Frugal RV Travel Blog

Aug 14, Traveling Frugally

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:48:03 GMT

Can traveling frugally actually be fun? Shouldn't a vacation be an excuse to splurge? Here are exact breakdowns of what we spend to see and do everything we want.

Jul 28, Sedona

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:37:49 GMT

Sedona, Arizona -- playground of the rich and famous. Even so, we could easily afford to visit for a week or longer.

Jul 18, New Mexico

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:29:52 GMT

New Mexico, The Land Of Enchantment held lots of surprises for us.

Jun 22, Website Creation Using SBI

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:24:36 GMT

Earn income while traveling with your own web-site. Learn how this website was created using SBI

Jun 18, Belle Starr

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:15:14 GMT

Belle Starr of Arizona is every bit as interesting, lively, and feisty as her namesake of the Wild West days in the 1800's

Jun 11, Can We Afford To Travel Again?

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:36:19 GMT

With the rising cost of fuel, the question I'm getting a lot is whether we could afford the trip we just finished at today's gas prices. In the last 5 months (January through May, 2008) we drove 10,701 miles, and spent $2395.00 for 739 gallons of gas. That's an average of $3.24 per gallon. Today's average gas price in the USA of $4.04 per gallon would add almost $600.00 to the cost of our trip. While that's a significant increase,(25), would I miss out on the same 5 month adventure for the sake of $600.00? I think not. Would you?

Jun 11, Gas Price Comparison For Canadians

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:12:48 GMT

A simple formula to compare the USA gas price to Canadian.

Jun 10, We're Home!

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:57:07 GMT

Well, here we are back in Ontario after a wonderful 5 months on the road. I should say our bodies are back; it may take a few more days for our spirits to catch up. I'd like to thank all of you, our friends and families as well as the many loyal fans of my website for faithfully following our adventures through my blogs. I appreciate all the emails of encouragement as well as your comments and questions, and I apologize for not always responding as quickly as I would have liked. I'm afraid that with our style of travel, sometimes fun gets in the way of everything else. Now that I'm back home, writing about the trip will keep it alive for me. A few of you asked about our costs on this trip and whether, with the increase in gas costs, we were still on budget. I'm happy to report that we were only over budget by $500.00, with the total trip costing us $5500.00 Our total camping expense for the 5 months was $91.00. This still amazes me, and we stayed in some of the most beautiful places. The full list of expenses for this most recent trip is being added to my Traveling Frugally page. I'm also back to work on the ebooks, with tons of great material for the next guides in the Frugal Shunpiker's series. Watch for guides to New Mexico and Utah to be released by late summer or early fall. As always we learned a few new tricks on this trip, and I'll be sharing a lot of those on this website over the next few months as well. Wishing you all a safe and happy summer full of adventure and fun. ~Marianne

May 7, Escalante National Monument

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:36:36 GMT

Escalante National Monument is possibly the home of the most colorful terrain in the entire Southwest.

Apr 21, Arizona Photos

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:40:54 GMT

Follow our travels through the southwest with these recent Arizona photos

Mar 20, An Update On Our Travels

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:50:30 GMT

An update on our travels...Feb and Mar 2008

Mar 10, Stillwell-Ranch

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:05:14 GMT

There are many reasons we will return to visit Stillwell Ranch in Texas again.

Feb 27, Texas Hill Country

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:54:04 GMT

Photos and description of our 2008 trip as we tour Texas Hill Country

Feb 19, As If I Needed That!

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:39:39 GMT

I don't think I needed a reminder that said, "Life is short, live your dreams now!" Certainly not this kind of reminder. I lost my brother to cancer a week ago yesterday. 2 days into our trip we found out John had cancer. The treatment was to include surgery and chemotherapy. He had the surgery, and we thought we'd wait to come visit until he felt a bit better and had regained some of his strength. It never happened. Last Saturday the family was told it might only be a matter of weeks. He died 2 days later, before we even got a chance to say our goodbyes. So, a cruel trick, and of course a devastaing interruption of my trip. John lived in Manitoba with his wife and son. He was 51 years old, and planned to retire at age 55. I've been in Manitoba for the past week, but fly back tomorrow to rejoin Randy in El Paso Texas and resume our trip. I'm afraid I'm behind on my blogging. I do have some wonderful places and experiences to write about. Before we got the call about my brother we had some beautiful time in Texas Hill Country and at Big Bend National Park. Watch for my blogs about those experiences over the next couple of weeks. And those things you've been dreaming about doing? Don't put them off. Figure out a way to do them sooner.

