Before leaving for our current trip, we made reservations for all our camping. The first night and the last night we going to be just stop overs, so a quick overnight was all that we needed. In fact, I didn't really plan to unhook the trailer unless necessary. We made reservations for our first night using the KOA website and selected a full hook up pull through site. We drive the 250 miles to this first stop, arriving about 5:30. As soon as we walk in to check in at the Lisbon, OH KOA, they inform us that they owe us some money. Since it was our first reservation with our KOA rewards card, I figured that I hadn't been given that discount and didn't think twice about it. So, the host then takes us back to our 'pull through' site. We have a 20' Sunset Trail Reserve trailer, no slide outs and an f-150 short bed truck. The site they gave us was barely long enough for the trailer, in fact our back door is hanging off the back of the site. The truck stretched across the road so there was no way we could leave it connected. At the time, I couldn't remember with 100% certainty if I had reserved a pull through so I didn't say anything and proceeded to unhook. Is this common with KOA campgrounds? To me, it's a bait and switch. If you don't get the type of site you reserve, what is the point of their reservation system? I don't care which specific site we get, but I do care the type of site. I want the type of site we reserved not a $4 refund after a day of driving!To top it off, the campground is a dump. Potholed roads, mud, and old trashing seasonal sites everywhere. When I camped as a child with my parents back in the 70s, you always knew that a KOA campground was a little nicer, even if it did cost a bit more. Is that not the case any more? There were also no seasonal campsites KOAs back then to my knowledge. I do plan to take this issue up with KOA corporate, complete with pictures, when we return. And reviews of this campground and experience will be posted online to help future travelers make a good decision about their campground selections. Any good review website? Seems those are badly needed and not easy to find. Now, I'm concerned about the remaining KOA campgrounds we have reserved for this trip, what will we get when we arrive?

Camped at both KOA and non-KOA and had the same experiences... some very good, some very bad, others in between... Generally had good experiences at KOAs but at a price, which isn't always that far off from surrounding CGs. I don't like getting into a CG and not getting a site I asked for, but most (certainly KOA) reservation systems have in small writing, your reservation holds A site, but the specific site may not be guaranteed..... Don't like it but most do have the disclaimer. I would file a report with your opinion of the KOA on the corporate web site - seems KOA is making a step towards improved customer experience and would want to know. Problem is they are still a franchise and the amount of control KOA has over any/all CG is questionable sometimes.

mikenannie wrote: Any good review website? Seems those are badly needed and not easy to find. rvparkreviews.com

wkswenson wrote:Camped at both KOA and non-KOA and had the same experiences... some very good, some very bad, others in between... Generally had good experiences at KOAs but at a price, which isn't always that far off from surrounding CGs. I don't like getting into a CG and not getting a site I asked for, but most (certainly KOA) reservation systems have in small writing, your reservation holds A site, but the specific site may not be guaranteed..... Don't like it but most do have the disclaimer. I would file a report with your opinion of the KOA on the corporate web site - seems KOA is making a step towards improved customer experience and would want to know. Problem is they are still a franchise and the amount of control KOA has over any/all CG is questionable sometimes.I understand the disclaimer to mean you might get site 50 and not 37 that you reserved. I still expected the same type of campsite. They need to clarify that disclaimer, I read it several times BTW. As far as franchises go, if a particular campground is damaging your 'brand' then yank the franchise. Simple. All KOAs suffer when a few deliver poor customer service. Especially in today's Internet and social media world. Thanks for your reply.

I used to have a 25 foot hybrid TT. CGs would ask me length and I would tell them. That meant I got stuck in the shortest site they had, but I paid the same price. I began adding 5 feet onto my trailer when asked.

rscraig wrote:I used to have a 25 foot hybrid TT. CGs would ask me length and I would tell them. That meant I got stuck in the shortest site they had, but I paid the same price. I began adding 5 feet onto my trailer when asked.Exactly what I was thinking last night!

KOA Reservations vs what you get when you arrive

44 Replies

answerswillvary
Explorer
Jul 04, 2013
Please stay on topic and do not turn this into a KOA bashing thread.

Sandi (Moderator)
NurseBetty
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013
Mikenannie, corporate KOA won't care. I had the owner of a KOA try to go to bat for me over lost points their computer dumped and she got nowhere as well. Cranky, rude people over there. You're better off with the mom and pop Good Sam campgrounds.
photonut4
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
sjn7708 wrote:
we have stayed at several KOAs and have never had an issue. We like that it has a franchise tag because they all seemed to have at least a certain basic set of similar amenities such as well stocked store, pool, playground for kids. Did anyone see the KOA CEO on the cbs tv show undercover boss last year? He has a management background from the las vegas casino industry and it seemed customer satisfaction was his main emphasis, so if you wrote corporate to complain, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you got a response from KOA. They do have a reputation to protect.

This wasn't my experience. I had a problem with the KOA in West Yellowstone a couple years ago, and the onsite management did not handle it properly. I did write to their corporate office and I sent it with pictures, and they could not have cared less.
CorgiCrazy
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
rscraig wrote:
I used to have a 25 foot hybrid TT. CGs would ask me length and I would tell them. That meant I got stuck in the shortest site they had, but I paid the same price. I began adding 5 feet onto my trailer when asked.

We had a hybrid too, and you are right, you need to add 5ft at least!

