Last time we rented a car, we had plenty of time to look around at other traffic, because we were stuck at the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza for an hour. At one point I looked out the window and saw this amazing-looking minivan, painted as garishly as the Mystery Machine, with a strange pod on the top. It was one of these:
I started Googling on my phone and found out that these rental minivans have all kinds of amenities for campers, making them like miniature RVs at a fraction of the price (and using a fraction of the gas). Since we are renting a vehicle anyway when we camp, I thought this might be a great option for us.
I learned from Jill K. Robinson’s piece in The Chronicle that Jucy is part of a trend of bringing European-style camper vans to the United States. Jucy seems to be the cheapest option out there, but it’s only available in the Bay Area, Los Angeles area and Las Vegas, so far. Also, people’s customer service experiences seem quite mixed, with some people raving about the company and others bitterly complaining.
Well, we are adventurous and somewhat understanding of service stumbles at startups, so I think my family is going to try Jucy. Today I found this deal on Living Social, making me a lot more likely to try it: 5 nights in a fully stocked van for $319, half the usual price. Insurance is not included.
I have no idea how long this deal will be on Living Social. I haven’t purchased it so far, but I probably will. And by way of disclosure, the link above is not my affiliate link, so I won’t make any money if you buy the deal. I just thought you might like to know.
The Miles Mom 