Camping With Bill

November 17, 2008 By Bill 1 Comment

What it looks like here in February

Well, if you’re like us, the camper has been winterized with the infamous “pink stuff”, roof air conditioner is covered, and the “feet” are put up for the winter. I got some of those huge ziplock bags and put all of our paper products, pillows, linens, towels, and such inside so they won’t mildew or smell musty next spring. Now it’s the long, cold WAIT for spring.

We generally take our first camping trip of the season around the beginning of May, or at the latest, memorial day weekend. Some of the KOA Campgrounds around here offer a BOGO on Mother’s Day weekend, so if we can swing it, we’ll go then, too. But usually it’s still too cold to do much camping.

Inevitably, a nice weekend comes up after the camper is winterized and we want to take advantage before the snows set in. So we’ve started renting cabins in October/November at some of the campgrounds around here. It’s perfect! The cabins are warmer, have bathrooms (can you say outhouse in 28 degree weather? I THINK NOT).

So, next time you want to camp after the warm season, or if you don’t have a camper and are thinking of trying camping any time of year, think of a cabin! You still have to bring your own linens, dishwear, etc., but it offers an alternative to a traditional camper.

Now that the camping season is over for the year (we are in the Northeast, don’t forget!), we won’t be posting as often to the blog, however, we welcome any content you might like to submit, and will be posting any info that comes to mind (and reviews on any good camping stuff we get for the holidays!).

RV Camping – Ten Ways to Save Money

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jaimie_Hall_Bruzenak]Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Here are ten ways to save money on campground expenses:

1. Use a directory. You can minimize driving miles off your route and pick out lower priced places to stay. Call ahead to verify rates and availability.

2. Join a membership park or join a half-price camping club. Both offer lower rates to members. Investigate membership parks before joining. They may or may not save you money. The half-price clubs cost around $50/year so if you stay in three or four parks at half price, you’ll be ahead of the game.

3. Extend your stay. Many parks offer weekly and monthly rates that lower your nightly rate.

4. Try boondocking. When you are traveling and are only stopping for the night and not needing or using campground facilities, find a boondocking spot. Many RVers blacktop boondock at Wal-Mart parking lots or at truck stops. (Be sure to follow proper etiquette.)

5. Choose cheaper sites. If you don’t need to dump your tanks, request a site that has only water and electric for a cheaper rate than a full-hookup site.

6. Set up your rig for boondocking. Add solar panels and a catalytic or ceramic heater to your RV so you can boondock for extended periods of time on public land. There is an initial setup cost but camping is free or low-cost.

7. Look for free camping. Some towns, particularly Midwestern ones, have municipal RV parks where you can stay free for a night or two.

8. Stay in public campgrounds. Many public campgrounds operated by federal and state agencies are less expensive than private facilities. Many will not have hookups but are in beautiful locations.

9. Stay with friends or fellow club members. Several RV clubs have lists of members who welcome club members to stop overnight for one night on their travels. If you stay with a friend or club member, don’t abuse your privilege. Offer some money or take them to dinner.

10. Work or volunteer where you get a free site. Many volunteer or Workcamper jobs come with a free or reduced-rate RV site.

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak is an RV Lifestyle Expert. She has been RVing since 1992. She and her late husband weren’t retired so RVed on a budget and worked on the road. She is the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road and other RV books. See http://www.RVLifestyleExperts.com for more information about the RV lifestyle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jaimie_Hall_Bruzenak http://EzineArticles.com/?RV-Camping—Ten-Ways-to-Save-Money&id=1516387