Feb 19, Travel Insurance

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:34:54 GMT

After a lot of research we chose travel insurance geared to Canadian Snowbirds

Jan 31, More Of 2008 Trip

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:31:49 GMT

Another update on our current travels

Jan 14, Southern Texas Travel Photos

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:38:32 GMT

Follow our current trip through some of the photo highlights

Jan 10, Small Questions Open Doors To Big Hearts

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:39:48 GMT

Meeting great people is a traveling bonus. On Matagorda Bay, near Port Lavaca Texas, we stopped to visit the small communities of Magnolia Beach and Indianola. Here, I walked along the beach to neighboring RVers with my small question; Do you know where we can get some drinking water? These folks had just arrived themselves and had no answer for me. They did, however, have a 100 lb bag of fresh oysters they had just purchased more than they wanted and were looking to give some away. After a short lesson on shucking oysters Im now carrying a 7 lb bag of oysters with me as I approach 2 fishermen, with my same question. Where can I find water? In unison they look toward the ocean and back to me with a smirk. Okay, so we have a sense of humor. Right away, one of the men volunteers, You can come to get some from my house, and within a half hour Randy and I are not only filling our water tank but also our memory bank, as Rick Kelly, a local fishing guide, shares his stories, viewpoints, knowledge, jokes AND his oyster shucking tools and expertise! Later, were on a beach-walk when we arrive at a place where we would need to cross private docks and lawns to continue. A man on a lawn tractor is cutting his grass and gives us a wave. He stops and we ask a small question, Is there more public beach beyond this point and, if so, how do we get to it? At 84, Bob is spry, full of wit and humor and local history, and there's seemingly nothing hed rather do this afternoon than talk to a couple of Canadians who he has just met. Before the afternoon is over weve been welcomed into his home, shared a few beers, and passed our day in another most pleasant encounter. Whether its meeting other Rvers to share travel information and stories, or meeting the locals to get a true feel for the territory, weve learned to never underestimate the door-opening power of the smallest most innocent question.

Jan 10, No Sense Of Urgency

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:17:12 GMT

Until we pulled away from home on Friday morning, Dec 28th, it seemed there wasnt enough time to get everything done that needed doing. Now, on the road, there is no sense of urgency about anything so you should not be surprised that it has taken this long to get around to writing this first blog entry. Its sunny with a warm breeze today, here on the Gulf Coast of Texas. The trip, which can be done in 3 days, took us a full week. We appeared to be driving with a purpose and making good time until, on day 2, the sun came out as we neared Lexington, KY and a strong shunpking urge took us off the main roads, through the picturesque Kentucky hills. In Hodgenville, KY, we toured Abraham Lincolns birthplace and boyhood home. A fitting stop since 2008 is the year America will be celebrating 200 years since his birth. A fact that seems a bit strange since he was actually born in 1809. We can only guess there is a shortage of things to celebrate this year, or is it because Abe was a republican and this is an election year? Hmmmm. A stop in Nashville, TN, allowed us to view the very impressive Christmas light display at Opryland. We took our time driving the scenic historic Natchez Trace Parkway and crossing Louisiana into Texas. Now, were parked on the beach, at a location we had heard about but not visited until now. The camping is free and the living is easy. And there is no sense of urgency. Days On The Road At Time Of Writing: 7 Camping Costs To Date: $0.00

Jan 10, A New Year, A New Adventure

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:46:53 GMT

I guess I thought this (our fourth) trip would be different. After all, Ive got a web site now and am doing research for my site as well as for my Frugal Shunpikers Guides. Ive got some never had them on any other trip technical equipment with me: a laptop computer, a GPS, and a brand new digital camera. But here it is, almost 2 weeks into the trip and the first time Im sitting down to actually write. No, thats not entirely true either. I have been writing but, in the same way as I always did - the old fashioned way, with a pencil and paper, while sitting in the serenity of our campsite. Somehow, the computer and GPS seem out of place and like they dont belong on this type of trip. At least - not yet. Perhaps my excitement to share my new adventures will take over and Ill be turning to these new resources as a faster way to process the information. For now, here I am, missing out on the sunshine, while I sit at an Internet location, transcribing the notes Ive written over the last 2 weeks. Written as they were, in the moment, I hope youll enjoy my musings half as much as I enjoyed the writing, and that they can at least give you a glimpse of what I felt as I wrote them. Perhaps, even a glimpse of what it feels like to be this free, this fortunate and this grateful to be alive and living a new adventure every day. Marianne.

