There’s no need to put away your love of getting a bargain when the time comes to book a rental RV. You can actually find amazing deals on great rental RVs of all styles if you take just a little bit of time to hunt around for the best rates. Are you curious about the best place to find a discount RV rental?
Find out how you may be able to grab the deal of a lifetime simply by searching online and browsing listings.
How to Find the Best Deal on RV Rentals
The task of beginning your search for an affordable RV can seem a little bit overwhelming at first. Some people automatically look up local RV rental showrooms and make plans to look at RVs in person. This isn’t always the best option if you’re looking for rock-bottom rates. Many major RV rental companies actually charge extra fees and automatically bill renters for miles.
There has been something of a revolution going on in the world of RV rentals in the past five years. You’ve probably heard of vacationers using peer-to-peer platforms like Airbnb to book overnight stays. Did you know that you can actually book a rental RV using a similar peer-to-peer platform? Booking your rental RV directly from an owner instead of going through a major company could help you to find exclusive deals and rock-bottom rates. In addition, you’re going to have a much wider selection to choose from.
What Types of Discounts Can You Get on Rental RVs?
You might be wondering what types of discounts are available when you’re renting an RV. The fun thing about using a peer-to-peer platform is that RV owners are essentially free to offer discounts and specials as often as they choose. This means that an owner can lower a rental rate or offer a special package without any restrictions or red tape. This simply isn’t the case when it comes to corporate RV rental agencies that are bound by tight price restrictions.
Many RV owners are happy to offer discount RV rentals to people who are planning to use an RV for a long trip. You can often get a discount for weekly or monthly rentals. Be sure to inquire about discounts for longer rentals when you reach out to owners to ask about availability, daily rates and terms.
Consider Off-Peak or Relocation Discounts
You can also potentially get a great discount if you’re looking to rent an RV outside of the peak travel season. Have you always wanted to take a road trip through New England to look at the fall foliage? Are you interested in driving through the desert at the start of spring? Would you love to bundle up in a scarf and start driving toward the skyline of a famous city that’s under the frosty spell of January? You could see famous landmarks and attractions without paying top dollar to get there if you rent an RV during a time of the year when demand is low. Many RV owners are more than happy to offer steep discounts on daily rental rates during the year’s quieter months.
One of the most popular discounts offered in the RV world is the relocation discount. Sometimes RV owners or RV rental companies need RVs transferred from one location to another. Steep discounts are offered to travelers who are willing to transport an RV from one specific location to another during a rental period. You can potentially save a lot of money if your travel route aligns with the route that an RV owner or rental company needs you to follow. This is a great option to look for if you’re pretty free regarding where you can go during your vacation or road trip.
Some Tips for Comparison Shopping for Rental RVs
It might be a good idea to plan several versions of your trip before you book your RV. Add up the daily costs of renting a large, luxurious RV versus the costs of renting a simple trailer to see how big of a price difference you’re really looking at. You may find that going with a larger RV with many convenient features and extra sleeping space is worth the extra money if it’s not going to cost that much more than a smaller option. However, you may find that a small and modest camper makes it easy to stay within your vacation budget without giving up the little luxuries that are the most important to you.
How to Plan an Affordable Trip in a Rented RV
The reality is that RV rentals come with a number of built-in savings that will be there whether or not you technically get a discount. What are some of the best ways to save money during a road trip? Here’s your look at the budget-friendly tips that can help you enjoy a great vacation for less:
- Invite an extra person to make it easier to split the cost of your RV rental
- Get an RV rental with a kitchen and prepare meals on your own instead of eating at restaurants
- Don’t rent an RV with more sleeping space than you really need
- Look for RVs without mileage fees
- Plan a route that will use the lowest amount of gas possible
- Use the extra room in your RV to pack bicycles that can be used for traveling short distances once you’re at your destination
- Inquire about special pricing for longer stays at campgrounds
- Plan a route that shaves as many miles off your trip as possible if you’re being charged by the mile
- Always inquire about any RV rental coupons that are available when reaching out to independent RV owners or rental companies
The view from the road just looks better when you know you’re getting a good deal. Taking just a few steps to trim costs here and there can help to keep your travel budget low while you’re seeing the country in a great RV. In fact, you’ll probably find that using an RV during a vacation can end up costing significantly less than staying in hotels for the same length of time.