For 10 years or so we made an annual trip to someplace warm in January. Dec and Feb are generally quite nice here in Southern New Mexico, but Jan can be chilly. Until the grand kids came along we generally drove into South Texas around Del Rio, Zapata, or Corpus. In 2009 we started driving to the east bay of San Francisco to visit. We stayed in an RV park about 20 min drive from our son and grand kids. Traffic dictated when we could visit and for how long we could stay.That is the set up, now for the story.We would spend around $2000 for fuel and 30 days of lodging, using the 5er and Duramax. In Nov last year one of the grand kids needed an operation and my wife is a RN so we drove out in our car and used a condo we found on AirBnB. Cost for fuel and lodging for 30 days $2100. Plus the condo was 5 minutes WALK from their condo and included pool, jacuzzi, exercise room, game room, dog run, and indoor parking. BTW the operation was a success and all is good with kid.So although I still use the RV for some trips I have now become an Air BnB booster for some locations. We have already booked a summer stay in the same condo.Has anyone else decided that sometimes it is better to leave the RV at home and rent an apartment?

Sometimes it is better to leave the RV at home and take the car to take the cruise ship. Not every time do you need to take or is it covenant to take the RV.

Absolutely love AirBnB. Used it for NOLA x2 and San Fransisco, San Diego and New York. The selections and the people we have met...first class. https://www.airbnb.ca/And, depending on where one is going, there might be old Westies, Airsteams, boats and planes to be rented..oh..and tree-houses.Gary Haupt

Sometimes a motel is a better deal than an RV park!I called an RV park yesterday, the only one in a town I will be spending two nights in. $50/night, and NO public showers or bathrooms. The manager said that they will inspect my 'class B' when I arrive and make sure I have a 3" sewer hose...even though I have no interest in dumping there (and no tank to dump!).I looked online, and there are 7 motels in the area in the $48-58 price range. Their locations are better, too. I think I'll pick one with a bathtub.

Last year we went from the Harrisburg, PA area to Pigeon Forge, TN for vacation. 2 Families would have meant fuel to pull 2 campers would have been over $1000 before paying for sites to park them. We rented a condo from Dollywood cabins. Large enough for both families and we also got week long passes for Dollywood. Cost us around $1700 total for the two families. If fuel prices keep dropping it may tip the other way this year.

Just about every time I try to compare the costs of an RV vacation to one where I stay in a hotel, condo, the RV trip costs exceed the car/hotel. Exceptions do exists, but by in large the "all in" RV costs are higher. But that's not why I vacation in an RV. MY bed, My bathroom, my cooking are just three of the overriding reasons. But to answer the initial question. Yes we do other forms of travel/accommodations.

AirBnB versus RV | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Feb 06, 2015
Pnichols - exactly!! That's why we'll NEVER give up our RVing completely!
pnichols
Explorer II
Feb 06, 2015
We don't use our RV to go to places where motels/hotels/etc. are an alternative ... so we have no choice but to use the RV if we want all the comforts of home where we go with it.

Here's an example of where we take the RV to overnight - there was very little other lodging anywhere near this oceanside spot:
BubbaChris
Explorer
Feb 05, 2015
VRBO changed our vacation strategy in our Pre-RV days. Dog friendly and having a kitchen were big draws.

Then we moved 3 years ago and most potential weekend destinations are not offering what we'd like/need. So our RV scratches that itch and puts into some amazing places.

We'll probably still do some traditional vacations, but for now the RV calls more strongly to me than any other option.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Feb 04, 2015
Humm,,, I looked at it a little and it looks interesting. I may check it out more someday
Harvey51
Explorer
Feb 04, 2015
We used AirB&B for two weeks in Hawaii. We got a great room on Oahu with kitchen privileges, private bath and a very helpful guide - about $75 a day. On the big island we had a cottage to ourselves for $55. We were very happy with the accommodation and the locations. AirB&B allowed us to choose exactly what we wanted with good write ups and user comments.
obgraham
Explorer
Jan 30, 2015
I think AirBnB and its clone VRBO are two very well organized outfits. I like that the costs are all spelled out up front -- no hidden bits afterward.
JAXFL
Explorer
Jan 30, 2015
Dog-friendly hotels is still an oxymoron. Most charge you as if the furry kid was a human. In Orlando most want a $250 dollar deposit and/or they want $25 a night for letting the pet stay there. Then they don't want it left alone even during the time you go get your FREE breakfast. Just had to RANT.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Jan 30, 2015
Another aspect that has changed since we first bought our Class C 11 years ago: we wanted to sightsee for a few weeks each year, and absolutely didn't want to board our dogs for that period of time. Back then, dog-friendly hotels were far and few between. Now, it seems like LOTS of hotels accept dogs....

Of course, you seldom find hotels on the edge of a babbling stream or tranquil lake; and since we still enjoy being outdoors as much as possible - having an RV will be a "must" for us until the day we can no longer do that physically. God willing, that's still a long way off for us.
Bobbo
Explorer III
Jan 30, 2015
Doing a 4 week trip to Canada/Alaska this July, leaving the RV at home.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 30, 2015
Emergencies: FLy

Planed events: RV,

That's how I've done it,,, I do not often fly. I hate The Stupid Agency (TSA)