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Old 06-28-2014, 09:23 PM   #1
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RV vs. Motel: Not cheaper!

Camping when younger seemed a lot cheaper. I guess gasoline is the big wallet-crunching issue today. We had a Ford Fusion and stayed in motels and recently decided to buy a hybrid and traded in Fusion for F150. Truck and camper payments are do-able and within our budget (yay!). After taking our rig out two times, I'm just amazed at the cost of campgrounds. I thought we'd be saving a bit more money by RVing. The campground might be a little cheaper than a motel, but you use up that savings in gas! Then there's tolls!! OMG! Our most recent trip we took had a toll of $5 per car. But because we have a truck (considered class 2) and camper attached, our cost was $12! Hubby and I decided it's just a "way of life" choice we made to RV. How does that commercial go?.... "$$$$ for this, $$$$ for that, memories with the family, priceless!" Still love my RV and looking forward to many happy memories!
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Old 06-28-2014, 09:30 PM   #2
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You'll also be sleeping "in your own bed" - much cleaner. That's what's priceless.

You'll probably be eating out less often, too.
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Old 06-28-2014, 09:35 PM   #3
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You'll also be sleeping "in your own bed" - much cleaner. That's what's priceless.

You'll probably be eating out less often, too.
Yes! You are right about both! I love the "closeness" of the family when we are camping...rain or shine!
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Old 06-28-2014, 09:38 PM   #4
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You'll also be sleeping "in your own bed" - much cleaner. That's what's priceless.

You'll probably be eating out less often, too.
Which is better, all you need to do is decide "paper or plastic" and what to put on your choice.
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Old 06-28-2014, 09:38 PM   #5
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I think it also depends upon what types of motels you stay at. Even with the extra gas included using the TT is about 1/3 the cost of a motel for us when we travel.
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Old 06-28-2014, 09:42 PM   #6
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I figured out per night cost once on the RV's I've owned and decided that I could have vacationed for a couple weeks every year in a 5 star hotel. Although I think they might have been upset when I started my campfire.
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Old 06-28-2014, 09:50 PM   #7
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If you figure in the cost of the TV, camper, cg fees, difference in mpg, it is by far cheaper to stay in a quality motel, BUT, it is not nearly as much fun or relaxing. I traveled for my last 10 yrs, 40-45 wks/yr and stayed in mid/upper price range motels, flew everywhere, rented cars and I much prefer the rv lifestyle in FL for 3 months.
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:04 PM   #8
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Less chance of bring home bed bugs
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:10 PM   #9
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Less chance of bring home bed bugs
LOL, that's true IF you stay in cheap motels, I was fortunate enough the last 10 yrs to be on an expense acct and got to stay in mid/upper price range motels. Usually made at least 2 different ones ea. wk and sometimes 4.
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:14 PM   #10
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I don't count my tow vehicle. I already owned it when we bought the TT. When it comes time to replace it and my current pickup the new TV will be something I had already planned to purchase before we bought the TT. I don't anticipate replacing our current TT for many more years if ever (don't we all say that at first ). Our fuel costs are about double what we would normally spend but we also don't fly to places any more and have rental cars to deal with. At the roughly $140-$150 per night we typically spend on a room, no airfares and no rental cars I figure our break even point isn't that many years off. Plus as has been said above we get to sleep in our own bed and not have to worry about who's on the other side of the wall.
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:19 PM   #11
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LOL, that's true IF you stay in cheap motels ...
Not even cheap motels anymore. It is becoming a problem in mid to upper level motels/hotels due to changes in the way pest companies have to treat bed bugs. The newer treatments don't have the effectiveness nor are as long lasting as the older pesticides that they used 5-10 years ago.
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:20 PM   #12
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What hotel can you stay at that offers trees for shade while you sit in a gravity recliner drinking your favorite beverage while grilling some steaks and corn on the cob as family members are riding a bike or playing horse shoes and others splashing in a pool?
What hotel can offer a cool spring or lake just a few feet from your door?
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:21 PM   #13
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...Plus as has been said above we get to sleep in our own bed and not have to worry about who's on the other side of the wall.
BOY, howdy to that! VOE!
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:33 PM   #14
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Old 06-28-2014, 10:51 PM   #15
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All the stuff including the DW, dog, own food and drink, BBQ, tables, shade tent, lounge chairs and the poopy hauler!
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Old 06-28-2014, 11:05 PM   #16
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I used to think RVers were crazy... because of the cost. DW talked me into getting our first one... which turned out to be too small. I spent a week at a model glider contest where the field was adjacent to the RV park... every day was a holiday and every night was Saturday night! There were over 100 entered in the competition, and easily 40% stayed at the field. Since then my sons and I take the RV to the river a couple of times a year for fly fishing. We stay on the river and it's so much more relaxing than a hotel... and the stars! And... what everyone else said...!
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Old 06-28-2014, 11:12 PM   #17
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RV'ing is actually cheaper for me as I'm on the rd 365.
I refuse to stay in bedbug ridden motels frequented by druggies and ladies of the night so the cost is a bit higher. ~ $80-90/night plus having to eat out each meal. IRS limits how much I can claim in travel housing expenses so much of that cost is not tax-free.
Truck & RV payment + insurance + CG + food/fuel costs are lower for me by a small to moderate amount depending on the locale. Plus I'm buying something that I will own and enjoy for years.
Motel $ are simply thrown away without any return.
Plus you can't put a price tag on the nice folks I meet at CGs around the country. Motels ...not so much .


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Old 06-28-2014, 11:17 PM   #18
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For us the gas mileage isn't necessarily an issue. Yes, we tow with an F250, and we're towing a 5er, BUT:

We are blessed to live in an area with lakes in all directions with three GREAT state parks within 40 miles of us.

One of those parks (Poverty Point Reservoir) was just awarded "World Heritage Status" alongside the Great Wall of China,the Pyramids of Egypt, Yellowstone, etc. (We're quite proud of that.)

For us it doesn't have to be a long trip. Just getting away from the S&B for time to do absolutely *nothing*, if that suits our fancy, is an awesome way for us to recharge our batteries.

Regarding hotels: A former best friend brought her own comforter when she and I travelled. I asked why and got a shock; hotels don't wash comforters between guests. BLECH! that had never dawned on me....now I don't want to stay in any hotel that doesn't have duvet covers. Those are washed between guests, but still I prefer a shower no one else has used, a bed no one else has slept in and dishes/utensils no stranger's lips have ever touched.

Hi, my name is Weezer, and I'm OCD. /snark
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Old 06-28-2014, 11:25 PM   #19
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LOL, that's true IF you stay in cheap motels, I was fortunate enough the last 10 yrs to be on an expense acct and got to stay in mid/upper price range motels. Usually made at least 2 different ones ea. wk and sometimes 4.
It does not have to be Cheap Motels
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Old 06-28-2014, 11:26 PM   #20
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One more than one ocassion, I've done the math of RV vs. hotel/motel and often times, the motel route is cheaper (even when I'm only considering fuel mileage, nightly rates, and food costs). But like someone said above (OldCoot, maybe)- it's not as fun without the camper.

That said, when you start looking at extended trips; especially if you use memberships like Thousand Trails, the RV cost can't be beat.
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