The RV Rental Blog

Common Mistakes of RV Renters

2006-04-27T08:33:00.000-06:00

Planning to do too much.
Driving too fast or too long.
Forgetting their unit is wider, longer, taller and heavier than the vehicle they are used to driving.
Driving into areas, such as parking lots, without first planning how to drive out.
Assuming their rental unit will have a TV, VCR, and/or Entertainment Center.
Assuming their unit will be delivered with all of the equipment and supplies needed to actually live in it.
Not allowing enough time for just enjoying the RV lifestyle.
Planning to eat all of their meals out . . . or planning to prepare all of their own meals.
Rushing through the dealer’s pre-delivery orientation.
Not paying attention to their monitor panel.
Driving with the water heater or water pump on.
Failure to Use Checklists
Hesitating to ask questions of other RVers.

Planning Your RV Rental Vacation - Step 3

2006-04-25T11:32:00.000-06:00

For many RV rental vacationers the most difficult part of the entire planning process is deciding on the sort of RV to rent. Drivable or towable? Class A? B? C? Fifth Wheel? Pop up? Conventional Trailer? Truck Camper? The largest single chapter in our book deals with selecting your rental unit. In today's entry we only have space to lightly touch the surface of the subject . . . to offer a couple of helpful pointers:

First, know that RVs which you drive are both the most popular and the most costly of the two general classes of rentals. RVs in the drivable group are also, generally speaking, the most fun to travel in. RVs which you tow are less expensive to rent, not as widely available and require that you own (or have access to) a suitable tow vehicle. For those budget conscious vacationers with a suitable tow vehicle, towables will provide the most living space for the lowest cost.

Second, keep in mind throughout your selection process that the single most important step is what we call the "sit test". By that we simply mean going to a dealer which has an RV much like the one you are thinking about renting and spending some time in the unit. Sit in it. Move around in it. Picture yourself living in it for a week or two or more. If it feels right, it probably is.

Step 4 in the planning process is the selection of your RV rental dealer. Or maybe it should be Step 3? Selection of a rental unit is obviously limited by the available inventory of your selected dealer; selection of a dealer may in part be determined by which dealers have an inventory of the sorts of RVs you are wanting to rent? Oh well, for these purposes we've decided to treat Dealer Selection as the 4th step in the planning process. More about that tomorrow!

Today's Reflection on Travel:

2006-04-23T08:10:00.000-06:00

“All things considered, there are only two kinds of men in the world – those that stay at home and those that do not. The second are the most interesting.”

Rudyard Kipling

Saturday Savings - Tip #5

2006-04-22T11:21:00.000-06:00

A Series of Weekly Tips to Save You Money on Your RV Rental Vacation

Remember, RV rental vacations aren’t cheap, but they do contain loads of opportunities for savings. It is worth repeating that there are probably more ways in which the proactive RV rental vacationer can save money than in any other mode of vacation travel. An RV vacation has potential for savings in a wide range of areas. Here is this week's tip:

Take Advantage of Campground Recreational Offerings. Plan some “do-nothing” time. Stay in the same campground for an extra night and spend a day just hanging out. Lay around the pool. Read a book. Fix a special meal. Enjoy a sunset. You’ll find some of your best vacation memories in those times when you did absolutely nothing – as in, “We woke up in the morning with absolutely nothing to do and went to bed that evening having only accomplished about half of it.”

Clearly there are a lot of ways to save money on your RV rental vacation. Many will not only save you money, but will increase the quality of your vacation experience at the same time. A better vacation for less money. It’s what we are all looking for! You will find dozens of money saving/vacation enhancing tips in our book “RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide” . . . the book which pays for itself over and over and over. Find more information at http://www.RVRentalInformation.com/

Take an RV for a Train Ride!

2006-04-21T08:47:00.000-06:00

Are we allowed to travel into Mexico?

Cruise America, for example, does allow travel into Mexico with its motorhomes; however, there are restrictions. Travel into mainland Mexico is limited to the northern states of Mexico contiguous to the US border. If the motorhome is taken beyond the northern states of Mexico, it will void your contract. You would then be personally liable for any damage, accident, or breakdown. Cruise America offers Mexican accident coverage for $20 per night. (Mexican accident coverage insurance is a "must have" before taking any rental RV across the border!)

Fantasy Caravans is a good example of a company offering planned RV tours throughout Mexico. If you travel with them (or another approved tour company) on an escorted tour, many RV rental dealers will allow you to go anywhere in Mexico. Fantasy Caravans' telephone number is 1-800-952-8496 and their Web address is http://www.fantasycaravans.com/. Be sure to look at their "Piggyback Train" tours. On one of these "caravans" your rental RV is loaded on a train which then takes you through Mexico's fabulous Copper Canyon!

