Coast to Coast - Good deal?

[Waggy]

I have been contacted by Beachwood about joining their campground and Coast to Coast. I have a Good Sam membership, but I think that is totally different. Is it a good thing? Can I get booking every where when ever I want them or do I pay a lot of money and only can use it in the winter? Any thing I should be looking out for? I live in Canada, and plan to go on a trip across Canada and back throught the USA next year and was wondering if this Coast to Coast would be good for that. I live in Vancouver, BC so going to Beachwood would be ok as I am about to retire and have a 30ft motorhome.

[autofish]

I feel Im better off by not belonging to any of the camping time shares. I travel all over USA and just use a good campground directry and call ahead each day when on the road. Have never had a problem in 15 yrs. I would save you dollars.

[The Beaver]

We belonged to C2C for several years but it did not work for us. Look at where their campgrounds are located to determine if you would ever be in that area. Also there are usually restrictions on how long you can remain in one location as well as restrictions on certain times of the year. You will have yearly fees at your home campground as well as yearly dues for C2C. If you decide this is a good deal for you, read the contract carefully as you may not be able to cancel later if your experience is unfavorable. In this case you will be responsible for paying your annual dues at your home campground even if you aren't using the facilites. They will tell you that all you have to do is sell your membership to someone else but the resale market is practically non-existent.

[llmrealestat]

We've had pretty good experience with C2C and have traveled the last 5 months using them pretty exclusively. You can stay 1-2 weeks, depending on the park and can make reservations 1-2 months in advance if you know where you will be. Some of the parks have been fantastic and some not, but I think that's true with any of the CG memberships.

[Barrier2]

We joined Coast to Coast back in the mid 80s thru a resale membership in a Western Campground At that time our sons would travel with us every summer and at I think one or two dollars a night it was great. We did find there were few C2C affiliates in the middle of the Country. We spent a great deal of time and miles just getting to the member Campgrounds. And many were rundown.We then started to discover that many Campgrounds started adding fees for AC and full hookups. Generally we felt like 2nd class members. In all fairness we became an expense for Campgrounds whose members did not take advantage of the reciprocity. Then the price went to $2 (perhaps a bit more) but still a bargain.
The next shoe was the enrolled Campgrounds started to diminish. Many we had traveled to were no longer part of the system. Our boys were growing and we could not travel as long or as far. We decided to sell our Campground membership. Lots of luck! Letter upon letter, numerous phone calls etc. Each year the Campground would add our dues to the years before, dun us and we were not able to use anything even if we wanted to.The amount owed was astronomical. They even sold it to a Collection Agency. Fortunately I keep every record email as well as dates and times. Including the record of the CEO telling me "No problem, send us a letter and I will take care of it and end your membership" . I sent that certified. I had bought it from the Campground Owners as a resale or excess (actually that was the norm since requirements to sell were difficult to achieve). And the agreement was not personally signed, witnessed or even filled out correctly.
My Lawyer was able to rectify it all. But it cost me.
This is in reality a "Ponzi Scheme" . The new Campground Members pay for the prior members, it all works as long as there are an ever increasing number of New Members willing to ante up the high cost of buying in. Once that stops it falls to pieces. We even attended a meeting at a Campground where the Campground was trying to sell half price Memberships to Children of members. The next year that Campground was closed and out of business. A really nice Campground we loved to stay at. C2C is part of it as The Member Draw for new members. We stayed at Hart Ranch a fantastic Campground in Rapid City, SD, where we were exposed to a great sales pitch. Even a film with Fess Parker speaking of the virtues of C2C. They used to have a Indoor Rodeo on premises, it is no longer mentioned in their description. I think C2C is down to maybe 300 Campgrounds from a high of about 8-9 hundred with many more promised.
One important note, this has been my experience and of other members I have spoken with, but may not be accurate in all cases. Just my Humble Experience and Opinions.
Robert

[MaverickBBD]

Have you been to Beachwood? It is downwind from the refinery I worked at for 27 years. I'll never forget the day when we sprayed oil all the way to Birch Bay. You should also contact the refinery and ask how their spill and release planning would effect Beachwood.

[bsirby]

You may want to read the post WESTERN HORIZONS CONTRACTS SOLD..........I realize its a different company but same principal. I know people that swear by time shares and memberships, but I am very distrustful of them. My old supervisor actually tried to give me a membership which she paid $5,000. for. She has not had an RV for 3 years and still has to pay quarterly dues and maintenance fees. I declined.

[GaryKD]

Hi Waggy,
C2C is not for us. Their CGs are not where we want to be. The quality of many of their CGs (not all) is not up to the places we usually stay at.