Recreational vehicle

A Recreational vehicle or RV is a vehicle containing living accommodations, which can include bedding, food preparation and storage areas, and toilet facilities. While RVs are intended for camping, some people, especially retirees, live in their units and are known as fulltimers. Some people live in RVs because they lack funds for more conventional housing. Some people craft their own RVs out of used passenger and school buses. Some RVs are very elaborate, containing satellite TV reception, slide-out wall panels, and awnings; many RVs can cost in excess of US$ 100,000 and some can cost up to US$ 1 million. RVs can be rented in major U.S. cities; RV travel is an ideal way for Europeans, and our other foreign guests, to experience the dozens of U.S. national parks and forests -- and thousands of miles of scenic highways.

Many RV campers stay at recreational vehicle parks, most of which feature electrical and other utility service (full hookups), as well as swimming pools, campfires and even destination-resort activities such as horseback riding.

Advantages of RVs include not having to move one's things in and out of motel rooms, not having to rent multiple motel rooms, and the fact that preparing food saves money compared to eating in restaurants. Kids also tend to like RVs.

Disadvantages of RVs include very low fuel economy, lack of maid service as experienced in motels, and the fact that some RV models can be unstable and/or difficult to drive.