Community Forums

Nell · 08-08-2007, 08:59 AM

Hello everyone,

I was wondering about what we've been coming across now that our kids are getting older. Some campgrounds are having you pay for kids who are 16-18 years old as a extra adult. Some charge as much as $10 more per night. And around here in NY state that can bring the price up there to what a hotel would cost us. Yet the kicker to me is that they won't allow campers to have a site of their own who's under 21 years old .

We have another who'll be 16 and that could add another $20 per night-some already want us to pay the extra for the 9 year old because a "family" is considered 2 adults.

I know hotels are crazy now(they only allow 4 per room or you have to get a second room)-that's why we stayed camping the last 22 years. Maybe it's time to think about buying a piece of property to keep the camper on in a area we really enjoy to have vacations. Let's face it, if a site costs me for 2 $45 a night add, 20 + 5 for all 3 kids, that's pricey. Or we'll have to find more campgrounds with less to do at them and more in the areas we go-but after a few bad experiences with some like that, we are wary. Any one else think that this new way of charging for campers is crazy? Or am I expecting too much now from campgrounds?

Nell

Nell · 08-08-2007, 08:59 AM

Hello everyone,

I was wondering about what we've been coming across now that our kids are getting older. Some campgrounds are having you pay for kids who are 16-18 years old as a extra adult. Some charge as much as $10 more per night. And around here in NY state that can bring the price up there to what a hotel would cost us. Yet the kicker to me is that they won't allow campers to have a site of their own who's under 21 years old .

We have another who'll be 16 and that could add another $20 per night-some already want us to pay the extra for the 9 year old because a "family" is considered 2 adults.

I know hotels are crazy now(they only allow 4 per room or you have to get a second room)-that's why we stayed camping the last 22 years. Maybe it's time to think about buying a piece of property to keep the camper on in a area we really enjoy to have vacations. Let's face it, if a site costs me for 2 $45 a night add, 20 + 5 for all 3 kids, that's pricey. Or we'll have to find more campgrounds with less to do at them and more in the areas we go-but after a few bad experiences with some like that, we are wary. Any one else think that this new way of charging for campers is crazy? Or am I expecting too much now from campgrounds?

Nell

GaryKD · 08-08-2007, 10:46 AM

Hi Nell,
The extra charges for kids, of any age, is horrible. There is only one reason for it,,,,,greed

. The charge is blatent and smacks the customer in the face.

Frankie · 08-08-2007, 11:14 AM

It matters more to us because we have kids,childless campers get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing they dont have an extra charge.Reality for us is,most of these so called resorts are already on the higher end of the scale when it comes to price.The KOA on grand isle was the icing on the cake for me, $80 a night for a site on the highway,sewer connection under my picnic table.The site price was okay,but start adding kids and the like and it gets stupid. How about they deduct money if you dont have kids,that way I feel like I am not getting the you know what every time they take my ching ching

Paul Heuvelhorst · 08-08-2007, 11:25 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Nell:
I was wondering about what we've been coming across now that our kids are getting older. Some campgrounds are having you pay for kids who are 16-18 years old as a extra adult. Some charge as much as $10 more per night. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
We've had an empty nest for over 20 years. However, I shudder to think what the additional costs would be if we still traveled with our 4 sons, or more realistic today... our 6 grandkids.

My answer is that I will not stay at any campground that charges extra for more than 2 people. Those that charge extra, in my personal experience, are few and many do not charge. However, you need to do the research. Check the Trailer Life Directory for this information. If it isn't stated, call the campground to find out their charges.

Digital Boy · 08-08-2007, 03:03 PM

My wife and I are workcamping this season on Long Island at Eastern Long Island Kampground in Greenport. Maybe it's a NY thing? I don't know. But, This campground charges up to $55 per night per full hook-up site (30 amp) plus $8 per child age 17 and older.

They will not rent a sight to anyone under age 21.

