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Finally_Time's avatar
Finally_Time
Explorer
Jan 30, 2015

Reservation Rant for the Day

I'm trying to make reservations for my summer big trip, 40 days, eleven campgrounds. Three of them have answering machines; "leave a message, we'll call back." So far only one has called back. Not a peep from the other two even after leaving multiple messages. Normally I would say forget it and call different campgrounds. But for one of them the only alternative in the area would have a negative rating if RV Park Reviews allowed minus stars. And the other would be my last stop and I really didn't want to drive another 50 miles that day. Now it looks like a stay in a dump and drive more.

Are these people really in business or what? If they won't even answer the phone are return a call, I wonder what the rest of their operation is like.

There now I feel better!
  • Tachdriver's avatar
    Tachdriver
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2015
    K Charles wrote:
    We have traveled for years without ever making reservations, except once at a national park. We only stayed at a "dump" once. If you are just passing thru and that's the only place it's not such a big deal.


    Just curious: do you visit different parks most of the time? Do you do any research? I mostly stay in State parks, so far with those standards I have not been disappointed. If i were to retire and hit the road I would be concerned to just show up without doing some reading. I get the sense you do your homework....
  • wbwood's avatar
    wbwood
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2015
    K Charles wrote:
    We have traveled for years without ever making reservations, except once at a national park. We only stayed at a "dump" once. If you are just passing thru and that's the only place it's not such a big deal.


    Some of us work and only get limited time off. Going somewhere without reservations that's a distance away on a timeframe can be disastrous. I can hear it now (from wife...and daughter).... what do you mean we gotta stay in the walmart parking lot? What do you mean that we got to stay at some hole in the wall with creepy old people? or even better.... What do you mean vacation is canceled and we are driving back home 15 hours non-stop? lol
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Jan 30, 2015
    This happens to me, too. They are not closed. They are open, and busy, and flakey.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2015
    are they all open all year? their answering machines should so indicate however.
    bumpy
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2015
    We have traveled for years without ever making reservations, except once at a national park. We only stayed at a "dump" once. If you are just passing thru and that's the only place it's not such a big deal.
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Jan 30, 2015
    Don't feel like a Lone Ranger....

    I have no answer for you, but I can understand.

    Because we were forced by employment to travel only in the early fall, we ran into this a lot. Many campgrounds are unmanned when they are closed. This may even be true when they say they are a year round operation.

    Good Luck

    Matt
  • D___M's avatar
    D___M
    Explorer
    Jan 30, 2015
    You don't say where you are going, but perhaps some of these are closed for the season, and only check their phone once in a while.

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