Dec 20, Recommended Books For RVing

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:41:52 GMT

A list of books on RVing as recommended by the author of The Frugal Shunpiker's Guides

Dec 20, Affiliate Page

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:27:50 GMT

Dec 16, Holiday Special On Purchase of Site Build It!

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:06:34 GMT

For anyone thinking of starting their own website, Site Build It (I used it to develop this website) is offering a holiday special. Until December 25th, purchase one for yourself and another to give to a friend. Or keep them both for yourself. The second site can be activated up to 9 months after purchase. And of course your entire purchase has a risk free money back guarantee. If you're thinking about a website as a way to generate income, check out this special holiday offer at the SBI website You'll find the holiday special at the top of the page.

Dec 16, Find Free Wi Fi Hot Spots

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:48:02 GMT

Here's a great resource for all you frugal travellers looking for free Wi Fi access while travelling. Forbes Wi Fi Hot Spot Finder lets you find free internet access by typing in the nearest city or zip code. Most of the sites listed are in the USA, so it's great for RVers traveling anywhere through the States. Using the search tool for finding locations in other countries is a little more tricky. Just enter the country. Ignore the state and city boxes. Press "find hotspots" and a list will appear with provinces and cities to choose from. Since you'll need internet access to get the information, it's a good idea to print off a list of hot spot addresses in advance of visiting each area.

Dec 6, Best Rates For Travel Medical Insurance

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:24:28 GMT

The ad for Group Medical Services says, "Travel Insurance for Snowbirds is our claim to fame!" Since this is one of our major costs of travel, we did a lot of homework on this for our upcoming 5-month trip, so I thought I'd quickly share our findings. We checked a lot of different options and got a wide range of quotes, but ended up choosing Group Medical Services (GMS). The reasons:

2 million coverage vs some others which offer only 1 million
24-hour travel assistance
direct billing for any claims instead of having to pay ourselves and then make the claim
freindly very personable phone staff, no time spent on hold, no extra buttons to push to speak to the right department. (Almost unheard of these days.)
on-line application was simple and straight-forward
the best rates! (substantial savings)

As you may know, after 55 it becomes a little more expensive to get travel insurance, depending on your medical history. We're both over 55 and don't have any health conditions that affect the rate. With this company we're paying $2.31 per day for full coverage. We had the option to reduce that even futher to $2.10 per day with a $250.00 deductable. This beat all the other quotes we got. For example the daily rate with CAA who we've used in the past was $3.27. We also purchased the annual 30-day multiple-trip plan which cost very little extra when combined with this but will cover us for any other trips we may take take later in 2008 (up to 30 days each). The cost for this $83.00 per person vs the same plan with CAA at $108.00. I guess with insurance the most important thing is always how well they handle a claim. Let's hope we don't have to find out first-hand, but just in case, we did an extensive internet search for customer claims service reviews and found not one negative report. Based in Saskatchewan the company has been providing health insurance services since 1949, and only recently (since 2003) have extended their services into other Canadian provinces. If you're a Canadian shopping for extended travel insurance I highly recommend that you check them out. Visit www.gms.ca or call 1-800-667-3699. Oh, and I must say that the 2 girls (Quinn and Tara) who I spoke with when I called were knowledgeable, extremely helpfull and just wonderful to deal with. Countdown: Only 22 days to departure!!!

Dec 5, Utah destination

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:39:37 GMT

Have you seen Utah? Explore a new Utah destination that's off the beaten path. As with everthing in Utah, you will not be dissapointed.

Dec 3, Favorite Arizona Destination

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:25:23 GMT

It's impossible to choose just one favorite Arizona destination. This top 10 list includes photos and a brief description of why each made the list.

