vans for big trips in the past — including in New Zealand — and told me our camper van was much easier to handle.

Unlike bigger vans, our Cabana didn't feel like it was wobbling every time the wind changed directions. And Kristen said she felt relaxed driving it for hours at a time, and on different types of terrain.

I didn't expect much from a bed in a van, but the 8-inch memory foam mattress was surprisingly comfortable.

The "camper queen" size meant it had the width of a regular queen-size mattress, so there was plenty of space. And the four super-soft pillows, plus a plush comforter and knit blanket on top, made the entire bed really cozy. I could've easily slept on it for weeks and been happy.

The 24-inch by 26-inch bathroom was definitely small, but the bamboo flooring was a smart way to keep our feet out of pooling water during showers. And the protective case around the toilet paper dispenser (thankfully) did its job.

I also appreciated that, since the toilet had a five-gallon capacity, we didn't have to worry about maintenance. I'm not quite ready for that van life experience yet!

It was an important reminder that packing salt and pepper on a trip where cooking is going to be required is always a smart idea. And, next time, I definitely won't forget the hot sauce.

The fear I've always had with these sorts of trips is that you'll end up in tourist traps, or simply at spots that have a partnership with the organizer.

But it was obvious to me that the Camp Hox itinerary was created with the help of locals. I'm already planning my next visit to La Super-Rica Taqueria in Santa Barbara, and I loved that one of the stops was Finley Farms Honors Stand, a small market on the side of the road filled with fresh produce in Santa Ynez.

While I've dined at the famous Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo as a kid (pink champagne cake, I'll never forget you), I'd never been to nearby Paso Robles before my camper van trip.

And I loved the small but charming wine country, especially Tin City. The industrial park features more than 20 wineries within walking distance from each other, highlighting small and independent winemakers offering tastings at just $20 per person.

It's such a fun and affordable way to sample and learn about different grapes and blends, and from people who are more than happy to sit down and explain why you should give orange wine a chance.

"It's like sorority row, but with wineries," Kristen marveled as we walked around before our first tasting appointment.

Kristen and I had an incredible dinner (and zodiac-themed cocktails) at The Alchemists' Garden in downtown Paso Robles.

We also checked out Brown Butter Cookie Company, a local favorite that my New York friends couldn't get enough of when I brought back bags of cookies as gifts during a recent visit.

I'll be the first to admit that I love a luxury hotel or resort. There are probably very few movie clips that speak to me as strongly as Kevin McCallister gorging himself with room service at The Plaza in "Home Alone 2." I did not think van life was something that'd ever really appeal to me.

But getting to watch the California terrain change from the window of our van as we passed through the beaches of Santa Barbara and Malibu to the beautiful farmlands and vineyards in Santa Ynez and Paso Robles was breathtaking. I loved waking up in the mornings on Windrose Farm and feeding apples to the horses near our campsite before making big scrambles with fresh veggies and eggs.

And getting to sit under the stars for hours and actually watch them sparkle? That's not something you get to see in any big city.