Why don't RV parks respond?

[hohenwald48]

Seems about 75% of RV parks don't have online reservations. Of those, most have a "reservation request" form to fill out. Seems more often than not, when you fill it out the form you never hear from them. Why is that?

[Ljwt330]

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

Seems about 75% of RV parks don't have online reservations. Of those, most have a "reservation request" form to fill out. Seems more often than not, when you fill it out the form you never hear from them. Why is that?

I cannot answer your question because I haven't had that experience...yet.


I am always reluctant to book at a CG that I cannot call directly or reach on-line, however, I have done so a few times. Each time, I got a call back within a short while. Admittedly, my experience is very limited, but if I never received a return call, I likely just cross that CG off my list. No reply because they couldn't accommodate you is simply poor PR. Any other reason is probably confusion, disorganization, or incompetence.


I'll add one more thing. I have no clue what an appropriate time frame for a response would be for a CG. In my mind, it is asap, and certainly within 24 hrs. but I may be mistaken. Some sites give a time frame which relieves any concern, but those that don't should respond within a day, IMO.

[jleonard]

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

Seems about 75% of RV parks don't have online reservations. Of those, most have a "reservation request" form to fill out. Seems more often than not, when you fill it out the form you never hear from them. Why is that?

We have experienced the same thing. Maybe not 75%, but probably 50%.

[Craig36]

I don't trust any online registrations, so after filling our forms, I call and ask them to send a confirming email. Many times the online reg charts says dates or requested spaces are not available, but when I call they sometimes have openings, that the online chart says were sold out.

If you are waiting for a call back or reply, don't hold you breath!

[groswald]

In 7 years of RVing, all at private RV parks, I’ve never had the problem. Any time I’ve submitted a request via email or voice mail I’ve received a response in a reasonable* amount of time. Usually the next day, sometimes longer if the request was made after hours on a Friday or at other odd times.

That said, I much prefer on-line booking where I get an immediate response and confirmation.

Regards,

Randy

* 24 to 48 hours seems about right to me. If I need a quicker response, then I need to be calling, and I understand that they might not share my sense of urgency.

There’s an old saying in business, “failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.”

[Ldubs]

Originally Posted by Craig36

I don't trust any online registrations, so after filling our forms, I call and ask them to send a confirming email. Many times the online reg charts says dates or requested spaces are not available, but when I call they sometimes have openings, that the online chart says were sold out.

If you are waiting for a call back or reply, don't hold you breath!

I've received an email confirming the online reservation at every place I've booked. Without that confirmation I would be concerned too, and would make a call.

[AlfaBaz]

Most of the state and county parks, and the vast majority of the private parks I have booked online, have very complete booking systems that even assign a specific site number. But I will be the first to admit that the two that I've booked using the info page with a return phone call sort of "irk" me a little. And if I get no return call or e-mail, I'm definitely not going to that one!

[Nohurry]

With government i.e. State, and National parks I’ve never had a problem reserving on-line, but with private parks I always try to talk to them directly on the phone.

[TonyDi]

I don't trust online reservations. I want to talk to someone, I want their name and I expect an e-mail confirming the reservation. I've gotten the short stick too many times.

[Dutch Star Don]

Most of the Government sites you can only book online, but those seem to be pretty responsive. KOA is pretty god about booking online.

We're currently in Jackson Wyoming, which has only a few campgrounds that fit big rigs. We've stayed at the Virginian in the past, but they wouldn't answer their phone this year and the online request was never answered. They were supposedly changing computer systems, but we couldn't wait until the month before to see if a site was available. Kind of aggravating.

[Ldubs]

Originally Posted by AlfaBaz

Most of the state and county parks, and the vast majority of the private parks I have booked online, have very complete booking systems that even assign a specific site number. But I will be the first to admit that the two that I've booked using the info page with a return phone call sort of "irk" me a little. And if I get no return call or e-mail, I'm definitely not going to that one!

We have booked eleven different places since December. Three were private campgounds and the other 8 were either state or national park campgrounds. In each case we were able to select and reserve a specific site.

Anyway, it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect a 21st century booking system. Maybe in the not too distant future we will have a "reservation chip" installed and everything will be fully automatic! Haha.

[Griswald One]

Last year... Do to the shortage of campsites... Was the first time I have ever even tried to book at a site that utilized that sort of system and it did not go well.

If the campground is to inept to set up a decent online system or offer hours in which the phone lines will be manned then I assume that they are not properly equipped to be able to manage my camping experience. Certainly my preference is an online system that gives me immediate feedback as to availability and is available 24 hours a day so that I can book on my schedule.

As to response time, anything more then 24 hours means they have very likely lost my business.

[Teamfoxy]

Some campgrounds are more geared to seasonal clients than transients or weekend warriors. Their sites are usually booked a year in advance and they have a waiting list.

[Roy-c]

I am firmly in the old school " I want to speak to a real person group "
That way there is no question, who handled your reservation, what site you will have and answers to any questions you may have that weren't on their website.