Community Forums

jma24 · 07-01-2013, 01:05 PM

Interested in anyone's experience and opinions of the assorted discount clubs out there and if any are worth joining. We have AAA and will upgrade to the recreational vehicle package for roadside coverage. I'm 62 and will get an Access Pass and also retired military. We just picked up our new Jayco and will be underway on our first journey in 2 weeks, so if there is a good group to join, I'm interested. Thanks

vsheetz · 07-01-2013, 01:40 PM

Passport America is usually a no brainer. A couple weekends and it has paid back the yearly fee. We use it whenever possible.

GaryKD · 07-01-2013, 02:49 PM

Hi jma24,
Welcome to iRV2. Discount clubs can be simple or get complicated. Like previously posted, Passport America may be a good choice. In addition consider:
1. Good Sam - They have different levels of membership. If you purchase the life time membership, and then get the PFJ (Pilot/Flying J) RV Plus card, you'll get the maximum discount on fuel (6 cents on gas and 8 cents on diesel). There are also many other Good Sam benefits.

2. The most popular roadside assistance programs are Coach Net and Good Sam. Consider these programs before upgrading the AAA membership.

3. Depending on how you camp, KOA and Yogi Bear have discount clubs.

4. FMCA has member benefits.

5. The manufacturer of your coach may have an owners club that provides benefits you can use.

6. ENCORE resorts has a club for frequent stayers.

You'll need to read about these groups and determine if they match how you will RV. These organizations are good only if you use the benefits.

1ciderdog · 07-01-2013, 03:14 PM

One of the things to keep in mind is if you only travel weekends many Passport America parks don't allow the discount on weekends.

vsheetz · 07-01-2013, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ciderdog

One of the things to keep in mind is if you only travel weekends many Passport America parks don't allow the discount on weekends.

True - however I have found that often if you just ask a CG will relax any limitations they have on PA stays.

Bangorbob · 07-01-2013, 09:12 PM

Because you are retired military as I am, I allows ask for the best discount which may include military, but usually isn't the best. But I'm sure you already know that. I agree with PPA. Go to their website and checkout some of the CG's you might want to stay at.

Gary RVRoamer · 07-02-2013, 07:02 AM

Most any of the discount programs are well worth while IF you use the associated parks and services often enough, but if you don't plan to do business with them, it's just a waste of money. Focus on where you want to go, then see if any discount programs are available for the park you will use. Most of them are on an annual basis anyway, so you can adjust as your travel plans change from year to year.

We use Passport America primarily for overnight stops, but our travel is mostly weekdays so restrictions are rarely a concern. We re-joined Good Sam last fall after realizing that a couple parks that are convenient to our usual routes to/from Maine are GS parks. The 10% GS discount wasn't enough to offset the cost of membership, but they gave us a free night for re-joining and that tilted the scale. Probably won't renew that one. We have a Thousand Trails membership and that used to save us a bundle, but now we travel differently and don't use their resorts enough to justify the annual fee. Thinking of selling that one off (it's a lifetime membership deal).

The point of all this is that a discount program that's great for someone else may be worthless to you, and that you should avoid long term commitments to a discount program until you are very sure you will get long term benefit from it as well.

PyrateSilly · 07-02-2013, 08:46 AM

Prior military? We have not found a campground yet that does not have at least a 10% discount for veterans or military of any country not just American. Ask everywhere you are spending money if they offer a veteran/military discount. You will be surprised at how many offer at least 10% off the price.