As a longtime RVer and retired touring journalist, I’ve a balanced perspective on RV vs. lodge stays. Right here’s why an RV wins…
As a longtime RVer and RV blogger, chances are you’ll assume I’m unfairly biased towards staying in an RV vs. a lodge. However, earlier than you determine to devalue my opinion, let me share with you that I’m additionally a retired journalist.
Deemed “one of America’s most well-traveled reporters,” I spent 4 many years hopping planes and staying in motels. So, consider me, I’m well-acquainted with each journey choices.
In my skilled opinion, staying in an RV wins (nearly) each time. I’ll let you know the highest explanation why and the exceptions when motels win…
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10 Causes Why an RV is Higher Than a Resort Keep
This matter was additionally not too long ago introduced up in our RV Lifestyle Facebook group. A member posted:
“…Has anyone in right here in contrast the fee between taking your camper on an extended street journey vs. staying in a lodge? exterior of the price of the camper/rv…”
The put up garnered over 300 comments with lots of the factors that we make beneath. Some commentators additionally shared their actual numbers and budgets.
Because the feedback present, RVing is usually cheaper, simpler, and extra comfy than staying in a lodge. There are at all times exceptions, in fact, which we’ll focus on on the finish.
However first, let’s soar into the advantages of RV vs. lodge keep.
1. Campgrounds Are Cheaper
Campgrounds (particularly at state and nationwide parks) are typically considerably cheaper than lodge rooms. An evening at a state or nationwide park often runs $30-$50, whereas a close-by lodge to such pure points of interest often runs $150-$250.
Even personal campgrounds are often considerably cheaper than motels. That is very true close to main points of interest, like theme parks or different busy locations.
Granted, some RV parks and RV resorts with high-end facilities might be the identical value or extra. However campgrounds are cheaper than motels for essentially the most half.
2. Boondocking Is Even Cheaper (& Typically Free!)
Jennifer and I are avid boondockers. Boondocking is a self-contained tenting fashion that doesn’t require hookups. So, you possibly can camp wherever you’re allowed to park.
When boondocking, you will have many extra low-cost or free rv camping choices accessible to you.
Plus, you get to discover extra secluded areas and be away from the generally noisy campgrounds.
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3. No Residing Out of a Suitcase
I lived a lot of my grownup life out of a suitcase. So, consider me you, this can be a huge PRO for RVs. Not having to unpack, repack, and lug suitcases round is a giant plus.
If you keep in an RV, you possibly can neatly set up and KEEP your stuff in drawers and closet house. You don’t even need to repack for each street journey throughout the similar season.
To optimize your house, take a look at these 5 Space-Saving Tips for RV Closets & Drawers.
4. Extra Pet-Pleasant
Taking our canine, Bo, with us RVing is a large plus for Jennifer and me. It’s exhausting to seek out pet-friendly trip leases and motels, which made us rather a lot much less desirous about lodge stays.
We’ve stocked our RV with the Best Dog Camping Accessories and luxuriate in all of the perks of traveling with a dog.
This benefit of RVs over motels is especially useful to cat homeowners. Whereas some motels and trip leases do enable canines, most don’t enable cats! In an RV, you may get these purrrfect cat travel accessories and convey your kitty alongside for the journey.
5. Sleep In Your Personal Mattress
Each new lodge you keep at has totally different bedding and pillows. There’s no assure of their high quality nor the standard of sleep you’ll get.
If you RV, you’re taking your mattress and all of your favourite linens wherever you go. We’ve discovered the 3 Best RV Bedding Solutions that assist promise a very good night time’s sleep wherever we go.
6. Save Cash with Your Personal Kitchen
One of many greatest bills of staying in a lodge is just not the price of the lodge itself. Moderately, it’s having to eat out for each meal.
Touring with a stocked kitchen in your RV saves some huge cash. Your journey price range will stretch farther and also you’ll get to journey longer.
As many Fb commentators identified, you are primarily consuming the identical as you’d at residence. So, you do not have to determine meals prices into your journey price range apart from particular restaurant stops and any extra past your own home meals price range.
(PSST! For simple meal planning, take a look at our sister web site, CampingFoodRecipes.com.)
7. Extra Journey Flexibility
Jennifer and I are huge followers of “Serendipity Travel.” That’s after we hit the street with solely a free itinerary, leaving room for the street to steer us to our subsequent journey.
After we journey this fashion, we find yourself having sudden experiences we may by no means have deliberate upfront. Touring in our RV, provides us essentially the most flexibility to journey like this.
Moreover, as boondockers, we frequently have way more versatile check-in and check-out instances (usually no set instances in any respect!). Many campgrounds have extra beneficiant check-in and check-out instances than motels as properly.
8. No Mattress Bugs
Many individuals talked about mattress bugs as a bug turn-off from staying at motels. There’s been a variety of chatter about mattress bugs in recent times, and it is extra than simply social media gossip.
Mattress bugs have been on the rise globally for the previous decade. They’re now present in each U.S. state, with Washington DC, Baltimore, Chicago, and Los Angeles being essentially the most plagued.