Nov 30, Trip Checklist

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:30:04 GMT

Trip checklist and packing tips to get you organized for an extended RV trip

Nov 23, RV Travel Activities

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 04:52:15 GMT

For a long trip you need plenty of variety in your travel activities. These suggestions should satisfy every need without breaking your budget.

Nov 19, Using A Compass

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:48:15 GMT

For hikers: An introduction to using a compass.

Nov 18, Topographical Maps

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:56:31 GMT

Learn how to read topographical maps and hike off-trail with confidence.

Nov 15, Trip Preparations In Progress

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:22:32 GMT

There seems to be some interest in knowing just how we go about getting ready for a trip of 5 months. The "To Do" list seems to be getting bigger. How will we get everything done in time for our departure? Since this is our 4th BIG trip, we should be getting good at this, but it still doesn't get done automatically. What major items have I been able to strike off the "To Do" list so far? 1. We got our passport applications sent in. As Canadians, we don't need them yet to enter the USA because we're traveling by ground, but they are now required for air travel and we decided we should have them just in case we might need to fly home and back for whatever reason. 2. We got our US dollar bank account in order. Because I keep close track of our expenses, and we use a debit card for almost every expense when we travel, I like using a US dollar account. It just means being able to match every purchase to the amount deducted from the account. 3. We've done some comparison shopping on extended health insurance plans. Since we're both over 55 now, the costs are up a bit from our last trip. We've found quite a large difference in rates from one company to another. Moreso than other years. I'll let you know which health plan we go with and why. 4. Randy has got the RV in good working order. We had our fridge overhauled this summer. Randy has made some other minor repairs and done the routine checks such as fluids, tires and brakes. We think we're good, but will get our mechanic's blessing too before we go. We have the best mechanic! Bruce is just as happy to give Randy a free lesson on how to do the repair himself, if it will save us money and save him time. 5. Most importantly, we've got the growing "To Do" list set up. It's our road map to actually getting away right after Christmas as we are hoping. Besides the trip related items, you can imagine there are lots of things to be dealt with on the homefront as well. I suppose (if I have time) I could post the entire list as a web page if people are interested. Now, I'd love to keep writing, but writing about the list isn't getting it done!!

Nov 13, Camp For Free In Arizona

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:48:50 GMT

The ultimate guide to finding the secret places to camp for free in Arizona that many typical Snowbirds never visit.

Nov 12, RV Travel Guide

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:52:34 GMT

For the budget-minded Rver...The Frugal Shunpiker's Guides to America.... Each RV travel guide gives directions to scenic free camping locations and offers other money saving tips.

Oct 28, New E-book: "Southern Arizona's Free Camping Secrets"

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 22:30:21 GMT

For the past 2 months I've been busy working on my next ebook, and while I've been on vacation for the last 10 days, it has been in the hands of my wonderful editors. I'm very excited to tell you that the next guidebook in The Frugal Shunpiker's Series titled "Southern Arizona's Free Camping Secrets" should be available for download from this website within the next week....just in time for those of you planning to head south before the snow blows.

Oct 28, Splurge Travel Versus Frugal Travel

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 22:10:32 GMT

Hello friends. I just returned from a 10 day trip to Barcelona Spain....no, not an RV trip but, by comparison, a good example of what value we get on our extended RV trips. Despite sharing accommodations with my daughter and trying to keep the costs down where I could, 10 days in Barcelona cost almost as much per person as 5 full months of RV travel in the Southwest. Over the next 2 months Randy and I will be "getting all our ducks in a row," to prepare for our next extended (5 month) RV trip. We're now discussing the itinerary and hope to leave just after Christmas. As we create the checklist and work our way through it, I'll keep you updated on our progress.

Sep 20, Boondocking Safety

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:25:39 GMT

Boondocking safety information and advice to put your mind at ease.

Sep 20, A Small Motorhome Is Your Best Choice

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:43:03 GMT

Choose a small motorhome for affordable adventures.

Sep 20, The Best Free Scenic Camping

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:42:12 GMT

You've seen the ads encouraging you to "Go RVing"...a picture of an RV parked in a scenic camping area...Surprise! The best scenic campsites are often not at a campground!

Sep 20, Free Camping On Public Lands

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:41:34 GMT

If you use public lands for camping or recreation you should know that the rules may be changing.