Previewing RV Parks

[RVluvin]

When I find an area I like, I often wonder if I chose the best RV Park in the area. I reley hevely on Trailer life's rating system but ofter wonder; Will RV Parks let me prview their park for the next time I visit the area?

[Crabby Mike]

You mean, like come in and look around? If so, absolutely, we do it all the time. We always ask at the gate or stop at the office -- they generally give us a map, and say go look around, let us know if you have any questions. (We're usually in the toad when we do this, but I doubt they'd care if we had the whole rig with us.)

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVluvin When I find an area I like, I often wonder if I chose the best RV Park in the area. I reley hevely on Trailer life's rating system but ofter wonder; Will RV Parks let me prview their park for the next time I visit the area?

We find that who ever buys the largest ad in Trailer Life gets the high ratings ( with exceptions of course ). Some rat holes have gotten high ratings IMHO . Another source of park reviews is RV Park Reviews :: Home
.

Good luck and welcome to IRV2

[Brigadoon]

I use rv park reviews, mentioned by Cliff above, Trailer Life Directory, and then I look at them on Google Earth to get a visual of the area and campground.

I do not pay too much attention to Trailer Life's ratings, they do tend to be rated higher than they should be, but there is other info in their ratings that are useful. Such as size of the sites, 50 amp or no, cable, etc.

On Rv Park reviews, I read the reviews and throw out the reviews that have an ax to grind as well as the one's that claim a certain campground is the worlds greatest. Once you learn to read the reviews in relation of whats important to you they are useful. Definitely better than Trailer Life.

Google Earth allows me to see the campgound, the roads into it, as well as the area around the campground. One time a campground we were considering was found to be sandwiched between an 8 lane highway and a railroad yard- of course this was not mentioned in Trailer Life and their high ratings. We passed on that park.

We also go in and check out other parks where we travel. Have not been denied a look see anywhere yet.

[Starfire5]

Yep, I agree with checking it out first on Google Earth - at least you get a good glimpse of the area. We went the other day and checked one out. We were out driving around IN the motorhome and just pulled up to the gate and asked if we could drive through and check it out for a future overnight visit. They said, "SURE." No problem.

[puttin]

You know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see pictures (and maybe even video) that guests take of where they stay. RV Park Reviews is good, but unless the web site for the camp ground has pictures, you have no idea what it looks like.

[WheelingIt]

Like the others I rely heavily on rvparkreviews.com and Google. I find the Trailer Life ratings too erratic and stopped using them altogether after we stayed at a park early in 2010 that had a high rating, but was terrible (in my opinon).

As for pics, there are a few options there. I take detailed pics & review all the places we stay on my blog (click below to have a look), and there's a couple of other bloggers that do the same (e.g. RV-dreams does it here: Campground Reviews) and Henry&Beth do it here: RV Campsites and Reviews, plus a few more). So, for pics I tend to rely on the bloggers.

Nina

[Lindsay Richards]

RV Park Reviews are great, but sometimes owners will get through and over rate their parks and give their competitors a horrible review. You have to read all the reviews and view between the lines. Some people will give a bad review because there are trees as it messes up the satellite. Others will rate it high because it has trees. You must read between the line.

[pdq_bc]

hi luvin

we regularly "check out" parks - always asking first and getting maps & rates

like others - our favorite & must visit website is RV Park Reviews :: Home
PRICELESS!

regards, pdq

[thelastplace]

My worst case of an RV Park that I choose by a picture is Wanee Lake Golf Course and RV Park in Ashburn, GA. Their pictures is a beautiful green space in front of a lake. The lake is at the back end of the golf course and the RV area is a scraped out mess at the front. If I had used Google Earth I wouldn't have stayed there, but it was late and thank goodness it was only an in transit overnight. Visit if you can or get pictures from some other source than the RV park itself.


But the true travelers are they who leave for leaving’s sake
Saying continuously, without knowing why: ‘Let us go on’.
Paraphrased from Baudelaire’s ‘The Journey’

[MegaRoadie]

One simple Rule of Thumb...if the owners and/or manager will not allow you to preview the park...RUN !

[NLOVNIT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by puttin You know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see pictures (and maybe even video) that guests take of where they stay. RV Park Reviews is good, but unless the web site for the camp ground has pictures, you have no idea what it looks like.

The pictures in my reviews & albums here were all taken when we stayed at that particular camground.

Lori-

[Cruzer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by puttin You know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see pictures (and maybe even video) that guests take of where they stay. RV Park Reviews is good, but unless the web site for the camp ground has pictures, you have no idea what it looks like.

Try TiffinRVNetwork Campground Reviews - Home Page for the ability to post photos. Most reviews are from class A motorhome owners so it's another good source of information for other class A jockeys. On some sityes the reviews are good but they may be posted by someone with a smaller RV and won't necessarily reflect the needs of someone with a larger RV.

[Superslif]

Yes, while camping at one state park, I will check out other state parks and private parks while in the area or on the trip home. I will take my camera and take a picture of the sites sign post and a picture of the site or sites I like. Some campgrounds, especially private parks are way different from what their website or brochure shows....better to take a "look-see" than have to spend $$$ at a place you don't like...