Incremental cancellation penalty

MrWizard wrote:
around here, especially the beach campgounds
the only way an overnighter will find a space is if somebody has too suddenly leave just as the overnighter is arriving

the cancels and no show, go for first come, first served around noon
you arrive in the morning, and put your name on the list and 'hope' a site opens up, if it don't, your lucky if there is an overflow field, and if not, you get on the road

Under those conditions, at least someone gets to use the site -

As non-reservation folks, we know we take a chance arriving without a site - that's a choice WE make. Sometimes, we miss out and have to wing it in overflow, or even drive further. But we arrive in plenty of time to "option" when necessary. That's part of our planning ...

What is the point here, mainly, sites go empty when reserved and the party is a no-show. That's the reality of low fees or no fees for no-show campers who game the system. And a higher fee for no-shows would dampen that a bit (well, maybe, some have such large wallets it wouldn't matter) But at least the campground could use the funds.

We believe a high no-show fee, paid as a non-refundable deposit, AND release of that site after one-day without check-in would help everyone. It opens the site to use, and it increases revenue for the parks.

Could even be limited a one-day camp until (if) the reservation party shows up - so, if for some reason that party arrives late, it still has part of its holiday ... fair to everyone, in that case, we think anyway.