I partnered with GoRVing and Castaways RV Resort on this post. All opinions are our own. You know the motto: we keep it real at Naturally Glam.

While attending the Be Blogalicious conference last year, I had the opportunity to go to dinner with the team from GoRVing. The goal: show more people of color that RV life is pretty dope and they should give it a go as a vacationing option. I’ll admit, I believed that RVing wasn’t for me – I’m young, black, and too glam to be in the woods camping. But after learning more what the real RV experience is like these days, I was ready to give it a whirl with the family.

That was October 2017. Fast forward to May 2018, and Mr. Blakes, NuNu, and I are in a gorgeous Winnebago making our way to Castaways RV Resort and Campground right outside of Ocean City, MD. We spent 5 days and 4 nights at the RV resort living our best life with no real agenda. Sight-seeing only involved watching the sun rise and set, riding around the resort in a golf cart, chasing NuNu around the beach, and sleeping. OUR BEST LIFE.

You can catch a few snippets on the Naturally Glam Instagram page (check the feed and the IG Stories Highlights for Travel) or NuNu’s Instagram to see how much fun she had.

Here’s 7 reasons why I strongly believe you should go RVing on your next vacation!

#1: It’s Easier to Drive Than You Think.

One of the myths about RVing is that you need a special license or skills to drive an RV motorhome. Granted, I personally didn’t drive because I was scared to, and Mr. Blakes was glad to do all the driving. But the truth is you don’t need any special license or skills besides just being a good, responsible driver. Mr. Blakes made it look easy! Mr. Blakes drives large vans and box trucks for work daily, so that didn’t hurt. There are lots of trailer options as well that just latch on to the back of your vehicle, so that’s an option if driving a motorhome makes you nervous still.

For this trip, we were in a Winnebago Intent Model 31P. This RV is almost 32′ in length and can accommodate up to 7 people. There is plenty of storage space, both inside the RV and in the under-storage areas. It was perfect for enjoying time outside the RV, with a retractable awning with lighting, as well as an outdoor wet bar and even a tv!

You can see a full tour of the Winnebago Intent in this video on my YouTube channel.

#2: It’s More Affordable Than You Think.

When you consider the cost of a rental car and/or gas, airfare, lodging, etc, many RV models allow a family of four to save up to 59% on vacation costs over other forms of travel according to GoRving. That includes payments, insurance, maintenance, tires, tax breaks, registration and depreciation. You can even consider purchasing pre-owned units for more savings. Financing is available, and you may qualify for a tax deduction because the interest on your RV loan is generally deductible as second-home mortgage interest.

If you just want to add RVing to your vacation rotation, or for a special trip, consider RV rentals. You can rent near home or fly and pick up your RV when you arrive to your final destination. More than 460 national chain outlets and local RV dealerships rent RVs, including state-of-the-art, late-model-year units. A growing number of campgrounds offer on-site RV rentals as well. Check out more rental options by location on the GoRVing website.

#3: It’s Not Just for Long Distance Trips.

Whenever I’d hear of people RVing, it was synonymous with a cross-country road trip. But that’s not the case. RV trips do not have to been long distance trips. We spent our time at Castaways RV Resort located right outside of Ocean City, MD, which is only a 2.5 hour drive from our home. There are many campground and RV resorts even closer to home for us, like in Williamsburg for example.

Want to watch our vlog from our first RV Trip? Check it out in this video on my YouTube channel.

#4: It’s Very Pet Friendly.

No need to worry about finding a pet-friendly hotel or leaving your pet behind. Your pet/s can make themselves at home in the RV. Most RV parks and campgrounds also have amenities designed with your dog in mind. Castaways had several dog parks, as well as a Bark Beach where your dog can go off leash and play. There was even a self-service dog wash station if you need it. NuNu really enjoyed herself. We took her on lots of walks, let her run off leash in the dog parks and the Bark Beach – she even got in the water!

#5: You’re Not Stuck in the Woods.

Before we left for the trip, my mom gave me the longest lecture about making sure NuNu was safe from bears (and ticks) while we were ‘in the woods’. When I told her we would not be in the woods really, but on the water, she was surprised. Honestly I was too until talking to GoRVing trying to select a campground we wanted to visit. There are a wide variety of places you can park your RV based on what you would like to do on your trip. Whether it’s on a beach, near shopping, or in the woods if that’s your thing, just know there are options.

#6: You Can Disconnect or Stay Connected.

I loved the fact that while we were able to disconnect and just chill, we still were able to connect with cable tv and wifi. At Castaways, complimentary wifi is provided as well as cable tv with tons of channels to choose from. So it is really up to you how connected or disconnected you want to be.

#7: The RVing Community is Amazing.

Our GoRVing rep told us how amazingly friendly the RV community is before our trip. But to see it in action felt great, especially as first timers. From the moment we pulled up to Castaways, we were met with nothing but friendly people. The staff was very helpful and resourceful, and even our RV neighbors helped us get things set up and situated. One gentleman even helped guide Mr. Blakes when he was parking the RV. Folks introduced themselves, waved and spoke when you passed, and that was very settling because when you’re in a new environment, it puts you at ease.

Since taking the trip, so many of you have expressed an interest in taking an RV trip. My response: GO FOR IT – YOU’LL LOVE IT! If you’re wondering where to start, you can find all the information you need at GoRVing.com. Have you even been RVing, or would you like to try it? Let’s talk about it in the comments!