Perhaps you desire to go off-grid, drink a sunrise latte and never look back. We all have a natural born urge to explore our surroundings and desire new experiences. With AirBnb and other travel services and apps, there have never been more options. Yet, if you are truly experiencing wanderlust, you might want to consider a luxury RV as your travel method.

Before living a life on the road however, there is a lot to consider. You will want to assess your needs and expectations (not to mention your budget), before buying. To help decide if you are ready to invest in a luxury RV, here are four things you need to know.

Who is Coming

When we purchase a home, we are always considering how many people will occupy it, including guests and pets. When purchasing a luxury travel trailer, the same needs must be met.

Remember that while you want to accommodate your friends and family while on your travels - the needs that come first are yours, and your travel companions.

You simply won’t be able to offer the same amount of space for every guest or “visiting” family member you have, so prioritize your needs from the start to help guide you in your decision.

It will be important to designate sleeping areas for anyone who will be traveling, as well as storage for personal belongings. You will be living very closely in an RV and want to be sure that everyone will have access to the things they want and need.

How You Live

There is nothing more counter-productive than choosing a luxury travel trailer and having it not meet your daily needs. These are your more practical needs. You will want to consider your daily activities that are non-vacation/travel related when choosing a trailer.

For example, if you generally cook most of your meals at home, you will likely prepare food regularly in your travel trailer. While you won’t have a full-sized kitchen, there are several adjustments and designs you can choose which will allow you to continue family meal time.

If you are traveling with children, you must be sure that there are comfortable beds for everyone. Sleeping arrangements may significantly influence your choice of luxury travel trailers.

Will you have to work from “home” while traveling? Some luxury trailers can be customized with smart technology, including cell routers and boosters. If off-grid living is your daily lifestyle, more battery power will also be necessary.

Travel Time

Whether your adventure time is limited or if you will be on the road full-time will play a huge part in deciding if investing in a luxury RV is right for you.

If your travel needs are mostly for a long weekend or week-long trip, you can likely find a smaller luxury travel trailer to meet your needs. If relaxation is a priority over kitchen cooking, your luxury trailer may focus on comfort over daily convenience. It will all depend on what you need!

For extended or off-grid trips (no matter the length), your trailer needs will vary drastically. You need to consider water and sewage hookups and/or models that best suit the areas where you plan to park your luxury travel trailer.

If your travel plans take you to parts unknown, you may want to consider off-grid set-ups. Luckily, these adjustments are easy to add, such as a compostable toilet or one offering an easy and hygienic emptying cassette system.

And despite some beliefs, you can still have continuous hot water, even when living off-grid in a luxury travel trailer, so no outdoor showering or river baths are necessary (unless desired).

You will want to consider the percentage of time you’ll be off-grid vs. parked in a facility with hook-ups, as it is also possible to have a luxury travel trailer that supports both.

Hidden Costs
As with any large investment, you want to be aware of hidden costs associated with RV living. Periodic maintenance can not only be expensive in itself, but if repairs leave you roadside, you also have to consider the inconvenience of finding a place to stay while it’s fixed.

Of course, you will also want to consider RV park rates and how they fluctuate during the on-off season. There is also the worry of finding a reputable RV park that has availability when you need it.

Insurance for an RV will also be an expense that you will want to factor into your budget when deciding.

Before considering RV life, it is best to address these five areas prior to making a decision. It will help you to determine whether or not investing in a luxury RV is right for you and your family.