Planning Your RV Rental Vacation - Step 2

2006-04-20T07:34:00.000-06:00

Step 2 in planning the RV Rental Vacation is to decide exactly where it is you want to go. If you have been reading the posts we've entered here, you know that selecting a destination isn't necessarily a simple sort of thing to do - the options are many and varied. It is also a personal sort of decision on which it is difficult for us - or anyone else for that matter - to offer much in the way of meaningful advice. And so we won't pretend to try.

For our purposes here, we'll assume that you have some sort of idea where it is you want to go . . . and that you've done at least enough research to know that there are RV rental dealers at your selected destination. That leads us to the next two steps in the planning process: Deciding on the sort of RV you want to rent and selecting your RV rental dealer. More on these related subjects in a few days.

Planning Your RV Rental Vacation - Step 1

2006-04-19T08:52:00.000-06:00

Logically, the first step in planning an RV Rental Vacation is simply deciding if it's the sort of thing which is for you. We'll give you a couple of detailed (though admittedly a bit tounge in cheek) lists of indicators in a few days. For now, we offer the following generalizations from our book, "RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide":

"Summary of Positives Indicators

We hate generalizing. Not because we don’t find it useful, but because we know that as soon as we attempt to sketch a simplified view of a highly diverse group we will hear from those who feel we have left out, or included, characteristics inappropriately.

Having said that, we will say this: As a group, RVers tend to be more active, more outdoor oriented, more adventuresome, more independent and better able to adjust to unanticipated occurrences than their non-RVing counterparts. "

"Summary of Negatives

Those whose ideal vacation involves being pampered and catered to will find little papering or catering on an RV vacation. We are all for pampering, but we also recognize that, unless we make a decision to pamper and cater to one another, there is neither pamperer nor caterer included with our RV. Those who like structure and predictability on vacation will find that either is only present to the extent they decide to create it. Those who view a vacation as a time to simply shut down and leave all of the deciding and organizing to others will find the role of those 'others' can only be filled by themselves. To paraphrase Pogo, 'We have met the others and the others are us'."

Start Planning Now

2006-04-18T09:04:00.000-06:00

As mentioned in yesterday's post, the low-stress way to plan an RV rental vacation is to plan it SLOWLY, step by step by step.

If you need another reason to start planning NOW, here it is: You will never have as many choices in reserving your RV rental for this summer's vacation as you have right now. Right now the selection of rental units is much higher than it will be in May. Right now the odds of your getting the rental unit you want, in the place you want and at the time you want to travel are the highest they'll ever be! And that's pretty much the strongest statement in favor of planning NOW that we know how to make!

Get out your maps, start thinking . . . and do it NOW!

Allow Plenty of Time for Planning

2006-04-17T08:19:00.000-06:00

Planning for an RV Rental Vacation of one weekend or of one month is actually pretty easy - it only seems difficult & complex. If the RV Rental Vacationer will just allow enough time to deal with the planning process one step at a time, they will be surprised at how smoothly the process goes and at how comfortable they feel on the actual vacation itself.

On the other hand, the vacationer who waits until the last possible minute and then frantically runs around trying to do several things at once is likely to find the process extremely stressful.

So, when is the best time to start planning an RV rental vacation for this coming summer? Starting today is actually cutting it a bit tight, but is still workable if you get started immediately. Start now, develop a system, take things one step at a time. As a couple who have spent literally thousands of nights as self contained travelers, the single best bit of advice we can offer is that you allow adequate time for planning.

In addition to the stress-free planning environment provided by an early start, there are a number of tangible, practical reasons why you shouldn't delay getting started on planning your RV Rental Vacation. We'll introduce some of those in tomorrow's entry.

2006-04-16T08:24:00.000-06:00

HAPPY EASTER!!

We are taking a day away from blogging to enjoy time with family and friends.

We will resume our daily entries on Monday.

Have a wonderful day!!

Saturday Savings - Tip #4

2006-04-15T06:11:00.000-06:00

Weekly Tips to Save You Money on Your RV Rental Vacation

Remember, RV rental vacations aren’t cheap, but they do contain a lot of opportunities for savings. It is worth repeating that there are probably more ways in which the proactive RV rental vacationer can save money than in any other mode of vacation travel. The RV rental vacationer has potential for savings in a wide range of areas. Here is this week's tip:

Minimize Eating Out. The more serious you are about saving money, the more you may want to take advantage of your RVs kitchen. Prepare a special meal or two, each in a special place, and you can add great memories to your RV vacation even as you are saving money.

