Rent an RV for the Perfect Florida Vacation

This is not about one particular vacation spot, but it is something that might change the way you vacation.

Yesterday we went to the Tampa RV Show. It wasn’t our first RV show or tour, and I’m sure it won’t be our last. We have been to other shows and to some RV dealerships. It’s fun to look at the various sizes, shapes, and styles of RV’s up close and in person. I recommend the RV shows in your local area as the best way to see the largest variety.

If you have three or four children, with a suitcase for each, and have to live in a hotel room for a week at Walt Disney World, an RV might be a favorable alternative for your family. A hotel does provide maid service, but what else does that hotel have that staying in an RV campground doesn’t have also?

The benefits of an RV vacation are:

1. you don’t have to unpack; 2. you don’t have to spend oodles on the snack machine; 3. you can pull out some lawn chairs and sit under the awning to rest under your own personal lanai (they even have special screens you can get for you canopies to help you avoid bugs); 4. you don’t have to worry about noise from the room next door.

This weekend proved to us that there is an RV just the size, shape, and price range for every size family and budget. We actually liked a very small one called the Fun Finder X. It had cabinets nicer than two of the houses we have owned, a bathroom with a shower, a dinette, and an overhead bunk. It’s perfect for the two of us and very affordable.

We also toured a model that actually had a step up kitchen with a bar and seating for 4 people, which would appeal to larger families. The kitchen area had slide outs larger than my first apartment’s kitchen; it also had a sleeper sofa and a queen size bed in a step-up bedroom. There were even some travel trailers that had bunks for up to four children on one end of the camper with a door and TV of their own while the adults could relax on the other end in their private queen size bedroom.

Some folks actually live in their RV’s and at one point we toured the bus area. From the Charlotte to the Presidio these were high end “palaces on wheels”. As my husband said many time, we would have to sell our house to get one of those. But if we ever win the lottery we might just be heading to an RV dealership. They were luxurious with cherry cabinets, tile and hardwood flooring, luxorious leather furniture, and plasma screen TVs. These are the ones that are often seen on movie sets and at NASCAR races.

There are also places that will rent you an RV for trips like CruiseAmerica. We have contemplated that a few times. This would give us a chance to see if we really like the open road experience. Although after traveling with my in laws a few times, I don’t think we have to worry about that. But you might want to give it a try.

I know this detoured off my usual fun things to do in Florida concept, but I thought this was an idea about a new way to experience Florida.

Check out some of Florida’s Campgrounds and GREAT State parks see the non-commercial side of this great Sunshine State.