KOA fees

[GG1]

KOA is the absolute last resort, also way way way overpriced!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aauummm]

Originally Posted by WDW

We're new. We're just finishing our first year of MH ownership. 6,000 miles, 46 nights. It's not a driveway trophy.

We went back to the KOA where we started our season in April. We didn't have a toad then. But last night they informed us there was a $5.00 per day fee for the "extra car". Why? We had a pull through site. No extra space being occupied that we hadn't already paid for.

KOA PAY ATTENTION--- I'm starting a movement DEMANDING that ALL extra fees be posted IN ADVANCE of making a reservation. I know others will cite "Keep On Adding" - but I like the assurance of a brand. Even sneaky airlines are honest enough to pillage your wallet up front when booking!




Taking in the sights ...where my Trolley travels. '15 Jayco Greyhawk 31FK.

Did you have one car or two cars on the spot? Which KOA was it?

[JMonroe]

We typically consider KOA only as an overnight stop, preferred over a Wal-Mart parking lot. Most we've stayed at are less than "nothing special", but adequate for an overnight.

There are some nice KOAs out there, we loved the site we had at the IRV2 rally (not all sites in the park were of the same caliber) in Nashville, but the regular prices rival those of Ft Wilderness and it was not even close to on par with Ft Wilderness.

The only full hookup option, when visiting our hometown, is a KOA and we've been to other destinations where it has been the best option in terms of access to areas we want to visit, but like others, it is not our first choice, based on 35 years of Rving experience.

[MrBelvedere]

I agree with your efforts to correctly state the costs. Is the $5.00 fee for all KOA facilities?

[TexasPSDX]

We have always found KOA = "keep on adding". More fees than any other place we have stayed.

[abarkl]

KOA campgrounds are just one step above a Walmart parking lot in my book and I won't stay at either.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by MrBelvedere

I agree with your efforts to correctly state the costs. Is the $5.00 fee for all KOA facilities?

Nope!
I suggest you make a plan that you can be happy with.
1. Read reviews for any campground you are considering. Pick wisely. campgroundreviews.com
2. Enter your reservation info for that KOA online and pick from the available sites for that date range. This will get you a final quote.

[Agaveguy]

We too have incurred extras after the fact from KOA. We booked the 4th of July for 1 night in Banning, Ca. only as a place to sleep on our way to Costa Mesa and it was $45, when we got our credit card statement they added in another $10 for the holiday in a separate transaction. We travel that route 3 or 4 times a year and guess where we won't be staying anymore!


The KOA campgrounds are just franchises so I would bet there are just as many excellent ones as there are mediocre ones.


We saw an episode of "Undercover Boss" about a KOA somewhere but I can't remember what location. The folks from corporate seem to be genuine good people.


Sometimes when passing through you gotta stay where you can, we have overnighted at Wal-mart a handful of times and we don't feel safe there at all. My wife sleeps in bed, I end up laying on the couch with my friends Smith and Wesson by my side. Certainly no way to relax while away from home. It's worth $50 to me to put out the slides and get some sleep.

[BennieH]

We have a number of KOA's that we regularly stay at. Very clean, well kept, genuinely nice owners and run well. I use RV Park reviews and I comment on where ever we stay.
We never had an add on for our toad. So I am very surprised to hear that.
I wish the OP would say where it was!

[docj]

Originally Posted by Agaveguy

The KOA campgrounds are just franchises so I would bet there are just as many excellent ones as there are mediocre ones.

As noted in a previous post, KOA's vary in quality and price like all other RV parks. They are just franchisees.

For those that complain about KOA pricing, it's worth noting that they are almost always near medium-large cities and, if you haven't noticed, the average price for nice, full-hookup sites in the vicinity of cities is running $40-50/night (incl tax) these days. Sure, you can usually find a site for less, but my wife and I like to stay at places where we can have a safe and reasonably attractive environment. With a KOA discount cards our experience has been that KOA's are no more expensive than the other highly rated CGs in most areas. And, quite honestly, it's getting to the point where, for single night stays, we feel good if we can keep the price for the night down below $45.

We usually start with the RVParkReviews ratings in the area where we want to stay and work our way down from the top-rated park. If that happens to be a KOA, that's fine with us; if it's not a KOA, that's fine, also. We are full-timers and find that we always manage to get our money's worth out of the $25 annual KOA membership and we usually get ~$50-75 back each year in free nights from the rewards program.

IMHO going to a KOA is like going to a chain restaurant; it won't be the best place you've stayed at but it also probably won't be the worst. We've stayed at some really nice KOAs but have never stayed at one so bad that we wouldn't return. One of the "sketchiest" KOA's we've ever stayed at was in Laramie WY, but, quite frankly, there weren't many other places to choose from. I rate CG's on a relative scale; what are they competing against. Usually KOA's gear themselves to be pretty much in the middle of the competitive field.

[YC1]

I got a bit miffed being charged an early check in fee. We were 30 minutes early. The park was 1/2 full.

I definitely look for any Good Sams campground and compare to the KOA's. I understand that many campgrounds along the East area of the US are seasonal so they need to get what they can but I was stunned at the high prices we paid.

[nothermark]

Don't forget Passport America!! Will use KOA if it has what we want and do not see a reasonable alternative. What I find more interesting is that several of the KOA's I used to know of are no longer KOA but still are in business. I take it they decided that the membership kickback was not worth it.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by YC1

I got a bit miffed being charged an early check in fee. We were 30 minutes early. The park was 1/2 full.

I definitely look for any Good Sams campground and compare to the KOA's. I understand that many campgrounds along the East area of the US are seasonal so they need to get what they can but I was stunned at the high prices we paid.

Just leave and get some ice cream and come back?
The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas are the highest priced in the East. Supply and demand.

[Mr_D]

K = Keep
O = On
A = Adding!

We feel safer at a Wal*Mart lot than most of the KOA's I've seen.