โAug-06-2015 12:11 AM
More solo women hit the road
Popular network for solo RV travellers experiences rapid growth as more women decide to go it alone
Most caravan advertising is aimed at โgrey nomadโ couples and families, but there's increasing evidence of a growing number of RV owners being female and โgoing soloโ.
Earlier this year TripAdvisor released findings from its global Womenโs Travel Survey that revealed that as many as 81 per cent of Australian women were planning to travel solo in 2015.
Lyn Rees, the president of one of the largest social and support groups for RV โsinglesโ, the Solosโ Network run by the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, says this trend is reflected in the clubโs membership growth in recent years.
โAt the moment weโve got between 700 and 800 members (of the Solo's Network),โ Rees says. โI would say it has grown probably at least 30 per cent (over the past five years).โ
She cites various reasons for this, including ill-health or separation causing a break-up of existing RV โcouplesโ, as well as more single women like herself finding the RV lifestyle an increasingly attractive alternative due to rising domestic living costs and the security and comfort offered by modern recreation vehicles.
She says around half the members are either new to the RV lifestyle or are existing solo travellers that decide to join the group.
Some are forced to travel alone because partners donโt want to come along, while others like herself, decide to live on the road full-time.
Rees has travelled and lived in a Toyota Hiace campervan and currently a Mazda-based Winnebago motorhome for the past four years.
She initially rented out her home but later sold it, and now relies on free camping and the hospitality of other solo travellers as well as her two daughters to stretch her savings.
She says one downside of solo travel is having to pay the full overnight rate at caravan parks.
โI do go to caravan parks sometimes but as a solo traveller we tend to get charged the same amount of money (as couples). You donโt get a discount for one person.
โIf they changed that and did a (reduced) rate for a solo traveller I would go to caravan parks more.
โ(But) as far as safety goes Iโve never had a problem since Iโve been travelling,โ she says.
โI never thought Iโd be doing this,โ she explains. โI just made up my mind one dayโฆ Iโm working seven days a week and I was by myselfโฆ itโs the best thing I ever did, itโs an amazing lifestyle.
โI must admit I donโt miss the home.โ
The national marketing manager of Sunliner Motorhomes, Candice Brittain, says the Melbourne manufacturer has also noticed more solo travellers purchasing Sunliner campervans and motorhomes, particularly women.
โWe are definitely seeing more single women than we are single men,โ Brittain says.
โThere seems to be a growth in women who want to travel and motorhomes are a safer option than caravanning, as if there are any security issues they can simply jump in the driverโs seat and drive away.โ
Also driving growth is the rise of โglampingโ social media sites aimed specifically at females and more general informational sites for solo travellers.
However, she believes thereโs a need for the RV industry to educate the new breed of female buyers, many of which have never used an RV before.
โThe single men who tend to buy motorhomes have been camping or RVing or caravanning prior. What weโre finding is the single women getting into the RV world often donโt have that level of experience.
โ(Some female buyers) have literally stepped out from behind a desk and donโt have those practical skills and we need to meet the gap in their knowledge.
โWeโre working with our sales network because itโs more about providing a more intensive handover process and also being very clear upfront in the sales process about what it is they want and where theyโre going, and what they means in practical terms.โ
She says Sunliner is also "actively looking at our products and figuring out whether there are any tweaks and changes we can make to meet the unique needs of these people".
Brittain says the rise in solo women travellers also reflects societal and cultural changes, including women living longer and becoming more independent in older age.
โThere are more and more people over the age of 55 who are single than there has been in previous generations,โ she says.
โBut I think the romance of exploring and travelling is appealing to more and more women.โ
Steven Page, the general manager of Victorian Jayco dealer, Page Bros RV, is also seeing more single women buying caravans and motorhomes, particularly widows.
He says itโs also increasingly popular for women to join with female friends and buy an RV together.
