Rent An RV The Right Way!
Every year we rent an RV for our mid year vacation. The kids look forward to our three weeks away as much as we do, it is such a great family time. We have thought about buying one, but have decided that while the kids are still young it is better for us to keep our money for other things, such as the mortgage and their schooling. The type of RV that we would want to purchase would be in the vicinity of $100,000, so it is a big financial commitment, and one that would be far too uncomfortable for us. So each year we rent an RV from our local travel-trailer yard, he knows us by now and always gives us a good deal. We have been doing the same thing now for four years. We really love the lifestyle when we rent an RV. We never travel for long periods of time giving the kids and us lots of breaks to run around in, explore and have fun. It's just amazing how many other people we meet in the trailer parks who have also decided to rent an RV for the break. The usual RV that we rent is around 25 feet long, and it comfortable sleeps the four of us. We have our own shower and toilet facilities, which we think is essential when traveling with kids. We always ask for heat and air-conditioning, and have found that cooling is pretty much essential during the summer months. As far as I'm aware, when you rent an RV you will always find that they contain a refrigerator and a microwave. Even though we are lucky in that we rent the RV from our local dealer, there are hundreds of RV rental companies around the country. Even some campgrounds will be set up for you to rent an RV from them, and you can even ask that they be fully furnished with all the necessary cooking equipment, cutlery etc. You do usually need your own bedding though and towels. This is great news for tourists who fly in to an area and just want to explore while they are there. We've only done that once, flown down to Yosemite and then we organised to rent an RV while we were there so we could spend a week doing what the tourists do. When you rent an RV it is a good idea to remember a few things. We were told these by a friend who introduced us to the many joys of RV's, so I am going to share them with you. 1. Always read the RV rental company's contract before you sign it. A friend of ours got caught on this one, evidently when they decided to rent an RV they didn't know that they weren't allowed to take it to Death Valley. 2. Keep a copy of the rental requirements, and make sure they include all fees, mileage rates and any other fees including cleaning, housekeeping kits, generators, etc. 3. Make sure you know what happens in the case of a break-down and their policy regarding reimbursement of personal expenses. Before you rent an RV you will be required to provide proof of age, as well as a valid driver's license and a major credit card. This is all pretty normal stuff, and even though we don't ever have a problem with the age thing, many young people are not allowed to rent an RV until they get to 25 years of age. This can vary in different states though. |
