Flexible and Fun Family Time: An RV is the Way to Go

Vacations can be expensive. By the time you factor in airfare, hotel, food, and entertainment a trip for you and your family can add up to thousands of dollars. More Americans are turning to recreational vehicles, and camping trailers in particular, to make their family fun time more flexible and more affordable.

The main reason RV travel is more affordable than traditional travel is that you're able to spread the cost of the trip across more people. You can sleep several family or friends in your trailer with you, so you're saving on hotels. This is one of the big reasons RVing is becoming more popular among young people; they can afford to have fun on their small salaries.

The available makes and models of travel trailers is getting longer and longer. There are folding or tent trailers, which are small and light enough to be towed by almost any family vehicle. You could also choose a fifth wheel trailer, which are more popular among retirees and people that take longer trips and prefer a little more luxury.

Almost any travel trailer out there will have many of the same creature comforts and amenities as you enjoy at home. For example: comfortable beds, a functional kitchen, and even a hot shower.

Another huge benefit of RV travel is how your trailer allows you to take more with you. The latest models of travel trailers will usually have large storage areas for almost anything you want to bring on your trip. You might want to travel with your favorite bar-b-que grill, your bikes, patio furniture - you might even want to bring a TV and entertainment system.

Just imagine this scene: you're camping with friends and family - enjoying your brand new RV. You have a nice campfire going and the kids are roasting marshmallows. You're sitting on the comfortable furniture you brought with you from home, and enjoying a good conversation with friends.

There are no cell phones or pagers to annoy you. You have the sounds and smells of nature around you. You're finally enjoying the stress-free life of travel trailer ownership.

That's why people buy them in the first place. It's a lifestyle. Before you buy though, you'll want to do your research. I would strongly recommend taking several trips in rented trailers before you commit to a purchase.

The last thing you want to do is make a big financial commitment and realize you didn't get exactly what you want. Renting for a few trips will help you realize which perks you're willing to pay for, and which aren't as important to you.

An RV is a depreciating purchase, as opposed to an asset. I don't say that to discourage you from buying one, but I don't want you to think you'll be selling your rig down the road for a profit. That's just not realistic.

That being the case, it only makes sense to buy a camper if you know you're going to use it. You should plan to take several trips a year to get the full benefit of your trailer. If you do, you'll never regret the purchase.