RV Resort Memberships

[RV Vagabond]

Originally Posted by Our BENZ Life

We are NOOBIES and received a 4 night 5 day stay free after entering a "drawing" at Camping World. I would like some thoughts on what this forum thinks of RV Resort Memberships? Seems a little extreme to me...

I have never heard of any RV Resort Memberships other than Thousand Trails - are there any others

[nothermark]

There are several resort chains. Off hand I do not know their names and don't care to look for them. Thousand Trails is probably the most known because they have the most folks complaining.

[Nanaimo]

Passport America is a good start, had a good selection. Some restrictions do apply. Maybe only 3 nights, no holidays, etc. Great for traveling from A to B.
If you go to one of those intro meetings, do not be afraid to say no.

[RV Vagabond]

Originally Posted by nothermark

There are several resort chains. Off hand I do not know their names and don't care to look for them. Thousand Trails is probably the most known because they have the most folks complaining.

Resort chains yes, but I don't know of any other than Thousand Trails that have memberships where you pay an annual fee for free camping. KOA for example, gives members only a 10% discount.

[twogypsies]

I don't know how current this is but here's an explanation on some memberships:

Membership RV Parks & Discount Camping Clubs

For discounted camping many full-timers use the Elks parks and Escapees has good home parks at very reasonable rates, especially monthly rates.

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

Resort chains yes, but I don't know of any other than Thousand Trails that have memberships where you pay an annual fee for free camping. KOA for example, gives members only a 10% discount.

I know what you asked and that was what I answered.

I was pitched by Coast to Coast, know of Thousand Trails and think there is another similar group with some places in PA that I occasionally stop near.

The Link twogypsies posted will tell you of more.

A simple Google search will also turn up many plus more information.

We are not talking customer loyalty programs, we are talking annual fees whether or not we use the facilities .

[terryl]

I have received these "free 5 day and 4 night" invitations an average of 3 times a year for the past 5 years, for an RV park in Parker, AZ. How do they know I own an RV? Is it just a coincidence that I am a Good Sam/Camping World member, or is GS selling their membership lists to these companies?

The fine print in the colorful brochure does mention that you have to listen to a short presentation in return for all the freebies. What it doesn't mention is that the offer is only open to "couples". Individuals need not respond. You only find that out when you call to accept the offer, and they ask who you are bringing with you. My golden lab doesn't count.

I have asked to be removed from their mailing list since I apparently don't meet their criteria for a "presentation", but I still get their mailings.

[Tom Lopez]

I use to go to those type of invitations and listen to the sales pitches all the time. Would go just to get the free stuff. Got lots but some of the free stuff was junk. Never bought anything, you just have to be firm and say NO. I would tell them up front I was just there for the free stuff. They somehow thought they could change my mind, "WRONG" . Sometimes they would just give me the stuff and I did not have to listen to the sales pitch. It really frustrates them when they already know the answer is going to be "No" no mater what they say and can do nothing to change your mind. I think they all know me know because I get no more offers. 😂

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by Tom Lopez

I use to go to those type of invitations and listen to the sales pitches all the time. Would go just to get the free stuff. Got lots but some of the free stuff was junk. Never bought anything, you just have to be firm and say NO. I would tell them up front I was just there for the free stuff. They somehow thought they could change my mind, "WRONG" . Sometimes they would just give me the stuff and I did not have to listen to the sales pitch. It really frustrates them when they already know the answer is going to be "No" no mater what they say and can do nothing to change your mind. I think they all know me know because I get no more offers. ��

You might be surprised at how many people have decided on a firm "NO" answer going in, who actually end up buying . . . . and then regretting later!

On Thousand Trails. Their memberships are zone related. They have 5 separate zones, with separate membership fees. We live in KY. On the border of two zones. We would have to purchase a minimum of 2 zones. also on a trip this summer, we traveled through FOUR zones. We stayed at ONE 1000 Trails campground, in Sunriver, OR this last August. We would not stay there again. No sewers at site, two dump stations, both OVERFLOWING with sewage. They offered an on site pump-out for I think $30.00 per pump out. I informed the office that their dump stations were overflowing, they said "use the other one". I told them that BOTH stations were overflowing, their answer was "sign up for a pump-out. I asked them if it was free since the advertised dump stations were overflowing with sewage and an obvious health hazard. Nope, still $30.00. We decided to cut our visit short and asked for a refund. No refund. I told them we would drive directly to the County Health Department and show them our pics of the overflowing dump stations with the three people lined up and still dumping . . . . We got our refund. Still e-mailed the pics to the Health Department. They didn't respond, and not sure if they did anything. We left and dumped at a Hiway Rest Area.

Stayed at one other 1000 trails in Southeast, don't remember where, it was mediocre. With so many other campgrounds out there, I really don't intend on finding out if these two 1000 trails were representative, but the membership definitely doesn't work for us, and I don't see any reason to give them any more of our money.

[awol50]

Originally Posted by lenkerb

Passport America is the way to go!! We are full timing and space our travels on boondocking every three or four days (casinos, walmarts, cracker barrels...etc) then find a participating campgound to pump out and refill fresh water....and enjoy the areas!

The Passport American program is relatively inexpensive and can be just not renewed if you don't feel like you get value for it. I went on their website and just picked some random campgrounds out here in the Northwest. Some have restricted use, some limit days of week or time of year, etc.

At about $45/yr it might be something to look at. The worst that can happen is you don't use it at all and you just blew $45. Hell, I spend that much money for the two of us to have a mediocre meal in a restaurant. 3-4 annual use days would pay for it. I may just give it a try and see how I like it.

We endured a one hour presentation (which of course we declined to purchase the membership) and got 8 nights/yr (2 stays for max of 4 nights each, one low and one high season for 5 years) at a pretty nice membership campground near Bellingham Wa. We enjoy that. Nice place and our kids/grandkids join us and we all have a good time using the facilities.

We do take 2-3 nice out of state trips a year. So the Passport America thing may work for us. We do like the State and National Parks though.

[powerboatr]

the only way to make out in the end with thousand trails..is to USE the crap out of it

we are on a old plan in 14 out 7 so we try to abuse it as much as possible
also the NICENESS of their parks are all over the range
here in texas they are all in need of much rework.
lake whitney is the best out all texas parks, followed by lake medina near san antonio

do your research and be prepared for the pressure

[Hit_the_Rhod]

If you are a member of Good Sam, you can get the Passport America for a slight discount, I think $39 and change, not much, but what the heck, it's money!

[next2dixie]

We took the "tour", cost 5+k said no, got home and received a call for a "once in a lifetime offer" of only 2k...still said no. Looked around and found out about Coast 2 Coast. found a network resort that sold their membership for around $300 with annual maintenance cost of $59. All we need to do to get out of this deal is not pay the 59 bucks, I have that in writing. So at 59 + 99 coast to coast membership we get to stay at some nice campgrounds for $10.. also get a Good Sam Membership and the Trailer LIfe magazine . Last year we stayed 7 nights at a resort CG in North Myrtle Beach with 65 a night rates, our cost $ 70 a savings of $385..Sweet..Now we purchased our resort membership 4 years ago and understand they have go up in cost..look at southern trails in ga....

[Jim Itchy Ft]

We caved to the pressure in 2001 but told Western Horizons we wouldn't buy if annual dues included. We got that and since we were full time we eventually got our return over 14 years. But in the end the resort club started selling parks (originally 17) and then took bankruptcy.

Jim & Glenda Simonson