Putting this in the class A section because I think it is more likely a consideration.Do you consider your use of your RV more for traveling or camping? Is there really little reason to have an RV if you don't want to dedicate your vacation time to camping? How many still fly and stay at nice hotels or do you spend every vacation night in a roadside RV park, night time parking lot, and a campground when you get there? As an example, how about a beach vacation - condo right on the beach, or an RV park 20 feet from your neighbor a half mile inland? For the most part, the more desirable real estate locations are not used for RV parks.just curious

The traveling (riding) is part of the adventure for us. We like being able to sop anywhere we want and eat, sleep, bathroom, etc. We are sleeping on our sheets and our beds, bathroom etc.We do not hesitate to stay at a Cracker Barrel or Walmart parking lot when traveling to our final destination.We still call it camping, but a lot of folks would disagree, with all the luxuries and DirecTv and 4 tv sets, microwave, etc.We figure we can have more fun and short trips long weekends or weekends and even the full week trip a lot more often and make payments, rather than the weekly beach rentals which are outrageous.You also get to "see" more and enjoy the ride...

We travel about 20 days during our 5 month summer sojourn so I guess it'a a mix of both. Outside of the summer we do two or three 4-5 day trips about half of which is traveling.

Not a Class-A, but I'll try to bite anyway.When NOT using the camper? On an "as need basis", that's when. It just depends.Available time, distance, money, and time of year (and interest at the time of booking) are all factors.We enjoy our camper .. A LOT! So much, we basically live in it year round, sitting beside our 2800 square foot (single floor) house in the country. But sometimes, the camper is just not possible.In the past, we have tried to take 1 trip a year, sometime in January, to go to a motel with hot tubs, swimming pools, and a lot of fun. Then we got our own Hot Tub in the house, and simply didn't have the need for that any more in a motel. We did Wolf Lodge in Cincinnati, Ohio once. Click here. It was a LOT of fun, especially with all the grandkids there in December.Another time, my sisters and mother and all the nephews and nieces went to Branson, Missouri and we all rented cottages together. My brother in law brought his speed boat, we spent a LOT of time on the water. One year, my wife and I got a good deal on a cottage rental at Nags Head, NC (Outer banks), so we drove (without the camper) and spent the week). The kids were much littler then too. We've done 2 Carnival Cruises. One was the Western Caribbean and the other was the Easter Caribbean. One was over Christmas, the other was in March (about 5 years apart). We've traveled to our daughters house (without the camper) a few times. She (then)lived in Iowa. She now lives near Kansas City, Mo. We did take the camper this last Summer to visit her in KC this time.We not opposed to going anywhere without the camper. But as much as possible, we always take it with us. The exceptions are "exceptions" when it's just not feasible or doesn't make sense.

The only time we stay at a motel is on the way back from Florida. Since we have winterized on the way we stay at a motel with a big truck parking lot in the back where we keep the TT set at 50 degrees and run the furnace all night.

lakebum wrote:The traveling (riding) is part of the adventure for us. We like being able to sop anywhere we want and eat, sleep, bathroom, etc. We are sleeping on our sheets and our beds, bathroom etc.You also get to "see" more and enjoy the ride...X2. I think the journey is as important as the destination.

Traveling vs Camping | Good Sam Community

xctraveler
Explorer
Dec 21, 2016
Traveler, or see my handle, xctraveler. Our motorhome is home most of the year. We used to get itchy tires after 3 or 4 days and have to move on. We are older now and have found a delightful place, Jojoba Hills SKP Resort in SoCal. We plan to be in residence here December through April give or take a couple of months. During that time we will take several side trips, mostly with the motorhome. We just returned from a month of camera safaris in South Africa, Zambi, Zimbabwi and Botswana. We tend to take at least one trip a year that is a venture to parts of the world not reachable by road. Last Spring we were in New Zealand and Australia touring with Fantasy RV in rental RVs. And we have an apartment in our former home town to store the non mobile stuff and to use when we visit friends, there is no place nice to camp nearby. We call our style "free style" It is changing and becoming a bit less mobile now that we are over 70, but that seems young to us now.

