Community Forums

Homeby5 · 02-02-2023, 07:38 AM

IOW...if you don't show up...you lose the entire cost? What other ideas would you have to prevent half empty "no vacancy" CG's?

TXiceman · 02-02-2023, 07:43 AM

The parks need to have a reasonable cancellation fee up to 48 hours prior to the reservation. After that, the fee should be the cost of the site for the night plus a $25 fee. If it is a "No-show", the fee should be for one night plus $100.

The no show people are so inconsiderate of others wanting to get a site. We volunteered at parks and had to turn people away when the sites were all reserved. Then the next morning, we had several empty sites due to no show people.

Ken

glwinger · 02-02-2023, 08:16 AM

I agree that the cancellation fee should be be the cost of the entire reservation within 30 days out.

Too many people are booking sites at multiple locations for the same days. Then picking the one most convenient.

If there happens to be a travel emergency, all it takes is a phone call verify a late arrival.

This also happens at private campgrounds. Some people will lose a one day fee by cancelling late.

After 24 hours of no show, the site can be put back on the books.

Cumminsfan · 02-02-2023, 08:44 AM

What needs to stop is allowing front end cancellations. People can book a site on the 1st day of the month for 14 days then later on cancel the 1st 7 days. That allows them to book far out advance which makes it unfair for everyone else wanting days somewhere in the 1-14 day period.

Recreation.gov allows it but my St parks do not.

They require you must pay for the front end cancelled days in full along with a cancellation fee.
If you cancel on the back end the it's just the reservation fee.

Rexlion · 02-02-2023, 11:04 AM

If they didn't allow cancellations at all, folks whose travel plans changed would never be able to cancel and free up the site for someone else to reserve. That could make things worse.

Backcountry1 · 02-02-2023, 11:14 AM

I actually think a big part of the problem is that reservations are allowed to be made in many instances 1 year in advance. Just think about that; You are booking something today for something one year from now, without knowing exactly what will happen during that year timeframe. Me… I am exactly part of the “reservation” problem, I admit it, and while it sucks… I also don’t care because I would rather have a reservation and pay a cancellation fee if I can’t make it instead of being able to make it and not able to get a reservation.

I think NP and SP can do a way better job at a reservation system, and some do, in terms of holding back a certain amount of sites until closer to the check in dates. Or having a certain amount for “walk-in’s”. Especially campgrounds that allow a year in advance reservation.

TandW · 02-02-2023, 11:25 AM

First thing that needs done is to price according to the mean rates for say, a 25 or 50 mile radius.

PJStough · 02-02-2023, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeby5

IOW...if you don't show up...you lose the entire cost? What other ideas would you have to prevent half empty "no vacancy" CG's?

I believe that if you were not allowed to cancel, people who make multiple reservations, then pick the one they decide on, and cancel the others, would stop doing that.

Old-Biscuit · 02-02-2023, 11:34 AM

10% of CG sites should be Non-reservable... available for walk-ins

Reservable sites should have HEFTY consolation fees
*Cancellations made prior to the scheduled arrival date will result in the loss of the $3.00 per night, non-refundable reservation fee and the $3.00 per night transaction fee.
*Cancellations made on the scheduled arrival date will result in a loss of one night's camping for each reservation as well as the $3.00 per night reservation fee and the $3.00 per night transaction fee.
*No refunds for no-shows, cancellations or early departures after the date of arrival.
*Example North Carolina State Parks Cancellation Fees

Psneeld · 02-02-2023, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rexlion

If they didn't allow cancellations at all, folks whose travel plans changed would never be able to cancel and free up the site for someone else to reserve. That could make things worse.

The system is too easy to abuse.

Travel plans and emergencies happen and result in cancellations...but simultaneous reservation bookings are reprehensible, especially when made a fair time out from being used.

Maybe sites need to be reserved by drivers license number or tag number and states at least check to see if it's reserved some place else at the same time.

Or a blacklist made of those that cancel reservations X number of times in a year.

I see the system to easy too manipulate than just penalizing the rare cancellation too severely.

twinboat · 02-02-2023, 11:54 AM

The Florida system has an EMail alert program.

You put in the dates you want, although already booked, and if the dates are canceled, you will get an EMail that they are avalable.
I used it once and it worked out for me.

Holland2017 · 02-02-2023, 12:58 PM

My original post is not about not being penalized for a cancellation. My gripe is giving a 10 month advance notice of cancellation and being charged for everyday the reservation was made for. I don't make reservations just for the sake of cancelling them. If I called very close to the reservation date to cancel there should be a charge. I just feel that the cancellation penalty is excessive with 10 month advance notice. That's plenty of lead time for someone else to reserve that spot. That's my opinion.

wolfe10 · 02-02-2023, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

10% of CG sites should be Non-reservable... available for walk-ins

Totally AGREE!

Whatever happened to "we are traveling around the country and if we see a place we like, we STOP and explore".

Bad weather on the day we had planned to leave, we STAY.

Planning RV travel a year out is almost an oxymoron.

Bigceasar · 02-02-2023, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holland2017

My original post is not about not being penalized for a cancellation. My gripe is giving a 10 month advance notice of cancellation and being charged for everyday the reservation was made for. I don't make reservations just for the sake of cancelling them. If I called very close to the reservation date to cancel there should be a charge. I just feel that the cancellation penalty is excessive with 10 month advance notice. That's plenty of lead time for someone else to reserve that spot. That's my opinion.

You might not make multiple reservations and then cancel as you firm your plans at your convenience, but many people do. Hefty cancellation fees and tightening of the loopholes are the only systems that have been shown to work. You say ten months is plenty of notice, but that doesn’t help the person who tried to reserve that park when the sites first became available but missed out because you got the site.