Who We Are
We're a group of middle-aged guys who, over the course of our lifetimes, have camped, backpacked and travelled all over North America.
From the Atlantic Ocean beaches to the Pacific coast, the desert Southwest to Canada and New England, we've "been there and done that".
At some point in each of our lives, we discovered that the Westfalia Camper, or WESTY, can make these adventures much more enjoyable.
A couple of us have also been working on VW's for upwards of 30 years, and are thus uniquely suited to operate a VW camper rental business.
Rest assured that we'll never put you in a WESTY that we wouldn't feel comfortable vacationing in with our own family.
Where Are We?
Valley Westys is located in the Queen City of Staunton, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. We are just minutes from the intersection of Interstates 81 & 64. Listed below are approximate driving times to some local and regional attractions:
- 5 minutes-Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, and the American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse
- 10 minutes- the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia
- 30 minutes- Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway
- 60 minutes- Monticello, New Market Battlefield, historic Lexington and several caverns
- 1 3/4 hours- Douthat State Park
- 2 hours- Richmond
- 2 1/2 hours- Colonial Williamsburg
- 3 hours- Washington D.C.and Yorktown
- 4 hours- Atlantic Ocean beaches
View Larger Map
Equipment
Every Westy rented from Valley Westys comes with the following equipment:
- full tank of premium gas and propane
- full on-board water tank
- spare tire, lug wrench and jack
- spare fan belt
- extra motor oil
- built-in fridge or super cooler
- built-in stove or portable propane stove
- 2 flat sheets
- 2 fitted sheets
- 4 pillow w/ pillowcases
- 2 blankets
- 1 washcloth, handtowel, and bath towel per person
- paper towels, bath tissue, and trash bags
- 1 first aid kit
- 2 flashlights
- maps and campground guides
- 4 coffee mugs, glasses, plates, bowls, knives, and forks
- 1 coffee pot, fryingpan, saucepan w/ lid, cutting board, chefs knife, paring knife, can opener, vegetable peeler, corkscrew, spatula, ladle, spoon set, colander, measuring cups, and grater
- dishwashing detergent, scrub brush, and scrubbie pad
- red checked tablecloth (plastic)
- spice set, salt, pepper, and garlic powder
- 1 fire extinguisher
- 1 hose
- 1 extension cord
Available at our office:
- Road Maps
- Campground Guides
- Camping Cookbooks
- Brochures from area places you might want to visit
and most importantly, the personal knowledge and advice of our friendly staff!
- We have extra accessories available, for rent as well, for a nominal fee. Our optional equipment includes:
- Super Cooler $5/trip
- Folding Camp Chair $5/trip
- Bike Rack $5/trip
- Children's Car Seat $5/trip
- Comfy Foam Matteress Topper $5/trip
- Electric Fan $5/trip
- Electric Heater $5/trip
- Bicycle $10/day or $50/week
F.A.Q
Because it's FUN, AFFORDABLE, and RELAXING! Depending on where you go, it could also be ENTERTAINING and EDUCATIONAL. Why waste your precious vacation time standing in line at some crowded restaurant, just to enjoy the company of a couple hundred strangers? Why spend your evenings in a cheesy motel room watching cable TV- you can do that at home! Wouldn't you rather be camped on the shore of a beautiful lake or stream? Or high on a forested mountaintop, looking down on the lights of the valley below? You could be grilling the fish you caught that afternoon, or fresh local chicken or steaks over your campfire! And speaking of fresh, it's hard to beat the local produce you can purchase at roadside stands from farmers all over the area. Some even let you into the field or orchard to pick your own!
