5 Things To Know Before Booking A Motorhome Rental
Booking a motorhome rental for your next family vacation will lead to a unique and exciting adventure. Traveling by motorhome allows you to explore the country with your own kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. This gives you the advantages of sleeping when you want, making meals when you want, and using a private bathroom any time – no need for a run-down gas station restroom break again.
While all of the above is an experience to look forward to, if you’ve never driven or used a motorhome before, you may be feeling some nervousness related to your trip. Being prepared before you ever step foot in your motorhome rental is the best way to alleviate any stress.
Motorhome rental considerations
1. Choose a reputable motorhome rental company
It seems that everyone is renting out their motorhome these days and for good reason. The demand for safe ways to travel is high and it allows RV owners to earn an income when not using them.
Think of renting a motorhome like you would a car. When you choose the cheapest and/or first option without doing research, you get no guarantees of a successful rental. Maybe you end up with an older vehicle that has lots of miles, damage, and no assurances if you break down. That means you could be stuck on the side of the road with your family in the middle of the desert in the summer heat with no help in sight. Well, that’s NO FUN.
If you get your motorhome rental through a reputable company, such as RVshare, you will have a greater opportunity that your trip will go smoothly. RVshare has an inventory of thousands of motorhomes to choose from.
Prior to your trip, RVshare provides guarantees when it comes to payment protection and fraud screening of RV owners. During your trip, RVshare has a dedicated support team for you, re-booking assistance and rental replacement if the motorhome you are renting was misrepresented on their site. All these benefits are provided to give you peace of mind before and during your trip.
2. What is my travel style?
How do you like to travel? Slow and steady back roads or get there as quick as possible by highway? Will you be visiting National Parks, beaching it, or going to the casinos? Do you want access to free camping options also known as “boondocking” or do you want to stay in a luxury resort?
Answering these questions for yourself and your family BEFORE booking your motorhome rental will steer you towards the best model for your travel style. A larger Class A motorhome for an extended stay at an RV resort near the beach may be the way to go. Or, if you are wanting to camp in National Parks and get around from place to place easier and quicker, a smaller Class C motorhome may be your ticket to a more enjoyable vacation.
3. Your level of RV experience
Maybe you’ve been camping and driving RVs your whole life. Or, you may be a newbie and this is your first experience. Your experience will determine which motorhome may be best for you to rent to ensure you feel comfortable driving.
If this is your first time with a motorhome rental it would be best to consider a smaller model. A Class C, Class B (van-like) or small Class A will be easier to drive around especially when turning and backing up.
Age also matters if your experience is limited. This will ensure that less could go wrong from a maintenance perspective.
If you have loads of camping and RV experience, the sky’s the limit with motorhome rental options to meet all your needs.
4. Type of amenities you will need with your motorhome rental
Another important factor to consider when searching for the right motorhome rental is recognizing the amenities your family will need. Be sure to make a list of the conveniences that will enhance your vacation experience.
Some things to consider: Do you like to eat out or cook in more often? How many do you need to sleep? Do you need entertainment like TVs and stereo? Do you need a bicycle rack? How much luggage will you have?
Some of the amenities available on a motorhome are:
- Outdoor kitchen
- Outdoor TV
- Inside TV
- Number of private sleeping areas
- Number of bathrooms
- Size of dining table
- Refrigerator size
- Handicap enabled
- Square footage (how many slides)
- Oven or microwave or both
- Counter space
- Storage space
- And so much more…
5. Trip budget and timing
Knowing how much you want to spend on your motorhome rental in advance will ensure you don’t exceed your vacation budget. Rental costs are based on many factors: age of motorhome, condition, mileage, luxury amenities, location rented from and much more. It’s easy to get off track budget-wise if you don’t set a limit for yourself. Filter your searches to eliminate models that don’t fall within your set cost limits.
The timing of your rental can also drive up cost as the demand for motorhome rentals is higher during the summer months. If you can be more flexible in your timing it will ensure you get the motorhome you need within your budget.
Start planning your motorhome rental trip with RVshare or Outdoorsy. For more information on the cost of motorhome rentals, check out How Much To Rent An RV?