The motorhome was initially an addition to our traveling lifestyle, then it became the center of most of our travels then it became the base from and with which we travel. Sure we fly and sure we stay in hotels (not Motel) but the most comfortable bed is in the coach and the shower is the most comfortable and dependable.
Jim_Norman
Explorer
Dec 21, 2016
In my life I've both traveled and camped in a camper/motorhome. My hobby makes flying difficult and expensive so unless I have no other choice I will travel by MH and then generally camp at my destination. I have parked for a month or two at a CG and I have boondocked a bit, hoping to d considerable more of that in the near future. When we arrive at a 'destination' we set up and we 'camp' that is we build a fire, we sit outside, grille, roast marshmellows and drink wine. We also take the toad and tour an area around where we are. We flea market, museum and do tourist trap things. Fly, only if no other choice as in 4 days in CA and back to work or a trip to an island. Given an extra 3 days off I can make almost anywhere east of the Mississippi. Want to go to GA from NJ? Fly, it is a day each way and $$, RV, ok, 2 days each way, but I am rested. Cost, less than a fly trip but there are the extra two days. So, conclusion? most of us use our MHs the way we like to, there is no 'Right' way.
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2016
I was re reading some of the post. I just finished packing as I am flying to Boston Ma tomorow. I have packed more for a day trip not 10+ days. I am going to miss having my "condo" available.
Bill
jplante4
Explorer II
Dec 19, 2016
Last winter's big adventure was 6 months, 16 states and 6000 miles. I think we traveled 30 days for between 3 and 6 hours on each traveling day. I found myself most excited about the traveling days, probably because we weren't towing a dinghy and had to rent a car to see any local sights.

Last season's weekend/vacation trips were mostly driving.
bcbouy
Explorer
Dec 19, 2016
my biggest problem is i just can't plan a trip.we need to wander.keeping to a schedule is just not for us.also,i don't fly.ever.truck,camper,boat,good to go.
RE_Todd
Explorer
Dec 19, 2016
I didn't read every post, so I'll just throw this out there. 65 lb Boxer, 125 lb Great Dane. Sleep apnea requiring a VPap. We travel by RV to fit this in!!
time2roll
Nomad
Dec 19, 2016
We mix it all on different trips.

RV
Fly-Hotel
Cruise
Train-Hotel
Car-stay with family

They all have plus and minus.
Greyghost
Explorer
Dec 19, 2016
In a prior life I spent about 3 weeks out of every month living in hotels for 20 years. During that time I got bed bugs, something else that gave me a severe allergic reaction and many sleepless nights on really, really bad hotel beds. Having stated that, I use my MH for travel, for camping and staying in when visiting friends and relatives. I will never stay in a hotel again unless it's absolutely necessary (visualize Hawaii). In Maine I have a permanent camp site at a friends on the water, it's better than staying in his house. In Minnesota, I have a permanent campsite with a fantastic view of the lake (200 ft away).

Why would I ever stay in a hotel?
tatest
Explorer II
Dec 19, 2016
I use the RV for camping, a week or so at a lakeside destination, alone or with a group, several times a year. I travel by car, using hotels and motels, often to get to homes of friends or family (whom I might stay with). I travel by airplane: to visit family (whom I stay with), to visit major cities here and abroad, where I stay in hotels, and to go on cruises of 1-6 weeks (where I stay on the ship).

When my wife was still alive, we did the same things, with the addition of 2-4 week RV road trips, traveling most days with several tour stops per day, staying places one or two nights.

We always considered the RV just one more mode of travel available to us, rather than being the only way to travel once we bought the RV 11 years ago.
bigred1cav
Explorer
Dec 19, 2016
Our coach is our moving hotel room. We take our dogs and park and use the coach as a base. We are tourists and interested in the area not camping. If I never had a campfire that is fine, nascar and drinking while having music to annoy fellow area users needs to be controlled.