Comments on: Is Camping Still an Economical Way to Travel? http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:53:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: David http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-284969 David Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:02:56 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-284969 Great read ! camping is a beautiful way to explore whats out there besides our everday lifes. Great read ! camping is a beautiful way to explore whats out there besides our everday lifes.

]]> By: hannah http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-280349 hannah Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:17:27 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-280349 I live in a rural area where incomes are below average, and quite a few people take frugal vacations this way: There are small campgrounds, both commercial and community-owned, which have a flat fee for the whole season. Lots of people set up a travel trailer permanently, and go there every long weekend, and for their summer vacation. It's like having a cottage, except that you use the washrooms and showers at the poolhouse. It also saves gas, hauling the camper around. Most of the folks I know who do this, bought older travel trailers, so it is quite affordable. I live in a rural area where incomes are below average, and quite a few people take frugal vacations this way:
There are small campgrounds, both commercial and community-owned, which have a flat fee for the whole season. Lots of people set up a travel trailer permanently, and go there every long weekend, and for their summer vacation. It’s like having a cottage, except that you use the washrooms and showers at the poolhouse. It also saves gas, hauling the camper around. Most of the folks I know who do this, bought older travel trailers, so it is quite affordable.

]]> By: Ray http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-277211 Ray Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:56:38 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-277211 I will assume that the 1600 miles you drove was round trip. So, that means that you drove 800 miles in 10 hours. I bet that was one scary ride for an RV averaging 80 mph for 10 hours - Woooo-Hoooo!!! Hang on Baby, I'm gonna make you regret ever draggin' me out here amongst all these lions, tigers, and bears...oh my! I will assume that the 1600 miles you drove was round trip. So, that means that you drove 800 miles in 10 hours. I bet that was one scary ride for an RV averaging 80 mph for 10 hours - Woooo-Hoooo!!! Hang on Baby, I’m gonna make you regret ever draggin’ me out here amongst all these lions, tigers, and bears…oh my!

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-276492 Kimberly Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:25:24 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-276492 My husband and I have camped all over the U.S. and Europe. We went to Switzerland for two weeks this summer and it was great. We have really enjoyed camping in Europe, and it has also made these trips much more affordable. On the safety issue, we've never had a problem, not to mention, the whole point of camping is family time. So, it seems unlikely your kid is going to be that out of sight. I would imagine a kid in a hotel is more likely to be kidnapped. My husband and I have camped all over the U.S. and Europe. We went to Switzerland for two weeks this summer and it was great. We have really enjoyed camping in Europe, and it has also made these trips much more affordable.

On the safety issue, we’ve never had a problem, not to mention, the whole point of camping is family time. So, it seems unlikely your kid is going to be that out of sight. I would imagine a kid in a hotel is more likely to be kidnapped.

]]> By: A confused person http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-276145 A confused person Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:40:16 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-276145 "Our last trip last year cost us about $700 in fuel to go *1600 miles.* It seems extreme, but when I started comparing it to flying, it wasn’t that different. Fuel prices make airfares go up, as well. Tickets to the same destination were about $200 per person and that was the absolute best fare I could find. So it would have cost $800 to fly our travel party there. And it wouldn’t have been quicker. *We drove it in about ten hours."* Umm. 1600 miles in 10 hours means an average of 160 miles per hour, right? Isn't that a little fast for an RV? “Our last trip last year cost us about $700 in fuel to go *1600 miles.* It seems extreme, but when I started comparing it to flying, it wasn’t that different. Fuel prices make airfares go up, as well. Tickets to the same destination were about $200 per person and that was the absolute best fare I could find. So it would have cost $800 to fly our travel party there. And it wouldn’t have been quicker. *We drove it in about ten hours.”*

Umm. 1600 miles in 10 hours means an average of 160 miles per hour, right? Isn’t that a little fast for an RV?

]]> By: fractalbrothers http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275785 fractalbrothers Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:05:58 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275785 "Isn’t camping dangerous? Isn’t it a good way to get your kid’s kidnapped? Camping just doesn’t seem safe to me and if you aren’t safe, then any amount of money you save is a waste." hahahaha..... funniest.comment.ever. Yes, camping is very dangerous! Kids get kidnapped all the time, and the ones that don't get kidnapped, get eaten by bears or cougars. Stay far far away from any any camping-like activity - your couch is far safer and your TV will entertain you. You can watch "survivor man" to get an exciting at-home camping experience! “Isn’t camping dangerous? Isn’t it a good way to get your kid’s kidnapped? Camping just doesn’t seem safe to me and if you aren’t safe, then any amount of money you save is a waste.”

hahahaha….. funniest.comment.ever.
Yes, camping is very dangerous! Kids get kidnapped all the time, and the ones that don’t get kidnapped, get eaten by bears or cougars. Stay far far away from any any camping-like activity - your couch is far safer and your TV will entertain you. You can watch “survivor man” to get an exciting at-home camping experience!

