Automated Reservation Finders?

[jimgone]

I have heard that there are automated reservation systems that (for a fee) find reservations at "sold-out" RV parks. Does anyone know of such a thing?


Thanks,

[puttin]

Campnab and Campspot. There are a few more too- just do a search.

[propchef]

Originally Posted by jimgone

I have heard that there are automated reservation systems that (for a fee) find reservations at "sold-out" RV parks. Does anyone know of such a thing?


Thanks,

Yes, I was just looking at one this morning by the folks who bring you Harvest Hosts (sorry but the name escapes me ). It scans recreation dot gov and for now, the CA system. It’s simply notification of a cancelled reservation of an area and time defined by the user. It can’t be booked through them and they aren’t resellers. It looked like a good idea but still in its infancy.

[jimgone]

Thanks for the tips!

[twogypsies]

I hope this isn't a new thing..... company buying up sites to re-sell! :(

[propchef]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

I hope this isn't a new thing..... company buying up sites to re-sell! :(

Well, if anyone is doing this as I’ve seen suggested several times, they’re doing a poor job of marketing. This may happen eventually for private campgrounds but I don’t see it with public campgrounds.

[OldBaldFat]

Four to six years ago, I looked at a company which 'promised' they could get reservations at Yosemite in one of the three valley campgrounds. But they wanted $100 service charge.

The customer had to pay the service charge and the reservation costs up front. If they could not get the reservation - you got the reservation cost back.

They did not allow me to specify a date, even a date range. Whenever they could get a reservation during the season was what I had to take.

No, I don't know how or what they did. Did not sign up with them. I don't know if the NPS found a way to thwart them, or they just could not make their 'solution' work.

I did see one official report that the NPS was aware of this method of 'cheating' the system, and considered the reservations as illegal. Though booked under the customer name, they considered it 'selling' a reserved campsite.

In the winter of 2013/2014, some friends talked to Xanterra about visiting Yellowstone in their 41' motorhome. They had nothing available for the summer of 2014. They booked a two week stay at Bay Bridge dry campground for June 2015, and moved their Alaska Caravan from 2014 to 2015.

It appears to me that Xanterra is no longer allowed to do that - book 18 months in advance at Yellowstone. But Fishing Bridge, the FHU campground might be done differently.

[Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

I hope this isn't a new thing..... company buying up sites to re-sell! :(

I looked onto Campnab a while back. That's not how it works. Campnab works like this:
1. You subscribe to a plan
2. You give them a campground and a date range you are interested in (I think you can give them site numbers as well).
3. Campnab checks the campground for cancellations or opening. The frequency depends on the plan you pick.
4 When it finds what you want, it sends you an email/text.
5. You go to the reservation site (recreation.gov for example) and make the reservation.

It basically, checks for cancellations and lets you know when one pops up. Saves you from having to check yourself.

[Bigceasar]

Originally Posted by Tomahawk

I looked onto Campnab a while back. That's not how it works. Campnab works like this:
1. You subscribe to a plan
2. You give them a campground and a date range you are interested in (I think you can give them site numbers as well).
3. Campnab checks the campground for cancellations or opening. The frequency depends on the plan you pick.
4 When it finds what you want, it sends you an email/text.
5. You go to the reservation site (recreation.gov for example) and make the reservation.

It basically, checks for cancellations and lets you know when one pops up. Saves you from having to check yourself.

The value of such a service would lie in how long cancelled sites stay available. I would guess at popular parks it would only be a matter of minutes. If such a service caught on, they would be sending that cancellation notice out to multiple people creating instantaneous competition. Not sure it a much better mousetrap.

[MCCOHENS]

Just got an email about Campscanner, from Harvest Hosts. Personally I think it is an attempt on their part to generate money from their email list. But I would love to be proved wrong. So anyone who likes it please share.