New method of travel: RV
As noted below, we began this journey flying to our destination, renting a car and then renting a house by the month. What we found was that we kind of missed the journey. So, when we went to Arizona for a month, driving our Honda Pilot, we discovered that traveling for 3 days in a car isn't much fun either. Well, it's got it's moments, but there is a lot of whining going on....and it's not just the kids. In Arizona, we bought an RV. A 37 foot 1999 Winnebago Adventurer. Our trc.ip home was a dream. Kids playing in the back, snacking when they want to from the fridge, roaming around, watching movies, and doing school. It was so fantastic that our outlook on traveling began to change. We have since traveled to Texas from Idaho for a month stay in an RV park on the lake. We pull our Honda behind us (a must). Let's breakdown the pros and cons of traveling like this.
Pros:
1. Seeing the world from the road. You don't "fly over states", you drive them.
2. You sleep in your own bed. Always a plus, no matter where you go.
3. Savings on food (eating out is high). Snacks readily available and cold.
4. Cost per night ranges from $30-70/night.
5. Freedom to move about the country at a moments whim. You are not stuck in any rental housing contracts.
6. All your stuff is in one place, not in suitcases, but nicely hung in the closet. Food put away in pantry/refidgerator.
7. No airline headaches. Travel when you want to, stop at any time, no ticking clocks. No airports!
Cons:
1. You are driving a huge vehicle through big cities at times, narrow roads and into neighborhoods. Can be nerve racking.
2. Gas: Average 7 mpg. Ouch, especially when you fill a 75 gallon tank twice in one day.
3. Instead of getting to Texas in one day, it may take you 10. That's traveling a max of 400 miles a day and exploring all national parks along the way.
4. Breakdowns. If you don't have a handy man husband, DO NOT attempt RVing. It's too hard on a marriage. Rent a new one instead. Lots of things shift, jiggle and loosen up along the way, and often need adjusting.
Second method: Flying and renting a car/house
We like to stay near family, so we always consult with our family about rentals near by. We have also learned that our family of five is taxing on anyone's home, so we try not to stay at our families homes for over a week.
With a bit of research, you can find Vacation Homes By Owner (VRBO) with furnished homes all over the U.S. They tend to have the best rates during non-peak seasons. In Texas we rented an ocean view home for a third of the cost in April than we would've paid in May.
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| Fantastic four bedroom house on a canal. Plenty of room for family and friends to visit us. |
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| A community pool is a huge bonus for families. A great outing that costs nothing and is great fun! This pool was in the Key Allegro community neighborhood and was available with the rental of the house. |
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| Our view from the balcony at the VRBO on the Texas coast. We could never afford a home like this, but we can afford a non-peak month's rent. |
