Testimonials for
The Frugal Shunpiker's Guides To RV Boondocking
What others are saying about the Frugal Shunpiker's Guides To RV Boondocking
Since 2007 when I wrote my first eBook, I've been blessed with many wonderful comments and feedback. These are what inspire me to keep on writing guides for more areas. Here are some of the amazing unsolicited testimonials I've received:
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Your book is very useful for us. We follow your advice all the time. We are on our trip since November 15, 2012 and, following your guide, have visited the Grand Canyon, Page ( Lone Rock), Lees Ferry, Sedona, Prescott, and now are in Lake Havasu City. Once again, thank you for your book.
Alex Larionov
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Just got back from California coast trip. Went tent camping, kayaking and biking. Used your new CA guide extensively. We found it to be invaluable especially traveling w/o reservations. Thanks so much!
Bob L,
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We spent lots of time in Utah and Arizona last fall and winter and your guides were very helpful!!! We explored more areas than we would have done without your information.
Charlotte Taylor,
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Just wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed your Arizona and Utah books. I'm going to read through the California book next and save the New Mexico book for last. Your approach to travel, hiking, and camping closely aligns with ours so your books are especially valuable.
John R Schroeder,
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I purchased your ebook on New Mexico and we had a wonderful time following your recommendations. I referred to you so much during our travels that my wife now refers to you as my girlfriend! We would like to travel to Colorado and wondered if you have a travel guide for that State? Once again thank you so much for an excellent publication and we wish you much success with your efforts.
Randy Davis,
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I want to tell you how much I am enjoying your books. So much so that when I first saw them, my son Matthew asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I told him I wanted your books. I have told many people who question me about boondocking to visit your website. You've done your homework and, for me, it's like a treasure hunt, following your travels. It has sure made it easier and more affordable to travel since I'm only here for a few short months...no time to experiment!
Mary Russell
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Bruce and I are in California right now following your California guide. We love them all!! We have gone places and seen things we never would have if it weren't for your guides. We have been able to spend the last three winters down south because of your e-books. We can't tell you enough how we have loved and used them. Keep up your super work.
Arlean and Bruce Parker
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Your Arizona guide is the greatest, Marianne! We bought a copy when it first came out and, thanks to you, have found a way to get away from the crowds and save a bunch of money snowbirding. The free updates are so appreciated! In an era of declining care and concern for customers, it is so refreshing to see service beyond the sale.
Stu & Carol Seibel,
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My wife Anne and I spent 14 days driving and camping in southwestern Colorado, southern Utah, and northern Arizona this past October. Thanks to your two books, which we had on our iPad , we had the time of our lives. Camping in the Valley of the Gods was truly sublime and camping over the Colorado outside of Moab cortinues to bring back memories of fantastic vistas. If you would like to have some high res photos, let me know, and I can send you a link. Thanks again from a couple of shunpikers,
Geoff Houser and Anne Greisen,
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I so often am diappointed in travel guides as they are not aligned with my values and beliefs - too expensive listings, too commerical of places, etc. I had read the reviews and figured that even if we saved one night in camping fees, I could justify the purchase. I was surfing the net and came across many recommendations for your books on websites of folks we like to follow - outdoorsie & athletic. What we like most about your writing is that it's nature-destination-oriented. We like to hike and bike and see beautiful landsapes. So your books are aligned with our values and beliefs. I do think that the 30-day itinerary will be extended into many months or more for hubby & myself. I appreciate the time and effort that you have put into your writing!!! Much appreciated!!!
Susan Wise
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Your aticle on the Stillwell Ranch in Texas intrigued me. We are on our way to Texas now. We enjoyed all four of your ebooks. We had our copies made into books for easier access. Staples Office Supply only charged around $25.00. They are worth more than we have invested.
Jay Gentner
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I appreciate the bits in your guide that veer into opinion, because I share them (so far). I read a story back when I was even more naïve about Southwest politics about a US citizen who was sentenced to prison and also fined $10,000 for leaving water near the border. It made me sick and disgusted that this is who we are now. Did I ever tell you that you guys are the reason we boondock? Our plan started off completely not like this. We were just trying to figure out how to get to the southwest with all our cats. Then we read about boondocking, and we saw your pictures and started looking around for other strange people like you. The cats feel entirely differently about you, however. They're still saying but you SAID there would be a house!
