Making Room for Guests

On our most recent trip we had to find room for five in an RV that only sleeps four. We have a queen sized bed in the bedroom and a sofa bed in the living room. We could have added sleeping space with a convertible booth dinette, but we didn't care for the look. The sleeping area looked uncomfortable, and you have to convert it into a bed each night and back into a dinette each morning. It's a hassle.

Since its just the two of us primarily traveling alone, we opted for a free standing dining table and chairs. And, even though we planned to occasionally take along Bill's three granddaughters, we figured we'd come up with a solution when the time came. Well, the time came last week, and like all aspects of RV life, we had to get creative.

Our Actual Dining Set

We considered putting the girls outside in a pup tent, but if it rained or was very hot and humid they would be miserable. We didn't want that. We thought about having one of the girls sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag, but with the sofa bed open it would have been tight. We finally came up with the idea of putting the sofa bed mattress on the floor and closing the couch. Viola! Accommodations for three. Two slept on the floor and the third on the couch. It worked out beautifully.

If you're a couple like us, unless your having company, sleeping space is not much of an issue. If you're a family traveling together, it is. In this case, the booth dinette is an option. You might also consider bunk beds. They come in several configurations depending on the floor plan and size of your rig. They can be used as storage when not in use and don't need to be converted daily. But, they can detract from your overall living space.

My advice is do your research. Know your needs and learn what you like. Shop around. Look at all your options. You will be glad you did. And, when  you walk into right one you'll know it.

-Diane