With an RV, you do not have to fret about different individuals bringing mattress bugs into your sleeping house. You may preserve a excessive normal of cleanliness and extra simply keep away from a mattress bug infestation.
That is one thing to contemplate, as properly, if deciding whether or not to rent out your RV.
9. Higher Leisure
Many RVers level out how staying in an RV is extra gratifying than a lodge. For one, you get to take your favourite leisure with you with out being restricted to a suitcase.
So, as an alternative of flipping by means of channels on a lodge TV or paying exorbitant charges for pay-per-view films, you will have your individual TV, DVDs, and many others. Shoot, you possibly can even have your individual portable outdoor movie theater.
You can even simply deliver different leisure with you, like board games, camping hobbies, travel crafts, and extra. And, you do not have to worry over which books to lug round. There’s extra room to your favorite books to read while camping!
And let’s not neglect about sitting across the campfire or placing your stargazing kit to make use of! Each these actions certain beat sitting in a lodge room at night time.
10. You Meet Extra Individuals (Or Keep away from Them Solely)
I do know some individuals may think about being round extra individuals a con somewhat than a professional. However assembly different vacationers and studying about the place they’re from and the place they’re headed can add to your journey expertise.
You do not have to fulfill different individuals whereas tenting, but when need to, then you definitely simply can. Campers are, by and enormous, a pleasant lot. You may have loads of alternatives to make friends while camping in case you so want.
HOWEVER! The other might be true, too. Should you DO NOT like being round different individuals, then RVing continues to be the higher choice over a lodge. Should you boondock like us, you possibly can keep in distant places the place there are NO individuals.
Simply you and nature. You may’t get that at a lodge.
The Exceptions (When Resorts Are Higher Than RVs)
There are, in fact, exceptions to RVing being higher than staying in an RV. In some circumstances, it’s higher to remain in a lodge than in an RV.
Let’s check out a couple of of these circumstances…
1. You are On a Quick Timeline
It could be higher to remain in a lodge in case you’re touring to a vacation spot that’s far-off for a brief length. Driving to a distant vacation spot takes longer than flying, in fact.
So, in case you reside in Montana and wish to go to Disneyworld in your 1-week trip from work, you higher fly. In any other case, you will need to wave at Mickey as you flip round and head again residence.
2. Your Vacation spot is Far
If touring far, gasoline usually prices greater than airfare. The nationwide common value for a gallon of fuel is at the moment hovering between $3.50-$4.00. In case your RV will get 15mpg (which is beneficiant for a lot of RVs) and also you drive 300 miles in at some point, that is as much as $80 a day.
The average domestic flight from a significant airport is just round $300. Relying on what number of aircraft tickets you’d have to purchase, flying might very properly be cheaper. (Though, do not forget to account for native transportation prices like Ubers or rental vehicles.)
Now, bear in mind, that the journey is often as necessary to RVers because the vacation spot. However in case you drive straight by means of with out having fun with websites alongside the best way, then flying might be higher, particularly in case you do not plan to remain lengthy.
3. You Do not Need to Clear
One other exception is once you don’t really feel as much as doing cleansing and upkeep. Having maid service is definitely a giant mark in favor of motels.
Typically, you may get actually nice offers on all-inclusive lodge resorts. Any such full-service might be comparable cost-wise to RV resorts with related facilities.
4. You Do not Need to Threat Breaking Down
RVs run the danger of breaking down in the midst of your trip. Granted, in case you do preventative maintenance and check your tire pressure every travel day, you are far much less more likely to encounter issues.
However RVs are autos, and autos break down. It is a threat it’s a must to be keen to tackle a trip. A threat you possibly can weigh based mostly on the age of your RV, the age of your RV’s tires, and the way properly it is maintained.
5. You Do not Need to Setup Camp
RVers need to setup and tear down camp, which might be extra work than persons are keen to do. Skilled RVers get it right down to a science and may rapidly do each.
However, in case you’re new to RVing, it might probably take a few hours to arrange and tear down. It might actually eat into your enjoyable time till you get the dangle of it.
It helps to make use of a setup checklist and a tear-down checklist.
There are different exceptions, in fact, however the above are typically the principle causes individuals go for motels over RVs. Should you’re an avid lodge fan, tell us if in case you have different explanation why within the feedback beneath.
We RVers might wander far and vast, but it surely’s true for many of us that we find yourself with some favourite “Go-To” locations – locations that draw us again repeatedly.
Stretching from the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola to the west and going all the best way up alongside to Clearwater, Naples, and past – that is an space of contrasts.
There are extra upscale buying facilities, wonderful eating places, and busy little stylish boutiques alongside the Gulf Coast than you can see nearly wherever else.
However simply off these principal drags and highways are quiet, tranquil locations and essentially the most superb sugar-sand seashores we’ve discovered wherever in America.
And, in fact, the ocean water. Crystal-clear, turquoise, and emerald-colored. In some locations, it seems to be like you might be within the Caribbean.
We’re assured you’ll discover slightly slice of paradise right here to name your individual.
This information is a seven-day guided exploration of Florida’s Gulf Coast!
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