zzmac
Toronto
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Hi all,
We're planning on a 3 week trip to Alaska next June. We plan to fly to Alaska and the rent a motorhome. So discounting flying there and back from Toronto, we plan on spending a little less than 3 weeks in the rented RV.
There be me, my wife, our German Shepherd (we hope) who'll be almost 2 years old by the and one other couple. The humans are all in our 50's. :-)
Please advise on all of the following questions:
1. Do you know of any companies that'll rent a motorhome to us that'll allow a dog (even if we have to pay a premium). Our dog is obedience & house trained.
2. Would you recommend one or two motorhomes? If one, what size for that big of a household for 3 weeks?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Cheers,
Rod
www.shipnorthamerica.com
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Artum Snowbird
Campbell River, B.C., Canada
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It poses an interesting problem, and I have a proposed answer. Why can't we have a place on RV.net that folks like yourselves can post their intentions, then the interested RV renters that fit the bill would be able to contact them through rv.net.
Mike and Carole
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duramaxdelight
everywhere
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If it was my holiday and my friends, I wouldl like to have our own unit and space. 3 weeks together in a RV would probably be testing your limits on a friendship - maybe ruin it.
Just my opinion on the shared unit and for the rentals I can't help you.
I can say, when travelling and parking beside rental units,
i have never seen a pet, thats not to say it can't or doesn't happen. Maybe with a larger deposit some companys would allow it.
Best of luck and enjoy your adventure!
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Popsie
Livingston, TX, USA
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With a few minutes using Google, it seems that Alaska Motorhome Rentals allows pets with a $100 deposit. A few phone calls might help sort things out. It seems that the RV rental places have toll free numbers
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sbishop
Eagle Rock, CA
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In my opinion Great Alaskan Holidays is one of the best agencies in AK. They have an 800 number look it up and call them and ask if animals are allowed or Call ABC also in Anchorage. We rented from GAH and were allowed to take our two Grandkids and they probably were as rough on the rig as your pup would be but they do use a toilet and don't shed.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson
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kellymisty
S.W. Ontario
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Looking at the major rental companies, your dog is not going to be allowed. The only rental company I could find that allowed dogs received terrible reviews on Tripadvisor. There are some threads on Tripadvisor having to do with rv rental.
One of the recommendations is to check out the company you are interested in with the Anchorage Better Business Bureau - seems very wise advice. And, of course, be aware of all the charges, if applicable i.e. prep, damage, insurance, mileage, generator usage, equipment, etc. Check out the no-go roads if you have an itinerary in mind (many of the rv companies restrict the use of their rvs on certain roads.)
Cancellation insurance is strongly recommended, as most rv rental companies, whether in Alaska or not, seem to have pretty stringent cancellation policies.
And, unless you are the best of friends, even the 30' class C would be tight for three weeks. Who gets to sleep in the overcab area?
Best of luck!
-
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Joy
Henderson KY 42420
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We spent 4 weeks in AK with my brother-in-law and wife traveling with us. She & I are the best of friends, the brothers, not so much. We made it with very few problems but I'm not sure I'd recommend it for everyone. You must lose most of your ideas about privacy, be able to compromise frequently and like each other a lot for it to work. Plus we were with a caravan so there weren't too many decisions, choices to make. And we have a 38' MH. I would recommend 2 RVs - I think everyone would enjoy themselves more.
See ya' down the road!
Don-SCPO USN Ret.Corpsman
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Veebyes
Bermuda & Maryland
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As a dog owner I would not want to rent a RV with the odour of dog in it.
We bought a 5er from dog owners & it cost them dearly in price. Nobody wants to smell dogs or cigarette smoke in a RV.
Maybe the RV renters have a few doggy units set aside for those who simply must travel with their pets.
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alaskan-rver
Anchorage, AK
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Most of these larger motorhomes sleep 6-8, so you should be able to fit two couples. Things that will impact how well it will work:
- How much time do you intend to spend in it? For example, are you big into outdoors activities, or do you plan on doing a marathon "drive and see it all--briefly" kind of trip?
- Have you guys spent time together,such as renting a cabin? If so, how did that go? (Or, conversely, if you haven't, this might be an easy way to try it out). Convoying together isn't going to give you all that much flexibility (or privacy), as they will always be in the campsite next to you.
Given the problems finding a motorhome that will allow pets, I'd suggest leaving the dog behind. Flying a pet up here isn't cheap, and the stress on the dog is something to also consider. Keep in mind that in Toronto you are closer to Europe than you are Alaska--would you take your dog for a 3 week trip to Europe?
RV rentals up here are on the order of $200 a day (depending on the season, size, and duration of rental). Plus, they get lousy gas mileage (figure 8 mpg). You can save some serious money by sharing one, if you can find a way to get along.
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jlawless
Coldfoot, AK
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CruiseAmerica allows dogs. I'm not recommending them - just letting you know.
Same with B & B Rentals
and Clippership RV doesn't say on their website but they do allow pets with $100 fee.
For people renting without pets - I would recommend Great Alaskan Holidays
* This post was
edited 09/09/10 08:09pm by jlawless *
Talk to the animals. They will talk back to you. If you don't talk to the animals, they won't talk back to you, and you will fear and when you fear animals you will destroy, and if you destroy the animals, you will destroy yourself.
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