My son just finished the semester at Georgetown University in Washington DC, so we decided to take a quick trip out to pick him up. We drove non-stop both ways so we would have more time to sight-see. We stayed at Cherry Hill Park and took the Metro downtown three days and drove the Honda around all the lit up monuments at night. We also drove up to New York City for the evening a went to a play on Broadway. On the way home, we stopped in Gettysburg for one night and took a guided tour of the battle fields. Great trip, but way too fast.
Bob and Karrie
2004 Pace Arrow 37A
2000 Honda Accord EX
Brakepro Aux Brake!
Short duration, longish trips can get expensive but also can be worth it. Even so 7 nights in a hotel at $100 a night plus gas for the car isn't really much cheaper.
Aridon wrote: Short duration, longish trips can get expensive but also can be worth it. Even so 7 nights in a hotel at $100 a night plus gas for the car isn't really much cheaper.
I dunno, I love the MH but short trips like that are too costly IMHO.
$250 each for flights out = $500
You can priceline a nice hotel for 50, lets just say 60 per night = 420
Lets just say you dont want to use the sons car and rent a car plus gas = 300
Thats 1220, and you theoretically should have two extra days with the son (less time made up flying).
1998 Beaver Marquis Tourmaline- 40' Single Slide - Cat C12 425HP
2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport
3 Doxies - Oscar, Frank, and Ruby
1 Woman - Engineer in Alaska! Brrrrr
That goes to show even with higher fuel prices it is cheap than flying, hotels, etc. This air fare is getting huge and will inflate as MH fuel prices increase.
The MH use cost will stay in line with all the other travel/trip options. Those who have not yet experienced the RV world are going to be cutting back on travel one way or another or paying up just like us.
This fuel increase in cost is NOT a MH issue at all but a TRAVEL issue but let the noise continue.
kennel 2 dogs for 7 days = 500
kennel 2 birds for 7 days = 140
hotel for 3 people 7 days = 420
gas and car rental = 300
plane tickets for 3 round trip =900
total = 2260
and that does not include the meals we would save on by eating in the rv breakfast and lunch.
The Mortgage Guy www.seangriffith.com 99 Fourwinds 31QSV Class C and a 04 Jeep Unlimited running E85 ethanol fuel
I agree, fuel is contributing to a big increase in the RV'ing lifestyle. But when I look at all the costs of RV'ing, I don't think I could ever cost justify vs. other methods of travel. The captial cost of the motorhome, then the fast reduction in value (depreciation), maintenance costs, insurance etc. We RV because we love the lifestyle, not to save money. I like sleeping in my own bed, having clothes on board, being able to stop and sightsee, eat whenever etc. etc.
Fuel is not the biggest expense in owning an RV. Depending on the value of RV, we might lose $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or even more in depreciation each year. So if our fuel costs go from $4200 (based on 10,000 miles per year at $3 per gallon) to $7100 (at $5 per gallon), the $2000 difference hurts but is not huge in the scheme of total costs.
So I TRY to put the fuel costs behind me and enjoy the lifestyle. It is a great way to enjoy life. (IMHO!)
Joe in Seattle
2006 Newmar Essex 4502
2003 Honda CRV EX
Winter: Outdoor Resorts Motorcoach Country Club, Indio CA
In my opinion, the comparison between flying and RV'ing are not valid. Staying in a hotel with questionable cleanliness, questionable security and not having any of my belongings, renting a car and flying in steerage on some no service airline just don't stack up to taking along the pets, having our 5 star hotel with us all the way and enjoying a different travel experience are worth more than any cost difference.
To the poster who said you can find a hotel in DC for $60, better bring a bullet proof vest along! Hotels in DC are more like $200 a night if you don't want to be subject to a very uncomfortable experience!
We recently spent 2 weeks in the Orlando area with our RV and the difference with having our pets (4), washer/dryer, grill and all that other stuff plus our own car was priceless. The cost was about the same as flying/car/hotel.
2007 Mountain Aire 4528
2006 CRV SE
Based in Memphis area
We just got back Sunday from a 2900 mile trip to Tampa and then 9 days at Fort Wilderness and spent 1320 on gas towing the DW's grand Cherokee. The worst part was paying those NY b-----s $32 to go over the GW bridge! MH alone $16. Is there no end to the gouging of the RV'ers. Also the gas stops were quite stressful also. Why do they insist on having the pumps face the building?
If you were to divide us into several groups, based on holdings/income/debt.....something along those lines,....I would fall into a group that will no longer be able to afford traveling (cross-country). Therefore, IMO all the cost comparisons between the different methods will become moot. In the near future, traveling will be only for the well-to-do,....just like in the old days.
In any case, it doesn't make too much sense to compare, or attempt to justify, the use of your motorhome for the purpose of cross country traveling. Those of us who have done it already know all the benefits.
Due to the risen/rising costs of everything (because of the high cost of fuel), my diesel budget is now down to $3,000 per year. For those in my group, this means shorter and shorter MH trips. And, flying is not even an option.
We'll enjoy RV ownership as long as we can. The smart ones are selling their big RV's while they can......
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
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