#1. Be somewhere warm and sunny
#2. Never drive more than 2 hours at a time or 3 hours in one day unless trying to get to somewhere warm and sunny or the best festival in the world - definitely don't do several long days of driving in a row unless you want a cripplingly painful back.
#3. Free-camp as much as possible to save money and because it's beautiful, however do be safe especially if you're a young female alone in a country where that is likely be an issue (most countries TBH). Sports grounds, swimming pools, free parking in or on the edge of small villages, large supermarket carparks are good places to look out for. Most aires allow free use of emptying the grey water and toilet, and 1 Euro in most of Europe for 80-100 litres of water, so no need to pay the overnight fee. One gas station in Switzerland wanted 10 CHF for 80 litres, I say go **** yourself to that. Avoid Switzerland completely, it's boring, expensive and boring and the people are crap and obsessed with money.
#4. Be very selective who you invite in your van. Annoying people who don't contribute (help navigate, pay their way, clean or cook) or even break your delicate van blinds and taps. And your boyfriend should definitely get his driving licence asap...
#5. Take your time, stop often and smell the roses or whatever you find
#6. Every interaction with a person is an opportunity to make a friend, learn something of value or at very least, decide how not to behave