Husband and I are planning for a few years hence when second kid will be off to college. I have always thought buying a small RV for travel might be fun - and after some research and pricing, am thinking this may not be the way to go. While we would certainly rent one for a trip first to test it out, the considerations of space and lack of mobility of even the smallest RV have me thinking.

If we were to forget the RV idea, pack a cooler in the car, stay in cheaper motels, wouldn't that accomplish some of the same things? No matter how inexpensive a motel room, it would still offer more space than a small RV. And the tiny amount of storage space in these things also worries me.

Any comments from those who have tried both types of travel?

My granddad tried this, and the maintenance costs on the RV quickly eclipsed what he would have paid on hotel rooms.

"Cheap motels" can be kinda creepy, at least the RV would be your own stuff inside.

I myself have just bought a Class C RV for that very purpose.

The closeness of an RV isn't for everyone, but tens of thousands of people, mostly retirees, have chosen the full-time RV lifestyle. Try out some of the many discussion groups dedicated to RV issues, including the discussion boards at escapees.com and rc.net, and the Open Roads forum at woodalls.com.

But you do have to be in a certain frame of mind.

Don't RV's get something like 8 miles per gallon?

I get 10.2 on the highway if I keep my speed under 60.

I'm going to get one when the time comes.

#1 reason - so I can take my pups along

#2 reason - so everything (bedding, sofa, etc) are mine and has only my germs!

Packing light? I've been reading boards and books for a few years and there's an art in packing just what you need and not more. There's room enough if you don't try to take your whole "land" closet along!

I've gone to RV shows and done some research but want to spend vacation weeks in Europe first. I camped most of the US and Canada in my younger days and will be RVing it a few years down the road.

For single, divorced or widowed women, check out www.rvingwomen.com. LOTS of good info there.

I'd much rather be in my own place than a cheap motel.

www.rv.net/forums is a great forum--as busy as Fodor's.

RVing gives you a home away from home. You never have to pack and unpack. You can carry lots more of your things than you could in a car. It's flexible. You save money cooking some of your own meals. When you need to go to the bathroom while traveling, you use your own instead of having to find one! The popularity of RVing has exploded--there must be some pretty good reasons.

Rent one and try it for a few days. You'll either love it or hate it, I'm guessing.

Every time we pass an RV on the highway, I make my husband promise that I'll never have to travel in one.

I don't like long car rides, don't want to have to drive/park a large vehicle, want to stay right in the city center, not at a campground or a WalMart parking lot.

Rving isn't for everyone. DH and I LOVE it. We have had some kind of RV for the last 28 years. The last 12 years we've had a 23 1/2 foot class A motorhome and it's perfect for two people.

You say that the lack of storage in an RV worries you. What did you want to bring? How will you bring it in a car? RV's are smaller than a motel room, but then you have the great outdoors for space & room.

Like starrsville pointed out, I like sleeping in my own bed, with my own sheets, pillow, quilt and a mattress that I know will be clean & comfortable. How often do they wash blankets in motels?

I don't want to have to pack and unpack a suitcase everytime I chance locations. I don't want to have to lug them up and down stairs. Depending on where you want to travel, you won't be finding cheap motels at the National Parks and resort areas.

A cooler is a good idea if you don't have a RV, but a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven and stove top really makes eatting a lot easier. Cooking our own meals saves us a lot of money! Paper plates makes cleaning up a breeze. I don't like eating out that much. I prefer my DH's cooking.

Comfort while traveling will be better in an RV. You can stop and relax when ever and where ever you want. I know that I have a clean bathroom to go to and don't have to worry about finding a place to stop on a long stretch of interstate.

The down side to an RV is the cost to buy one and the cost of gas. The up side is RV's have a high resale value and campgrounds are cheaper than motels and cooking your own food is cheaper than eating out. All in all, depending on where you go, how long you travel and how long you spend on the road...it could be a wash as far as costs go. I would definitely rent one to see if this is something you would consider doing.

Utahtea

Hi gail, I have never owned an RV but know friends that do and they love them. One couple belongs to a club and they travel to different areas a couple of times a year with their club and really enjoy it. Other times they go on their own. Other friends use theirs a lot to especially when they go to Colorado from CA. They have to children in CO and they visit each family but stay in their RV so they have a bit of peace and quiet when they need it.

Regarding storage space. I had a 28 foot boat for years. I loved it. My only regret is that I never was able to live on it for a year as I had always hoped to. Besides all the beauty of the water, the peacefulness etc. what I really liked was that we did not have tons of "stuff". I would imagine a RV is much like a boat. That every inch of space is wisely thought out? We had absolutely everything we needed on the boat, no more and no less. It made life so simple.

Renting is a good idea. It will give you the feel for whether this appeals to you two or not. Also you will get a good idea of expenses, gasoline, fees etc.

I think in this day and age that staying in cheap motels is not a good idea. And I am not saying that from a snobbish point of view. But it does seem like cheap motels attract people that can be a problem unfortunatly.

Good luck with your new venture!