edwardt48
lady lake fl
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Joined: 11/09/2004
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Is the amount they charge for the Caravans worth the added cost of a trip virus doing it yourself
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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I would not pay a dollar extra to go ANYWHERE in a caravan - jn fact I would pay extra to NOT go in one if that were necessary. Travel in Alaska is no different than in any other state, it just takes longer to get there.
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Joy
Henderson KY 42420
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That would mostly depend upon how comfortable you are with traveling long distances by yourself and how much importance you place on having your camping, restaurant, and sightseeing prepaid and reserved. Balance that against having to pretty much stick to their schedule, and travel with several others who may or may not be compatible with you. If we were to go again, we would travel alone or with another 1-2 rigs we are friends with all ready. The first time was a caravan and, although it was very enjoyable, it was also not a commercial caravan - it was sponsored by our Military RV club so everyone at least started out with one thing in common.
See ya' down the road!
Don-SCPO USN Ret.Corpsman
Joy-Ret.Off.Mgr.
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wayne_tw
South Dakota/Georgia
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One advantage (or disadvantage depending upon your viewpoint) of a caravan is the groups and new friends. Caravans often include interesting or different activities that indiviudals probably would not do or even know about. For people who are not comfortable traveling by themselves or who cannot entertain themselves, the caravan is beneficial. However, if you have mechanical or medical problems on the caravan, they will leave you where you are stranded to fend for yourself.
* This post was
edited 09/18/08 06:28am by wayne_tw *
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tandkj
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hwybnb wrote:Travel in Alaska is no different than in any other state, it just takes longer to get there.
Agree, we made the trip ourselves and did not have to keep to anyone's schedule and destinations except ours.
08 Camelot
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One lost Golden Retriever
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RRUGG
Newaygo, MI,USA
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On one of our three trips to Alaska we traveled with one other couple. The other times we traveled alone and we had a great time on all three trips. It seems to me that the caravans add a lot of money to the cost of trips. Some friends have gone on caravans sponsored by their trailer manufacturer (not to Alaska) and said, while they enjoyed the caravans, that they would not do it again because of the fairly large extra cost. Your money. Spend it the way you want to. However, remember that you are not going to some third world country.
RRUGG
2008 Dodge 2500 QC 4x4 SB Cummins 6 speed auto 3.73
1997 Holiday Rambler 29FK travel trailer
2006 Summit 22RB travel trailer
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport
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Camped in 49 states. Missing Hawaii.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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We have gone several times by ourselves. You meet many people along the road doing the same thing.
As for sight seeing, get "The Milepost" magazine. Go through it and mark down your basic trip and the things you want to do, eat and go to.
Take your time and review the Milepost everyday. You will enjoy it much more.
Bud
Suzuki XL7 pushing Pace Arrow
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RetiredGuy
Colorado
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We are on our way home after spending three months in Alaska this summer. At several campgrounds where we stayed, caravans pulled in while we were there. Caravan RVs would start pulling in the late afternoon around 5:00. The last few would straggle in by 10:00. The next morning at 7:00 there would be a herd of people standing outside around the trip leader. By 8:00 they would all pull out. This is not my idea of fun. One place we saw this was in Telkeetna, an interesting little town that is worth a day or two of exploring. I guess the caravan leader didn't think it was worth anything more than an overnight stop. Maybe the caravan saw things we didn't but we certainly saw thing they didn't. At one time we thought we might take a caravan to Alaska but after seeing them in action, there is no way we would. The only possible benefit I see is that you have some instant friends. OTOH, we met and made friends with people as we traveled. We stay in contact with some of them and I expect that these friendships will continue for years. I think many take caravans as they are fearful of going on a long trip with many unknowns. Truth us, going to Alaska is pretty simple. it is just a little longer trip than going to the nearby state park for the weekend.
Robert
'07 F-350 PSD, SB, SRW, 4X4
'07 HH CE 35 CKQG Plan 2
"Being retired means waking up with nothing to do,
. . . and going to bed with half of it done!"
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The Texan
Summer: A Cool Climate Winter: A Warm Climate
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tandkj wrote:hwybnb wrote:Travel in Alaska is no different than in any other state, it just takes longer to get there.
Agree, we made the trip ourselves and did not have to keep to anyone's schedule and destinations except ours. Another that believes the way to travel, is ours. We have remained good friends with other RVers we met in Alaska. I used the extra several thousands of $$$ for fuel to get there and back, not line some greedy corporations pockets. Would you pay someone to lead you around Florida? Alaska is a state, just like Florida or Georgia.
Bob & Betsy - USN Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 
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'05 HR Endeavor, 40PRQ (Our Home) w/400 Cummins - With -'05 GMC Sierra SLT, CC Z-71, the pusher- With -
'07 Arctic Cat 500A & Wilderness Kayak, riding in the pusher -
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alaskan-rver
Anchorage, AK
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The Texan wrote:...Alaska is a state, just like Florida or Georgia.
Except that our politics make you yearn for the calming logic of a Jerry Springer show!
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