IT DEPENDS, on what interests you and your family. Obviously, since you're renting a Classic VW Camper, you'll want to take advantage of some of the incredible campgrounds in our region, either public or private. Private campgrounds tend to offer much more in the way of facilities- swimming pools, playgrounds, movies, etc. . Public campgrounds such as those in National Parks & Forests, and State Parks tend to have fewer of these "extras", but are located in some of the most scenic areas of our country. They feature things like lakes, streams, (often with fishing & boating) hiking & biking trails, horseback riding, and some of the most beautiful scenery around! The area is renowned for it's many historical and cultural sites, including many Civil War Battlefields which are preserved to this day. The adults in your party might find a tour of local vineyards, wineries, or microbreweries of interest. The whole family might enjoy a river rafting trip, especially on a hot summer day! We invite you to visit our FEATURED LINKS, as well as the tourist & travel sites of states you might wish to visit. As always, feel free to ask us for our advice- we're here to help you!
YES! In most respects they are safer than when they left the factory. We maintain them in excellent mechanical condition, and many relacement parts are actually better than what was available when they were new. Better brake materials, tires, shocks, and halogen headlights are all upgrades from original equipment. While they do not have airbags, they are equipped with safety belts for all passengers.
YES! All our campers are in excellent mechanical condition. We want you to have a great vacation experience! In the event the unforeseen does occur, even if it's a flat tire, or you run out of gas, RELAX. 24 hour roadside assistance is provided with every ValleyWestys rental.
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE- COVERED SERVICES
Towing, up to 100 miles
Changing a flat tire
Jumpstart a dead battery
Lockout/lost key service
Minor mechanical adjustments
Delivery of gas (cost of gas not included)
Winching if stuck (only from paved road to length of cable)
NOT NECESSARILY- While summertime temperatures in our area can be uncomfortable, there are many things you can do to remain cool and comfortable. One obvious answer is to spend your vacation touring the Skyline Drive or Blue Ridge Parkway. Incredible views, leisurely 45 MPH speed limit, and summer evenings can get so cool you'll want a light jacket. At lower elevations a dip in a nearby pool, river or lake; or a tour of one of our many local Caverns, is a great way to cool off. If you're staying in a campground with electric hookups, we even have fans available for rent. See the Extra Accessories section of our WHAT YOU GET page.
You will want to bring the same things you would if you were staying in motels on your trip- Clothes, swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, a camera, cell phone & charger, personal items, etc. . We're all experienced campers, and have really tried to provide all the basics you'll need for a good camping trip. Bedding, towels, washcloths, flashlights, tablecloth, and a kitchen pretty well stocked with all the cookware, dishes, utensils, and cleaning supplies you'll need. If you have questions about any item you think you might need, and don't find it listed, email us, and we'll try to accommodate you. You should plan on stopping at the grocery store early in your trip, to purchase food, drinks, and ice for your cooler.
We will make every effort to accommodate your request, and will be happy to tell you if a specific WESTY is available at the time you make your reservation. You should be aware that we cannot guarantee you a specific WESTY, as some things are beyond our control. A WESTY may be unavailable due to damage by a previous camper, or be in the shop for scheduled maintenance. Your safety and comfort come first with us. Rest assured, even if the one you wanted isn't available upon your arrival, they're ALL CUTE!
MAYBE- We love our pets, too, and our dogs love camping. Please contact us, and we will try to accomodate your well-behaved pet. There will be a $50 "pet fee" to cover our cost of super cleaning the camper after your trip. In addition, you will be held liable for any damage that may occur.
Remove it, and any evidence of its visit, as quickly as possible. Any evidence of unauthorized animals in the WESTY, may result in forfeit of your security deposit.
NO!- the interior of all WESTYS is a non-smoking area. Evidence of smoking may result in the forfeit of your security deposit. If you must smoke, do so outside, and dispose of all matches and cigarettes properly. A small fire can quickly get out of control in the forest.
USUALLY NOT- it's probably booked for another customer following your scheduled return. But, it wouldn't hurt to call and ask. If there's any way to accommodate a change in plans like this, we will.
PROBABLY NOT- unless we are able to quickly re-rent your WESTY. In that event, we would refund you for any of the days that another customer paid the rental fee. ( If you are concerned about this possibility, you may want to check into TRIP INTERRUPTION INSURANCE on the internet.)
DEPENDING on when and where you will be arriving, we may have a couple of options for you. While we would prefer that you pick up and drop off your WESTY at our office, we realize that may not always be possible. Please contact us with your proposed travel plans, and we'll do whatever we can to meet your travel needs.