Clearly there are a lot of ways to save money on your RV rental vacation. Many will not only save you money, but will increase the quality of your vacation experience at the same time. A better vacation for less money. It’s what we are all looking for! You will find dozens of money saving/vacation enhancing tips in our book “RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide” . . . the book which pays for itself over and over and over. Find more information at http://www.RVRentalInformation.com/

RV Rental Vacationing With Pets

2006-04-14T08:39:00.000-06:00

RVing WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY

"Parrots look out of RV windows, guinea pigs on picnic tables for a breath of fresh air, cats check out campgrounds on their leashes. Ferrets, hamsters and gerbils, snakes and turtles, even fish – all are traveling the country in RVs as you are reading this. Precisely how much these travelers are enjoying their nomadic lifestyles is perhaps an open subject, but the fact that their human family members enjoy having them along is beyond question.

"For purposes of our brief discussion here, and with apologies to our other-than-canine friends, we are going to assume “RVing with pet” means bringing along the family dog. More than 40% dog owning RVers take the family pet along when they head out in their RVs. The idea of going on vacation, or even on a weekend getaway, without these special family members is simply unacceptable. For the RV renter, the situation is a bit more complex; however, in many cases Fido can be included on your rental RV vacation.

"Dogs as traveling companions. The most obvious and most common of animal RVing companions is the family dog. Given the general fondness dogs have for “going for a ride” it is easy to understand their joy at being included in the family vacation – a ride lasting a week or two or more. Dogs are, generally speaking, both the most appreciative and the easiest of RV traveling companions.

"Rental unit considerations. If your intention is to travel with your pet, you have a couple of issues to explore before making your final commitment to a rental unit. Specifically, does the dealer you have selected to this point allow traveling with pets and what extra costs and/or deposits are required?

"Many RV rental dealers allow pets in their units. Many, but not all. It is essential that you ask up front. Don’t just show up with your pet assuming it will all work out. Make certain your advance rental agreement specifies that you are bringing a pet.
Be specific when asking. Explain exactly what sort of pet (usually dog or cat) you are wanting to travel with . . . and how many. If your pet is a dog, be specific as to the size of your dog when talking to the dealer representative. Be up front with the representative. Don’t obtain an OK for one small dog and then show up with three dogs – each the size of a house – assuming no one will notice the difference.

"Expect there to be extra costs involved. Some dealers will charge a flat fee, some will charge an extra cleaning and/or damage deposit, some will charge both. If you are required to pay some form of extra deposit, be clear up front as to specifically what must happen for you to get your deposit back."

Excerpted from: "RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide" .

Hand Signals When Backing - Part 2

2006-04-13T07:53:00.000-06:00

K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Spotter)

Yesterday we talked about some of the reasons there are communication difficulties between drivers and spotters when parking an RV (more specifically when backing an RV). Today we have some good news - just remember three simple rules and the whole process will be far easier than you ever expected:

The spotter (the one giving directions) should always stand where they can be seen by the driver. (Hint, if you can't see the driver, the chances are pretty good that the driver can't see you!)
Always use hand signals to communicate with the driver. Clear communications are a lot easier with hand signals than when the spotter is tying to make themselves heard over an RV's engine noise. (Hint, the driver and the spotter should agree in advance on exactly what hand signals will be used - and what each signal means.)
K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Spotter! Avoid giving complex/convoluted signals. (Hint, anything other than "Turn Left", "Turn Right", "Come On Back", and "Stop" is probably giving the driver too much information.)

And two final points:

Any time the driver has other than a totally clear picture of exactly where the RV is and exactly where it needs to go, the driver should stop the RV, get out and take a look. Trying to maneuver a large vehicle without a clear understanding of what you are trying to accomplish is asking for trouble.
Remember, it's possible to take an entire RV rental vacation without ever finding yourself in a position where backing up is necessary. All that is required is that you: a.) always think ahead and b.) always ask for a "pull-through" site when making your campground reservations.

Don't waste time worrying about backing your rental RV. As long as you think ahead and take it slow, you won't have any problems!

Hand Signals When Backing

2006-04-12T08:05:00.000-06:00

A common form of campground entertainment is simply sitting and watching as new arrivals attempt to position their RVs in their assigned sites. It isn't really a particularly difficult sort of thing to do, but the fun is in watching new RVers as they attempt to communicate.

Here's the thing: The driver is attempting to put a very large vehicle into what often seems - from the driver's perspective - a really small space. The situation is complicated by the fact that in many cases (particularly when backing) the driver must maneuver without being able to actually see where the vehicle is going. Hence the need for a "spotter". The spotter is someone, usually a passenger, outside of the RV who becomes an extra set of eyes for the driver. It's really pretty simple: the spotter provides the directions, the driver does the driving. But this is where it gets a little dicey: the communication between the driver and the spotter is often less than perfect. Here are a few examples of common mistakes:

1. Many spotters position themselves behind the RV (where the driver can't see them) and then give directions by pointing, or
2. the hidden spotter gives verbal directions - things like "a little more that way" - which make absolutely no sense to the driver, or
3. the spotter may carefully remain visible, but give directions which still make no sense to the driver - things like worried facial expressions don't give the driver information they can act on, then
4. as the vehicle gets more and more off of its desired path, the spotter gets more and more dramatic. Jumping up and down. Arm waving. Screaming.