โAug-17-2015 05:10 PM
โAug-17-2015 08:46 AM
โAug-16-2015 06:05 PM
Skid Row Joe wrote:
Up here, "solo women" drive diesel-pushers!:W
Post must only apply to Australia then. We don't drive on the wrong side, like ya'll do! Never seen a RV like that in the good Ole U.S.A
โAug-15-2015 11:41 PM
:hSkid Row Joe wrote:RobertRyan wrote:I've never seen one of these. What do they have to do with female solo travelers anyway??? Where are they in North America.:h
Is this a trend in North America or just here in Australia?More solo women hit the road
Popular network for solo RV travellers experiences rapid growth as more women decide to go it alone
Most caravan advertising is aimed at โgrey nomadโ couples and families, but there's increasing evidence of a growing number of RV owners being female and โgoing soloโ.
Earlier this year TripAdvisor released findings from its global Womenโs Travel Survey that revealed that as many as 81 per cent of Australian women were planning to travel solo in 2015.
Lyn Rees, the president of one of the largest social and support groups for RV โsinglesโ, the Solosโ Network run by the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, says this trend is reflected in the clubโs membership growth in recent years.
โAt the moment weโve got between 700 and 800 members (of the Solo's Network),โ Rees says. โI would say it has grown probably at least 30 per cent (over the past five years).โ
She cites various reasons for this, including ill-health or separation causing a break-up of existing RV โcouplesโ, as well as more single women like herself finding the RV lifestyle an increasingly attractive alternative due to rising domestic living costs and the security and comfort offered by modern recreation vehicles.
She says around half the members are either new to the RV lifestyle or are existing solo travellers that decide to join the group.
Some are forced to travel alone because partners donโt want to come along, while others like herself, decide to live on the road full-time.
Rees has travelled and lived in a Toyota Hiace campervan and currently a Mazda-based Winnebago motorhome for the past four years.
She initially rented out her home but later sold it, and now relies on free camping and the hospitality of other solo travellers as well as her two daughters to stretch her savings.
She says one downside of solo travel is having to pay the full overnight rate at caravan parks.
โI do go to caravan parks sometimes but as a solo traveller we tend to get charged the same amount of money (as couples). You donโt get a discount for one person.
โIf they changed that and did a (reduced) rate for a solo traveller I would go to caravan parks more.
โ(But) as far as safety goes Iโve never had a problem since Iโve been travelling,โ she says.
โI never thought Iโd be doing this,โ she explains. โI just made up my mind one dayโฆ Iโm working seven days a week and I was by myselfโฆ itโs the best thing I ever did, itโs an amazing lifestyle.
โI must admit I donโt miss the home.โ
โWe are definitely seeing more single women than we are single men,โ Brittain says.
โThere seems to be a growth in women who want to travel and motorhomes are a safer option than caravanning, as if there are any security issues they can simply jump in the driverโs seat and drive away.โ
Also driving growth is the rise of โglampingโ social media sites aimed specifically at females and more general informational sites for solo travellers.
However, she believes thereโs a need for the RV industry to educate the new breed of female buyers, many of which have never used an RV before.
โThe single men who tend to buy motorhomes have been camping or RVing or caravanning prior. What weโre finding is the single women getting into the RV world often donโt have that level of experience.
โ(Some female buyers) have literally stepped out from behind a desk and donโt have those practical skills and we need to meet the gap in their knowledge.
โWeโre working with our sales network because itโs more about providing a more intensive handover process and also being very clear upfront in the sales process about what it is they want and where theyโre going, and what they means in practical terms.โ
She says Sunliner is also "actively looking at our products and figuring out whether there are any tweaks and changes we can make to meet the unique needs of these people".
Brittain says the rise in solo women travellers also reflects societal and cultural changes, including women living longer and becoming more independent in older age.
โThere are more and more people over the age of 55 who are single than there has been in previous generations,โ she says.
โBut I think the romance of exploring and travelling is appealing to more and more women.โ
Steven Page, the general manager of Victorian Jayco dealer, Page Bros RV, is also seeing more single women buying caravans and motorhomes, particularly widows.
He says itโs also increasingly popular for women to join with female friends and buy an RV together.
