Pre-cruise RV rental?

[fun2travel]

Wonder if anyone out there has rented an RV for a precruise tour. If so, any recommendations or thoughts on the subject? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

5/21 Celebrity Millennium Mediterranean
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;5;21;11;0;00&timezone=GMT+0200[/img]

[Yukon]

Renting an RV is a great way to tour, seeing exactly what you want to see at your own pace. There are lots of places to rent anything from a pickup and camper to large motorhomes, most of them based in Anchorage. I have them all linked from [url="http://www.explorenorth.com/autos-ak.html"]http://www.explorenorth.com/autos-ak.html[/url]

Murray

[Budget Queen]

One of my trips was via RV, rented from Great Alaskan Holidays out of Anchorage. The Alaska state parks are nice and cheap. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] But fill up early in peak season, so have reservations in private campgrounds if needed. I was alone with a young teen and didn't want to park on the side of the road. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Very convenient having a bathroom and fridge, but more isolation than my preferred B&B's, The 10mpg killed me. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Strongly consider at least a 24 foot RV so to have a permanant lower bed- it's a pain and lacking in comfort if you have to use the convertable sofa or dining table.

[chirk]

Budget Queen:

We're renting a 24 ft from Great Alaskan 9/3 for four people. Any detailed observations/tips would be most appreciated.

How comfortable were the beds? Was the cooking setup easy for simple meals of all kinds?

Thank you!

[tinydancer21]

The cool thing about renting a motorhome is that you can just fill it with food once and you can travel at your own pace. Cooking and stuff is really easy, you'll love it. If you come up to Fairbanks, you can come see me at the Riverview RV Park [url="http://www.alaskaone.com/riverview"]www.alaskaone.com/riverview[/url] in North Pole (which is just outside of Fairbanks), I work there during the weekends. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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9/04 Pride Second Anniversary, First Honeymoon!

[Budget Queen]

With 4 people, I would assume 2 in the double bed and 2 overhead in the front? Beds were only OK for me. I ended up doing linens with my laundry- not enough towels- I don't reuse them. Food prep is easy and refrig and freezer- no problem with ice cream, work wonderful. You need the generator for the microwave. Small stove but very functional, no complaints. Purchase TOILET paper and paper towels- you won't believe what you will use. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Your last opportunity for reasonable groceries in regular grocery stores will be Wasilla, north from Anchorage- then nothing until Fairbanks. Fairbanks has the wonderful Chena River state park- excellent location right in town. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Head out though if you want possible northern lights views. Get the forcast via internet- Fairbanks library. [url="http://www.gi.alaska.edu/"]http://www.gi.alaska.edu/[/url]

[JohnQ]

Are the state park and private campgrounds still doable in late August early Sep? Or is it too cold, or too many closed? It seems like it would be really hard to fly in and equip an rv with all the extra things you would take if you pulled it up to your house and loaded it there? I've seen some of these with extra charges for every little thing you needed. In the long run, do you pay more this way than you would in a rental car, moderate hotels or b&b's and buying some meals? As a 30 year budget person, I always have a problem pencil whipping this scenario in my favor.

[Budget Queen]

The RV's come with everything you need- linens, cooking items- plates, glasses, etc. State Parks ARE open into Sept. but are pretty empty by Sept. RV's are costly- lucky to get 10mpg. It helps to not carry full loads of water. I usually top off only when I won't staying overnight at a place that I can fill at. (some of the state parks only have "pump water" and no dumping) I used to fill then dump at the same park, when available. Look at [url="http://www.greatalaskanholidays.com/"]http://www.greatalaskanholidays.com/[/url]
for a general idea on what's included- you need ot add, milage, insurance. I greatly prefer B&B's, I just found an RV too isolating for my tastes.

[Yukon]

JohnQ - renting an RV is much more expensive than a rental cat, B&Bs and buying meals. You're paying for flexibility that very few people end up taking advantage of.

Murray

[JohnQ]

BQ and Murray,
I had figured the same thing. As much as we would like to try it, I can't find a way to justify it for the cost. Now, if I want t stay on the move, don't know how far I will get and don't want to be looking at all hours of night to find place to sleep or will be in a nat'l park for several days where the hotels are quite a ways off, I would consider again. We can save money with fixing some of our own meals, or snacking, and price shopping for our beds. My wife still insists on her own bathroom---go figure!!!