Things go "downhill" from there and, while the driver may not actually run into anything, interesting shouting matches can develop.

The good news is that, with just a few very basic hand signals, the driver and the spotter can communicate and make the entire process of positioning the RV a simple one. We'll get into that tomorrow.

Exotic Ideas For Your RV Vacation

2006-04-11T08:05:00.000-06:00

Wanting some ideas for an RV rental vacation? Here are some possibilities to stimulate your thinking:

Drive to the Caribbean - Rent an RV in Miami & Drive to the Florida Keys
RV Down Under – Rent an RV in Australia. Go it on your own or join an organized caravan.
Go Kiss the Blarney Stone – Rent an RV in Dublin and tour the Emerald Isle.
Join a Caravan in South Africa - Several Companies Offer Top Quality RV Caravans in South Africa
How About Some Northern Exposure? – Rent in Alaska or Canada and Drive to the Arctic Circle!
Do the Unusual South of the Border – Take an RV for a Train Ride . . . or a Boat Ride . . . or Both. Join a “Piggy Back” Caravan to Mexico’s Copper Canyon.
RV Under the Tuscan Sun – Pick Up a Rental RV in Rome and Take a Leisurely Tour of Italy.
Visit Kiwi Country – New Zealand is an Ideal Place to Tour in a Rental RV.
Travel to a Tropical Island – Rent an RV on the Big Island of Hawaii.
RV the Viking Trail – Check out New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bounce Down the Baja – Join a Commercial Caravan and Drive All the Way to Cabo!!
Visit the Great Cities of Europe – See “RV and Car Camping in Europe” by Mike & Terri Church.
Rent n’ Rally – Rent an RV and Join an Organized Rally. Go to Mardi Gras, the Pasadena Rose Parade, the Kentucky Derby, the Calgary Stampede – the Possibilities Seem Endless!!

We will be covering out-of-the-ordinary ideas for RV rental vacations in greater details in future entries. In Appendix D of our book "RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide" we list a number of tour companies offering trips such as those listed above.

Coffee & the RV Renter

2006-04-10T08:14:00.000-06:00

On the sofa in our 5th wheel is a throw pillow we purchased in Custer State Park, SD. It reads:

"fresh! AIR, COFFEE, PERSPECTIVE"

That pretty well sums up our views on the central importance of coffee in our "camping" experience. The question for the RV rental traveler: How does one best provide coffee in the rental environment? There are several possibilities: bring a coffee maker from home, buy an inexpensive one just for the trip, or accept that basic (i.e. cheap) coffee makers are usually included in the kitchen package provided by the dealer. Here's our favorite option - it's one you've probably not thought of:

Consider a "Big Sky Bistro". For many of us the notions of camping and coffee are ideas which are inseparably joined. If you are in that category, consider taking along a "Big Sky Bistro" or two. These units combine the brewing power of a traditional French press coffee maker with the durability of a plastic thermal coffee mug. So long as you have some ground coffee and a way to boil water, your Bistro will produce an excellent mega-cup of brew. Simply scoop in three or four tablespoons (medium grind) of your favorite bean, pour near boiling water to within an inch or so of the top, and cover with the lid-and-plunger assembly. Steep for about four minutes and push down the plunger. You can drink your 16 ounces of fresh brewed mixture straight from the mug. It will stay hot seemingly forever. Find yours nationwide at outdoor stores or online at http://www.porterproducts.com/.

We're Back!!

2006-04-10T07:49:00.000-06:00

Good morning to all! Please accept our apologies for our lack of posts over these past two weeks. Circumstances required that we make an emergency trip to California and while gone we weren't able to stay on track in "The RV Rental Blog". We are now back and are returning to our regular routine.

Thanks for your understanding!

Dave & Kay

Saturday Savings - Tip #3

2006-03-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

Weekly Tips to Save You Money on Your RV Rental Vacation

Remember, RV rental vacations aren’t cheap, but they do contain a lot of opportunities for savings. It is worth repeating that there are probably more ways in which the proactive RV rental vacationer can save money than in any other mode of vacation travel. The RV rental vacationer has potential for savings in a wide range of areas. Here is this week's tip:

Don’t Buy Special Equipment. As you begin to get ready for your first ever RV trip, it is tempting to start thinking about all the special equipment you “need”. The truth is that, beyond what you’ll get from your RV rental dealer, you don’t “need” any of it. If you are serious about keeping your vacation affordable, resist the temptation to go out and buy boxes full of gadgets. (On the other hand, a couple of totally frivolous items can be a lot of fun.)

