This looks interesting. I really hope it works to discourage folks who are gaming the reservation system.Michigan State Parks New Policy

I'm OK with it! Actually, whenever I've had to change plans (which has been only a couple times in about 30 years), I just forget about canceling completely. Money lost. And just don't show up. That's my preference for sure, but since I paid for the site for XXX days, it's my prerogative to use it the way I want. If I'm a no-show, well ... I'm a no show. The couple times I tried canceling and getting some money back was a nightmare, so that's when I decided to just be a no-show from that point on. Like I said, it only happened a couple times in 30 (plus) years of camping.However, we did have 2 separate occasions where we paid for a campsite for 7 or 10 days, and after arriving (one time especially), we just got set up and actually, just went to bed, we got a phone call about a death in the family. We ended up breaking camp in the middle of the night and left to come back home immediately. Lost the entire week. But no regrets.Another time, we had a 4 day week end. Second morning, we got a call about a death also, and broke camp immediately and got home. Sometimes things happen. I don't cry over lost money. If I did worry about this, I'd probably never make a reservation or go anywhere.But yes, I agree with the State of Michigan change of venue. Hopefully, this will discourage scalpers from blocking off sections of a campground and then canceling at the last minute. Use it or loose it is my philosophy.

That's a great start to discourage folks from hoarding campsites.

As demand exceeds supply in some cases, we just have to accept the cancellation policies and limitations. As far as just leaving the reservation in place unused rather than cancelling, consider the traveler that is able to use an overnight spot as they pass through because of a last minute cancellation. If you're too late to get a refund and someone else can use the site at the last minute, the park benefits from a little bit of extra revenue. Generally, state parks and federal parks can use any extra revenue they get!

So the deposit on a reservation made 6 months in advance will have to be 40 percent of the total stay and be non refundable, otherwise there will be no way for the state to collect. Yet another park agreeing with my position that the only way to discourage cancellations is to make the cancellation fees high.

We've been "victims" of open sites that are reserved at some campgrounds over the years, with no occupant and no ability for the campground to 'sell the site' ... or anyone to occupy it when no one arrives, even a day or more late.We find that mostly in NP and SP campgrounds due to the reservation policy. Most times, in our discussions we find the folks that made the reservation simply don't show up, rather than pay a minimal cancel fee, and the hassle of even getting thru to do it ... some say (RA ?) the fee is more than the no show fee (I'm not sure about this exactly - just chat talk)That's bad news for those of us that don't like the hassle of such a tight schedule. One way, at least, for the reservation system to work better for everyone is to make the no-show fee hurt the wallet a little more.Basically, we here on RV.net understand the gaming of the system and the results of that lack of responsibility to other campers, and to the campgrounds we all enjoy.To those of you that think just because you paid you own it, and can do whatever you want .. I'm glad I don't know you and hope we never meet, because that's about a selfish a position as you can have - and we'd never become friends. A simple call directly to the park, releasing that site would both help a overnight camper, AND help the park itself, and only take a minute.

Incremental cancellation penalty | Good Sam Community

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Oct 28, 2017
That's a great start to discourage folks from hoarding campsites.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Oct 28, 2017
I'm OK with it! Actually, whenever I've had to change plans (which has been only a couple times in about 30 years), I just forget about canceling completely. Money lost. And just don't show up. That's my preference for sure, but since I paid for the site for XXX days, it's my prerogative to use it the way I want. If I'm a no-show, well ... I'm a no show. The couple times I tried canceling and getting some money back was a nightmare, so that's when I decided to just be a no-show from that point on. Like I said, it only happened a couple times in 30 (plus) years of camping.

However, we did have 2 separate occasions where we paid for a campsite for 7 or 10 days, and after arriving (one time especially), we just got set up and actually, just went to bed, we got a phone call about a death in the family. We ended up breaking camp in the middle of the night and left to come back home immediately. Lost the entire week. But no regrets.

Another time, we had a 4 day week end. Second morning, we got a call about a death also, and broke camp immediately and got home. Sometimes things happen. I don't cry over lost money. If I did worry about this, I'd probably never make a reservation or go anywhere.

But yes, I agree with the State of Michigan change of venue. Hopefully, this will discourage scalpers from blocking off sections of a campground and then canceling at the last minute. Use it or loose it is my philosophy.

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