I Have One Chance

[Diver4242]

Hello team (always know when someone uses that phrase they're going to ask for something!)

Looks like my wife and I will retire at the end of this year. I've had an RV in my previous marriage and loved it. I always dreamed of snowbirding in retirement, someplace warm.

My wife was always dubious, no RV experience. To get her on board, a few years ago I rented a small class c sight unseen from a well known national RV rental place and we flew to Miami, picked it up and drove through the keys for ten days. It was cramped and crappy RV, too hurried with lots of driving, so it didn't go over well! I really screwed that up.

So now,she's coming around to the idea and agreed as a trial run we can rent one in January for a month or so before deciding to buy.

This time I want to do it right. I'm thinking a nicer class A, not huge, and perhaps mostly stationary either in the Tampa area or southwest in some nice RV resorts to see some sights, relax and enjoy.

Any hints and tips as far as where to rent, stay, how to pull this off? Is it too late for reservations? I don't think lazy-days in Tampa rents RVs anymore. I don't want to drive a lot once we're there, or be totally stationary. I'm guessing I couldn't rent in PA that time of year as rigs would be winterized, so have to fly and drive?

Any help appreciated!

[mgirardo]

Diver4242 wrote:
I always dreamed of snowboarding in retirement, someplace warm.

Keep dreaming, it's pretty hard to snowboard where it is warm, since snowboarding requires SNOW.

Oh, wait, were you talking about snowbirding? 🙂

I agree with ItsyRV, make the trial run trip revolve around her likes. For folks that have never RVed before, it is a big change. Keep her interested. She's willing to try it again after a bad first run, so that's a good sign. Make her happy she chose to try it again.

I also agree with Me Again, renting a Park Model will be less of a shock, sorta like renting a nice cabin somewhere. It's not as big a jump from a Park Model to a TT or Motorhome as it is from a house to a RV. If she likes the Park Model, offer her the option to rent a Park Model for a few seasons with the ultimate goal being going to your own RV.

-Michael

[Me_Again]

Rent a park model in Az or Fl and let her see what life is like in a snowbird park. Let her talked to other women and learn. The park model will be more home like to her. From the East Valley of Phoenix there are many day trip available.

[dblr]

Seeing your in Pa.why not (if held this year) go to the Hershey show just to look around at the different type of rv's to see if by chance she likes a certain class of motorhomes, that might hep convince her to enjoy it more.

[ItsyRV]

If you want her to come away with a good feeling and agree to do it more often, plan everything around her likes and desires. Forget what you want in an RV trip, you need to convince her it's enjoyable. Find out what will make her happy and do them. You can always do what you want once she's on board with RVing. Let her be the boss of this trip otherwise it may be the last RV trip you take together.

[STBRetired]

Go large, but don't go so large that the rental would be outside your price range if she agrees to purchase an RV. Be realistic about what you would buy if she says "Let's go for it".

[SDcampowneroper]

To make it work and get her into rv life, go large. Shes used to all the comforts of s&b, show her they are still there in a mobile package. Any less, you will not convince her into a mobile life.

[STBRetired]

South Florida is probably all booked up at the nicer places. Central Florida and areas away from the coasts will probably still have available spaces (except around the House of Mouse). Florida panhandle will usually be in the 50s and 60s in January, so you might want to avoid that if warm and sunny is what you are looking for.

[LadyRVer]

Suggest a Class A about 30-31' long. DownTheAveue has good suggestion on elmonterv. Might also need a rental car for touring or a least a campground which has some shuttle service. St. Augustine, would be a nice area. KOA at St. Augustine Beach or Stagecoach RV Park right off I-95.

Good Luck and hope this round goes better!

[Lwiddis]

Reservations in Florida for January will be tuff to find. Start looking now.

[DownTheAvenue]

www.elmonterv.com

These people are in Orlando and Miami Florida. Check them out for a rental RV.