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Campground Discount Memberships
Don’t know if this exactly fits in this category so Administrators please feel free to move it.
Want to know what the majority of you have when it comes to purchasing Campground Discount Memberships. I was planning to join Passport America, Escapees, and am looking in Thousand Trails and FMCA. What have the rest of you found financially beneficial, especially if you spend a significant amount of time on the road each year.
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15 Replies
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Tim,
Save your money pay as you go. There are so many places to stay compared to 10 years ago.
Another thing to keep in mind is access with a 45 foot bus weighing 50 K. You won’t be using a lot of places as your main issue will be TREES. Another concern is not the parking fee, its security.
I have a rule before I drive into my parking spot in any RV park. I walk to the site rain or shine. Picked up nuts, bolts, nails, tools, screwdrivers which under the right circumstances can spoil your day.
We use Big Rigs book to find spots most often. Big Rigs book is very reliable.
AL
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So Al,
You don’t belong to any Club Memberships? Not even Passport America?
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Joined FMCA back in 2000 which we have kept up. Big and small rallies sponsored around the midwest by
FMCA. We have attended many of these over the years because of reasonable fees and short mileage.
At one recent FMCA rally had my Blue Oz tow bar rebuilt for $25.00 by there factory tech, a rally special.
I’am not familiar with Passport America program.
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Tim,
We have passport america and good sams. Passport America seems to be hit and miss, more hit then miss. Places are listed as taking it, but seems to be only in offseason, or only for a single night (or both). Good Sams seems to work at most overnight stops and saves you a couple bucks, that and it gets you discounts at camping world for the essentials of RV’ing.
Good Sams seems to have been a better deal at this point…
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I’ve read on a number of sites about Passport America which furnishes 50% discounts on approximately 1,900 campgrounds in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico (which I’d be hesitant to travel to), including those with DPs in the 44′ range, so I was thinking a Prevost would fit, but certainly would have to call ahead. http://www.passportamerica.com
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I wouldn’t waste my time with those membership parks, you’ll definitely not fit in at most of them.
I have a Coast to Coast membership that I will give you Tim.
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Cool Tom! I haven’t heard of it before, but their web-site says they support all kind of discounts.
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I know a fair number of folks who belong to “Escapees”. Not for the parks but for the mail forwarding service. The folks that have/use Escapees travel upwards of 8-10 months a year and need the mail forwarding. Pluse they also offer an address to use for residency.
We would never buy a park membership. I agree with AL, just pay as you go and use Big Rigs to find parks
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Thanks for the tip on “Big-Rigs”!
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Don’t forget the PC Map, those campgrounds have been visited by our members and your bus will fit!
Pleast take a few minutes and add some campgrounds that are good for our members.
Big Rigs is OK, but it won’t keep you out of the tree’s.
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Excellent resource Tom!
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I have used Good Sam’s discount at many campgrounds through the years at places I would have been staying anyway. I have bypassed several parks that offered the Good Sam discount because I could not get in size wise or did not feel comfortable for one reason or another. Over all I have received enouch discount to make it profitable for me but not overly so. I suppose a Coast to Coast or Thousand Trails membership would probalby work out about the same for me.
Davy
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This is just a personal observation……….Discounts at campgrounds are nice. If the campground does not give a PC discount there is usually one offered for Good Sam, FMCA, or even AAA.
But we have learned over the years that we never make reservations based on a discount, but because the RV park is near where we want to be, has the services we need and can accomodate us. After those needs are met, and only then does a discount become something that would be nice.
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Ditto what Jon said. After burning $350 worth of fuel to get somewhere I’m not going to let a savings of 20 bucks dictate where I stay. But I’m not a full timer and I rarely have a leisurely schedule. Apparently PA works well for some folks, especially those whose schedules allow them to navigate the many restrictions and plan well in advance. Do a search for “Passport America” on irv2.com and you will see mostly positive reviews. Some report saving hundreds of dollars per year.
Many places give a small discount for Good Sam or FMCA or Coachnet membership. Even Outdoor Resorts gives 10% off for FMCA.
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Thanks Guys,
Like Jon stated, my criteria for a campground would be that the rig fits. I have no issues staying in high-end resorts or those off the beaten path, if the rig fits. Since we will be full-timing and have the ability to plan in advance around our volunteer work or work on the family farm, any discounts along the way are simply “nice-to-have” but not a huge issue.
I will ensure to ask for the PC discount though …
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