CAMPER...or Not ?

I think it depends how much you travel and where. Some of the nicer campgrounds that have amenities like hotels do (nicer showers and bathrooms, pools, etc...) can be almost as expensive per night depending again where you are at - as a hotel. We have paid for camp sites over $65 a night for hook ups and ammenities and you can get hotels for close to that if you plan ahead and book over the internet with deals. With hotels you don't have the extra expense of gas hauling the camper, the storage of the camper and the time it takes to clean it out really good after each trip to avoid ants and other rodents from wanting to move in when it is not in use. There are pro's and con's to both sides that you personally have to weigh out. We used to camp more and opted to travel through hotels for personal preferences but if you don't mind the more rustic approach, standing in lines to use a bathroom, and dealing with weather issues, etc.. it might be cheaper in the long run if you are using it every weekend.

We have one about that size and I love it. The kids love it too. We've been camping for about 6 years now. Cost wise...it just depends. Some places can be $50 a night (and you have to add in the gas that it takes to get to said destination). I hate staying in hotels though. And one thing I love is having food with us and a kitchen to cook in if we choose to. I like being able to come 'home' as well and not just to a hotel room after a hard tourist day :)
This is ours:
http://www.bellarepaints.com/wilderness.htm

We've always had dogs too so it solves the problem about having to leave them behind :)

I agree with renting one first. We had a pop-up for 4 years before we bought this one. I honestly wouldn't travel any other way now. We're actually leaving in about 2 hours so I need to get those last minute items on it ;)

We had a pop up camper with our first child and then had a 28 foot travel trailer for a year...when we had twins we had to upgrade to one with a slide out. We have been camping since we met 13years ago and our children have been camping since birth. They LOVE it. A few suggestions though...the longer ones are hard to pull, back up into the camping site, and harder to find big enough sites for them. Stick with a shorter one, something 26 to 28 feet and slide outs are so nice...that's why we outgrew our first travel trailer because we were suprised with twins and there wasn't enough room for two pack and plays. Also, we have bunks. We have the triple bunks, but our oldest is only six, so two of them sleep on the lower two bunks and I use the top to keep their baskets of clothes. One sleeps on the pull out couch.
It is "easier" to get a hotel...and we do go for a weekend in the winter months to a hotel with a pool for the kids, but during the summer we go camping every chance we get and the kids would pick camping over a hotel any day...good luck with your decision...just one more thought, have you thought about renting one or borrowing one for the weekend to try it out before committing to it? We bought our camper from a family that used it 3 times and just didn't like camping. It was a few years old but barely used.

We have tent camped for over 10 years together and when we had our first kid decided to get a trailer so it wouldn't be to hot or cold for him. We bought a used 25 ft trailer on Craigslist for cheap. Unfortunately it doesn't have a slide out. That is a must if you want to have room to play and walk around. There definately are still costs involved like getting generators so it can run anywhere you camp. You will have to pay for camping but the cost depends on where you go. It's nice to stay in a hotel once in a while but we love to be outdoors.

If you are outdoors people then I say go for it. It does take time to and you have to decide who does what before and after the trip. My husband does the outside tank type stuff and cleans most of the inside while I watch the kids and pack up.

Happy camping. =)

It is not easier than a hotel, but much more nature inspired. Your kids will get a much different vacation experience at campgrounds versus hotels. You must keep in mind that having a trailer is almost as much work as having a second home- you have to pack it up to go, and when you come home-you have to unpack much of the fridge, clothing and sports equipment-then clean the camper so it is ready for the next time. I hope if you get one, you are able to enlist the help of your family or you will dread camping. Overall, I think my kids loved our camping experiences-it was a lot of work for me.

