2009 Travel: What's Hot and What's Not

The Year of the RV Savecation

RESTON, Va., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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.