The Importance of Researching RV Parks

Are you interested in taking an extended RV trip? If you are, you will likely end up staying at a RV park. For many traveling by RV, motor home parks are their only affordable overnight accommodation option. RV parks are similar to traditional campgrounds, but they are designed with motor homes in mind. When compared to traditional campgrounds, RV parks often have more space.

Whether you are interested in staying at one RV park or if you would like to stay at multiple RV parks along the way, it is important to first familiarize yourself with all of your options. This is best done with a little bit of research.

Researching RV parks enables you to save money. Regardless of where you travel, you will find that RV parks differ, on a number of different levels, including the prices that they charge. Price comparison is particularly important for long distances trips. The longer you must stay at an RV park, the more you will have to pay.

Researching RV parks is also important to get an idea of what you can expect, in terms of features. RV travelers are urged not to make reservations at a motor home park without first knowing what they can expect to get. For example, does the park in question have a swimming pool or a hiking trail? What about a play ground for kids?

Speaking of kids, if you are traveling with your family, will young children be present? If so, there are a number of additional reasons why RV parks should be closely researched and examined. For safety, will your intended parking spot be near a lake? If so, does your child or children know how swim?

Researching RV parks before you leave for your RV trip also gives you enough time to examine all park rules and restrictions. Although most public RV parks will allow pets and children, not all do. That is why it is important that you do the proper research first. This research will allow you to first make sure that you can meet all rules and restrictions. If not, it also gives you time to find an alterative.

Now that you know a few of the many reasons why it is important to research RV parks and public campgrounds with motor home accommodations, you may be curious as to how you can go about doing so. The good news is that it is relatively easy to do.

When researching RV parks and public campgrounds with motor home accommodations, perform a standard internet search. You will want to search with the name of the park in question. Your standard internet search should connect you to the website for that particular park or campground, should they have one. Examine that website to learn as much as you can or at least get the contact information from the website. This allows you to contact the park or campground in question to ask any additional questions that you may have.

Even if you do not have a RV park name, you can still use the internet to your advantage. Business directories enable you to search for a business, like an RV park, in a particular area, such as a specific city and state. You can also perform a standard internet search with a generalized phrase, such as “New York RV parks.” Through the use of a business directory and standard internet searches, you should be able to find the online websites of multiple parks or at least the proper contact ifnoramtion.

As a recap, there are a number of reasons why you should take the time to research RV parks and public campgrounds with motor home accommodations. By taking the time to do the proper amount of research, you are more likely to choose the park or campground that is the best fit for you and your needs. This, alone, should improve the overall quality of your next RV trip. Read more...

5 Tips for RV Renters

Are you in the process of planning a cross-country trip to see the United States firsthand? Or, are you in the process of planning a long distance road trip to visit friends and family? If you are, you will want to consider traveling by RV. There are a number of benefits to traveling long distances in a motor home. These benefits include luxury, comfort, and having many home-like features.

As nice as it is to hear that traveling by RV is a great way to travel long distances and with large families, many are unsure about doing so. One of the biggest concerns is the cost of buying an RV. If you are interested in traveling by RV, but cannot afford the cost of owning one, you still have options. RV rentals are an affordable way to gain access to a motor home. With that being said, RV rentals can get expensive if you are not careful. For that reason, five helpful tips for RV renters are highlighted below.

1 – Know All Of Your Options

Knowing all of your options is the best way to see success when renting a motor home. First, examine all of your options in terms of local RV rental companies. Many have multiple companies to choose from.

Next, examine the types of motor homes available for rent. For comfort, as well as safety, rent a motor home that is able to accommodate you and your traveling party. For example, a group of six travelers should not try and squeeze into a motor home built for five. Also examine features, such as number of electrical outlets, onboard television, movie players, and so forth.

2 – Compare Rental Prices

As previously stated, most individuals have multiple RV rental companies to do business with. To limit the cost of your next RV trip, compare prices. In addition to comparing the average rental price for different companies, also examine the different motor homes. As previously stated, size is not something that you will want to be short on, but by limiting additional features, you may be able to save money.

3 – Read All Fine Print

When renting an RV, you will be required to sign a contract. This contract is similar to one that you would sign if you were renting a car. With that being said, never assume that all rental contracts are the same. Always fully read an RV rental contract, including the fine print. Never sign anything that looks too suspicious. When in doubt, ask to take the contract home and review it first.

