To every time there is a season. Not surprisingly, most people don't flock to northern climes for wintertime roadtrips, what with the potential icy conditions. Rental agencies for recreational vehicles need to shift the majority of their inventories to sunnier locales where their customers actually want to drive, and this can work in your favor as they discount one-way rentals to encourage drivers to do their work for them. It's also a great way to test drive a rig to see if you might want to buy it at the end of the trip, taking part in an increasingly popular trend in American travel.
Two big outfits are discounting their one-way rentals right now. First up is Cruise America, one of the biggest, where you can find a weekly rental from almost anywhere to Mesa, AZ, home of one of the outfit's refurbishing plant. Depending on your point of departure, your rental package includes anywhere from 4-9 days and up to 3,000 free miles for as little as $24 a day, not including gas of course, but the do throw in insurance. Available RV's range in size from 23 to 30 feet, class C motorhomes (meaning they can hold up to 7 people), with the majority being no more than three years old. This special is good through December 27 and can be arranged only over the phone at 800/327-7799.
The another refurbishing factory is in Elkhart, Indiana, where you can drive a cleaned up RV off the lot and head out to Orlando, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle or Salt Lake City for one-way savings as well, again for as little as $24 a day with a maximum of seven days and 2,000 miles before you need to reach the final destination. To make arrangements, call the number above. Other one-way specials are available from the American Southeast out to the West and within California. For additional information, go online to www.cruiseamerica.com.
We introduced you to the other outfitter, El Monte RV, way back in March of this year when that company was shifting it's stock back up north. El Monte is offering similar one-way deals, especially from the Northeast down to Florida, and the Pacific Northwest down to the Southwest. You can see available itineraries and list prices online at www.elmonterv.com/specials.htm or you can call them at 888/337-2214 to discuss your options.