Clearly there are a lot of ways to save money on your RV rental vacation. Many will not only save you money, but will increase the quality of your vacation experience at the same time. A better vacation for less money. It’s what we are all looking for! You will find dozens of money saving/vacation enhancing tips in our book “RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide” . . . the book which pays for itself over and over and over. Find more information at http://www.RVRentalInformation.com/

Kitchen Equipment & The RV Renter #4

2006-03-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

There will be a number of you who are on a fly/drive RV rental vacation. Most of you will find your easiest option is to go with one of your dealer’s equipment package as we mentioned in installment #2 of this little series. The quality of these packages is an open ended question - at least until it is too late to do anything about it (though assuming low quality probably is a safe guess). Is there another option? Here is what we recommend:

Bring small utensils from home – a couple of good knives, some things to stir and serve with, a spatula. Perhaps a vegetable peeler, a whisk and a zester. In other words, bring those things which are small, easy to put in checked luggage and which won’t have a significant impact on your airline's weight restrictions.

Then plan to make a stop at Wally World – or someplace similar – to pick up one sauce pan and one skillet. Become a bit of a two pan gourmet. You won’t need a lot of stuff. Get one fairly large, nonstick covered skillet (something around 12 inches would be perfect) and a moderate size sauce pan with lid (3 quarts will work for most traveling groups). At the time of this writing the pans recommended here can be purchased at Wal-Mart for $18.94 and $17.83 respectively.

Again, don't make it unnecessarily complicated. The point is to eat well, not to equip a gourmet kitchen. Eating well doesn’t require much in the way of fancy equipment, nor for that matter does it require that you spend your vacation in the kitchen.

One more point to be covered before leaving this kitchen equipment topic: "What do we do about coffee?" We have a specific equipment recommendation which we'll cover in an entry on Monday!

RV Kitchens Newsletter

2006-03-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

Based on our belief that RVers are a special group, and a group which shouldn't settle for ordinary food, we have created an e-Newsletter in which focuses on RV Kitchens. Logically enough, it is called the "RV Kitchens Newsletter". It is FREE and you can subscribe without any obligation or commitment. It is also easy to unsubscribe any time and without giving us prior notice. A copy of a recent issue is posted at RV Kitchens (click to go there and check us out!). Both the site and the newsletter are non-commercial.

Kitchen Equipment & The RV Renter #3

2006-03-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

So let's assume you're committing to an RV rental which comes with absolutely nothing in the way of kitchen equipment . . . as we mentioned previously, that is a pretty reasonable assumption. Next we'll assume you are renting your RV locally and that you plan to load it in your driveway. Your "how do we equip the kitchen" question is the easiest to answer of any.

Simply pay attention to what you really use in your daily meal preparation - we'd suggest you keep a list - and when it comes time to load, that's the stuff that goes into your RV rental. Two caveats:

Don't bring stuff just because you think you might use it. Your vacation isn't about hauling stuff around on speculation. Bring those things you are certain you will be using - either because they are things you need for a particular meal you have planned or because they are utensils which you know you normally use on a day-to-day basis.
Keep in mind that you are working with a comparatively small amount of space. Bringing a few small appliances along is a generally bad idea.

And that's really all there is to it - don't make it unnecessarily complicated. Given a choice, equipping your RV rental kitchen with pots, pans and other utensils you are already used to working with is the best of all possible options.

More tomorrow!

Kitchen Equipment & The RV Renter #2

2006-03-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

The following is excerpted from our book, "The Vacationer's Guide to RV Rentals":

"We know the kitchen in your rental RV will be under sized and under equipped. Whether or not that matters is a separate question. If you intend to use your RV’s kitchen at all, there are some things you need to find out:

"Be Very Clear, In Advance, What Is Included in Your Unit. Exactly what will be in your unit’s kitchen. Don’t, for example, make the mistake of showing up with a take and bake pizza for your first night on the road unless you are certain you have an oven (you probably won’t). Will your unit have a stove and refrigerator? (almost certainly) A microwave? (highly likely). Basic utensils? (almost certainly not). Unless you make specific arrangements it is a virtual certainty you will find no equipment of any kind in your kitchen – not as much as a single skillet.

"Just how does the rental RV vacationer start with a kitchen which is both small and empty and wind up able to prepare a meal? What sort of stuff is needed? And where will it come from? Because RV vacations are taken by individuals with differing needs and objectives, there is no single, simple answer to the “how” and “with what” of equipping rental RV kitchens.