Roxi and Annie
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What a fabulous job you have done - I can't thank you enough for your Boondocking books. They have been incredibly helpful. I can see how much work you put into them. They have saved us hundreds and hundreds of dollars and hours and hours of trip planning. I have even been teased by other RVers for being such a Marianne follower! We will buy your California book for next winter. And I'm wondering whether you are working on Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Don and I left Ottawa October 30, 2010 and took your route via Detroit, Nashville and Natchez. We have used your books to "do" southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. They have been fabulously useful.
Gillian and Don Wallace
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Several months ago we ordered your on-line book. We are retired (live in Oregon)and traveling all over the U.S.A. in a 32' motor home towing our car. I was skeptical about some of the places you described since your RV is smaller than ours... Not to fear! We can't thank you enough for GREAT directions, FABULOUS advise, all of your KNOWLEDGE and WONDERFUL suggestions! We followed your tracks (in reverse order, we came into Texas via El Paso). The things we wanted to see and do were accurately described by you and very valuable information. We are sorry to be leaving Texas because we don't have "you" to guide us any more :) Toward the end of May we'll be going thru Washington, DC, New York and on up to Maine. Wish we had another Marianne book to follow! We wanted you to know how much we appreciate you and your book! Thanks again!!!
Bob and Bobbie Audell
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I've signed up for your newsletter and just purchased three of your guidebooks. We spent most of last year designing and purchasing a Sportsmobile Class B on a Dodge (really Mercedes) Sprinter chassis. We will be using it around here, which includes southern Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, so your guidebooks are perfect for us. We have never had any interest in staying at a campground where the population density is 10 times what it is in our neighborhood. So we have been boondocking for years, and I've already spotted some of our favorite spots in just a quick glance at your Utah book, but you have many places that we have not discovered, too.
Kitty Benzar
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At the end of October we purchased your four Frugal Shunpiker Guides, which are so far proving to be invaluable to us on our maiden RV voyage to the southwest. We are spending quite a bit of time in New Mexico as we have never realized what a spectacular state it truly is. We are using your guide a lot and haven't been disappointed yet! Thanks again for all of your great work on your guides. The information is tremendously helpful, and we're having the time of our lives.
Marilyn Gris
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Just wanted to let you know we are now in Texas and followed your directions all the way down. Your comments, advice and suggestions were bang on. What a relief to know we can depend on your recommendations and not worry about where to camp the next night. I was afraid I would find a thousand other travellers all following the same advice and clogging up all those free "shunpiking" sites; not the case, no need to worry. Tennessee has a lovely new visitors' center, just opened in October. Ohio rest areas have wifi available for $2.00/hour. I'll keep you posted as we travel and you can check out our blog site for pictures of places you have recommended. We are so glad to be travelling with your books. At night we go through your pages to see what is coming up next day. We also transfer important points to our CAA maps. Thanks again for such wonderful helpful books.
Art Kelly
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Thank you! I like your writing style and the guides are really well laid out. I'm looking forward to putting them to practical use!
Dev Vallencourt
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Thank you so much - I had no problem with the download. We usually only 'dry camp' in our camper....although I love the name Boondocking - Much better! So....thanks for the information as we are getting excited about an upcoming trip to North Rim of Grand Canyon/Zion/Bryce!! Your information is priceless!!!
Judy Spady
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I just discovered and bought your 4 PDF guides -- terrific! I know AZ, NM, and UT very well, yet discovered much valuable new information. Your writings and webpages are beautifully done. I've been living full-time since 2001 in an Alaskan camper on a F-350 4x4 diesel truck modified for very rough off-road use, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Have probably paid for overnight camping 20 times in 9 years, so I appreciate your approach. I'm looking forward to re-exploring using your guides.
John Armitage
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I congratulate you on the Frugal Shunpikers guide for New Mexico, and for the Basic Boondocking book. They both are top draw -- great writing. Keep up the good work.