Sunliner Motorhome
Post applies to Solo Women Rvers not any specific geographic location. Original article post from Australia
โAug-13-2015 02:52 PM
Skid Row Joe wrote:RobertRyan wrote:I've never seen one of these. What do they have to do with female solo travelers anyway??? Where are they in North America.:h
Is this a trend in North America or just here in Australia?More solo women hit the road
Popular network for solo RV travellers experiences rapid growth as more women decide to go it alone
Most caravan advertising is aimed at โgrey nomadโ couples and families, but there's increasing evidence of a growing number of RV owners being female and โgoing soloโ.
Earlier this year TripAdvisor released findings from its global Womenโs Travel Survey that revealed that as many as 81 per cent of Australian women were planning to travel solo in 2015.
Lyn Rees, the president of one of the largest social and support groups for RV โsinglesโ, the Solosโ Network run by the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, says this trend is reflected in the clubโs membership growth in recent years.
โAt the moment weโve got between 700 and 800 members (of the Solo's Network),โ Rees says. โI would say it has grown probably at least 30 per cent (over the past five years).โ
She cites various reasons for this, including ill-health or separation causing a break-up of existing RV โcouplesโ, as well as more single women like herself finding the RV lifestyle an increasingly attractive alternative due to rising domestic living costs and the security and comfort offered by modern recreation vehicles.
She says around half the members are either new to the RV lifestyle or are existing solo travellers that decide to join the group.
Some are forced to travel alone because partners donโt want to come along, while others like herself, decide to live on the road full-time.
Rees has travelled and lived in a Toyota Hiace campervan and currently a Mazda-based Winnebago motorhome for the past four years.
She initially rented out her home but later sold it, and now relies on free camping and the hospitality of other solo travellers as well as her two daughters to stretch her savings.
She says one downside of solo travel is having to pay the full overnight rate at caravan parks.
โI do go to caravan parks sometimes but as a solo traveller we tend to get charged the same amount of money (as couples). You donโt get a discount for one person.
โIf they changed that and did a (reduced) rate for a solo traveller I would go to caravan parks more.
โ(But) as far as safety goes Iโve never had a problem since Iโve been travelling,โ she says.
โI never thought Iโd be doing this,โ she explains. โI just made up my mind one dayโฆ Iโm working seven days a week and I was by myselfโฆ itโs the best thing I ever did, itโs an amazing lifestyle.
โI must admit I donโt miss the home.โ
The national marketing manager of Sunliner Motorhomes, Candice Brittain, says the Melbourne manufacturer has also noticed more solo travellers purchasing Sunliner campervans and motorhomes, particularly women.
โWe are definitely seeing more single women than we are single men,โ Brittain says.
โThere seems to be a growth in women who want to travel and motorhomes are a safer option than caravanning, as if there are any security issues they can simply jump in the driverโs seat and drive away.โ
Also driving growth is the rise of โglampingโ social media sites aimed specifically at females and more general informational sites for solo travellers.
However, she believes thereโs a need for the RV industry to educate the new breed of female buyers, many of which have never used an RV before.
โThe single men who tend to buy motorhomes have been camping or RVing or caravanning prior. What weโre finding is the single women getting into the RV world often donโt have that level of experience.
โ(Some female buyers) have literally stepped out from behind a desk and donโt have those practical skills and we need to meet the gap in their knowledge.
โWeโre working with our sales network because itโs more about providing a more intensive handover process and also being very clear upfront in the sales process about what it is they want and where theyโre going, and what they means in practical terms.โ
She says Sunliner is also "actively looking at our products and figuring out whether there are any tweaks and changes we can make to meet the unique needs of these people".
Brittain says the rise in solo women travellers also reflects societal and cultural changes, including women living longer and becoming more independent in older age.
โThere are more and more people over the age of 55 who are single than there has been in previous generations,โ she says.
โBut I think the romance of exploring and travelling is appealing to more and more women.โ
Steven Page, the general manager of Victorian Jayco dealer, Page Bros RV, is also seeing more single women buying caravans and motorhomes, particularly widows.
He says itโs also increasingly popular for women to join with female friends and buy an RV together.
