During the start of the pandemic, RV sales exploded. People felt safer traveling in their campers than staying in hotel rooms. Years later, this is still true for many of us. However, the pandemic is not the only reason so many RVers prefer to travel via a vacation home on wheels. Here are five reasons RVing is better than even the best five-star hotels.
1. Adventure
RVing opens up a world of opportunity for adventure. Some of the most common things become exciting breaks from the norm. Have you ever pulled over on the side of the road to take a bathroom break and make lunch? I have!
Unless you’re traveling to enjoy the city life, you also can’t get closer to the best attractions than your campground. You can go exploring in the woods, visit national parks, and camp in remote areas that would have been inaccessible without your overlanding gear.
Want to go kayaking? Camp along the river.
Want to go hiking? Camp at the park you had in mind.
Want to go rock climbing? Find a camping spot alongside mountains and boulders.
2. Flexibility
The most adventurous people also tend to enjoy spontaneity and flexibility. RVing makes this possible. Have you ever been on a long road trip and seen a sign for something that looked interesting, but you couldn’t stop? With an RV, you can change your plans on a whim and go check it out!
This is one of the great things about having your accommodations with you. If you find a place you like, you can stay an extra day or two. If you’re not enjoying your current location, you can move on without having to cancel reservations or check out of a hotel room.
Staying at established campgrounds and RV parks limits this flexibility somewhat, but not entirely. For example, when I first went RVing in Mexico, I planned a 30-day visit. Half a year later, I had gone from tourist to resident. It would have been much harder to pull this off with an Airbnb or hotel.
3. Independence
We live in a world that has become increasingly individualistic but also incredibly interdependent. Whether we’re relying on technology or local services, many of us have lost our will and ability to be self-reliant. RVing is better than a hotel because it provides a fantastic opportunity to rediscover independence.
When you’re RVing, you’re in charge of everything from driving to building a campfire and making dinner. The further out you venture, the more true this is. You might need to haul your water, dig cat holes and catch your meal.
These tasks can be daunting, especially when things don’t go as planned. But, my oh my, are they rewarding! You’ll also feel more independent as you learn to manage these things. You can transfer that newfound confidence to your everyday life and achieve things you never thought possible.
4. Privacy
When you stay in a hotel, your only hope for privacy is the “Do Not Disturb” sign. Even then, there’s always the chance that housekeeping will come knocking or someone will need to enter your Airbnb to flip the breaker that controls the main house.
RVing gives you complete control over your space. You decide who comes and goes. Even if you stay at an RV park, there are few instances ― if any ― where the managers would need to enter your camper.
You can give yourself even more privacy by dry camping in remote areas where your only neighbors are the rocks, trees, and wildlife. This can provide you with space to disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature or your hobbies.
Strike up a tune on the guitar or whip out some paint brushes. The choice is yours.
5. Pet Friendliness
My adventure kitty travels with me full-time. Before the RV, finding cat-friendly places to spend the night was rough. Some areas, understandably, did not want pets on the premises. Flying to these locations also presented the logistical nightmare of taking a semi-feral cat on a plane with other people.
RVing is better for him because he only needs to go from the travel trailer to the truck when we move ― and back again. We have never been to an RV park or campground that did not allow cats, and I had no problems taking him back and forth across the American-Mexican border.
If your pet is also part of your travel plan, you’ll have a much easier time traveling with them via your RV. Dogs face more restrictions than cats, though, so watch out for barky companions and biters. That said, choosing a remote boondocking spot can address this concern.
RVing is better because home is truly where I park it.
I am home wherever I roam. Are you?