We have a pop up with a shower/toilet, A/C and Heat. We love it. Our son loves to be out side ( he is 2). It was the best thing we ever purchased. We got an awesome deal. We go at least 2 times a year. We have never regretted it. I am not comfy in a hotel for many reasons. I sleep better in the camper because it is ours and our son adjusted well for that same reason. It is a lot of work to set up and take down, but worth it. We went to Ky for 1 week and it was $125 for the week to be in the park. Some places are more, some are less. It also depends on what type of camping you enjoy, we like the places with less amenities so nothing too commercial.

Cost wise I don't see how it can be better. You still typically spend $50/night and the cost of one is at least a few thousand. That is ALOT of hotel nights! Or even house rentals(we went to Kissimmee, FL for 5 nights for $375 and it had its own pool! 3 Bedroom!). We use hotwire/priceline to book hotels so don't spend much. When we went to Massachusetts we had a full kitchen, a separate bedroom, indoor and outdoor pools, free breakfast buffet(nice one!) and they also had an evening buffet M-Th with things like pizza on it included. I paid $80/night. If we want the campground experience we rent a cottage for $350-$400/week. Or most even have trailer rentals. Still cheaper. Remember you will also either need room to store it or pay a monthly fee to have it stored. Sit down and figure out how many nights you could stay using one of these other methods and look at the cost difference(remember to figure in things like gas to pull the trailer and if you are getting a loan out for it then interest). And definitely not easier! You have to do the cleaning! Lol. Have fun whatever you decide to do!!

We area family of 3 and we have had our little camper (18 ft) since our daughter was 8. We LOVE it! It is easy to pull, it has everything we need, potty, shower, full kitchen and air/heat. We purchased it through ebay and got a really good deal on it.

We keep it packed with everything we need except clothing and food so it is easy to pack up and leave at a moments notice..

Most camping places and State Parks have been extremely inexpensive, so we do save a lot on accommodations.

The only things to consider. Will your vehicle be able to pull it when it is full of your stuff. No one is allowed to ride in the camper while it is being pulled.

Do you have a place to store it properly? Rain, snow and hail can really wear your trailer out if it is not kept covered. In our city, no boat or camper can be parked where it can be seen from the street. If you have to pay a monthly fee for storage it adds up. We cover ours in the winter and check on it after every hard rain.

You could always rent/borrow one and see how you all like it.. We love ours..

It's not easier and it's not cheaper, but it is a different experience. We do both with our three kids. There are times you want to go to Chicago and do "city" things. There are times when you want to go, have a campfire, relax, enjoy the out of doors. It depends how much time you have and what your family like to do.

We don't have the slide outs, but we have a 28ft camper trailer. It ends up being about the same cost as a hotel stay, but WAY more fun. It's easier to me than a hotel... You don't have to worry about bringing those nasty bed bugs home. This is your personal home on wheels. We have 2 kids. The back is a full size bed that my DH and I share. The kids get the bunk beds and there's still the table that folds into a bed if there are ever others with us. We have a shower w/tub, a stove top, microwave, and fridge. I love that we have all of that instead of tenting it like I did for so many years.

Love ours. Check into it.

Oh yeah... We have a stereo, small TV, and a DVD player in ours too.

It entirely depends on your lifestyle. Most hotels don't charge for kids that I have used and they are "Name Brand" hotels. I am not an outdoor girl and therefore want the amenities that a hotel provides. I want to let the kids go crazy after a long day of riding in the car and have them run them selves ragged in the pool area. I want them to be able to sit and watch some tv while I take a long hot shower.

I would be totally miserable in a motor home, camper, trailer, etc...I went on my honeymoon pulling a travel trailer and I hated every minute of it. Vacation is about having a good time and if you are no the kid of person that thinks being out side every minute of the day is fun then go for the hotel and just budget for it and put aside the needed money.

You can eat cheaper if you put a cooler in your vehicle and buy good snacks at the grocery store, such a grapes, oranges, 100% juice bags/boxes, cheese sticks, etc...we always use this method when going on a road trip with the kiddos because they need the extra meals and we save tons of money on stopping every little bit for refreshments.