Sunliner Motorhome
โAug-13-2015 12:36 PM
pnichols wrote:pira114 wrote:
Now, having said that, as a man I do worry when I see women alone traveling like that. There's probably no real reason to worry. But it's hardwired in men's brains (very generally speaking) to be protectors of women. So we naturally want to shield them from dangerous activities. Traveling alone across the country has an element of danger to it for both men and women. Real or perceived, we want to keep them safe in our heads.
X100. Outstanding observations and comments!
That's exactly how I feel and what the DW expects of me and deserves from me. The issue is not "can women do it" ... but "is it safe for women to do it". I'm even beginning to wonder if it's even "safe and reliable" for both of us to go where we most want to go in our rig. It's not just what we feel comfortable with based on feelings ... it's becoming an issue of what we should feel comfortable with if well informed.
What can be done and gotten away for awhile, versus what should be done in the long term after application of wisdom ... are not the same thing by a long shot, IMHO.
โAug-13-2015 12:06 PM
RobertRyan wrote:pnichols wrote:pira114 wrote:
Now, having said that, as a man I do worry when I see women alone traveling like that. There's probably no real reason to worry. But it's hardwired in men's brains (very generally speaking) to be protectors of women. So we naturally want to shield them from dangerous activities. Traveling alone across the country has an element of danger to it for both men and women. Real or perceived, we want to keep them safe in our heads.
X100. Outstanding observations and comments!
That's exactly how I feel and what the DW expects of me and deserves from me. The issue is not "can women do it" ... but "is it safe for women to do it". I'm even beginning to wonder if it's even "safe and reliable" for both of us to go where we most want to go in our rig. It's not just what we feel comfortable with based on feelings ... it's becoming an issue of what we should feel comfortable with if well informed.
What can be done and gotten away for awhile, versus what should be down in the long term after application of wisdom ... are not the same thing by a long shot, IMHO.
Depends where you go no matter what sex you are
โAug-13-2015 11:22 AM
RobertRyan wrote:I've never seen one of these. What do they have to do with female solo travelers anyway??? Where are they in North America.:h
Is this a trend in North America or just here in Australia?More solo women hit the road
Popular network for solo RV travellers experiences rapid growth as more women decide to go it alone
Most caravan advertising is aimed at โgrey nomadโ couples and families, but there's increasing evidence of a growing number of RV owners being female and โgoing soloโ.
Earlier this year TripAdvisor released findings from its global Womenโs Travel Survey that revealed that as many as 81 per cent of Australian women were planning to travel solo in 2015.
Lyn Rees, the president of one of the largest social and support groups for RV โsinglesโ, the Solosโ Network run by the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, says this trend is reflected in the clubโs membership growth in recent years.
โAt the moment weโve got between 700 and 800 members (of the Solo's Network),โ Rees says. โI would say it has grown probably at least 30 per cent (over the past five years).โ
She cites various reasons for this, including ill-health or separation causing a break-up of existing RV โcouplesโ, as well as more single women like herself finding the RV lifestyle an increasingly attractive alternative due to rising domestic living costs and the security and comfort offered by modern recreation vehicles.
She says around half the members are either new to the RV lifestyle or are existing solo travellers that decide to join the group.
Some are forced to travel alone because partners donโt want to come along, while others like herself, decide to live on the road full-time.
Rees has travelled and lived in a Toyota Hiace campervan and currently a Mazda-based Winnebago motorhome for the past four years.
She initially rented out her home but later sold it, and now relies on free camping and the hospitality of other solo travellers as well as her two daughters to stretch her savings.
She says one downside of solo travel is having to pay the full overnight rate at caravan parks.
โI do go to caravan parks sometimes but as a solo traveller we tend to get charged the same amount of money (as couples). You donโt get a discount for one person.
โIf they changed that and did a (reduced) rate for a solo traveller I would go to caravan parks more.
โ(But) as far as safety goes Iโve never had a problem since Iโve been travelling,โ she says.
โI never thought Iโd be doing this,โ she explains. โI just made up my mind one dayโฆ Iโm working seven days a week and I was by myselfโฆ itโs the best thing I ever did, itโs an amazing lifestyle.
