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What are the Pros and Cons of Luxury Travel Trailers?

Lori Kilchermann
Lori Kilchermann

There are definite advantages in traveling with luxury travel trailers. Never having to wonder what type of service a hotel has, never needing to pack belongings into suitcases and being able to stop anywhere that suits the traveler's needs are just a few. There is also a certain feeling of comfort for many people when staying in their luxury travel trailers, a type of home-away-from-home feeling. There are, however, some disadvantages with luxury travel trailers as well. They can be difficult to maneuver through congested areas, they typically require a large vehicle to pull them, resulting in increased fuel consumption over the duration of a trip, and drive time can be affected.

In an effort to avoid poor service at hotels, many vacationers purchase luxury travel trailers and stay in campgrounds when taking a pleasure trip. By utilizing luxury travel trailers and campgrounds, some travelers are able to have showers, laundry service and relaxation without a check-out time. A particular pro to using this arrangement lies in the ability to remain at any particular destination for an extended time without fear of having to change rooms. Another pro to the use of luxury travel trailers is the ability to place clothes and belongings in drawers and closets without having to transfer them back and forth into luggage.

Luxury travel trailers allow travelers the comforts of home while on the road.
Luxury travel trailers allow travelers the comforts of home while on the road.

Vacationers with back problems also enjoy the plus of having a particular mattress in their travel trailer. This can avoid painful instances of sleeping on an unfamiliar bed as well as prevent the sleeplessness associated with lying on a strange bed. This comfort does not come without drawbacks such as difficulty parking, however. The sheer size of many luxury travel trailers makes driving a difficult task in many situations. Heavy traffic can challenge a driver pulling a large travel trailer; most drivers are not experienced in maneuvering large trailers in tight quarters.

One of the biggest disadvantages in pulling luxury travel trailers is the added fuel expense. From the requirement of using a large vehicle to handle the trailer to the added wind resistance of the trailer itself, a great deal more fuel is used when taking a travel trailer on vacation. One often over-looked disadvantage of taking a trailer on vacation is the requirement that the vacationer needs to drive to the vacation destination. Time spent on the road could be time spent at the destination if the travelers were flying as opposed to pulling luxury travel trailers.

Discussion Comments

irontoenail

@umbra21 - Well, you can get very roomy luxury trailers now though, particularly if they are only for one or two people. It's amazing what they will fit in there, and believe me they know how long to make the bed.

They are expensive though. I think if I were to get one I wouldn't just use it for trips.

I'd retire and just live in there, rather than paying on a house and the trailer. You can really get to know the other people wandering around the country, because often you end up hitting the same places along the route, so it still feels like you have neighbors.

And there's something nice about having to take your time to get from place to place. Some of my favorite destinations are towns I've discovered simply by driving through them and would never have visited for any other reason.

But, it's not for everyone, that's for sure. And a good thing too, we wouldn't want the parks to get too crowded!

umbra21

@bythewell - The parking and the traffic would drive me crazy though! And I'm sure that what you make up in hotel fees isn't all that much when you factor in the petrol and the camping fees and the maintenance costs, not to mention the initial cost.

Plus, they just make me feel claustrophobic. I think you'd need quite an expensive luxury trailer to accommodate a bed long enough that I wouldn't be bumping up against a wall and that would drive me crazy!

I understand why people like them, and they are definitely good for seeing the country, but I'd rather fly and stay in a nice hotel room, where I'll have the space to stretch my legs out.

bythewell

While it's true that you don't strictly have to worry about check out times, many camper van and trailer camps charge a per day fee which has a cut off point in the morning, so it can feel much like having to "check out" at a certain point, or you will get charged for an extra day.

In theory, if there are two of you you could take turns sleeping in though!

It's never bothered me though, because when I'm traveling I like to start the days early. There's so much to see and it's a lot more pleasant driving in the early morning, than around the rush hour when every other person is on the road and hoping to get somewhere.

Personally the advantage for me is that often there are places to park that are near the center of the city, or right next to a tourist spot. Any hotel in that position would cost a bomb, but trailer parks are usually much cheaper.

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    • Luxury travel trailers allow travelers the comforts of home while on the road.
      By: AndreasB
      Luxury travel trailers allow travelers the comforts of home while on the road.