In keeping with reading all fine print, it is important to know all RV rental rules and restrictions upfront. Many times, these rules and restrictions are highlighted on a rental contract, but there is no harm in asking for additional information. Be on the lookout for any rules that may limit the number of guests allowed on board, age requirements for children, and so froth.

4 – Be Careful With Use

Being cautious is an important component of renting an RV. If you are not careful, you may be financially responsible for any damage that occurs. That is why you should always use caution. Some tips involve keeping all food and drinks properly covered or put up while on the road, don’t prepare foods while driving that can cause harmful stains, and so forth. Also, if you have children, be sure to set some ground rules.

5 – Return Your Rental On Time

Returning your RV rental on time is important for keeping your rental costs low and affordable. Late rentals may incur late fees. These late fees, should they exist, should be outlined on the RV rental contract. If you know you are running behind schedule and will be late, be sure to contact your RV rental company to inform them of your delay as soon as possible.
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The Importance of Properly Preparing for a RV Trip

Are you interested in taking an RV trip? If you are, you will want to take the time to properly and fully plan for and prepare for your upcoming trip.

As nice as it is to hear that should properly plan for and prepare for your upcoming RV trip, you may be curious as to what the importance of doing so is. After all, you may only be interested in visiting the next town over for a day or two. Even in these types of situations, with short RV trips, it is still important to properly plan and prepare.

One of the many reasons why you are encouraged to properly plan for and prepare for your upcoming RV trip, no matter where you are going or for how long, is because of safety. If your motor home breaks down, will you be able to get assistance right away?
Those who own their own RVs are encouraged in invest in RV insurance or at least roadside assistance. For those renting RVs, it is important to determine, ahead of time, if roadside assistance is included in rental fees. When traveling, it is always best to prepare for the worst.

Another reason why you should properly plan and prepare for your upcoming RV trip is for your loved ones. When you take the time to do the proper amount of planning and preparation, your loved ones can take comfort in knowing that you are safe and out of harms way. This is ideal if you have children who will be staying behind. In fact, you may want to create a mini itinerary for yourself to leave behind; include what stops you plan to make, when you will check-in, as well as when you will return.

Perhaps, the greatest reason why you should take the time to properly plan for and prepare for an upcoming RV trip is so that you can have a good time. If your planning and preparation is rushed, you may find yourself missing important supplies. For example, what would happen when you went to take a shower and realized that you forgot the towels, and so forth? Not only can this result in additional expenses on the road, but it is also a huge inconvenience.

In conjunction with improving your overall satisfaction, proper planning and preparation, for an RV trip, reduces the amount of worry or concern you may have about doing so. For example, by creating a checklist in advance and going through that checklist before your trip, you can make sure that you have “all of your ducks in a row.” This is likely to provide you with a sense of comfort and security, which can help improve your chances of having a truly fun and memorable RV trip.

As highlighted above, there are a number of reasons why you should take the time to properly plan and prepare for your next RV trip. The good news is that it is relatively easy to properly plan and prepare for an upcoming RV trip. For example, make a checklist of what items you would like to pack, which items you will need to buy, stops you would like to make along the way, and so forth. Traveling by RV can be fun and exciting, but it can also be dangerous and frustrating if the proper steps are not first taken. Read more...

RV Checklist Dos and Don’ts

Have you recently decided that you would like to take trip in an RV? If you have, you likely have a number of tasks that you need to get stared with completing. One of those tasks involves packing for your trip. To reduce the number of complications that you run into, you are urged to create a traveling by RV checklist for yourself. When doing so, however, there are a number of dos and don’ts that you will want to keep in mind.

As previously stated, you do want to create a traveling by RV checklist for yourself. This can do wonders for improving your trip. An otherwise good trip can be ruined when you don’t have everything that you need, like a swimsuit or a raincoat.

Do create a checklist well in advance of your trip. Waiting until a day or two before your RV trip can result in you rushing a checklist. This may also result in you forgetting important wants and needs. With that being said, even if you are planning a last minute RV trip, like one where you may leave the next day, a checklist is still advised.

Don’t rely too heavily on free printable checklists. Free camping and traveling checklists are easy to find online with a standard internet search. Although they can be helpful, you will find that most are generalized lists. They will not list all of the items that you will want or need to bring with you on your next RV trip.

