Community Forums

photopilot · 06-14-2021, 10:56 AM

HH just bought Boondockers Welcome, a similar program where you boondock at private homes. The two programs will continue separately. Boondockers Welcome has a great search engine where you can select length, hookups, etc. (It’s also cheaper to join, for now). It used to be no charge to stay, though we usually gave a small gift or donation if we used electric, but now hosts have the option of charging a nominal fee to cover electric use. We’re a popular host due to our location and enjoy meeting people. One advantage of being a host is you get membership credits for hosting. The sites range from a beautiful farm with full hookups to driveways to industrial parking lots. We’ve been invited in to parties and even square dancing!

We’ve heard positive things about HH, but haven’t joined and are happy with Boondockers Welcome. Just another boondocking option.

Walt

twogypsies · 06-14-2021, 01:57 PM

Get the membership and try it out FOR YOU. Everyone is different. The same goes for Passport America. The memberships are cheap enough to give them a try. You'll pay more staying in some RV parks.

EcoRick · 06-14-2021, 07:41 PM

We've had good experiences with it. The only negative is the site conditions are not clearly stated. We were placed in a few grass fields when we had our gasser. If we had the DP we have now, I think we may still be there. Check our Google Earth and ask what the parking conditions are if you are unsure.

Souljourner · 06-19-2021, 07:40 AM

Love HH. Just got back from an 8 night trip exclusively using HH. We planned a scenic trip around HH locations we thought sounded interesting. Each location was as beautiful and as secluded as I would have hoped. Dry camping, but that is what we were expecting and looking for.

One caveat - this is not meant to be free camping. It is understood that you are expected to make a purchase in exchange for an overnight stay. It felt like a real win-win. We purchased items we were interested in and spent roughly what an overnight stay would cost, and our host got some business they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

I’m about to leave for a HH experience today at a winery. Wine tasting and music. The host told me he expects me to purchase at least three bottles of wine in exchange for our stay. Such blatant expectations were not communicated by past hosts, but this small business owner said he has had a bunch of campers stay overnight, listen to music, then leave without purchasing anything. I am OK with his communication and am disappointed to hear that other campers are not being generous. It would be a shame if this program ended because of the thoughtlessness of others.

Btw - once you become a member addresses are clearly shown for every listing as well as links to the business’s website.

I have HH trips planned throughout the summer and fall and have been warmly welcomed by every host I’ve spoken to when making reservations. I like the small town feel of it.

Jkjavelin · 06-19-2021, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Souljourner

Snip...

One caveat - this is not meant to be free camping. It is understood that you are expected to make a purchase in exchange for an overnight stay. It felt like a real win-win. We purchased items we were interested in and spent roughly what an overnight stay would cost, and our host got some business they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

I’m about to leave for a HH experience today at a winery. Wine tasting and music. The host told me he expects me to purchase at least three bottles of wine in exchange for our stay. Such blatant expectations were not communicated by past hosts, but this small business owner said he has had a bunch of campers stay overnight, listen to music, then leave without purchasing anything. I am OK with his communication and am disappointed to hear that other campers are not being generous. It would be a shame if this program ended because of the thoughtlessness of others.

With this type of host attitude, they need to stop insinuating that it's free!

DKRITTER · 06-19-2021, 12:14 PM

Quote:

It is understood that you are expected to make a purchase in exchange for an overnight stay.

I think the word "expected" is a bit strong.

It would be nice if you can patronize the business but you in no way have to.

UTTransplant · 06-19-2021, 12:38 PM

Harvest Hosts host locations are almost exclusively businesses. They expect you to buy something. Boondockers Welcome hosts are other RVers who provide sites for other RVers. They get free membership fo some period of time in return for hosting. Totally different approaches. I have just started using BW, and I am really happy so far.

paul65k · 06-19-2021, 12:59 PM

So we think HH is a good (didn't say great) program. We are also Boondockers Welcome members and look forward to see what they do with merging programs.

We were, underscore WERE HH members for a couple of years but really came to the conclusion that it's really not that great (For us).

Look we're winos...really I even remodeled our DP kitchen to include a built-in wine cooler so it's not about not wanting to stay at wineries. The issue for us is that by the time we typically bought a few bottles of wine (most of which were mediocre at best) it was the same cost per stay to just pull into a commercial campground and have full hook-ups

Now BW on the other hand has been amazing for us. We have met some amazing people and in many cases WE share a bottle or 3 of wine with them and hear some amazing stories from other RVers. Many do have electric available but we really don't need that except when the weather goes north of 100*...and then we gladly provide a donation to help them cover their electricity costs.

We've made some friends along the way and even exchange Christmas Cards with many of our BW hosts.

For me the result is the same in terms of staying for a night or 2 but the "Experience" for us has been Much, MUCH better with BW as it's much more personal and much less commercial

Shutterbug57 · 06-20-2021, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jkjavelin

With this type of host attitude, they need to stop insinuating that it's free!

From the HH web site “ We kindly ask our members to support their Hosts by purchasing one of their local products with each stay!”. That’s a polite way of saying it’s a two way street.

DKRITTER · 06-20-2021, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jkjavelin

With this type of host attitude, they need to stop insinuating that it's free!

Really!

Go stay at a Walmart. The only reason Walmart lets campers there is because the majority will go inside and buy something. Walmart knows how much the average RV'r will spend when allowed to park, they've crunched the numbers and they make enough to make it worthwhile.

HH is very similar they know how much the average camper spends at a HH site. You are not expected to spend $ there you are however encouraged if you see something you like.

JohnBike · 06-20-2021, 10:22 AM

You can claim all you want that you are under no real obligation to buy anything, since HH promotes the service as “free” accommodation.

However, if you do pull up stakes and flee without contributing to the host’s business, you may be among those who have prompted many former Harvest Hosts to drop the program. The end result is that your fellow RV travelers now have fewer options on the road.

DadJokeDad · 06-20-2021, 11:06 AM

I bought a Harvest Host membership for our big 7 week trip this year. Three of the places I had marked for stays dropped from the program, but I still had three on our list, in fact we were able to reserve them as they were all part of the reserve online program. However, after thinking more about what I'm comfortable with, I'm putting HH and BW, which I have a membership to both, on the back burner, they will be emergency fill in locations if our plans change. I'm just more comfortable paying, getting exactly what I pay for, and knowing what I paid for is confirmed and will be there. I want a business transaction, not meeting new "friends" that want me to buy their wine. So I just cancelled the three HH sites we'd reserved, and reserved CGs. But to each their own.

DRM901 · 06-20-2021, 11:50 PM

We have been considering HH, but I think expecting you to spend as much as you would at a CG is unreasonable - unless they are providing the same services. Not having any electricity for AC would be a challenge in the southern states.

harleyjt · 06-21-2021, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRM901

We have been considering HH, but I think expecting you to spend as much as you would at a CG is unreasonable - unless they are providing the same services. Not having any electricity for AC would be a challenge in the southern states.

AC is an absolute must have for me. If the host doesn’t have electric hookup then, then running the generator is a must. What is the stance on generators at most of the HH sites?
jt