Lorna · 08-08-2007, 04:12 PM

When I was a teen, I didn't like paying "adult" pricing for the movies, yet couldn't see an "R" rated movie (my kids had the same complaint... it's the principle of the thing... kinda like when you were old enough to go and die for your country but not old enough to be an idiot and get drunk.... never could get that one figured out). I think if the kids get charged "adult" prices then they should get the same rights as an adult (like rent a site). I think the extra charges are pure greed. I can see $1 extra IF the rates are low to start with. Most places that charge extra (usually for every little thing) are already charging plenty for their sites. Just another reason we support the public campground system.

Okay, and we're "frugal".

diandtom · 08-08-2007, 07:02 PM

At Myrtle Beach you have to pay $5.00 for a pet. Our cat don't use their water or use their sewer.

Tom

Lynnvt · 08-09-2007, 04:51 AM

Well the campgrounds have the right to charge whatever they like and you have right not to go to their parks. Like Paul said, let your pocketbook do the talking. The best bargain we have found is our state parks for $15 per night. No hookups but that's what holding tanks and batteries are for. And they are spacious and beautiful.
Some defense for the campground owners. If you do some calculations about the number of sites they have and the percentage of time they are full, then figure the cost of the infrastructure, it's upkeep and labor you don't end up with huge profits. That's true especially in climates where the season is limited. The little campground we are staying at now has 67 sites. They "might" be full every summer weekend from June through July and during the week may 25% full. He charges $30 per night. He's maybe bringing in between $100-150K. Then he has to pay all his utilities,taxes and maintenance out of that. He does not have any hired labor, he and his wife do it all. Split what's left for their salaries and they are not getting rich.

GaryKD · 08-09-2007, 06:07 AM

Lynnvt,
The CG owner getting rich or not isn't the point. Generating revenue must be logical to the customer who pays the bill. A CG that advertises it's for the family and their rates are based on two people is a bit difficult to understand. A CG that charges extra for kids but has invested nothing for them to do is a bit difficult to understand. Some CG ammenities have user fees. That is okay. But to just add onto the base fee charges that are not logical is a bit hard to understand. The bottom line is a CG owner deserves to make as much $s as he can. However, presentation of the CG rate structure in a way that is not offensive to customers needs to be in the forefront of the CG owner's decision process.

The bottom line is I sincerey doubt anything will change. KOAs, etc have had the extra person rate structure for decades. Other CGs are just following what the big box CG chains have proven to be successful. We try to not stay in CGs with extra person charges when we have the grand kids with us. For me, it is a blatent CG owner slapping the customer in the face.

Texas Bubba · 08-09-2007, 03:28 PM

It seems to me a "pay as you go" method is the only "fair" thing for everyone? If you adjust the rates up for everyone, and make the base charge reflect a cost for 2 adult and 2 children, then those without kids will pay the freight for the ones with kids. I just went into my Woodalls and looked at some sites here in New England, and a lot very clearly state rate is for 2 adults, or, as in the case of the park I'm in now, the rate is for 2 and 2. I think as long as you know in advance what the rate is, the park can charge whatever the "traffic will bear". jmho

Digital Boy · 08-09-2007, 03:53 PM

The park I'm in now charges $55 per night for a full hook-up site (30 amps). The rate includes up to 2 adults and 4 children (under 17). They charge $2 for additional children per night.

Children 17 and older pay $8 per night.

Lynnvt · 08-10-2007, 03:48 AM

If the rate structure is not openly available then ask about it or don't go. Is the issue that the rates are not advertised appropriately or is the problem that they charge extra for children? Or is the problem that someone thinks campground owners are making too much money by charging extra for children?
I do agree the campground should make the rates readily available.
One thing that I have noticed is that many small campgrounds are mom & pop operations. Mom & pop probably have not had any business classes and it shows. I think it helps them out if you nicely tell them what you find a problem. Some will listen, others will not. But it's worth a try.

hamguy · 08-10-2007, 07:20 AM

I went into a campground restroom/shower facility shortly after it opened one morning but just after two young boys (about 6 and 10) came out. When I walked in, I was appalled! It was TRASHED. All 3 stalls had the paper unrolled, soap was used for writing offensive crap on the walls and paper towels were strewn everywhere. How much extra should the owner charge for these "extras"?

I mentioned it to the owners and they just shrugged and said it was part of the 'game'.