'We call them land yachts': The wealthy are spending millions to travel in luxury RVs this summer, and it's reshaping the entire look of high-end travel
Melissa Wiley
- With travel restrictions still in place, interest in RV travel is surging.
- Elite travelers are willing to pay top dollar for what Jer Goss of Goss RV calls "land yachts": luxury RVs that cost tens of thousands of dollars to rent and millions to buy.
- Take a look inside some of the most expensive RVs on the market.
- Are you traveling in a high-end RV this summer and have a story to share? Email this reporter at mwiley@businessinsider.com.
Monaco and the French Riviera are out, and travel to Yosemite and Shenandoah is in.
Elite travelers, with coronavirus travel restrictions in place and summer plans foiled, are looking to hit the open road.
What constitutes luxury travel is being redefined, Eliza Scott Harris, chief operating officer of Indagare, a members-only boutique travel company, told Reuters. Now, luxury is "the privacy you're afforded," she said.
And travelers are paying top dollar for the privacy offered by RVs.
"Interest in the RV lifestyle ... is literally off the charts now," Garry Enyart, chairman of the RV Industry Association, told Business Insider's Katie Warren.
Between early April and late May, RVshare, the largest RV rental site in the US, reported seeing a 1,000% increase in bookings.
RVshare CEO Jon Gray told Business Insider's Brittany Chang in June that he expects to see an influx of first-time buyers looking to substitute "luxurious vacations that they typically took."
Steve Schoellhorn, the president and owner of luxury RV manufacturer Marathon Coach, which builds coaches costing between $1.8 and $2.5 million, told Chang that he has seen an uptick in interested buyers and predicts the company's sales will be 30% higher this year compared to last year.
Here's a look at some of the most expensive and elaborate RVs in the world:
Goss RV rents out luxury motorcoaches for $15,000 to $50,000 per week depending on the type of coach and services a buyer chooses, owner Jer Goss told Business Insider.
Add-ons include a a private driver service and set-up at a destination of the renter's choice, like a luxury motorcoach resort.
Goss RV reported a 62% increase in revenue from rentals in May compared to last year, per Reuters.
Source: Goss RV
With leather coaches that look straight out of a West Elm showroom and granite countertops, Goss RV's coaches resemble homes more than a recreational vehicle.
Source: Goss RV
"We call them land yachts," Goss told Town & Country.
Source: Town and Country,Goss RV
SLRV, which manufactures some of the world's largest expedition vehicles in Australia, built this custom Commander 8x8 for a family. It transforms into a two-story home with the press of the button.
Source: Business Insider
SLRV did not reveal the final price but previously estimated that the price would fall between $670,000 and $1,370,000.
Source: Business Insider
The ground level includes a lounge area that can seat up to 10 people as well as a fully functioning kitchen with two fridges.
Source: Business Insider
Upstairs, there is a TV and six mattresses that lift up to reveal under-bed storage.
Source: Business Insider
The solar-powered electrical system allows the family of 8 to explore Australia's most remote regions for months at a time.
SLRV owner Warwick Boswerger told Business Insider that the pandemic has fueled interest in RV travel.
"As soon as travel restrictions lifted in Queensland, we had an instant influx of Queensland'ers visiting," he told Business Insider. "People know that international travel will be restricted for the next few years and are keen to travel Australia in a self-sufficient luxury tourer. We expect a similar trend when Queensland is opened up to the other states."
Source: Business Insider
Global Expedition Vehicles in Missouri designed this custom RV that costs $650,000.
Source: Business Insider
Called the UXV MAX, it comes with a king-size bed, kitchen, and dimmable lights.
Source: Business Insider
The kitchen cabinets can transform into bunk beds, and buyers have the option to add a dry bath and garage, among other amenities.
Source: Business Insider
The Desert Challenger by Austria-based ActionMobil cost $1.9 million to build.
Source: Business Insider
Highlight features include a walk-in refrigerator, catering area ...
Source: Business Insider
... plus multiple surveillance cameras that connect to TVs in the living room.
Source: Business Insider
The sides can also expand to create more living space, and a built-in ladder turns the roof into a lounge.
Source: Business Insider
Low gas prices are "adding fuel to the RV fire," according to Chang. Though, considering how much money "land yacht" travelers are dropping on these expedition vehicles, they probably aren't too worried about the cost of fueling up.
Source: Business Insider, Business Insider
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