Community Forums

MisterT · 06-09-2015, 04:32 PM

We used two parks in PA that we'd not yet been to before, both are ThousandTrails(CircleM and Hershey). While I picked these from my PassportAmerica APP, not because of their TT affiliation, I was impressed with the ability to 'pick your own site' when we arrived.
I love this option, and wonder why most parks don't do this as well. We've been across country several times in the last 10 months and these are the first parks where this is the norm. I like being able to find the 'best' site for me, my family, my coach, and my satellite! It has worked very well.
I wonder why this does not seem to be the norm throughout the industry. We have parked at over 150 parks, campgrounds, and state and national parks around the US. Most assign you a spot.

bruceisla · 06-09-2015, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterT

We used two parks in PA that we'd not yet been to before, both are ThousandTrails(CircleM and Hershey). While I picked these from my PassportAmerica APP, not because of their TT affiliation, I was impressed with the ability to 'pick your own site' when we arrived.
I love this option, and wonder why most parks don't do this as well. We've been across country several times in the last 10 months and these are the first parks where this is the norm. I like being able to find the 'best' site for me, my family, my coach, and my satellite! It has worked very well.
I wonder why this does not seem to be the norm throughout the industry. We have parked at over 150 parks, campgrounds, and state and national parks around the US. Most assign you a spot.

Florida State Parks (thru ReserveAmerica) have a reservation system that shows which sites are available. Most have 2 -3 pictures of each site. They also describe the amount of foliage/trees. They typically don't address whether you can get a satellite. You can usually change sites (if available) once you arrive.

almost as good !!

bokobird · 06-09-2015, 06:10 PM

I've had that experience in many places I've stayed, both private and state parks (NY, VA).

D Lindy · 06-09-2015, 07:21 PM

Before I make a reservation I look at the campgrounds site map and also at Google Maps and cross reference the two. Then when I call to make the reservation I have 2-3 sites that I'd like and reserve one of them no problems. On the other hand though membership parks RARLEY allow you to pick your own site unless it's your home park. We belong to Resorts of Distinction, and a couple of the parks we've visited I called shortly after I made the reservation and was able to select/request a certain site.

twogypsies · 06-09-2015, 09:23 PM

We were able to pick out our site quite often in public parks. We rarely made reservations so when we pulled in we asked if we could choose our site. Most often we were told to look at the site post to see if the date on the tag is for a future date. If so, then it was reserved and we found another. It worked for us and many times we got the best site in the park.

bdpreece · 06-09-2015, 10:03 PM

For me I find being given a choice a royal P.I.T.A. Every time I find what looks like the perfect site the DW says no keep going we may find something better. After two or three loops around the park she will finally say which one she wants. Of course by the time we get back to it often times it is just in time to watch someone else get it. And then she asks me why I drink!

Barbaraok · 06-10-2015, 10:55 AM

We're TT members and I actually hate the system. It means that you have 18' popups sitting in the one or two sites that can handle 40+ rigs. I would rather the reservation system match the size of the rig to the site.

Loraura · 06-10-2015, 01:12 PM

I find that we gravitate toward using the parks we can reserve our specific site number through recreation.gov over the Texas State Parks. When we are arriving on Friday after work, if we've had to travel an hour or so to get to the state park, it is usually slim picking on the sites left to chose from. I always feel so much pressure to hurry up and get there to try to get a good site.

I love knowing my COE campground reservations have my exact spot already picked out. We frequent the same parks a lot and I have a list of spots we like =).

tanstaafl · 06-10-2015, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbaraok

We're TT members and I actually hate the system. It means that you have 18' popups sitting in the one or two sites that can handle 40+ rigs. I would rather the reservation system match the size of the rig to the site.

X2.