Posted by on Mar 09, 2012
The number of full-time RVers and RVers who take to the road for extended periods is on the rise; and whether you combine RVing with your work life or travel exclusively for the joy of discovering new people and new places, it’s essential to stay connected to clients and customers, as well as friends and family back home. Advanced mobile technology, smartphones, Wi-Fi and satellite communications make keeping in touch via the internet easier than ever before.
Before hitting the road for an extended RV trip, you should review available internet connection options and choose those that will best meet your needs. In making your choice, consider the type of RV traveling you plan to do. If you usually park your RV in the shadow of a city, you shouldn’t have any trouble accessing the internet via campground Wi-Fi or your 4G smartphone. On the other hand, if you prefer to take the road less traveled and camp in remote or mountainous areas, you may want to investigate satellite access. Because internet connection opportunities are likely to vary during your travels, it’s a good idea to set up more than one internet access method before you leave home.
Next time we’ll give you a run down on some of the more popular internet options for RVers on the move. You can find links to RV satellite and internet providers on RVT.com’s RV accessories page.
Posted by on Feb 27, 2012
If you recently purchased an RV online on RVT.com, spring break offers an ideal opportunity to take your new RV for a shakedown cruise. Convenient, inexpensive travel is one of the top reasons people buy RVs online; so the soon you load up your RV and hit the highways, the sooner you can begin enjoying your investment. If you’re looking for inspiration, we’ve got some great suggestions for awesome spring break RV trips.
- Opened on May 27, 1927, San Francisco’s famous Golden Gate Bridge celebrates its 75th birthday this year. The official celebration is scheduled for Memorial Day with plenty of hoopla and activities, but you can beat the crowds with a spring break visit.
- As if Niagara Falls weren’t impressive enough, the falls are now bathed in a changing rainbow of colored lights every night from dusk to midnight. Take your camera; it’s a breathtaking sight!
- Go star-gazing at Big Bend National Park in Texas, recently named to a list of only 10 sites in the world designated as International Dark Sky Parks. With the darkest sky in the lower 48 states, Big Bend is the place to go to see the Milky Way and explore the heavens.
Posted by on Feb 13, 2012
Woodall’s 2012 North American Campground Directory is hot off the press just in time for spring and summer RV trip planning. A valuable RV resource since 1935, this year’s directory contains detailed information about 6,000 public and 8,000 private campgrounds across North America. Street addresses as well as GPS coordinates make it easy for RV travelers to locate campgrounds. Woodhall’s also includes listings for RV dealers and service centers, handy if you experience mechanical problems while traveling in your RV.
New charts in the 2012 Woodhall guide make it easy to find campgrounds that accommodate big rigs, offer Wi-Fi or internet access, welcome pets or are eco-friendly. Smartphone owners will be able to access expanded travel information about area attractions and cities via scannable QR codes, one of several new features in this year’s Woodall guide. RVers will also find the one-tank trip suggestions very helpful for planning weekend family excursions.
It’s smart to keep a good RV campground directory and set of maps in your RV. Not only are they great trip-planning aids, but they’re invaluable for those times when your RV travels take you out of cell tower range. RV travelers can also find quick links to RV campgrounds, RV service centers and RV dealers on RVT.com. Just select a state and RVT will provide detailed listings and contact information for participating service sites.
Posted by on Feb 03, 2012
The tailgating has already started in Indianapolis as people gear up for the Sunday night kickoff of Super Bowl 46. The Super Bowl is the most watched television event of the year — and the only one where people stay tuned for the commercials. Last year 111 million Americans tuned in to watch the ultimate gridiron classic; and 7 out of 10 Americans are expected to be glued to their flatscreens this year. Many of those flatscreens will be in motorhomes as legions of RVers join the 300,000 fans gathering in Indy to celebrate America’s national pastime and participate in biggest tailgate party of the season.
Demand for RV parking spaces at the Super Bowl has increased so rapidly in recent years that this year the NFL has designated an additional two massive parking lot complexes exclusively for RV use. Of course, it will cost you. Premium RV parking in NFL lots within easy walking distance of the stadium and dozens of scheduled tailgate parties will set you back $900. And that’s on top your $2,000 (and up) Super Bowl tickets. If you don’t mind stretching your legs, you can cut your parking fees in half. RV parking at the municipal center costs just $500.
But the cost of parking is of little consequence to RVing football fans. Being part of the biggest football tailgate party of the year is worth the price of admission!