Rates & Terms
2012 Rates:
3 day minimum during the Spring and Fall
5 day minimum in Summer / Peak Season
| 2011 Rates |
| WESTY and WEEKENDER | $99/day |
| RIALTA |
$129/day* |
What follows is a, hopefully, simple explanation of our rental agreement, in terms we can all understand. The actual Legal Contract you will sign when you pick up your WESTY, may be viewed
HERE. (YES, we do have reading/magnifying glasses available at our office so you can read all the small print the lawyers insist we print on the back of the contract!)
RESERVATIONS & DEPOSITS- We require a deposit of $250 at the time we confirm your reservation. This will be the first half of the $500 security deposit we require for your rental. The $250 balance is due at the time you pick up your WESTY. This deposit, $500 in total, must be paid by VISA or MASTERCARD only. We will be happy to answer questions about the availability of certain dates, but no reservation is confirmed until your initial $250 deposit is received. The $500 deposit is refunded to you when you return your WESTY in good condition, with a full tank of PREMIUM fuel, and nothing missing or damaged. A list of all accessories/equipment included with your rental, along with their replacement cost, will be provided at the start of your trip.
PAYMENT OPTIONS / VIRGINIA RENTAL TAX- The total rental fee, including any optional equipment, must be paid in full when you pick up your WESTY. Payment is in U.S. Dollars only, and may be in the form of CASH, VISA, or MASTERCARD.(If using a credit card, the holder of the card must be listed as a driver on the contract.) We cannot accept personal checks at this time. Virginia has local and state rental taxes that total 10% of your rental charges. By law, these taxes are listed seperately on your contract, and not included in our rental fee.
CANCELLATION / Change Of Dates / REFUNDS- You must notify us, in writing ( email or letter ), of any cancellation. Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the start of your reserved dates will be charged a $50 fee, and the balance of your deposit will be refunded. Cancellations made less than 30 days prior to the start of your reserved dates will forfeit your deposit. The only exception to this policy is if we are able to re-rent your WESTY before your scheduled departure date. In that case, we would refund your deposit, less the $50 fee. We will try to accomodate changes in your reserved dates, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY, and will charge a $50 processing fee, if we are able to reschedule your trip.
DRIVERS- all drivers must be at least 25 years old at the time of departure, and hold a valid U.S. or International Drivers License. All drivers must be listed on the rental contract, and be present, with licenses at the time of rental, per insurance regulations.
ROADWAY RESTRICTIONS- Our WESTYS are designed for travel on roads from Interstate Highways to local backroads. They are NOT well-suited for OFF-ROAD adventures in areas such as Forest Service Trails or beaches. Such use is NOT PERMITTED, and you will be charged for any damages, or cost of towing resulting from such abuse. Rentor is responsible for all parking tickets / moving violations during the rental period. This includes tickets from "Red Light Cameras" which may be received by Valley Westys LLC after you have completed your trip.
MILEAGE CHARGES-We allow 125 miles per day of use, at NO CHARGE. For a standard weekly rental, this allows you a range of 875 miles. We prefer that our WESTYS remain in the Mid-Atlantic Region, mainly so we can provide you with timely assistance, should it ever be needed. Should you be considering a longer distance trip, requiring more mileage, please contact us regarding this option. An excess mileage fee, and a higher security deposit may be required.
INSURANCE- Our daily rental fee includes Liability Insurance required by the Commonwealth of Virginia, for all drivers listed on the Rental Contract. Please contact your own Insurance Company for any additional insurance you may desire. Many policies, including rental insurance provided by Credit Card Companies, do not cover vehicles over 20 years old, or campers. A quick phone call to your Agent, can often extend your own coverage to cover your rental, for very little expense.
* Does not include the use of the on-board generator. You will need to use the 110 volt A/C shore power cord for this rate.
Contact Us
Email us at valleywestys@gmail.com!
If you have any questions or comments let us know. (but first check the FAQ in case we've already answered your question.)
Or call Us at 540-280-7175
