Campground Policies - Extra Charge for Guests

[Pepper2]

Originally Posted by Clifftall

Yeah , but just for someone to pick you up is wrong IMO.

Totally agree.

[JMonroe]

Even Ft Wilderness (Disney) let us in to pick up someone.

[OLYLEN]

Use your power. DON'T STAY OR PAY! And tell the owners why.

LEN

[Pirate]

Ah, you speak of Candy Hill. It is now on my list of banned campgrounds just because of the lousy policies such as visitors. The manager is a power freak and extremely rude. I used to stop there often but now I will drive out of my way to avoid it. Over priced and over managed.

[ChiefC]

Originally Posted by Pirate

Ah, you speak of Candy Hill. It is now on my list of banned campgrounds just because of the lousy policies such as visitors. The manager is a power freak and extremely rude. I used to stop there often but now I will drive out of my way to avoid it. Over priced and over managed.

You nailed it on all counts. I won't even go into all the other rules they impose on their paying customers. Unfortunately, they are the only game in town and when we asked to leave, we were told "No Refunds", so here we sit. Lesson learned, we won't be back.

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback!

[bdickson]

On the other hand, we stayed at the KOA in Kissimmee Florida specifically because 3 of my sons with their families (11 people in all) were visiting Disney for 2 weeks. When we made the reservation I asked the manager what the extra charge would be to have them all over for half a day. There was NO CHARGE! The KOA staff brought extra chairs to our site without being asked and loaned us an extra grill. The kids played in the pool and the jungle gym for hours, we cooked out and had a great time. As others have said, I think it is very dependent on individual campground managers/owners whether they charge for guests.

[Orangepeel]

It really seems to be arbitrary. Last week the place we stayed in Auburn, CA had no problems when we had guests. I went to the office to check them in per the rules and the office manager asked how many people (my Brother, his wife and their 3 year old) and if we planned on using any of the facilities ( we did, we wanted to take our niece to the pool). He said no problem and did not charge us a fee.

On our drive home we stayed one night at a "premier resort" in Oregon and were looking forward to using the indoor pool and spa. No luck, the place was packed with kids (I am talking about 20 to 30 kids) and what looked to be a birthday party going on. Not sure if they were all paying guests or visitors but if they were visitors I hope there was a charge. That is a lot of people using the facility!!

[mel s]

Originally Posted by UFO Pilot

I have been charged twice for dinner guests (KOA'S) and it still irritates me. I don't mind paying for all day or all night guests but being charged for 2 or 3 hours is wrong.

Originally Posted by Dunner

Yeah, that's just way wrong and what I consider gouging to the utmost.

I've noticed that many RV resorts, (aka: "elitist" RV parks), are taking "gouging" to a whole new level... (charging extra for nearly everything).
Recently, even "not so great RV parks" have been jumping on that bandwagon.

Although we never stay at 'high priced elitist parks", I have found that, (in many states), there is a "per person daily use fee" charged for anyone visiting a state park.

BTW, Texas charges a per person daily fee for the occupants of a RV camping in their state parks.
If you stay only one night you pay for one night of camping PLUS two daily fees per person.....one for the day you check in AND one for the day you leave....(stay 5 nights, pay 6 daily fees, etc.).

Everything IS bigger in TX.

Mel
'96 Safari

[rgvtexan]

Originally Posted by BTW, Texas charges a [I

per person daily fee[/I] for the occupants of a RV camping in their state parks.
If you stay only one night you pay for one night of camping PLUS two daily fees per person.....one for the day you check in AND one for the day you leave....(stay 5 nights, pay 6 daily fees, etc.).

Buy the SP card for $70, takes care of the daily fees for the RV occupants, and 4ea 1/2 price second day camping fees. good for 12 months from purchase.
The daily fees can add up fast.

[sirpurrcival]

I would argue that it is probably against ones civil rights for a campground to charge for having someone drop them off or pick them up. For example, if you have a cab come on the grounds to pick you up, that does not convey to me a guest using campground resources. You pay for the right to stay at a location and I would think that a reasonable standard would include the right to be picked up and dropped off at the site without charge. There is no difference in that than there would be driving your own car on and off the property. You could refuse to pay an extra charge just for having someone pick you up. If they don't like it, they can sue you. Don't think they are gonna bother over $4.00 or even $10.00 I'm sure the police wouldn't be too interested in a $4.00 dispute either.

And if you happen to be mobility impaired, I think you would have a case for discrimination.

Not that I like to whip out lawyers for every little thing but sometimes people get very wrongheaded about what should be paid for and what is just the cost of doing business.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by rgvtexan

Buy the SP card for $70, takes care of the daily fees for the RV occupants, and 4ea 1/2 price second day camping fees. good for 12 months from purchase.
The daily fees can add up fast.

rgvtexan
That's a great idea for anyone wanting to stay in, (or who lives in), Texas. However, $70 a year is a "little steep" for anyone who only passes through twice a year, (and then only stays for a night each trip).
Believe it or not, some states actually want people to stay in the state and spend their money.
Fortunately, Walmart has parking lots all over Texas... (the TX rest areas aren't bad either).

BTW, if I have a reason to stay longer in Texas, I stay in COE parks...(they are a bargain compared to TX Sate Park campgrounds).

Mel
'96 Safari

[Chuck 1935]

I live by the adage , DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL !
In some cases I have to modify it to, IF ASKED, DON'T TELL ! :-)