]]> By: Mr. Debtbeater http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275740 Mr. Debtbeater Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:48:11 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275740 While I love camping, doing so with diaper-aged kids is a lot harder than it sounds. Unless you do it often enough to make them comfortable, they're going to be up at all hours crying because of the weird surroundings and strange sounds. Just something to keep in mind. My older kids love it though, and as soon as the little ones are a bit older we'll definitely do more camping on cross-country trips. While I love camping, doing so with diaper-aged kids is a lot harder than it sounds. Unless you do it often enough to make them comfortable, they’re going to be up at all hours crying because of the weird surroundings and strange sounds.

Just something to keep in mind. My older kids love it though, and as soon as the little ones are a bit older we’ll definitely do more camping on cross-country trips.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275684 Laurie Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:08:20 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275684 Luis, better to take her camping then to marry her and find out later. She was not the right one for you. Derrick- Kidnapping? Are you serious? Are you ok? Luis, better to take her camping then to marry her and find out later. She was not the right one for you.
Derrick- Kidnapping? Are you serious? Are you ok?

]]> By: Darlene http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275425 Darlene Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:32:20 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275425 I have a stranger take on camping as a vacation and particularly the safety issue. I am a single lady, so for me, safety actually does become more of an issue. My solution was to join an historical recreation group. A weekend event, with food included, starting Friday evening and with everyone going home on Sunday costs less than $20 (not counting the gasoline to get there). But that is the site fee *and* evening "traveler's fare" on Friday, breakfast and feast on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. There is usually a $5 fundraiser lunch on Saturday, so you're up to $25, not counting gasoline. They charge less for children. They offer classes for free on anything and everything from lacemaking to calligraphy to Renaissance dancing, classes for children and fighting (rapiers or the armored combat style or target archery) for those that want to get into that sort of thing. NO ONE bothers such a group, because they all carry weapons and they know how to use them. (I'll bet it's the same with the Civil War reenactors.) And as lagniappe, since they are big into the whole 'chivalry' thing, I am pampered by gentlemen who treat me like a lady and carry my chairs, help me set up my tent, etc. Now this is what happens to work for me, but I suspect that almost any good "camping group" would offer much of the same benefits, whether it is the Civil War Reenactors or even just a normal "camping club" that gets together on a regular basis. Of course, if you aren't into history, the historical groups wouldn't do you much good. But it's just another option to lay out on the table. I have a stranger take on camping as a vacation and particularly the safety issue. I am a single lady, so for me, safety actually does become more of an issue. My solution was to join an historical recreation group.

A weekend event, with food included, starting Friday evening and with everyone going home on Sunday costs less than $20 (not counting the gasoline to get there). But that is the site fee *and* evening “traveler’s fare” on Friday, breakfast and feast on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. There is usually a $5 fundraiser lunch on Saturday, so you’re up to $25, not counting gasoline. They charge less for children.

They offer classes for free on anything and everything from lacemaking to calligraphy to Renaissance dancing, classes for children and fighting (rapiers or the armored combat style or target archery) for those that want to get into that sort of thing.

NO ONE bothers such a group, because they all carry weapons and they know how to use them. (I’ll bet it’s the same with the Civil War reenactors.)

And as lagniappe, since they are big into the whole ‘chivalry’ thing, I am pampered by gentlemen who treat me like a lady and carry my chairs, help me set up my tent, etc.

Now this is what happens to work for me, but I suspect that almost any good “camping group” would offer much of the same benefits, whether it is the Civil War Reenactors or even just a normal “camping club” that gets together on a regular basis. Of course, if you aren’t into history, the historical groups wouldn’t do you much good. But it’s just another option to lay out on the table.

]]> By: baselle http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275408 baselle Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:02:54 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/01/102082_is-camping-still-an-economical-way-to-travel.html#comment-275408 On roadtrips, I very much enjoyed the freedom you get when you put camping gear in the trunk. If you're in a spot where hotels are few and far between, the ability to camp gives you a lot of flexibility. On roadtrips, I very much enjoyed the freedom you get when you put camping gear in the trunk. If you’re in a spot where hotels are few and far between, the ability to camp gives you a lot of flexibility.

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