10 Reasons To Embrace Self-Contained #VanLife Travel in Pandemic
By Amanda Calnan Vowels for KidTripster.com
In an uncertain time, the isolation of a camper van reservation is a good bet.
Making travel reservations are one of my panic buttons. I’ve been known to book a beach rental house or campsite quicker than you can say “work from home.”
My family wasn’t surprised when I quickly booked a six-day getaway down the Oregon Coast and over to Crater Lake with our 12-year-old daughter, 15-year-old son and 60-pound Australian Shepherd. We are a camping and global travel family — still — this trip wouldn’t have happened if a pandemic hadn’t shaken-up summer. The van trip ended up being a highlight of the past few months and the best distraction-free time with our quickly growing kids.
Here are ten good reasons to book an RV or van right now.
1. You can get away from it all, safely.
Being able to travel and stay self-contained is the number one benefit of RV or van life. Our very basic van came with an optional porta-potty add-on. We appreciated driving by busy public restroom stops in a pandemic.
2. It’s camping, but with amenities.
We are lifelong campers and hotel globetrotters. Yet, we have never RV’d, which is something in between both worlds. It was amazing to be camping for more than two or three nights — comfortably and off the ground. The weather wasn’t a concern and we’ve never slept better than we did in the muffled quiet of the van on a real mattress.
3. There are vans and RVs for every season.
Don’t limit yourself to the summer months. With online school and work removing some scheduling barriers, you can take advantage of winter rates and head south toward the sun … or into the snow, whichever you prefer. Check out my list of ideas for where to stay when on the road, ranging from basic to luxe.
4. You can save money on dining out while staying safe.
Consider that kitchen or microwave included in your RV as part of the cost benefits. Instead of trying to find takeout in small towns, we simply chose to eat in. We planned with pre-made meals, cold salads, a small propane barbecue, and lots of sandwich fixings. We could pull over and eat anywhere. We also stopped for groceries and kept a healthy attitude of convenience (paper plates) and fun food (treats). This was a vacation, after all.
5. It’s family time like no other.
RV time is genuine in-your-space bonding time with older kids. Connecting with teens can mean a well-timed tactical effort. When contained in the RV or van with their parents, 24/7, it’s pretty hard to not find a few mutual laughable moments and adopt many shared inside jokes and playlist singalongs. We had a pretty lenient approach to some screen time, but we also tried to enforce podcast or music-only during drive times. This way, they’d be looking outside with their eyes, even if they were listening with their ears. The kids were so bored, they took it upon themselves to serve as camp and van organizers. When things were cluttered in our tiny space or campsite, they’d team up organizing and cleaning up and rearranging our gear. My heart nearly exploded.
6. Plenty of rental companies and choices.
When I started out looking for an RV to rent, I first looked into Outdoorsy.com. This is essentially people in your area who are renting out their personal RV, van, or camper. It is peer-to-peer rental. You also see the major national brands driving down the road like Cruise America and more niche or van-specific rental companies. I ended up going to the private van-only outfit, Wandervans, and the experience was great. A quick google search in your region serves up many options. Compare prices and be sure to look closely at add-ons like pet fees, cleaning costs, and cancellation fine-print.
Related: How to Rent and RV and Advice for First Time RVers
7. Campsite locations abound.
Forget getting stuck in some geriatric RV park. The options for parking and setting up camp have never been more remarkable or more surprising. Check out my list of ideas for where to stay when on the road, ranging from basic to luxe.
8. RV and van life is bike friendly.
Consider adding on a bike rack for at least two bikes for the family to share. Our kids both enjoyed getting away from us and exploring around our camp stops. My husband and son also did some technical mountain biking along the way.
9. Fido can come along.
Unlike a week in Cabo San Lucas, you can bring the beloved pooch in many rental vans and RVs. This is both cost savings (no kennel) and great for the entire family.
10. Be a digital nomad and take school and work on the road.
With the previous points in mind, it is possible to work and learn like nomads in RVs and vans. Maybe you just want to tack on a Friday and a Monday to make it a long weekend, or perhaps you want to try to be remote for longer. This takes a bit of planning, but it is possible, and part of the new world order.
TIPS FOR SAFER TRAVEL
One of the hardest parts about the current travel environment is not knowing if and how you should make plans. By following CDC guidelines and considering your own personal circumstances, you can probably find a way to safely travel and get the escape you need.
Adopt a “Personal code of Conduct” for your family. Talk about what you expect everyone to do at every stop: masks, sanitizer, no indoor dining, no busy tourist stops. Discuss whether you’ll be quarantining when you get home; all depending on your personal factors and vulnerable family members. Whatever you decide, do it together.
You can mitigate risk and keep others safe, and you just might decide RV life is your best option for traveling in the near future.
— Published in October 2020