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We are operating a six unit B&b out in the rural southeast US
We are considering buying a vintage RV and adding a “Glamping Experience” (glamor camping). This is in cotton field country an hour from a major airport. No problem with neighbors and lots of room. We are doing well with occupancy in our regular units. This is sort of a touristy area.
Has anybody tried this? I would love to know your ocxupancy rate and other experiences . We have bathroom access and an outdoor shower to make this more civilized. Also old RVs and pink flamingoes are relatively common here.
My search for “glamping” did return a couple of threads but mainly people who want to get started in this rather than the piece of information I want.
There aren’t any local similar competitors which I find sort of a good thing. There is a local listing for a cabin with outhouse on an alpaca farm but that is not in the same league.
I do not mind being a trailblazer.
The occupancy rate for our normal units is about 25 percent but the place is largely full on the weekends. We are of course thinking about ways to increase our sales during the week.
Assuming we sold out the glamper at 100 a night for the weekends we are looking at 8 nights or $800 per month. A vintage camper could be bought around here and fixed up very nicely for maybe $5k which would give us a cash payback time of a little over 6 months.
So if I knew this place would sell I would be tempted to make the investment even though it is September and it is a little too cold to camp all winter out here.
At 50 percent of sellout we are looking at a year payback.
The worst case is that we give up and sell the thing and recover some or all of the investment. The recovery value once we upgrade the vintage camper might be greater than the acquisition price.
So you can see the calculation. Do these things rent?
@gypsy is offering glamping in the LA area, with a vintage trailer. Another poster with a vintage trailer but not really glamping is @CatskillsGrrl. There are others here with trailers but I can’t recall the forum names.
Hello @pyrenees023 If you’re interested in adding glamping and camping sites my advice would be to know the kind of traveler you’re appealing to or likely to appeal to. Are they young college educated hipsters? Are they older budget travelers? Try looking at some of the glamping specific sites like glamping.com and see what accommodations do well in your area. My vintage travel trailer is a guest house add-on to my main cottage OR I also rent it out occasionally when I am using my mountain cottage. The demographic is without question urban Brooklyn folks under 35 who love to hike, but also love to be adventurous and appreciate vintage retro design. It’s a weird confluence. Also, my travel trailer has a plumbed toilet which means it isn’t too rustic for folks who want to faux rough it. I took it off the market this year while we repaired a leak in the ceiling.
Our Tiny Tiki Retro Hideaway has been successful in the 1st year. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/29389628
There are some competitors between us and the Pacific. Most of them are our size and one is a toaster but it has a whole garden and outdoor kitchen… I would think it’s difficult to get a usable trailer that is cute for 5k, unless its in the under 14’ range. Do your research and get a trailer that has endearing resale value, ( i.e. old or riveted aluminum) so if you need to you can re-sell. The market for real vintage trailers is quite hot and it pays to know a few things or be super handy. Pm if you like! There are several vintage trailer groups on facebook, know your brands! We are also listed on Glamping Hub. We do get “young college educated hipsters”
Cat skill Girl, I just love your trailer! It is def. a rare one!
Good luck with your repairs! Luckily we were able to get some repairs done around here in between guests!
Yes from me! I rent a little trailer in the redwoods. Just do a Google search for cozy trailer in the redwoods if you’re interested in checking it out. It’s no where near as glamorous as Gypsy’s property but our guests like it. I love being able to provide a unique experience. I’d say go for it
I think the average age of our guest is about 40. We are getting business from a lot of “healers”. These are nurses, therapists of various kinds and attendees of a local guy who does seminars. So this is a hip population, lots of people from outside north America and like the rustic southeast US experience.
You are quite right about the entry price of course.
Since earlier today I did find one competitor nearby renting a 1960 trailer for $28 a night so we would have to upgrade the experience
Actually Pyrenees, I take that back, in your part of the nation, you could do well getting a nice old trailer. Look at the classifieds in “Vintage camper trailers” there is a 1968 Avion.
In a couple months, once I build a bathroom on my property that can be used for Glampers I will be listing my 68 Airstream trailer, then in the spring I will set up a 14x14 tent with a cushy air mattress. I have high hopes for the glamping crowd. I live in a mountain resort town in So Cal. I figure $110 a night for the Airstream and half that for the tent:)
Well, RRR you are, like me in California, where it’s hard to find nice trailers. Mine went up 10k in value when she passed the CA state line…Where Pyrenees is ( SE US ) there’s a good chance of finding what you want. There is a Spartan Travel Trailers group on FB and also for the other brands like Avion and Streamline. There is also a dude there named Clint Cox who will ship it for you!!!
Best of luck with your trailer listing RRR!! If you make that a cool vintage tent or tipi you might get more, I think its all about the authenticity and amenities.