We now have a 35.5 ft and I say 36 ft.

We have only been to 2 KOA's but totally different experiences. One was really clean, and well maintained, they other was clean, but the sites were a mess! They shoved us in a spot that we barely fit, and it was so messy with layers of leaves. It was never cleaned or maintained, and they were way more expensive than nicer campgrounds in the area. Never will go back to that one.
dieharder
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
Personally, I avoid reserving through the internet, if possible. Most times, you can call, make a reservation, and get the site number you'll be assigned in the phone call. I do this because I'm quite particular with my sites and prefer to have open space, or even a camp road, out my right side instead of someone else's wall. When you're reserving only a site type through the 'net, like the KOA website, no guarantee on which campsite you'll get.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Apr 28, 2013
I think the level of how inconvienced a camper would get depends on HOW he is camping. Weekend, vacation, full timer, etc.

I've sat and watched a CG owner stuff a camper in a spot so small they could barely move when there were other sites available. These were people who were not seasoned campers and have but 'one week' vacation.

They have planned for this week for a year and called ahead to reserve. THESE people do not have the time to pull out, and find another CG in an area they may not be familiar with.

Full timers can pull in get the shaft and leave and mosey on down the road. Being seasoned they are not concerned they won't find a place to stay the night.

Same with the different answers we see on the forum. Some are full timers and some have just that one precious week for them and their family to enjoy an RV outing. I feel very sorry for those RV'ers when a CG owner throws a monkey wrench into their plans.
Robin1953
Explorer
Apr 28, 2013
westernrvparkowner wrote:
If someone made a reservation and said they had a huge rig and arrived with a small travel trailer, I would surely ask what was going on. When they responded they lied so they would be sure to get a long site, I would cancel the reservation and send them on down the road. Life is too short to have to put up with a scammer and a liar in any of my parks if I can avoid it. It's my park and it absolutely matters to me what you put into one of my sites. If I tell you that you are getting a pull thru long enough so that you don't have to unhitch, that is what you will get. If you don't, shout it from the highest mountain because we would deserve your disdain. But start lying to us from the get-go, I have no problem matching you lie for lie.
What a bunch of hipocrites, saying you don't want to be "baited and switched" by an RV park so you start out by lying about what you have for an RV. Frankly, you deserve everything you get.

Well I for one agree with not lying. When I contact a campground I tell them that I have a 34' fifth wheel with three slides being towed by a crew cab 1 Ton long bed truck and I want a site that I will not have to unhitch for a one night stop. When I arrive and if the unit won't fit I go back to the office and tell them it won't fit. If they tell me that is all they have I ask for a refund and leave. If they are running a park they should have a fairly good idea about my overall length. If they don't they generally ask and I tell them 55' to 60'. I haven't measure the overall length. JMO
mikenannie
Explorer
Apr 28, 2013
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
It is unfortunate that the OP did not get what they reserved. I suspect this is a rare occurence in most camps, due to circumstances beyond their control. There may have been an emergency or breakdown that necessitated a site of his liking was not open.
It is not helpful to anyone to paint all camps with the same brush.
Should you apply the same criteria to an airline,hotel or cruise ship,how would you fare?
it does appear that the camp handled the situatation appropriately. They voluntarily apologized, refunded the premium, had an adequate if not satisfactory space.
Overstating length needs for outfit is a lie.

Start out with misstating your wishes, then expect others to honor you? When does honesty prevail?

First, the campground never apologized, instead they never mentioned the site switch until we were at the site they gave us. The refund was offered without any explanation. As I've stated, had I remembered the exact type of site we had reserved during check in, I would have been far more aggressive about getting what we had payed for.

Second, when we were leaving the next day, the manager came down while we were hooking up and asked how our stay was. I told him it was fine except we were disappointed with the campsite they gave us as it was not what we reserved. No apology, just a statement that they were really busy last night. Then he asked if we were coming back next saturday on our return trip, as we had mentioned on our arrival check in. I told him that was the plan and asked if we would get a pull through next Saturday as we reserved. He started to say "hopefully we'll have..." and then never finished his sentence. From that, I'm very confident that if we return next Saturday, we would get the exact same campsite.

We are going to look at alternative campgrounds. Owners who run an operation like this guy don't deserve any more of my money. I'll vote with my feet.

If the site you reserve cannot be honored on arrival, then fix the reservation system or refund the campsite fee.

If someone arrives unexpectedly and the campground is full, let that traveller park in the parking lot, or field, until a site becomes available. If I was in that situation as a traveler, I would be fine with those emergency accommodations.
cpaulsen
Explorer
Apr 28, 2013
Only had a problem with a KOA one time and it was not a major one. Had reserved a site 3 weeks in advance for 2 nights. Full hookup site. Got there and they said they had no sites left with a sewer connection left....just electric and water...but on Sunday when I was going to leave they said I could dump for $2.00 instead of the standard $4.00. Then cam back later and said the dump charger would be waived.
wbwood
Explorer
Apr 28, 2013
MoFanatic wrote:
mikenannie wrote:
Any good review website? Seems those are badly needed and not easy to find.

rvparkreviews.com

Was thinking the same thing, but couldn't find the KOA listed.

I would of not unhooked and gone back to the office and told them. Let them fix it.

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KOA Reservations vs what you get when you arrive

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