Do use free printable RV checklists as guides or starting points. What you can do is either print them off or write down some of the items listed and add from there. For example, would you like to bring board games or magazines along for the ride? If so, add these items and any others to the free RV checklist that you printed from the internet.

Do let those that you are traveling with add to your RV checklist. This is easy if you are traveling with your family. Have them create their own checklist or let them add to yours. This is important to ensure that all members of your traveling party are happy on your next RV trip and have everything that they need.

Don’t create a checklist for yourself and then toss it off to the side. Doing so often results in lost or misplaced checklists. What you will want to do is take your checklist and put it in a safe spot, such as on your refrigerator. This allows you to add any additional items that you may think of at a later date and time.

Do start your packing and shopping as soon as possible. This is one of the many benefits to creating a checklist well in advance of your RV trip. If you want to save money, buy necessities, like food and drinks, when they are on sale.

Do check items off your checklist as you pack them or place them in your RV. By not doing so, you can become unorganized. When you have a list that has nothing crossed off of it, you are more likely to get confused. This can result in you forgetting to pack some of the items that you did list.

As highlighted above, there are a number of benefits to creating a checklist for your next RV trip. With that being said, you will want to use caution when doing so. If you don’t take the proper steps after creating your checklist, you may have just ended up wasting your time. Read more...

Traveling By RV: Activities You May Enjoy on the RV

Are you in the process of planning an extended RV trip? If you are, you may be excited. After all, experiencing the United States from the comfort of a motor home is an opportunity that many individuals wish they had. With that being said, it is even possible to be bored while traveling long distances aboard an RV. For that reason, you will want to make sure that your motor home is stocked full of fun activities that you can enjoy while on the road.

When making sure that your RV is filled with activities for you and the rest of your traveling party to enjoy, it is important to take your wants, needs, and hobbies into consideration. For example, do you enjoy kitting or drawing? If so, you may want to bring these supplies along with you for the ride. If you are a passenger, as opposed to a driver, you may find quite a bit of time on your hands.

The items that you have readily available to stay occupied on your RV should all depend on your own personal preferences and the preferences of those that you are traveling with. A few common items that you may also want to add to your RV trip checklist are highlighted below for your convenience.

Board games and card games are ideal activities to have on hand for traveling by RV. Board games are ideal for family trips, as many board games require at least two players. As for card games, there are many multi-player card games and solo games that are perfect for traveling on the road. Most board games and card games are nice, as they are relatively affordable to purchase and easy to store.

Video gaming consoles are great for traveling by RV. They are ideal for individuals of all ages, but children tend to have the most fun with them. If you own or rent an RV that comes equipped with a television set, you may have more options. However, handheld video gaming consoles are often a better idea. For large family trips, handled video games keep the television set free for others to enjoy and watch.

Speaking of television sets, most luxury and modern motor homes come equipped with a small television. Many also come with movie players or you can bring your own. In these instances, DVDs or VHS tapes should be brought on your trip. Even if your motor home does not have a television, you can still purchase portable DVD players. They are ideal if you plan to travel by RV or even by car on a regular basis.

Reading is another activity enjoyed by many traveling by RV. For that reason, be sure to stock up on some reading material. Adults and children both enjoy reading books and magazines. Book stores and libraries are great way to find books and magazines to take on your trip.

The above mentioned items are just a few of the many that you may want to consider having on hand when traveling by RV. As fun as it is to travel by RV and sightsee along the way, there are still a number of benefits to having fun activities for the road. These activities are likely to improve your overall enjoyment, as well as make your time on the road appear as if it is going by faster. Read more...

Tips for Those Planning RV Trips

Have you finally made your dream of traveling by RV a reality? If you have and if this is your first time looking to plan an RV trip, you may be looking for guidance. Below a number of important tips are highlighted below. These tips, which focus on planning and preparation, can help to ensure that your next RV trip is just how you imagined it to be.

The first step in planning an RV trip is making arrangements to get a motor home. A popular option for many first time travelers is that of renting. If you are interested in renting an RV, be sure to book your reservations as soon as possible. This is particularly important if you are limited on your RV rental options, such as only having access to one rental company. Speaking of RV rental companies, examine your local phone book or use the internet to find information on local RV rental companies.