"There are two major variables and an infinite number of minor issues. The first consideration is to ask yourself exactly how seriously you are planning to take this whole meal preparation idea. The second major point is whether you are renting your unit locally or planning a fly/drive vacation. We suggest a sort of middle ground approach to equipping your RV’s kitchen – don’t go with the intent of being a gourmet on wheels, but do plan to prepare a few things that are at least moderately interesting.

"On a fly/drive trip your easiest option (easiest, but not necessarily the best or the cheapest) is to rent your kitchen equipment from the same dealer where you are renting your RV. These equipment packages go by a variety of names (provisioning kit, kitchen kit) and typically cost in the $75 to $100 range for the length of your trip. These kits tend to be pretty minimal both as to inclusions and as to quality. Ask your dealer for more details. "

Kitchen Equipment & The RV Renter

2006-03-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

This week we will place our attention on the rental RV's kicthen - a (usually small) space which can have a huge impact on your RV rental vacation.

The RV rental kitchen is a multi-faceted sort of thing. Some go on their vacations and never use the kitchen at all - except perhaps to heat water or microwave some leftovers. Other RV rental vacationers find themselves cooking nearly every meal and find the enjoyment of a series of extra-ordinary meals in special and exotic places to be a big part of their vacation. Most RV rental vacationers are someplace between those two extremes.

Cooking in an RV kitchen, and more specifically in the kitchen of a rental RV, can be a big subject. In our book "RV Rentals" (click here for more information) we focus an entire chapter on RV kitchens. We will also soon be releasing a new book which deals exclusively with equipping and preparing meals in an RV kitchen. (Our working title, logically enought, is "RV Kitchens".) Additionally, for those with a real interest in taking RV food to levels beyond the ordinary, we have a free monthly publication titled "The RV Kitchens Newsletter" (click here for more information).

For today we have one point to bring to your attention: Most RVs rentals, at least those from the major RV rental dealers, come standard with an adequate basic kitchen - but it is a kitchen with absolutely no pots or pans or dishes or utensils of any kind! OK, I know that doesn't make sense, but I also know that's the way things are.

So, given an RV with a kitchen, but no equipment with which to use it, what options does the RV renter have. Actually, there are a couple . . . but in the interest of brevity we'll cover those tomorrow.

Today's Reflection on Travel:

2006-03-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything. "

Charles Kuralt, "On the Road With Charles Kuralt"

Saturday Savings - Tip #2

2006-03-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

Weekly Tips to Save You Money on
Your RV Rental Vacation

Remember, RV rental vacations aren’t cheap, but they do contain a lot of opportunities for savings. It is worth repeating that there are probably more ways in which the proactive RV rental vacationer can save money than in any other mode of vacation travel. The RV rental vacationer has potential for savings in a wide range of areas. Here is this week's tip:

Don’t Buy Special Clothing. Unlike trips you may have taken in the past, RV vacations don’t require any special clothing. Casual and comfortable – that’s the RV lifestyle. If you plan to go out to someplace special, you might bring one outfit that’s a bit upscale. Otherwise, think casual and comfortable as you pack and your wardrobe will be perfect.

Clearly there are a lot of ways to save money on your RV rental vacation. Many will not only save you money, but will increase the quality of your vacation experience at the same time. A better vacation for less money. It’s what we are all looking for! You will find dozens of money saving/vacation enhancing tips in our book “RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide” . . . the book which pays for itself over and over and over. Find more information at http://www.RVRentalInformation.com/

Just Published!

2006-03-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

We're excited to announce the publication of our new book: "RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide"! Inside you will find:

More than 40 money saving ideas – each capable of saving you many times your investment in "RV Rentals"
A half-dozen checklists to help you plan and organize your trip
Tips on selecting your rental dealer and specific rental unit. (We even include a list of questions for you to ask when interviewing dealers.)
A list of points you will want to be certain are covered during your dealer orientation. You learn what you should check (and double-check) before accepting delivery of your unit.
Suggestions on selecting a campground and tips on setting up once you have arrived at your campsite.
and much, much more!!

For more details, or to order your own copy, click here: "RV Rentals"

“When you return from your RV rental vacation, your copy of ‘RV Rentals’ will be food stained, dog-eared and scribbled full of notes. What greater tribute could there be for a ‘how-to’ book?”
Frank A. – Colorado

Featured Campsite - Mueller State Park, Colorado

2006-03-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

From time-to-time we will be featuring favorite campsites/campgrounds - both those we particularly like and those recommended by out readers. Today we feature a favorite which is less than 2 hours away from our home in the Denver Metro Area.

