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RV Travel Tips For The Beginner And Seasoned RV
Enthusiast by John Noble
(Paso Robles, California) There's never
been a better time to take up the RV life. Whether you're a weekend
wanderer, a snowbird or a full-timer, there's an RV to suit any travel
budget and any taste. With baby boomers starting to hit retirement age,
more and more people are taking to the road with their motor home, RV or
travel trailer. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association recently
reported that nearly 8 million American households have and RV, motor
home or travel trailer and that there are as many as 30 million RV
enthusiasts in the US.
Seeing the country in an RV offers many benefits to
the traveler looking for an affordable and exciting way to spend quality
family time. According to one study, a family of four can save up to 74%
traveling by RV instead of more conventional ways. And with more than
16,000 public and privately-owned campgrounds in the US, there's a site
to fulfill everyone's vacation fantasy, whether it's an oceanfront view,
hiking trails, casino gambling or tennis.
RV travel is easy to learn, and once you've got the
hang of it, there'll be no going back! Here are six helpful tips that
will come in handy for both the beginning and seasoned RV enthusiast:
Map it Out
A large part of the RV appeal is the exhilarating
freedom of the open road to go wherever you want, whenever you want. But
it helps to have a solid travel plan in place. If you know where you're
heading, you can determine the best route, which offers the most
interesting places to see. Look in travel guides, contact tourism boards
in states you'll be passing through, and search on the Internet. Make
sure to have the correct road maps with you; a GPS system is a good idea
as well, especially if you're new to this kind of travel. If you've
carefully designed the route you'll be taking, it makes it easier to do
spur-of-the moment things like checking out that oddball museum you just
spotted on a roadside billboard!
Have A Checklist? Just Checking
During your pre-trip prep, in addition to working out
what needs to be in the RV, put together a thorough checklist of things
to do when setting up at a campground. There are the basics, like
finding out where all the campground connections are, making sure your
RV is level and properly hooking up your water, gas and electric systems
- but don't forget comfort concerns, like making sure you've packed
your favorite CDs and DVDs and those new lawn chairs. Equally important,
you should have a second checklist of what has to be done when you break
camp, both in terms of setting up your RV for departure (quick hint:
when you think the job is done and everything is ready, check again).
Be Prepared - Have A 'Just-For-The-RV' First Aid
Kit
Always make sure you have a fully stocked, up-to-date,
just-for-the-RV First Aid kit, and keep it in an outside storage
compartment. It should include basic medical supplies (bandages,
ointment, OTC pain reliever, insect repellant, scissors, etc.) and items
like a flashlight, paper and writing implements, and a disposable camera
in case you have to take photos of an accident site. If you don't feel
up to the task of putting one together yourself, an extensive range of
ready-made First Aid kits are available for purchase. Also include an
emergency supply of must-have medications and a list of important
contact names (family members, doctors, insurance agents etc).
Camping with Kids
If you're traveling with children, make sure to set
aside time during the day for outdoor activities, as even the roomiest
RV can be confining for kids. And give each child his or her own space
in the RV, no matter how small, for personal stuff and toys and games.
RV traveling is a unique opportunity for your children to see new and
different places and faces. There are often plenty of other kids at
campgrounds - but be sure to walk around a new campground with your
children when you first get settled there. They need to know which
campsite you're in and how to find it from other places on the grounds.
If you're also taking the family pet, check beforehand to see if they're
allowed at the campground.
A Little Help From Your Friends
When in doubt, ask your fellow RVer. However
well-traveled you might be, odds are there's someone you'll meet along
the way who has been somewhere you haven't, solved a problem you haven't
yet encountered, or spotted an out-of-the-way delight you've never heard
of. No matter how much research you've done, there's bound to be a
campsite you haven't read about, a storage system that has escaped your
notice - or a funny anecdote that you'll laugh about for years to come.
The new folks you meet may or may not become close friends for life, but
they're an important part of the journey.
Articles submitted by:
John Noble Sky River RV
Inc
2525 Theatre Drive
Paso Robles, California 93446 805-226-9292
John Noble is the Marketing Consultant for Sky
River RV Inc - a California-based sales and service RV dealership
featuring Itasca and Airstream RV, motor home and travel trailer
units. For 100% customer satisfaction and personal customer care in
new and used RV sales, repair/service, parts and RV rentals that has
placed Sky River RV 'a cut above the rest' in RV dealers in
California go to
www.skyriverrv.com
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