There’s nothing quite like packing up your bags, gathering up your friends or family, and leaving in a caravan for a classic road trip. But we all know that elaborate vacation plans aren’t always in the budget. That’s when finding cheap caravan rentals becomes extra important.
Sure, hiring a caravan comes with its own set of expenses. In addition to the nightly rental rate, you’ll need to pay for gas, food, and in most cases, even a mileage fee. But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank just to take an enjoyable and memorable vacation. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save money on caravan hire and find great deals on RV rentals near you.
If you’re in the market for a cheap caravan to hire, all it takes is a bit of research and some strategic planning. Read on to learn more about how to find the best caravan for your road trip.
Cheap Caravan Rentals in the USA
When you’re looking for a cheap caravan for hire, planning your trip during the off season can go a long way toward saving you big bucks. Because a lot of people end up taking vacation during the warm summer months (especially families with kids that are still in school), renting an RV tends to be a lot more expensive during that time of year. If at all possible, making your travel arrangments during the spring or fall will be a lot cheaper, and campgrounds will probably be a lot less crowded as well.
If you’re truly on a budget, consider renting an older caravan or RV without all the bells and whistles. Usually if you’re willing to rent an older model, the major rental companies will cut you a pretty great deal. You can also ask about one way caravan rentals. In order to meet demand, some companies offer steep discounts to travelers willing to take their campers from one of their locations to another, which can be a great way to save some money if you’re flexible on which routes you want to take.
Cheap caravan hire USA is usually attainable as long as you make your plans well in advance so you have time to look for the best deals. If you’re after the cheapest prices, you’ll want to call or email multiple rental companies to compare quotes and check their availability on the dates of your intended travel. Most companies are willing to match their competitors’ rates as well, so be sure to keep documentation of the rates at each different company. If possible, try to get rates in writing (like an email) so it’s better documented and thus easier for you to ask another rental company to match their competitors’ rates.
Cheap Caravan Hire for Last Minute Travelers
What if you’re not an advance planner, though? We all have that friend that waits months and months to make plans but somehow manages to pull it off in the end. If that sounds like you or someone you know, don’t worry! There’s a lesser known way to find cheap private caravan rentals at the last minute: peer to peer rental sites.
If the concept is new to you, think of platforms like Airbnb. The idea works the same way, only for RVs. On peer to peer sites, you simply search for caravans and other campers that are rented out by their owners. Unlike renting from a major RV rental company, where you’ll usually just see stock photos, listings on peer to peer rental platforms will show you pictures of the exact caravan you’ll be renting.
In general, the peer to peer model is a great way to find RV rentals at the last minute, since there’s a wide variety of caravans to choose from. You’ll also save a lot of money by cutting out the middle man and renting directly from the owners, who set their own prices and fees and create their own rules and regulations. RV owners are also a wealth of knowledge, so don’t be scared to ask for travel tips or help getting comfortable behind the wheel — almost always, they’ll be glad to help! Before long, you’ll be out on the open road ready to relax and have a good time.
Cheap RV Rentals (Including Some With Unlimited Miles!)
Now that you know a little bit more about where to look for caravans for hire, you can start hunting down some great rental deals. Some places offer discounts such as one night free with a seven day rental, while others run promotions for people traveling to certain parts of the country. Try Googling phrases like “cheap caravan hire east coast” or “cheap caravan hire north east” to find location-specific caravan deals.
Most rental companies also honor a AAA discount, which should save you a small amount on the daily rental rate. If you’re traveling from a foreign country, it doesn’t hurt to ask if there’s a recipricol agreement with the roadside assistance program in your home country.
And don’t forget to look for special deals meant to woo travelers with unlimited miles. Many people don’t realize it, but the vast majority of the time, RV rental companies charge their customers a mileage fee, meaning you’ll have to pay more the farther you intend on driving. Between that and the actual cost of putting gas in your caravan, the costs can really add up.
That’s what makes finding deals offering unlimited miles so enticing. Some companies offer unlimited miles to customers who book their campers for two weeks or more; others don’t necessarily offer unlimited miles but will give you, say, 100 free miles per day. There also might be an option for you to pay a bit more on your nightly rental rate in exchange for unlimited miles. If that’s the case, you’ll want to do a bit of math to figure out if paying for unlimited miles will truly save you money. The farther you plan on driving, the more likely it is to be worth it in the end.