Bernard Fuller
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I purchased your Utah book for a trip we took last July. Because I dont like crowds, I wanted to find some good, off-the-beaten-path camping spots where we could be alone. For this reason, and the fact that I am cheap and wanted free camping, I bought your book. Near Bryce, we stayed at the place you mention on page 44. It was high season and Bryce was packed but we were all alone at this wonderful spot. Thank you for the great resource. As we continue our motorhoming experiences, we will continue benefiting from yours.
Martin Van Enoo
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After a three month trip, using your guidebooks every step of the way, we are back. What a trip.The weather was crazy and made us change our plans a few times during the trip. We were starting out with your guide to Texas, planning to drive down to Padre Island and follow through with a visit to Big Bend. Well, let's just say that when we woke up in Marathon (the morning before heading down towards Big Bend) to find our motorhome transformed into an ice sculpture, we decided to head out to Arizona asap. The trip was wonderful. We followed your guides through most of it. All in all, a wonderful experience and your guidebooks were very helpful. As soon as I finish looking through the 3,000 or so photos, (!) I will send you a couple with more notes as I have kept a diary of our trip.
Rachel & Denis Laniel
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We just LOVE your guides. Wow, this is exactly what we've been looking for. We plan to take your trips. (This is hard for us because we are the "known travelers" around here and "we" tell everyone where to go - not literally of course. lol We are from Michigan and have traveled to 16 countries, 11 provinces of Canada and all 50 states all on a shoestring. People just don't realize how cheaply they can have the most fabulous vacations. AND YET you have discovered some of the most terrific places. "Free camping" wow! We do this whenever we can, but to have it in a book, it is an answer to our travel problems. We have searched the Internet for just such a perfect guide and Internet site and there you are. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Arlean and Bruce Parker
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This year Mach/April I travelled through California, Arizona and New Mexico and I used your guides with a lot of pleasure. Normally I live in Austria (originally I am Dutch) but I am already saving money to return to the States, I hope next year Oct/Nov. Looking forward to it.
Hannah Winkel
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Downloading your Texas boondocking book and reading it was a highlight of today! Fantastic! You're obviously very skilled at synthesizing information and organizing it into a wonderful, usable format. Love all the suggestions too. Am looking forward to doing more boondocking now. I just finished a 13 month trip with my 3 kids via RV, that included 28 countries. Time to enjoy the U.S. for awhile! Thanks for all your hard work - I really appreciate it.
Tessa Hill
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Well, on my 6th day here in Arizona and your e book information has been invaluble - haven't paid for a camp site yet!!!! I love all the info on the sights and hikes etc...one complaint though, the boondocking you describe at the Grand Canyon south rim, in the forest - I stayed there last night and there were NO elk in my campsite, I demand a refund!!!!!!!! Just kidding. I am in Utah today for three weeks. Any chance you could send me a rough draft of the Utah e-book? Thanks again.
Les Pearson
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I am a traveler via bicycle. Like you, I try to find places to camp for free or for little money.Your books are terrific and I look forward to following many of your trails. I pull a Croozer trailer with camping gear and have a hand-held PC for wireless communication. Of course, I have a cell phone... who doesn't? At the end of June I start a future without boundaries - basically living on my bicycle while traveling throughout the country.
Kathy Wolff
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Just wanted to send you a short note to say thank you! I was in New Mexico last week and had my first chance to rely on your great eBooks. Admitadely I took the easy route and stayed at the Blue Water State Park, but I wouldn't have known about it were it not for you. Thanks for the great books & good luck with your business!
Jay Shapiro
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Complete with a comprehensive table of contents and index, maps, and pictures, these e-books are very professionally designed. My favourite part is the 'tips' sidebars. The books will also appeal to campers (ie. tenters) as Marianne offers plenty of information for them, too. In addition to boondocking information, she also offers suggestions for what to see and how to get there. In short, all three books about frugal shunpiking through the southern US are comprehensive tomes on how to get to the state and tour the state frugally while making sure that you see what needs to be seen. Rae from Travels With Miranda |
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I don't know how you did it. I really thought we had found most of the free and cheap camping in our neighbor state. But your Frugal Shunpiker's Guides list about 40 places we hadn't discovered. The funny thing is, we've probably passed very close by to them on several trips and paid dearly for camping instead. The guide is definitely going with us on our next trip which, with this new information, should be a lot cheaper so may be sooner than we had hoped.