Site 44, Mueller State Park, Colorado

Sites in the Colorado State Parks can be reserved up to 6 months in advance and prime sites such as this one are always booked. To get a spot like this you'll want to plan ahead - way ahead! Reservations for the Colorado State Parks are handled by Reserve USA: www.reserveamerica.com/. Plan ahead and put yourself in this picture this summer!

Of Stuff and Such

2006-03-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

For many, including the authors, a major attraction to the RV life is the ability to bring along unreasonable amounts of stuff. More books than could possibly be read, more clothes than can be worn, more food than can be consumed. For those who are renting an RV near to their home base, the same sort of advantages can apply. Go get the RV, park it in the drive, and throw stuff in until it won't hold anymore! This general approach is favored by many.

For the fly/drive RV rental vacationer, airline baggage limits makes situation a bit more complicated. That still doesn't mean you need to be totally practical as you pack. Think about tossing in something totally frivolous. A pair of crystal wine glasses to toast the sunset. Bring a whole new feeling to your morning coffee with a china cup so thin the light shines through. The point? Special moments can be created with little extra touches of luxury . . . and special moments are what vacations are all about.

Packing - actually RVers call it "loading" - for an RV trip is a major topic. Over time, we will have numerous posts on the subject. For now, remember our first rule: Don't mess things up by being too practical!!

Destination - Hawaii

2006-03-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Looking for some unusual ideas for an RV Rental Vacation? Here's one you might not have thought of: rent an RV on the Big Island of Hawaii! Explore the Big Island's 1,500 miles of scenic byways. Camp at night only a few feet from the water! No hassles with luggage or bell hops - you room will stay the same night after night after night!

For more information do a search on "Hawaii RV Rentals" - you will find several good rental dealers. One which comes to mind is Island RV. Get more details about this company and about RVing on the Big Island by going to http://islandrv.com/.

RV vacationing shouldn't be about keeping up with the neighbors, but it's worth pointing out that your neighbor has probably ever RVed in Hawaii!!

A Quick Tip

2006-03-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

As you begin the process of selecting a rental RV for your vacation the best thing you can do is to go out and preview a lot of RVs - at a lot of different rental dealers. Immersing yourself in the inventory is the fastest way to get a feel for the possibilities . . . the fastest and also the most confusing! Looking at more than one RV pretty much guarantees that you'll have trouble remembering which features were in which unit.

TIP: Bring a camera along and take memory assisting pictures. Take a lot of pictures! Pay particular attention to getting a few shots of the kitchen and of all storage areas - inside and out.

Today's Reflection on Travel:

2006-03-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."

Lao Tzu

Saturday Savings - Tip #1

2006-03-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

Save Money on Your RV Rental Vacation!

RV rental vacations aren’t cheap, but they do contain loads of opportunities for savings. In fact, there are probably more ways in which the proactive RV rental vacationer can save money than in any other mode of vacation travel. Entertainment costs are often lower (enjoying RV and campground experiences often serves as a major source of entertainment). You also have the option of doing some, or all, of your own meal preparation – meals and drinks can cost about the same as if you’d stayed home. An RV vacation has potential for savings in a wide range of areas. Here is today's tip:

Travel in the “Shoulder Seasons”. The “Shoulder Seasons” are those periods between the big prices (and huge crowds) of “Peak Season” and the low prices (and generally unpleasant weather) of “Off Season”. Depending on the part of the country, the dealer, and the time of year, “Shoulder Season” base rates can be 20% to 40% below what you would have to pay in “Peak Season”. If you don’t absolutely have to travel with the big crowds, explore the advantages of RVing in the “Shoulder Seasons”.

Clearly there are a lot of ways to save money on your RV rental vacation. Many will not only save you money, but will increase the quality of your vacation experience at the same time. A better vacation for less money. It’s what we are all looking for! You will find dozens of money saving/vacation enhancing tips in our book “RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide” . . . the book which pays for itself over and over and over. Find more information at www.RVRentalInformation.com

OK, So What's It Gonna Cost?

2006-03-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

While in many ways the decision to take an RV rental vacation is best viewed as a life-style choice, affordability can certainly be another benefit. RV vacations are more affordable than most other vacation types. Drivable RV’s (motorhomes) generally range between $90 and $200 per day. Provided you have a suitable tow vehicle, folding campers (pop-ups) and travel trailers can be even cheaper at $50 to $120 per day. Figure an additional $25 to $35 per day for a commercial campground.

Here’s the thing: Those RV rental fees include your transportation, lodging, and a kitchen (preparing some or all of your own meals will dramatically reduce food costs) . . . and a good destination campground can provide a lot of entertainment. Some dealers offer reduced rates for trips of 3 days and longer. As mentioned elsewhere on this blog, traveling in the “shoulder seasons” can often yield additional savings in the 20% to 40% range. The bottom line? Even with high gas prices, RV vacations can be less expensive than travel by personal car, airline, or cruise ship.

