Cruising out of Arizona with free food

[Ron in BC]

OK, in somewhat stream of consciousness style, this is how a guy with a very nice Scamp13 ended up this past week driving a 30' RV from Phoenix to LA.

Vancouver weathers being getting me down. The Scamp is in perfect shape and ready to roll but it's a little too cold to head for some of the places we want to go. Gotta get some sun. What to do? Hate all inclusive booze warehouses. Hmm, maybe just fly down to San Diego for a week and get some sun. Hmm, maybe rent a car also and go over and check out the Palm Springs area etc. where we'll probably be in a few weeks. Hmm, maybe we can rent a small camper van and not have to stay in one spot all week. What's this? Crusie America "Leaving Arizona". You get 5 days, 1000 free miles to drive a refurbished RV from the main base in Phoenix to the LA dealer. Total cost is $12 a day and it includes your insurance. How perfect is that? Get to check out even more places that I expect to be taking the Scamp to in a few weeks.

Cheap flights to Phoenix and return from LA and we're off. Picked up this humungous box on wheels otherwise known as a Class C motorhome. V-10 engine! 500 miles and 50 gallons of gas.

The first night we just wanted to get out of greater Phoenix. Was thinking of Walmarting but ended up at a casino that had RV parking about 30 miles south of Phoenix. Naturally we were prepared to patronize their restaurant in return for the free parking. Big buffet. How much we asked? Have you ever been here before? No. Oh well, go over to guest services and they'll give you a voucher for a free ($23) buffet. We went and got a voucher and they also gave us cards with $10 credit on them to play the machines.

Down to Yuma for lunch and to the outskirts of San Diego and another casino parking lot. Don't expect a free buffet here my wife says. In we go, how much etc. and......another free buffet No free gambling money though.

Well that was a great way to start our little trip. On to San Diego and the zoo and then two nights up the coast to LA. A really different way to travel and it makes me appreciate how well laid out our Scamp is. Gotta love the casino situation. There seems be a huge number of them that are available and they worked well for us. There is a listing for them by state www.casinocamping.com and it worked out so well for us that we wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Ron

[Alf S.]

Hi: Ron in BC...Gee if you're staying for free and the foods not bad, you could almost afford to drop a twenty or two at the games.
Just remember though... that when Casinos are built the contractor always slants the floor towards the Casino!!!
Thanks for the link as it could save some on a cross country trek!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Donna D.]

Sounds like you're having a great time. All the buffets sound like you're on a cruise. Wait you are! Cruisin' the highways and having fun in the sun. Safe travels!

[kootenaigirl]

Sounds like a very inexpesive vacation, great idea!

[Lizbeth]

What fun plus getting to try a new way of traveling!

[B Stew]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

OK, in somewhat stream of consciousness style, this is how a guy with a very nice Scamp13 ended up this past week driving a 30' RV from Phoenix to LA.

Vancouver weathers being getting me down. The Scamp is in perfect shape and ready to roll but it's a little too cold to head for some of the places we want to go. Gotta get some sun. What to do? Hate all inclusive booze warehouses. Hmm, maybe just fly down to San Diego for a week and get some sun. Hmm, maybe rent a car also and go over and check out the Palm Springs area etc. where we'll probably be in a few weeks. Hmm, maybe we can rent a small camper van and not have to stay in one spot all week. What's this? Crusie America "Leaving Arizona". You get 5 days, 1000 free miles to drive a refurbished RV from the main base in Phoenix to the LA dealer. Total cost is $12 a day and it includes your insurance. How perfect is that? Get to check out even more places that I expect to be taking the Scamp to in a few weeks.

Cheap flights to Phoenix and return from LA and we're off. Picked up this humungous box on wheels otherwise known as a Class C motorhome. V-10 engine! 500 miles and 50 gallons of gas.

The first night we just wanted to get out of greater Phoenix. Was thinking of Walmarting but ended up at a casino that had RV parking about 30 miles south of Phoenix. Naturally we were prepared to patronize their restaurant in return for the free parking. Big buffet. How much we asked? Have you ever been here before? No. Oh well, go over to guest services and they'll give you a voucher for a free ($23) buffet. We went and got a voucher and they also gave us cards with $10 credit on them to play the machines.

Down to Yuma for lunch and to the outskirts of San Diego and another casino parking lot. Don't expect a free buffet here my wife says. In we go, how much etc. and......another free buffet No free gambling money though.

Well that was a great way to start our little trip. On to San Diego and the zoo and then two nights up the coast to LA. A really different way to travel and it makes me appreciate how well laid out our Scamp is. Gotta love the casino situation. There seems be a huge number of them that are available and they worked well for us. There is a listing for them by state www.casinocamping.com and it worked out so well for us that we wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Ron

Hi Ron,
This sounds like a great little get away that I would like to try .
Thank-you for posting.

What did you do for transport from the Airport to your pick up and drop off points.

Was assistance offered by the rental company?

[Ron in BC]

There's a company called "Super Shuttle". They picked us up and wisked us to the Cruise America dealer in Mesa. Cost was reasonable.

Coming back we were going to use the SS again but the dealer asked if we wanted a "taxi" which was a big black suburban. The guy had a lead foot and we ended up on a much earlier flight. Saved about 8 hours of hanging around LAX

All in all, it was one of those trips where everything went our way

[Adrian W]

Ron in BC
How Neat! Thanks for Sharing.

[Carol H]

LOL Ron thanks for sharing the Crusie America deal. Glad to hear you checked out the Casino option. There are a some in Washington that I have used from time to time when I leave Vancouver late on a Friday with no reservations or plans. I prefer them to the Wallyworld or rest stop camping as most have security in their parking lots & have a hot breakfast for little or free before hitting the road again in the morning, not to mention that I have more than once taken the free $10 gambling voucher and turned it into a bit more fun money :-))