Last year was a busy one for Off-Grid RV, and this one is proving to be even more so for owners Tomika and Flavio Pacheco.

Since March, the couple have seen a steady stream of customers enjoying their recreational vehicle accommodation business in local parks.

Bookings started out as being last minute but quickly ramped up to several months in advance.

“I don’t know why, but it has been back to back to back,” Mrs Pacheco said.

The couple launched the business at the end of 2024, setting up in scenic locales such as Church Bay, Watch Hill, Warwick Long Bay, Turtle Bay and Scaur Hill, depending on customer preference.

“The business was an idea that I was brewing on for some time,” Mrs Pacheco said. “I like nature and the outdoors.”

She has a bachelor’s degree in tourism and hospitality, and a master’s in business administration.

“I wanted to merge those together,” she said.

She thought it would be compelling for visitors to stay in a luxury RV with the beauty of Bermuda’s beaches, parks and trails right outside their door.

As much as she loves the outdoors she does not like tents, or the words “camping” or “glamping” in reference to Off Grid RV. She prefers to call her RV rental enterprise a “luxury experience”.

When she first started the business one of the challenges was creating the contractual agreement with the parks department and deciding which land to use. It took two to three years to get everything ironed out.

The next hurdle was just getting the RV, a luxury Airstream, to Bermuda and dealing with all the fees, American tariffs and import duty.

“In the beginning, it was just trying to create awareness of what we are doing and how we do it,” Mrs Pacheco said. “Even now I get people who say, ‘I thought it was a food truck’.”

In the summer the RV is popular with locals. Bermudians like to rent it in February for Valentine’s Day. Foreign workers like it in the winter as space for visiting family and friends. The Pachecos just park it in the client’s yard.

Along the way, Mrs Pacheco has learnt something about her fellow Bermudians — they are not as water conscious as they claim to be.

It is usually locals, not tourists, who drain the vehicles 23-gallon fresh water tank.

This happens in spite of the fact that Bermudians tend to stay a shorter time, typically arriving at 8pm and leaving before 10am.

The Pachecos had to hook-up a trailer to the back of the RV to carry extra water.

She emphasised that the business is very eco conscious, prescribing to the philosophy “leave only footprints”.

Summer rates are around $425 per night, and in the off season around $370 per night.

Looking forward, the couple are looking at buying a second RV, but are still working out the details.

• For more information, see offgridrvbermuda.com