Andrea Burchas
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THANK YOU! For your quick response and help with the download. To travel the incredibly diverse and beautiful southwest part of Utah without the book: RV BOONDOCKING IN SOUTHERN UTAH, is a real handicap. Straightforward and very informative!
Fred Vaudrin -RV Explorer
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These are a series of e books that I can highly recommend (The Frugal Shunpiker's Guides) for the frugal rv camper and one of them is specific to Utah. I have used these books and even have them on my I-Phone. Now let me warn you this is for the frugal traveler so do not expect RV resorts with swimming pools etc.
Posted by "Bubba" on the
Casita Club Forum
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I was trying to get enough information for a fall trip to the Grand Canyon and points beyond but it's hard to know what to expect. Now that I bought your Arizona Frugel Shunpiker's Guide it answered many of my questions. I can hardly believe there's places to camp for free so close to the parks. My VW bus and I will certainly follow the route you suggest.
S. Thompson
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We couldn't have done it without you! We had the Internet and Don Wright's free campgrounds book but in the end we found most of our free camping listed in your guide (RV Boondocking In Southern Texas). Because you had just been there, we knew we could trust that these places still existed. You didn't let us down. Your information was "spot on". Thank you.
Greg Harrison
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We really enjoy your e-book about frugal boondocking and shunpiking in Arizona. We have used it for the past month while traveling through SE Arizona and we continue to use it regularly. We are planning to head toward California, and wondered why you haven't written anything about the subject for that state. Are there any resources we may purchase or find over the Internet about boondocking in California? Thank you again. Any advice you may have will be greatly appreciated.
Ann and Erez Bibi
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"More, More, More !! Hi guys. I ordered your e-book last week, and devoured every last word. I love reading about RVing on a budget. I loved your e-book, more so than other resources, because we totally relate to it. We believe in living simply. Our time together and freedom mean more to us than a fat bank account. Also, because you are Canadian, you understand the laws that govern crossing the border and travel in the U.S. It seems that not a day goes by, that I don't find myself daydreaming, for a moment or two, about hitting the road and seeing this great country of ours. Reading about your travels gives me the encouragement I need to follow those dreams. I am looking forward to receiving my next e-book and wanted to encourage you, that there is an RVing couple on the prairies eagerly awaiting the growth of your web page and the release of your next books!! Very well done !!
Trent and Teresa Shipley.
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I just finished enjoying the Guide to Arizona, and I must say that I am very impressed. While I was reading the guide, it felt like you were literally holding our hands, and leading the way for us. This has totally eliminated the anxiety that we would sometimes feel about our future plans. It was bittersweet to finish the guide, because I was enjoying it so much. I must have looked kind of funny, with my huge map of Arizona, a marker, and of course, a hot cup of coffee. Everywhere I read about, I found on the map, and imagined how great it will be, when I am using my guide for real!!
Trent Shipley,
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On our recent month-long RV trip to Texas our printed version of "The Frugal Shunpiker's Guide" literally became coffee-stained from the amount of usage it got. We were absolutely amazed to be camping right on the beach and in other beautiful campgrounds for free or almost no cost. We would never have known about or discovered these places without the guide. Not having done much boondocking in the past, we were also very grateful to the special tips and advice offered in that respect. We won't go on another trip to the States without a copy of the Frugal Shunpiker's Guides for each area we plan to visit.
Lucy Ferguson,
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We highly recommend "The Frugal Shunpiker's Guide." As veteran "Winter Texans" we have traveled extensively in southern Texas. Even with all our experience we were still able to learn about new places to visit, camp, and inexpensive ideas and tips on living frugally on the road, in this handy guide.
