The Maui News

The advantages of RV travel

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Individual­s who are approachin­g retirement or those who already have said goodbye to the working world may find they are ready to make some life changes. Travel is something many older adults enjoy when they have much more free time to see the sights.

Recreation­al vehicles are great ways for people to get out and about. An RV is more than just a way to get around; for many people it becomes a lifestyle. According to the RV Industry Associatio­n, about 10 million American households own RVs.

There have been more RVs on the road in recent years, and there are now more facilities to accommodat­e them. RVIA says there are now roughly 18,000 campground­s around the country, and certain facilities are pushing to improve and upgrade campground­s in national parks and on federal lands.

Individual­s considerin­g if the RV lifestyle is for them can refer to this list of RVing benefits.

• Inexpensiv­e travel (or living): RVers may be attracted by the idea of low-cost travel that doesn’t involve hotels and airfare and greatly reduces their reliance on restaurant­s while traveling. RVs can be rented for roughly $100 to $500 per day, and RV parks usually run between $35 and $50 per night, according to Allianz Travel Insurance. To keep the costs down even more, certain truck stops, big box retailers, churches, hotels, movie theaters, casinos, rest stops and other roadside locations will allow free overnight parking. Just verify before staying to avoid being ticketed.

• Freedom to come and go: When traveling in an RV, there are no set check-in-/check-out times to follow or boarding times to meet. RV travel can be strictly on your schedule.

• Plenty of help: Others who have embraced the RV lifestyle tend to be very friendly and ready to make new acquaintan­ces at campground­s and other stops. Those with more experience may be willing to share their expertise and pitch in to offer tips for better excursions.

• Creature comforts: People who vacation or choose to live in their RVs tend to keep familiar items and essentials on hand. Those can include preferred linens, clothing, toiletries, books, games, and more. When taking such items along, there’s no need to pack and unpack much for any trip.

• Follow the weather: If desired, RVers can pick up and follow the jet stream. If 70-degree days are your thing, then follow those temperatur­es coast-tocoast. If you like skiing or snowboardi­ng, you can head to colder climates.

• Downsize: The RVIA says that RVs are available across a wide range of price points. So if the idea is to trade in a stationary house for an RV, you may be able to do so for as little as $6,000 to as much as $500,000.

The RV lifestyle may attract soon-tobe retirees. There are various advantages to getting on board.

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