Posted by on Dec 19, 2011
On January 1, the average American employee will wave goodbye to nearly a week (6.2 days) of unused vacation time, according to a recent Hotwire.com survey. Companies used to let their employees roll over unused vacation days from one year to the next; but today the policy at most companies is “use it or lose it.” According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 57% of American workers take all of their allotted vacation days, and U.S. workers receive less vacation time (2 to 3 weeks) than workers in other Western countries where 4 to 7 weeks of annual time off is the norm. In France, for example, 89% of workers use all of their 6 weeks vacation time.
If keeping your nose to the grindstone paid off, you might be able to rationalize skipping a few vacation days; but it doesn’t. Psychologists say taking even short vacations increases motivation, creativity and productivity; reduces job stress; and makes you healthier and happier.
So what does this have to do with buying an RV online? RV owners are more likely to take vacations than people who don’t own RVs. RVers are also more likely to leave their work at home and spend their vacations relaxing and enjoying themselves. RVing makes it cheap and easy to get away for a weekend or a couple of weeks. Don’t let your vacation days slip through your fingers. Buy an RV online and go on vacation!
Posted by on Dec 16, 2011
If you are an RV owner and are looking for a very special gift to give your grandchildren for Christmas, take them on an RV camping trip during their Christmas vacation. Leave their parents at home (that’s your Christmas gift to your own children!) and take your grandkids on an RV trip — just you and them. You don’t have to trek to Disney World or plan anything elaborate. Just take a weekend jaunt to a nice state park where you can spend some time enjoying the outdoors and snuggling up in the evening with a stack of story books and steaming cups of cocoa (heavy on the marshmallows).
These days, many children don’t get the opportunity to bond with their grandparents. You may be separated by distance or school and activity schedules may monopolize your grandchild’s time. But grandparents have much to offer children. Grandparents don’t carry the weighty responsibilities a parent must shoulder to raise a child in today’s complex society. Grandparents can fudge a little on bedtimes. They can overrule the 2-cookie limit. They can stop for ice cream even if it’s close to dinnertime.
Taking an RV trip with your grandchildren removes all the distractions of normal family life and lets you focus your complete and undivided attention on your grandchild. For children, that is the greatest gift of all.
Posted by on Dec 09, 2011
After you buy your new or used RV online, the fun starts! Where will you go first? If you crave warm weather and sunshine, head south. While the rest of the country shivers, the Gulf Coast and Southwest offer plenty of warm, sunny days and spring-like evenings. But chilly weather also shoos away the tourists away from vacation destinations in cooler climes, making winter the ideal time to visit some of America’s most interesting and beautiful natural areas.
> Go star gazing in the red rock country around Moab, Utah. Marvel at the Milky Way and see the stars the way America’s first inhabitants saw them. Take an astronomy tour to learn about the stars and constellations and get a telescopic view of the moon and other planets. Arches National Park is just 5 miles from Moab and Canyonlands is 35 miles west. Dead Horse Point State Park is a must see with incredible scenic vistas. Don’t forget your camera!
> Walk the beach, explore the tidal pools and climb monolithic Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, Oregon. The weather flip-flops faster than a politician, but stormy weather only lasts a day or two. Crowded with tourists in the summer, Cannon Beach is a quaint, pleasant town with interesting shops and cozy pubs in the winter.
> Discover the desert in winter at Death Valley National Park. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the valley is strikingly beautiful. Ranger-led hikes offer a fascinating look at this unique environment.
Posted by on Dec 05, 2011
Imagine your family’s surprise and delight on Christmas morning if they find a toy RV parked under the tree with a big red bow on the roof and a card that says ”Look outside!” Better have your camera ready to capture the smiles and excitement when they look out the window and see the RV parked in your driveway.
The ultimate holiday gift, buying an RV promises exciting adventures and plenty of family fun. Many people consider buying RVs online because they’re looking for an inexpensive way to travel and vacation with their families. Or they may love nature and wish to immerse themselves in the great outdoors. Or they may be avid campers who are looking for an easier, more convenient, more relaxing camping experience. And RV owners reap all of those rewards. But the greatest — and often unexpected — benefit of owning an RV is the strengthening of the family bond.
RV families take more vacations and weekend trips. While RVing, parents have more time to focus on their children without the normal interruptions of daily life and weekend to-do lists. RVing gives families the opportunity to learn and explore together while building the kind of memories that will last a lifetime.
Buying an RV online is not just an investment in cheap transportation; it’s an investment in your family — and isn’t that the greatest Christmas gift of all?
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