Community Forums

TW · 02-27-2009, 01:09 PM

Do we have any CG's that just take Donations for certain sites???? Lets say a minimum plus...
Just a thought.... I always give more, when ask for donations!!!Wal-Mart comes to mind... the most expensive.......

TW

read & learn · 02-27-2009, 01:54 PM

Hi Gary
As we have been traveling west of Florida this year we have found that rates vary from $10.00 a night CtC 50% off at Passport and most others 10-15% For Good Sam--FMCA--AAA etc and except for California which also has a $3.00 a night utility fee they all charge extras. So much for extra kids/adults-dogs-golf carts etc. Had one CG try to say we had a extra vehilce [toad] and charge us. It was early, told him good-bye and wow how fast he changed his pricing.
Some good news [rumor] is that there are some CG owners who finely understand that $10.00 a night for the RVer who just need a place to sleep and not use any service is better the nothing. Waiting for the list of which ones.

GaryKD · 02-27-2009, 04:17 PM

Hi TW,
You got that right. Wal-Mart is the most expensive "free" camping I have ever experienced.

skigramp · 02-27-2009, 04:22 PM

I have travelled from Louisiana in January to California in February for the past four years ... my experience has been that the RV parks are getting nearly the same amount of business this year as in previous years ... a few empty spots but certainly not empty RV parks.

I felt it was necessary to call in the middle of the afternoon to make a reservation ... I always got a site ... and there were only a couple of times that it would have been unnecessary for the reservation

Dadeaux · 02-27-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bsavage:
As owners of a small RV park here in Dolores, Colorado, we just had this conversation, and we are reducing our monthly rates by $25/month, and our nightly rates by $3/night. Our competition have raised their rates. And yes, our water, electric, sewer, etc. all keep going up, but sometimes some is better than none!

Brenda, of...

Brenda I hope the few dollars you shaved works for you and Tony, operating an RV park, especially if it is seasonal, can be a lesson in money management.

Managing my park, open year round, was more gratifying than any job I have ever done. It was a financial success from the very beginning in the sense that it paid its bills and notes yet it was a fiscal juggling act some months of the year because of the low revenue.

Considering the current economic climate I am happy to be a customer at another’s park.

One note; I saw where Ryanair a budget airline in the U.K. is looking at the possibility of installing a coin slot on the lavatory door to enhance revenue, about the only thing KOA has missed so far I think.

RedneckExpress · 02-27-2009, 07:18 PM

Actually the lack of a coin slot on the bathrooms, and depending on the park, the quality and length of the showering facilities is what draws folks to use those over state run properties alot of the time. I know in my travels that Washington SPs have the most expensive, stingiest showers around, California's are coin opped, but unless it changed just recently, were far more shower for far less $$.

Oregon's there's no coin op at all, but its hit or miss some days for how long before you'll get a luke-warm shower.

bsavage · 02-27-2009, 07:19 PM

Well, Dadeaux, we raised our rates last year (maybe too much), based on some market research and local advice, and it was not helpful. Meanwhile, we are now getting calls from folks who have stayed for years down the road who are so annoyed with their price increase that they will not stay there again. Our goal is to be fair and provide a nice experience, and hopefully make a living as well. Happy and safe travels, all!

Brenda, of...

BookIIRoadtrash · 02-27-2009, 07:53 PM

Wow, I look at what every one is rving in and wonder why the big stink about rates going up $3 to $4 a night. If you can’t afford the rate increase then get out. I don’t own and live in an rv to live cheap! I am in one for the freedom and ask our forefathers how cheap freedom is and then look today! Be careful the cheapo cg have water, sewer and electrical problems. Is it worth one cheap night to ruin something inside the coach? I don’t mind folks making a profit off of me, it is better than a bunch of run down cgs ….Book2

TW · 02-27-2009, 09:26 PM

Over the years (since 75), we always drove without reservations on CG's and whatever we had to pay, we just put on the table..... all the CG's were very affordable...If we follow Ryans Air sample we will have to pay per site and length??? Or do we already???
Hopefully we can afford to FULLTIME in a 2007 KSDP 3910 down the road. Fuel prices are down and we can travel again all over this beautiful country,
and meet some great friends from IRV2
TW

chasfm11 · 02-28-2009, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Is it worth one cheap night to ruin something inside the coach?

First, I don't believe that the nightly rate has anything to do with that. There are some pretty run down CGs that, because they are close to large attractions, have pretty high rates. The Circus Circus KOA is a good example.
Second, I think it is prudent to have protection against CG facilities hurting systems in the RV. Surge protectors and water pressure regulators should be part of our equipment, IMHO. You just never know when even a good park might have problems.

Lastly, some CGs have followed the same "what the traffic will bear" pricing that has occurred in some other industries. That's fine. But those who live by that approach will have to make adjustments when the traffic won't bear last's rates any more. To me, there is no finer example of that than oil. That old saying about "those who live by the sword die by the sword" applies.

GaryKD · 02-28-2009, 10:16 AM

Book2,
Your lack of sensitivity on this subject is appalling. People RV for a variety of reasons. There are as many reasons as there are RV floorplans. Your statement says "tough" Book2 doesn't care about anybody who can not pay whatever the CG wants to charge. Book2 says if you aren't willing to pay the fee, stop RVing. For me, I will patronize CGs that have a value pricing structure, for their local market. Each person sets their own rules for value. Book2, you may have $s to toss on the table without ever considering the price. If so, good for you. Keep on doing what you do and have a good time. However, please do not tell other RVers to get out of RVing because they think differently than you about the price they pay for nightly CG rates (or any other component of RVing).

When RVing for 150 or so nights a year the continued CG price increase does add up to a large amount of $s. Combine this with CG customers may be among the many who have a greatly shrunken asset base from which to draw their RVing $s from. Every CG needs to ensure they are providing value to their customers. Those who take your attitude may well be the first to go out of business.

BookIIRoadtrash · 02-28-2009, 10:59 AM

GaryKD, You need to read this, It is against IRV2”s rules to personally attack. I am in the situation that I can write off every on the road expense! I just am tired off folks like you crying in you’re beer! Lets support America and get her back on track!!! Book2

GaryKD · 02-28-2009, 11:40 AM

My post was about your position on this topic. I do not know you. It is not possible for me to attack you. However, if you read the thread as "crying in one's beer", you have missed the point. The point has been restated several times so there is no need to repeat it here. I stand by what I said. Your lack of sensitivity on this topic is appalling. If you are unable to understand that there is nothing anyone can do.

Didn't you cancel your DTV? Must have been because the value was not there for you. The same is true for the topic of CG prices.