If you already own and RV or if you are in the process of buying one, be sure to have it inspected before you leave. This will cost you a little bit of money, but most of those traveling by RVs highly recommend doing so. In fact, an inspection by a professional mechanic is extremely important for long distance trips. Additional steps that should be taken include buying RV insurance or at least roadside assistance.

Next, it is important to decide where you want to go. Even if you are interested in visiting friends or family, you will still likely want to make a few stops along the way, as this is part of the fun of traveling by RV. Having a set path to follow is likely to prevent you from getting lost or running into trouble along the way. Also, be sure to notify friends or family members who will be staying home where you will be going, when and for how long. This is important for safety reasons.

It is also important to examine what reservations need to be made. For example, are you interested in traveling to attend a NASCAR race? If so, tickets will need to be purchased and you should do so ahead of time. Also, be sure to examine your overnight accommodations. Do you plan to stay at a hotel or would you like to stay in your RV? Both of these options often require the making of reservations. If you plan to campout in your motor home, you will want to examine RV parks or public campground that are equipped to handle motor homes.

Supplies should also be examined. One of the best ways to do this is to walk through the RV. Examine the kitchen area. What items will you need to prepare snacks and food? What about the bathroom area? Be sure to bring health and beauty products, such as soap and toothpaste, as well as towels and washcloths. Start packing or buying your supplies as soon as possible, as this will enable you to make last minute adjustments.

Finally, it is important to remember to have fun. When you take the time to properly plan for and prepare for an RV trip, especially when traveling by RV for the first time, you are more likely to enjoy yourself, as well as worry less. When traveling by RV, this is perhaps one of the most important points to take into consideration. Read more...

5 Tips for Traveling By RV

Are you in the process of planning an RV trip? If you are and if this is your first time doing so, you may be looking for some guidance. After all, traveling by RV for the first time can be fun and exciting, but it can also be worrisome at the same time. For that reason, five helpful tips, which are ideal for first time motor home travelers, are outlined below.

1 – Map Out Your Route Ahead of Time

Deciding where you want to travel to by RV is an important component of doing so. Of course, you have the ability to change your mind or make side trips along the way, but you should always have an idea of where you will be going. This is important for a number of different reasons, including overall satisfaction and safety.

2 – Research Activities and Attractions Along the Way

In conjunction with the above mentioned tip of mapping out your intended travel route, doing so enables you to research activities and attractions that are located along the way. When traveling by RV, half of the fun is all of the stops that you are able to make. Of course, you can be spontaneous, but having an idea of exactly what you can do and see while traveling by RV is ideal for safety, as well as making sure that you don’t miss out on any great opportunities.

When it comes to researching activities and attractions that are along your way, the internet is a great place to start. If you are taking steps now to prepare for an RV trip that isn’t set to happen for another month or so, you may want to request free vacation guides. These guides are easy to find online.

3 – Make Sure Your RV Is Stocked Full of Activities

Making sure your RV is stocked full of fun activities is another great tip that beginners should implement. If your upcoming motor home adventure is an extended one, you may spend a good percentage of your time on the road. Of course, looking out the window to sightsee is a nice, enjoyable activity, but it may not hold your interest for long. That is why fun activities should be examined. These activities may include movies, using a laptop computer, playing handheld electronic games, reading, or enjoying another fun hobby, such as knitting.

All RV travelers are encouraged to make sure that they have fun activities for the road, but it is extremely important for parents to do so. There is nothing worse than being stuck on an RV with unhappy children.

4 – Pack for Your Trip Ahead of Time

All first time RV travelers are encouraged to start packing early. In fact, the earlier the better. Many supplies, such as food and travel size toiletries can be packed or put in an RV without disrupting your current daily needs.

To help ensure that your next RV trip is fun, as opposed to one that is filled with complications, create an RV trip checklist. This checklist should include specific items that you would like to bring, such as clothing, food, drinks, eating utensils, towels, wash clothes, and so forth. To help get you started, many websites have free printable camping checklists, which can serve as great guides. Be sure to check off items from your list when you pack them in your bags or place them on your motor home.

5 – Always Keep Safety in Mind

As with any recreational activity, it is important to remember that there are some risks associated with traveling by RV, especially in areas that you are unfamiliar with. For that reason, a number of steps should be taken to protect your safety. Be sure to leave an itinerary with someone that you know and trust, always be aware of your surroundings, always keep a cell phone nearby, and be sure to have a fully stocked first aid kit. Read more...