Jersey girl Tracey Swenson has what she considers the ideal solution for post-lockdown summer travel.
Swenson, her husband, Kurt, twin teen daughters Tayte and Karly, and their dogs will simply pack up their recreational vehicle and hit the road without worrying about access to sanitized hotel rooms or trustworthy restaurants. That’s what the Sparta family has been doing for years.
Now more than ever, in light of Covid-19, the Swensons and other families appreciate the isolation of their motor homes.
“You’re traveling and exploring with your family and pets, but are self-contained—meaning refrigerator, freezer, microwave, stove, oven, toilet, shower,” says Swenson.
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Those in the RV industry, such as Heather Shannon, vice president of operations at White Horse RV Center in Williamstown and Egg Harbor City, are expecting a surge in RV sales once the coronavirus state of emergency is lifted. “Times such as 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy saw people seeking alternative means of travel,” says Shannon.
Peter Gigantino, of 84 RV Rentals & Service in Sussex, adds, “Travelers are looking to avoid rest-stop bathrooms, crowded airport lines and cramped cars.”
RV rentals remained available during New Jersey’s state of emergency. Gigantino says rentals are often used as temporary offices or housing for first responders and other essential workers.
RV parks also remained open. “When you get to an RV park…you have the choice to mingle at a safe distance or stay in your camper,” says David Benn, owner of Pomona RV Park & Campground in Pomona.
“We feel it’s absolutely the safest way to travel,” Swenson concludes.