โI must admit I donโt miss the home.โ
The national marketing manager of Sunliner Motorhomes, Candice Brittain, says the Melbourne manufacturer has also noticed more solo travellers purchasing Sunliner campervans and motorhomes, particularly women.
โWe are definitely seeing more single women than we are single men,โ Brittain says.
โThere seems to be a growth in women who want to travel and motorhomes are a safer option than caravanning, as if there are any security issues they can simply jump in the driverโs seat and drive away.โ
Also driving growth is the rise of โglampingโ social media sites aimed specifically at females and more general informational sites for solo travellers.
However, she believes thereโs a need for the RV industry to educate the new breed of female buyers, many of which have never used an RV before.
โThe single men who tend to buy motorhomes have been camping or RVing or caravanning prior. What weโre finding is the single women getting into the RV world often donโt have that level of experience.
โ(Some female buyers) have literally stepped out from behind a desk and donโt have those practical skills and we need to meet the gap in their knowledge.
โWeโre working with our sales network because itโs more about providing a more intensive handover process and also being very clear upfront in the sales process about what it is they want and where theyโre going, and what they means in practical terms.โ
She says Sunliner is also "actively looking at our products and figuring out whether there are any tweaks and changes we can make to meet the unique needs of these people".
Brittain says the rise in solo women travellers also reflects societal and cultural changes, including women living longer and becoming more independent in older age.
โThere are more and more people over the age of 55 who are single than there has been in previous generations,โ she says.
โBut I think the romance of exploring and travelling is appealing to more and more women.โ
Steven Page, the general manager of Victorian Jayco dealer, Page Bros RV, is also seeing more single women buying caravans and motorhomes, particularly widows.
He says itโs also increasingly popular for women to join with female friends and buy an RV together.
Sunliner Motorhome
โAug-13-2015 11:10 AM
โAug-13-2015 05:35 AM
โAug-13-2015 04:23 AM
pnichols wrote:pira114 wrote:
Now, having said that, as a man I do worry when I see women alone traveling like that. There's probably no real reason to worry. But it's hardwired in men's brains (very generally speaking) to be protectors of women. So we naturally want to shield them from dangerous activities. Traveling alone across the country has an element of danger to it for both men and women. Real or perceived, we want to keep them safe in our heads.
X100. Outstanding observations and comments!
That's exactly how I feel and what the DW expects of me and deserves from me. The issue is not "can women do it" ... but "is it safe for women to do it". I'm even beginning to wonder if it's even "safe and reliable" for both of us to go where we most want to go in our rig. It's not just what we feel comfortable with based on feelings ... it's becoming an issue of what we should feel comfortable with if well informed.
What can be done and gotten away for awhile, versus what should be down in the long term after application of wisdom ... are not the same thing by a long shot, IMHO.
โAug-12-2015 11:42 PM
pira114 wrote:
Now, having said that, as a man I do worry when I see women alone traveling like that. There's probably no real reason to worry. But it's hardwired in men's brains (very generally speaking) to be protectors of women. So we naturally want to shield them from dangerous activities. Traveling alone across the country has an element of danger to it for both men and women. Real or perceived, we want to keep them safe in our heads.
โAug-12-2015 07:45 PM
pira114 wrote:JT wrote:
I don't get why women RVing solo seems to be such a "social anomaly" to so many people; you go, girls!
There's absolutely nothing about RVing that a woman couldn't do as well as a man. I don't care how big or small the truck or trailer is. It's a matter of practice/experience regardless of gender.
Now, having said that, as a man I do worry when I see women alone traveling like that. There's probably no real reason to worry. But it's hardwired in men's brains (very generally speaking) to be protectors of women. So we naturally want to shield them from dangerous activities. Traveling alone across the country has an element of danger to it for both men and women. Real or perceived, we want to keep them safe in our heads.
โAug-11-2015 03:39 AM
JT wrote:
I don't get why women RVing solo seems to be such a "social anomaly" to so many people; you go, girls!