Julie and Kel Kohlhaas,
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My husband and I are in our early 40s and are moving into our RV next month, full time. We are going to buy a Thousand Trails camping membership but will be looking for boondocking spots to "fill in the blanks." I like to go wherever there is hiking/backpacking/canyoneering I have been reading a ton of ebooks and I wish they were all as informative and intelligently written as your three guides. How you choose to travel, the places you pick to go, are exactly what I like! Your guidebooks are pleasant to read, well researched, opinionated in a good way, and chock full of smart advice.
Jill Florio
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I'm currently "camped" (I have a 74 GMC Motorhome, 23 ft.) at Aguirre Springs watching the sun come up over White Sands. I'm the only one here in spite of New Mexico's State Parks being shut down this Thursday and Friday. By the way, your writing has been very helpful to me as I travel with a five year old black lab and we like finding places that she can roam and sniff. She is a food thief so I dare not let her leashless near other campers.
Cliff Moore
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I was able to download and print your ebook with no problems, and let me tell you...I absolutely LOVE it! I'll be in Southern Texas this winter some, so perhaps we'll run into you and your husband! Thanks so much for writing the book; you did a great job of it too! Thank You!
Jeff Mapes
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Here's a follow-up, now that I've finished my trip: I found the guide very very helpful. I especially found the advice about some of the free camping areas helpful, as I never would have stayed at any of them without your guide! Thanks again!
Jeff Mapes
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I was very impressed by all three of these books, one each for New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. They detail suggested routes for touring these states, complete with affordable and free dry camping spots along the way. Of particular interest to Canadians is the fact that Marianne is a Canadian! I've heard great things about how cheap it is to boondock in New Mexico, but her book on the state is the only resource I've found that explains in detail how a Canadian can benefit from the New Mexico parks policy. Rae from Travels With Miranda |
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Thank you for my review copy of "RV Boondocking In New Mexico". Although the true test will be in using it, I can already tell that the information is invaluable. Your Frugal Shunpiker's Guides to Arizona and Texas saved us lots of money last year, (not to mention, opened our minds about camping without hook-ups ... that it's a great option to campgrounds). We've been recommending your guides to all our RVing friends. Keep up the good work!
Greg Harrison
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I have been wanting to write you since the day I started using your books (which was immediately, lol!) I love them. I have only used Arizona so far but it is a great resource for me. In fact, I raved about it so much, my buddy Patrick ordered the same series from you and I am sure that you will be getting a request for the Utah book from him as well.
Ted Arabian
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I am enjoying your eBooks and planning my next trip! I have traveled across Texas from one end to the other several times, and yet I learned from your book about an incredible number of wonderful places to visit and to camp that I somehow missed, although in some cases I passed within a few miles of them without being aware of it. I was so pleased with that first eBook that I had to get the rest of them, as I also camp in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Looking forward to one about Colorado!
Tracy
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By Mark Polk If you enjoy boondocking (dry camping), saving money, and witnessing spectacular sights Marianne Edwards E-book series on RV Boondocking are for you. Each e-book (there are currently 3, Arizona, New Mexico & Texas with more titles on the way) is loaded with valuable information for campers on where to go boondocking, how to get there and what to do and see once you arrive. What I really enjoyed is how Marianne separates each state into sections making it easy to concentrate on a specific route you may want to follow, or a specific area of the state you intend to visit. Within each section she goes into great detail on what that area of the state has to offer; from what time of year it is best to visit the area to State & National Parks, monuments, attractions, facts, fees, wildlife, free camping, hiking, information on the local communities and so much more. These books are well organized in an easy to read manner and the photographs highlighting some of the attractions makes you want to load up the RV and hit the road right now. If you are planning to visit any region of any state Marianne has written about don't leave home without the e-book. It is a valuable guide to getting the most out of your trip while saving the most too. Whether you camp in a tent, dry camp in an RV or camp with all of the amenities these e-books offer something for everyone. As an added bonus when you order an e-book you will receive Marianne's RV Basic Boondocking e-book free of charge. It is a great primer on what boondocking is and it is full of tips and tricks to save you money and make the most out of all of your boondocking experiences.
Mark Polk
(Mark is a reknowned, leading RV industry expert and The RV Savvy Guy on RV TV airing on The Outdoor Channel.) |
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