2 pilots bought 7 RVs, and are turning their 'Airbnb on wheels' business into a retirement plan
Two airline pilots are preparing for mandatory retirement by launching an RV rental business called Suite Glamping Adventures. They purchased seven vehicles to provide a high-end rental experience after being disappointed by their own travel experiences.
Why it matters
It illustrates how professionals in high-stress, age-restricted careers are proactively planning for financial and personal transitions.
Brian and Carrie Smith are full-time pilots who run an RV rental company on the side. Carrie and Brian Smith Carrie and Brian Smith, pilots for a major airline, are required to retire by age 65. That in mind, they spent time thinking about a business they could run when their flying careers end. They settled on RV rentals and bought seven vehicles to start an "Airbnb on wheels." Carrie and Brian Smith rented an RV in July 2023 while participating in RAGBRAI, an annual seven-day bicycle ride across Iowa. Their accommodations weren't cheap — or particularly nice. The bath towels were "kids' old swimming towels," Carrie told Business Insider. "The seats had cuts in them, and the upholstery was dried out. It was just kind of junky."
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