.How do you reserve? Online only, by phone or combined.

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
This is good. We are all learning the new curve. For our park we searched high and low for an online only system that would work. However, our camp is not a one that is an all sites the same , what we call a wally with hookups.
What we had to do is design a 'request a reservation' into our website that allows everything except your deposit charge info and site. A phone call is mandatory to finalize it.
We call, or you do to discuss our availability that suits your unit and preferences. Also please understand, to maximize our occupancy, We might not tell you about an open site or let you reserve a site thats open for 5 days when you wish for the middle 3 days in our high season We tell you about the sites for your 3 days. The next caller will take the 5 day open aite.
We have to be site specific. Its our blessing and our curse. The blessing is that no site is a lined up parking lot type, the curse is we have to speak to everyone to give them the site type they wish for. we must escort every one. A Map to row N site 263 does not work. Everyones different unit plays into that.
Our return guests reserve their favorite for a day or weeks a year in advance. We must honor that.
I pray this gives you some insight into how and why online res. are not universal. Make a call. You might get better treatment, a fine site.

You asked the question and it seems you got a resounding response saying they prefer on-line reservations. You may want to revisit your method as it is definitely in the minority. You may be missing a lot of potential customers.

When traveling, we always reserved by phone, day to day, looking forward on the day's travel schedule. It was either "not a chance," "we've reserved for you," or "no reservations necessary" depending on time of year and other conditions.

For commercial campgrounds, longer stays, we have usually reserved by phone, although more have started to come online with a WWW presence (particularly KOA).

For USACE campgrounds and other sites managed by reservations.gov, we use reservations.gov, recognizing that not all sites in all campgrounds can be reserved. This because the web site is now the only access, if we show up at the gate (and someone is actually there) they need to go the reservations system to find out what is going on in their own campground.

We book a year in advance usually in person when we arrive or by phone. Site specific but we have several alternates in case someone has our favourite for several weeks. Very popular park in a popular area so many others are booking a year out as well. Large park with about 15 really premium sites.

tracyb-oh wrote:
I like online as I often do my reservations late at night when I can finally sit at a computer. I don't mind calling but it bugs me when NOBODY ANSWERS THE PHONE!!!! and I don't get a call back for a couple days. By then I have moved on to a different park. I also prefer site specific. I have a 38ft 5vr and I have to be sure that monster will fit in the spot.

Tracy & T, I see several scenarios for you to overcome your issue. No campground is a 24 hr. office service. when the phone is forwarded to an employee or emergency service in off office business hours, it is for emergency not for regular business. messages of non emergency nature are not deemed of value by the sleepy recipient. Thank you for recognizing the difference.
For the enjoyment of your family, your widest opportunities to use your rv as you wish, do your research at any hour, plan in at any time of hours. Request a reservation at any time. . Use your phone during business hours to get the best site available and assurance of rate., a email of same.

I like online as I often do my reservations late at night when I can finally sit at a computer. I don't mind calling but it bugs me when NOBODY ANSWERS THE PHONE!!!! and I don't get a call back for a couple days. By then I have moved on to a different park. I also prefer site specific. I have a 38ft 5vr and I have to be sure that monster will fit in the spot.

With the vast difference in rv types, preference in usage, experience which method do you use ? Are site specific res.s of value, posted quoted rates honored?

Most of the time,...............

We use the KISS method - around 2:00 we call to see if they have room - if not then Plan "B" - Wal*Mart or Boondock.

Works for Me,

Mostly online but have found sometimes if a CG is fully booked online we call and occasionally they do have a site available.

I definitely prefer on line, but take what the RV park gives me for an option. My primary selection criteria is rating (RV Park Reviews) along with viewing the site's web page, if available, and reading the verbiage of some reviews. I do not mind calling and making a reservation over the phone. As a matter of fact, in the days before the internet, I could infer how well the park was managed by how they handled the call and how they reacted when I asked them to mail me a brochure. What is interesting is how often I fail to receive a confirmation by email when I make the reservation over the phone. Either they misunderstand me when I verbally give my email address or they key it in wrong, but all too often I don't get the confirmation. I much prefer to give them that information by typing it in myself. I get uncomfortable when I do not have a confirmation with the specter of an unpleasant surprise after a long day's drive.

I prefer to reserve online and site-specific, but of course I've reserved at many parks by phone and "we'll find you a spot." They have in fact been perfectly fine.

I've noticed that if the park doesn't publish the current rate on their website I'm not very interested. If there's no website at all I get the feeling that they're out of business or don't want business and usually don't bother.

A website has been the primary advertising vehicle for at least 20 years. It takes zero effort. They could at least join the 20th century.

This is good. We are all learning the new curve. For our park we searched high and low for an online only system that would work. However, our camp is not a one that is an all sites the same , what we call a wally with hookups.
What we had to do is design a 'request a reservation' into our website that allows everything except your deposit charge info and site. A phone call is mandatory to finalize it.
We call, or you do to discuss our availability that suits your unit and preferences. Also please understand, to maximize our occupancy, We might not tell you about an open site or let you reserve a site thats open for 5 days when you wish for the middle 3 days in our high season We tell you about the sites for your 3 days. The next caller will take the 5 day open aite.
We have to be site specific. Its our blessing and our curse. The blessing is that no site is a lined up parking lot type, the curse is we have to speak to everyone to give them the site type they wish for. we must escort every one. A Map to row N site 263 does not work. Everyones different unit plays into that.
Our return guests reserve their favorite for a day or weeks a year in advance. We must honor that.
I pray this gives you some insight into how and why online res. are not universal. Make a call. You might get better treatment, a fine site.