FAMILY VACATION COST COMPARISON
FIRM QUALIFICATIONS
PKF Consulting is a manage
ment consulting firm with a network of ten primary offices
located throughout the continental United States and is a member of Pannell Kerr
Forster Worldwide, a network that includes over 250 affiliated offices in 75 countries
around the world. PKF serves clients worldwide, with a staff that consists of nearly 100 professional consultants and specialists. PKF has over 90 years of experience and recognition in all phases of professional assistance and counsel to service industries and specifically to the tourism, hospitality, and recreation industries. The Alexandria, Virginia office of PKF Consulting prepared this study.
FINDINGS
In a Summer 2008 study, PKF found typical family RV vacations on average to be 27
percent to 61 percent less expensive on a per day basis than the other types of
vacations analyzed (not including the cruise vacation). A list of the types of vacations,
by mode of transport, and their costs is presented. Type A diesel
motorhome vacations were found to be slightly less expensive than air/hotel vacations,
but more expensive than car/hotel and airline/rental unit home/condo vacations. It is
significant to note that the data used in this analysis factored in vehicle ownership costs.
In many cases, the RV vacations were more economical than the other vacations
analyzed, regardless of trip duration, trip distance, or region of the country where the
vacation takes place. Including ownership costs:
The average cost per day of the camping vacation using a folding camping
trailer was found to be about 45 percent less expensive than the cost of
comparable* car/hotel combination vacations; about 61 percent less than
the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation; and about 47 percent less
than the cost of the comparable air/rental home or condo vacation.
The average cost per day of the camping vacation using a lightweight
travel trailer was found to be about 37 percent less expensive than the
cost of comparable* car/hotel combination vacations; about 55 percent
less than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation; and about 39
percent less than the cost of the comparable air/rental home or condo
vacation
.
The average cost per day of the camping vacation using a Type C
motorhome was found to be about 27 percent less expensive than the
cost of comparable* car/hotel combination vacations; about 48 percent
less than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation; and about 29
percent less than the cost of the comparable air/rental home or condo
vacation.
The average cost per day of the camping vacation using a diesel Type A
motorhome was found to be about 31 percent more expensive than the
cost of comparable* car/hotel combination vacations; about 7 percent less
than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation; and about 28 percent
more than the cost of the comparable air/rental home or condo vacation.
In addition, the 2008 study found the most expensive camping vacation to
be approximately 54 percent less expensive than the cost of a budget
cruise getaway.
Cost Comparison of Vacations Using Recreation Vehicles
Versus Other Types of Vacations Mode of Travel
Family traveling in personal car, towing their
folding camping trailer, staying at
campgrounds, and preparing all meals in
the folding camping trailer or outdoors at
campsites.
- 3 Days 7 Days 10Days 14 Days
- $652 $1,439 $2,050 $2,994
Family traveling in light-duty truck/SUV,
towing their travel trailer, staying at
campgrounds, and preparing all meals in
the trailer or outdoors at campsites.
- 3 Days 7 Days 10Days 14 Days
- $730 $1,658 $2,359 $3,449
Family traveling in a personal motorhome
(Type C), staying at campgrounds, and
preparing all meals in the motorhome or
outdoors at campsites.
- 3 Days 7 Days 10Days 14 Days
- $837 $1,940 $2,761 $3,937
Family traveling in a personal motorhome
(Diesel Type A), staying at campgrounds,
and preparing all meals in the motorhome or
outdoors at campsites.
- 3 Days 7 Days 10Days 14 Days
- $1,512 $3,490 $4,975 $7,038
Family traveling in personal car, staying at
hotels/motels, and eating meals in
restaurants.
- 3 Days 7 Days 10Days 14 Days
- $1,052 $2,684 $3,876 $5,358
Family traveling in a personal car or airline
(as appropriate), staying at a rental
house/condominium, and eating the majority
of meals in the rental unit.
- 3 Days 7 Days 10Days 14 Days
- $1,709 $2,983 $3,764 $4,884
Family traveling by airline, renting a car at
the destination, staying at hotels/motels,
and eating meals in restaurants.
- 3 Days 7 Days 10Days 14 Days
- $1,949 $3,828 $5,339 $7,187
Family traveling to and taking a cruise from
Orlando (7-day vacation) and incurring
transportation cost to and from staging area.
- 3 Days 7 Days 10Days 14 Days
- N/A $7,544 N/A N/A
It is significant to point out the volatility in fuel prices in the current world market, often
on a day-to-day basis. PKF has considered the impact of fluctuations in fuel costs on
our findings by testing theoretical increases in fuel costs in one of our hypothetical
vacations. It is significant to note that fluctuations in fuel costs economically impact all
of the vacation types analyzed, both RV and non-RV vacations, to varying degrees. For
this analysis, we have utilized the 10-day vacation from Phoenix to Napa as an
example. We have conducted this analysis on projected increases of 25, 50, 100, 150,
200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 percent in fuel costs.
While fuel costs are a component of the overall vacation cost, it is
not significant enough to materially affect the outcome of our analysis. It would take
between a 100 percent and 150 percent increase (approximately 125 percent) in fuel
costs for a Type C Motorhome vacation to be more expensive than the least expensive
non-RV vacation. Furthermore, it would take between a 200 percent and 250 percent
increase (approximately 240 percent) in fuel costs for the Lightweight Travel Trailer
vacation to be more expensive than the least expensive non-RV vacation. Additionally,
as the data shows, none of the fuel increase scenarios utilized results in the Folding
Camping Trailer vacation being more expensive than the least expensive non-RV
vacation.
For this 10-day vacation from Phoenix to Napa, the average fuel cost per gallon at the
time of our research was $3.63 for regular gasoline and $4.27 for diesel. Regular
unleaded gasoline for a rental car was calculated using the cost of fuel for the
destination city, or $3.87 per gallon. Based on the above analysis, fuel costs would
have to average approximately $8.18 per gallon for a Type C Motorhome vacation to
exceed the cost of an air/rental home or condo vacation (the least expensive non-RV
vacation for this trip duration). Furthermore, fuel costs would have to average
approximately $12.36 per gallon for a LightweTravel Traileright vacation to be more
expensive than the least expensive non-RV vacation, and fuel costs would have to
average approximately $22.71 per gallon for a Folding Camping Trailer vacation to be
more expensive than the least expensive non-RV vacation.
We are of the opinion that fuel costs will likely not approach these levels in the
foreseeable future. As such, RV vacations tend to be significantly less expensive than
the non-RV vacation types, with the exception of the diesel-powered Type A
motorhome vacations in comparison with those by car. Therefore, price spikes in fuel
costs should not adversely affect the decision on whether or not a family takes an RV
vacation versus other types of vacations. It is significant to note that while our example
utilizes a 10-day vacation for illustrative purposes, the findings are generally the same
regardless of vacation duration with regard to increases in fuel costs.
The hypothetical travel party used in the vacation cost analysis was a family composed
of a mother, father, and their two children – one child under 12 years of age and one
child over 12 years of age.
I hope this information was useful in your purchase decision. Barbara Andrews.
The RVing Lifestyle 