Travel Experts Share How They’re Controlling Vacation Costs
In spite of the impact high gas prices and inflation is having on consumers, nearly 137 million Americans will travel over the Labor Day weekend according to the 2022 Vacationer Labor Day Travel Survey. That’s nearly 53% of American adults. With airfares at a 5-year high, more than half of those traveling over Labor Day weekend are choosing to hit the road over other forms of transportation.
Here’s what top travel influencers have to say on how to plan an affordable, last-minute vacation for this end-of-summer holiday.
Stay Close to Home
Jeremy and Stephanie Puglisi of The RV Atlas suggest re-discovering your own backyard. “Many of us go a lifetime without visiting nearby attractions. Three days isn’t much time off, so planning a road trip just a few hours away will make the most of your time,” says Jeremy Puglisi.
Rent an RV
For last-minute trips, Mike Caudill of Our Auto Expert suggests renting an RV from a local dealership or peer-to-peer company like RV Share, Outdoorsy or RVZY. “Gas prices affect every aspect of a traditional travel including the cost of hotels, airfare, and dining. For me, renting an RV for my family of four is much less expensive than any other kind of vacation. Best of all, I can bring my dog Tucker,” says Caudill.
Hit Up an RV Dealership
“The fall is the best time to go camping and RV dealers across the country have plenty of options to choose from now that fit any budget and lifestyle—and get you ready to go for any last-minute trips,” says Monika Geraci of Go RVing. With RVs starting as low as $6,000 and a variety of financing options, buying an RV ahead of the fall camping season is a lot more affordable than most people think.
Take Your Meals With You
For many, the cost of eating out on vacation has made holiday travel prohibitive. If you’re renting an RV or heading out in one you already own, making your meals ahead of time is the number one tip offered by Keith and Tia Sims of Soulful RV Family. “We shop for nearly everything we’ll need ahead of time and prep most of our meals before hitting the road. This saves us so much time and money,” says Keith Sims.
Boondock Off the Grid
Camping is a great option for a quick getaway, but an alternative to staying at a campground is boondocking – camping with no hookups. Janine Pettit of Girl Camper uses boondocking apps such as Harvest Host which offer overnight camping at wineries, farms, golf courses, and more. “I can use solar power to charge everything I need in my RV so I don’t have to be hooked up at a campground. This widens my vacation options exponentially and is so affordable,” says Pettit.
For everything you need to know to buy, rent, and use an RV, visit GoRving.com. With recipes for the road, budgets, sample road trips, camping tips, and a ‘newbie toolkit,’ it is your one-stop shop to ensure a memorable—and affordable—Labor Day Vacation.
###
