Feeling Hot, Hot Hot! The RV Vehicle Industray’s What’s Hot What’s Not List

With the new national focus on economizing, green living and getting back to basics, 2009 promises to be a year of change in many areas of our lives, including travel. Here’s a look at What’s Hot and What’s Not for 2009, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

     NOT                                                                     HOT

Staycations: Americans read a lot           Savecations: Americans are looking
about staying home in 2008, but it          for ways to cut costs this year
didn’t happen.  We like our playtime,      without giving up their family
and a run-up of fuel costs didn’t              getaways. RVIA’s latest Campfire
change that.                                                 Canvass survey of RV owners found
                                                                        that 85% will travel at least as
                                                                        much this winter as they did
                                                                        last year, if not more.

Overspending: It’s no surprise that              Value: Saving is the new spending.
the economy is making consumers look    A recent study showed that RVing
for more bang for their vacation                    is 27-61 percent less expensive
buck.                                                                   than other forms of travel.
                                                                            Some 30 million Americans already
                                                                            enjoy the value that RV vacations
                                                                            offer. More than 80% of RVers say
                                                                            they save when they travel by RV.

Air Travel: High fares, long lines,                   Road Trips: Bring what you want;
baggage fees and only three ounces           it’s your vacation. Take it all
of shampoo.                                                      With you – including the kitchen
                                                                             sink, a large bottle of shampoo
                                                                             and a case of water.

Cruising: All the stomach-flu                           Cruising the country’s highways
outbreaks, cramped cabins and tight           and byways: Sitting in the plush
schedules.  It’s easier to feel more               captain’s chair and charting your
like the hapless Gilligan than the                  own course – now that’s freedom.
charming Captain Stubing.

Eating Out on Vacation: Expensive.               Eating In on Savecation: RVs come
Eating out while on vacation does two          equipped with gourmet kitchens.
things: 1) subtracts from your bottom            Emeril, Rachael Ray, Mario Batali
line and 2) adds to your waistline.                 and other famous chefs have
                                                                              prepared meals in RVs. It’s
                                                                               healthier for your body and wallet
                                                                               when you take a stocked fridge,
                                                                               stove and microwave with you.

The Old Fly/Hotel/Car Rental                            Smaller and Smaller: A 2008 study
Vacation: It’s costly, and hard on                      by PKF Consulting proved family RV
the environment.                                                  trips leave a smaller carbon
                                                                                footprint than the old
                                                                                fly/hotel/car rental trip. RV
                                                                                makers are producing lighter, more
                                                                                energy-efficient units. Almost 20
                                                                                percent of owners now use solar
                                                                                panels on their rigs to further
                                                                                reduce their energy consumption.

RVIA (www.rvia.org) is the national association representing approximately more than 500 manufacturers and component suppliers producing approximately 98 percent of all RVs made in the United States.Visit GoRVing.com for more information about RVing and to watch a video on how to get started RVing.