RV Travelers Won't Get 'Scrooged' This Holiday Season
21 November 2000
RV Travelers Won't Get 'Scrooged' This Holiday SeasonRESTON, Va., Nov. 21 Millions of American families will hit the roads, rails and runways this holiday season, in search of the most convenient, least stressful route to Grandma's house. According to a recent survey, recreation vehicle (RV) travelers have found the best way to avoid the Grinch and beat holiday stress associated with travel. Ninety percent of the RV owners responding to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association's (RVIA) Campfire Canvass reported feeling healthier when they RV. Among the most popular reasons cited were relaxation, freedom from schedules, adventure and family togetherness. According to the survey, Thanksgiving weekend will be the busiest time, with 38 percent of RV owners hitting the roads, followed by 29 percent during Christmas and 24 percent over New Year's. "RVs are ideal for travel any time of year, but especially during the holiday season," says RVIA President David J. Humphreys. "They provide a comfortable and stress-free way to visit relatives or go on vacation. RVers don't have to worry about crowded airports, flight delays or juggling hotel reservations, because they take their homes with them." Today's state-of-the-art RVs contain multi-zoned air and heating systems that allow RVers to travel comfortably anywhere in the country, whether it's Thanksgiving in New England or Christmas in Palm Springs. Other high-tech features include satellite dishes to watch holiday football games, global positioning systems to help guide the way and rooms that slide out at the push of a button to almost double living space. "RV travelers can visit relatives or friends and not have to worry about imposing on them, because all the living essentials they need are on board -- bedroom, bath and kitchen," says Humphreys. "They also have ample storage space for holiday gifts." The survey also revealed that 43 percent of RVers will travel with children or grandchildren during the holidays. And keeping them happy and entertained is no problem for parents and grandparents traveling in an RV. With kitchen, bathroom, dining and sleeping facilities on board, kids feel right at home. Kids also can take advantage of on-board TVs, VCRs, stereos and video game systems. RVs also are a perfect way to travel with pets. RV travel not only minimizes stress and maximizes fun for parents, it also fosters family togetherness so often absent in the hectic daily lives of American families, according to a noted family travel expert. "At home we often don't get the chance to sit down and eat dinner together," says Christine Loomis, author of Fodor's Family Adventures. "When we travel in an RV, we eat and talk together every day. The only schedule we're on is our own." Like the Loomis family, millions of others have discovered the benefits of RV travel. And, despite higher gas prices, 90 percent of RV owners responding to the survey indicated that they will travel more or about the same as last year during this fall and winter. The average respondent will travel for 28 days, logging more than 1,600 miles.