When most people hit the road in an RV, they’re usually with either their family, a significant other or pets. So does it make sense to RV with friends? Maybe - just keep a few things in mind.
If You RV with Friends, Plan Together
When you go on an RV trip and there are only one or two adults, it’s easy to make or change plans. You always know who’s in charge and there aren’t exactly a lot of people who need to approve of your decision.
That’s not the case when traveling with adult friends. Everyone has their own opinions, tastes, and personalities. Maybe half of the crew wants to go hiking while the other half wants to go fishing. A few people want to cook dinner at the RV tonight, but everyone else wants to head into town to that cool-looking restaurant.
To help mitigate too many arguments from popping up, try to plan ahead as much as possible. You don’t need to plan every second of the trip, but make sure everyone is aligned and agree on a few key things before you hit the road!
Figure Out the Finances Ahead of Time
While this topic kind of goes with planning, it really deserves it’s own section. No matter where you are, money is important. It’s also a dicey topic that can cause people to feel frustrated.
The best way to manage finances on a trip is a three step process:
1) Plan out all of your expected shared costs
2) Make sure everyone agrees the costs make sense
3) Have everyone chip in upfront, and one person manages the money
This is the best way to do it. It gets everyone on board early on and avoids people not paying their fair share later.
Just keep in mind that depending on how you plan, not everything needs to get put into the money pot. For example, if you plan on eating at restaurants, each person can buy their own meal. That avoids the frustration that comes from one person spending tons of money but the money comes out of the pot that everyone contributed to.
When You RV with Friends, Plan on Splitting Up
Sometimes you just need a break from your friends. That’s perfectly okay! Everyone needs some alone time every once in a while. Don’t feel like you always have to be with your fellow travelers, or you’ll end up burnt out and get in a bad mood.
Sometimes you will just naturally end up doing different things. Maybe you want to just sit outside and read, but everyone else wants to go kayaking. Let them go! They can do their thing and you do yours.
Just make sure you don’t do this all the time. Do it a few times and people will understand you’re getting your space. Do it every time your friends do something fun and you’ll be seen as a loner who doesn’t want to hang out with the crew.
Conclusion
Should you RV with friends? Sure, it can be a great time to bond and have quality time with these people. Just make sure you plan ahead and go in with the right mindset.