Caveat: Many in the RV industry like to quote a study which found that a family of four can spend up to 70 percent less when traveling by RV. Among other flaws, this study considered the cost of lodging for the non-RV traveler and ignored the cost of the RV as a factor for the RV vacationer.

The "Spice Bag"

2006-03-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

It isn't strictly necessary to actually use the kitchen in your rental RV. Thousands go on RV rental vacations every year and eat out every meal. This tip is for those planning to do at least some meal preparation:

Nothing adds depth and interest to your RV meals as quickly as the intelligent application of appropriate seasonings. On the other hand, spices have limited shelf lives and having a nice selection can be expensive. The solution? You already have the spices you most frequently use in your cupboard at home. Throw a dozen of your favorites – you know which ones they are – in a resealable plastic bag. A “Spice Bag” is a low cost way to add interest to your RVing meals. A dozen spices take up so little room that the "Spice Bag" is even a practical addition for the fly/drive RV renter.

Which spices should you bring along? The simple answer is to bring the ones you actually use at home. For us, if we were limited to a dozen spices, we would probably bring (in alphabetical order): Basil, Chili Powder (we actually travel with 5 different kinds of chili powder, but that's another story), Cinnamon, Cumin, Garlic Powder, Nutmeg, Onion Powder, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley (Dried), Red/Cayenne Pepper, and Thyme. These in addition to Sea Salt and Pepper. On those trips where we have planned specific meals calling for other spices, we toss those in also.

And don’t just carry those spices around, use them. Try rubbing a steak with a bit of olive oil and sprinkling it with garlic salt before grilling, put a pinch of cinnamon in your coffee or hot chocolate, or a dash of chili powder in your scrambled eggs. You get the idea! Don’t leave home without your "Spice Bag".

Our Blogging Policies

2006-03-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

I suppose this is as good a time as any to let the reader know what our policies are. In general, RVer’s are independent sorts who don’t like a lot of rules. With that in mind, we have set policies in only a couple of areas:

First are policies concerning my posts:

I will always strive to be truthful and accurate. When I make a mistake of a material nature, I will correct it as soon as I can.

Any necessary corrections or updates will be made in such a way as to not materially impact the substance of my original blog posting.

Mistakes of a non-material nature will not be edited. In other words, I will leave my mistakes visible unless they cause harm.

When I feel it is appropriate, I will link to other Web sites and blogs; however, I am not endorsing or responsible for the opinions and content of those sites.

Finally, I will post only those items I feel will be of interest to readers who are at some point in the process of planning an RV rental vacation.

And then there are policies impacting reader participation:

You may post comments to this blog.

Your comments will be moderated before they are made visible. NOTE: Do to excessive and pornographic spam, we have (as of 02/22/07) found it necessary to change our previous policy. ALL posts will now be moderated before they are made visible. See below.

Your comments will not be edited.

I will not delete criticism of our products and services nor will I delete criticism of my opinions.

I will delete comments which contain obscenities, which are believed by me to be spam, and those which don’t contribute to the purposes of this blog.

Tools & The RV Renter

2006-03-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

"Which tools should be bring on our RV rental vacation?" A fairly common question. My answer is that I travel with two tools: WD-40 which I apply generously to things which don't move and should plus duct tape which I use on things which are moving and shouldn't. Items requiring mechanical attention beyond what I can do with WD-40 and duct tape are also beyond my ability to understand.

Having said that, I note that the standard of maintenance in RV rental fleets is generally adequate and mechanical problems are infrequent. My advice to the RV rental vacationer is to not get particularly concerned about having an inventory of tools on hand. In the unlikely event that you do need a tool of some sort know that you can almost always borrow one from a neighboring RVer in your campground.

For what it's worth, your RV rental dealer should provide an operating manual with your unit. Cruise America, for example, provides one that is around 130 pages long. If you feel a need for more information about your RV's systems, buy a copy of the "RV Repair and Maintenance Manual" by Bob Livingston and bring it along. With the information in this book, and perhaps a tool borrowed from a neighbor, you will be prepared to deal with almost anything.

Statement of Purpose

2006-03-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

This blog is established to provide a source of timely information to those planning (or even just beginning to think about) a vacation in a rental RV. There are no requirements for participation in this community other than a general interest in RV rentals. Most members have been guided to this site by our book "RV Rentals: A Vacationer's Guide". While having a copy of our book is not perhaps strictly necessary, our readers consistently tell us they find it to be an indispensable reference as they plan their travels. More information can be found at http://www.rvrentalinformation.com/. We welcome your comments and input.Many thanks for your presence!Dave & Kay