Reserve America web site ?

I have never had a problem with RA, maybe I just read the instructions. Seriously, if you work with their system pay, attention to the details and follow the rules you should have no problems. Some parks are extremely busy during peak of season, not having available site is not the problem of RA.

magnusfide wrote:

Mich F wrote:

magnusfide wrote:
Interesting that most of the Reserve America supporters chime from Florida. You must have had a pretty bad reservation system before the switch. The rest of us don't share your perceptions of this inadequate service. In the rest of the nation, most of the reservations systems that were used before RA worked better than RA.

Some parks have chosen to severely limit the options RA provides. Those parks are having better luck with the system. They don't opt for some of the tag on fee system of RA and that cuts down on the problems significantly, especially when the RVer is due a refund.

I still don't see how those of us who haven't had a problem with RA are considered RA supporters, or as you called me in an earlier post, an RA promoter, as if I worked for them.

Mich, didn't call you a promoter. You misread that.

As far as the reservation system in Fl before RA is concerned, you had to call the individual park, to see what they had available for whatever days you wanted. There was no online access.

My point exactly: you don't prefer to call the park to check for rezs so RA "seems" to be a better option for you than your previous system. I found the phone call easy and convenient: the cg ranger would also provide me with insider info such as large groups coming in that may be noisy, levels of creeks or water condition, etc.

RA has continued to be problematic and frankly, their system is inferior to the systems that existed previously for the numerous reasons stated both here and in previous threads. In the rest of the nation, most of the reservations systems that were used before RA worked better than RA. As a retired engineer, I am more tech savvy than most. The RA system has major problems. Sit around the campfire with other tech savvies on your next camping trip and you'll hear the same. Do a search of the internet and you'll read more of the same.

Good luck with your camping. Don't know how much you do of it or how long but fair weather to you and yours. We've been on the road for nearly half a century. We've seen every kind of system out there. RA is substandard.

Mich, didn't call you a promoter. You misread that.

This is from an earlier post of yours where you commented on my not having had any problems with RA.

Every so often an RA promoter pops on the forum trying to push this system hoping to hook more parks into its expensive and inadequate service. Tiresome really but there it is

I misread that?
Whether I prefer to call the park or not, has nothing to do with the situation in Fl. state parks, since going through RA is the only way to get a reservation. You have chosen to not use Fl state parks and instead use private parks, fine. I prefer to use the state parks at a considerable savings, particularly when figuring in my discount for being so freaking old.
Your having these numerous problems and issues with RA doesn't change the fact that many of us haven't had any issues. ;)

I think the 1 positive is that you can use the BACK button now...vs before I would get "page not found". Something was fixed...but maybe some stuff became more complex...

Mich F wrote:

magnusfide wrote:
Interesting that most of the Reserve America supporters chime from Florida. You must have had a pretty bad reservation system before the switch. The rest of us don't share your perceptions of this inadequate service. In the rest of the nation, most of the reservations systems that were used before RA worked better than RA.

Some parks have chosen to severely limit the options RA provides. Those parks are having better luck with the system. They don't opt for some of the tag on fee system of RA and that cuts down on the problems significantly, especially when the RVer is due a refund.

I still don't see how those of us who haven't had a problem with RA are considered RA supporters, or as you called me in an earlier post, an RA promoter, as if I worked for them.

Mich, didn't call you a promoter. You misread that.

As far as the reservation system in Fl before RA is concerned, you had to call the individual park, to see what they had available for whatever days you wanted. There was no online access.

My point exactly: you don't prefer to call the park to check for rezs so RA "seems" to be a better option for you than your previous system. I found the phone call easy and convenient: the cg ranger would also provide me with insider info such as large groups coming in that may be noisy, levels of creeks or water condition, etc.

RA has continued to be problematic and frankly, their system is inferior to the systems that existed previously for the numerous reasons stated both here and in previous threads. In the rest of the nation, most of the reservations systems that were used before RA worked better than RA. As a retired engineer, I am more tech savvy than most. The RA system has major problems. Sit around the campfire with other tech savvies on your next camping trip and you'll hear the same. Do a search of the internet and you'll read more of the same.

Good luck with your camping. Don't know how much you do of it or how long but fair weather to you and yours. We've been on the road for nearly half a century. We've seen every kind of system out there. RA is substandard.

the_happiestcamper wrote:

magnusfide wrote:
The rest of us don't share your perceptions of this inadequate service.

Please change that to "rest of us minus one" - I've never had a problem with RA.

I have used the RA system to reserve in Florida and SC and never had a problem. Some folks seem to be tech challenged or some states did a poor job setting up how their individual system rules would function. I use Rec.gov often as well with the same experience. Perhaps Florida and SC provided better parameters for the system to function on which has led to success.

magnusfide wrote:
Interesting that most of the Reserve America supporters chime from Florida. You must have had a pretty bad reservation system before the switch. The rest of us don't share your perceptions of this inadequate service. In the rest of the nation, most of the reservations systems that were used before RA worked better than RA.

Some parks have chosen to severely limit the options RA provides. Those parks are having better luck with the system. They don't opt for some of the tag on fee system of RA and that cuts down on the problems significantly, especially when the RVer is due a refund.

I still don't see how those of us who haven't had a problem with RA are considered RA supporters, or as you called me in an earlier post, an RA promoter, as if I worked for them.
You also stated earlier, you stopped using RA for reservations in Fl state parks. I have no other option to make a reservation in a Fl. state park than to go through RA. I'm curious as to how you make your reservations. I've also never encountered any extra fees associated with making a reservation. As for credits/refunds, I was camping in mid August on a 3 day reservation when I had to leave after the 1st night due to a death in the family. I was credited for the 2 days I didn't stay, without any issues.
As far as the reservation system in Fl before RA is concerned, you had to call the individual park, to see what they had available for whatever days you wanted. There was no online access.

magnusfide wrote:
The rest of us don't share your perceptions of this inadequate service.

Please change that to "rest of us minus one" - I've never had a problem with RA.

Interesting that most of the Reserve America supporters chime from Florida. You must have had a pretty bad reservation system before the switch. The rest of us don't share your perceptions of this inadequate service. In the rest of the nation, most of the reservations systems that were used before RA worked better than RA.

Some parks have chosen to severely limit the options RA provides. Those parks are having better luck with the system. They don't opt for some of the tag on fee system of RA and that cuts down on the problems significantly, especially when the RVer is due a refund.

NanciL wrote:

magnusfide wrote:

NanciL wrote:

magnusfide wrote:
We quit using RA. It's the worst reservation system I've ever seen in nearly 50 years of camping

Why ?

Jack L

Multiple incidents of poor customer service; numerous mistakes in reservations and fees; fees charged for services never received; out of country handlers of your credit card info; you name the problem and RA has committed it. Many former customers have similar complaints.

Hmmmm !
We must have a lot better luck then you. We have been making our winter reservations in the Florida Keys for the past ten years, and never have had a problem that wasn't caused by ourselves.
We get two week stays at the various state parks. Then we cancel a day or two here and there and give up a stay, and always have received our cancellations fees

Jack L

X-2, have never had a problem with RA or Recreation.gov

We've have had nothing but positive experiences with Reserve America. Never an issue what so ever.

As far as trying to get a spot in the keys, all I can say is that yes it will be difficult to do during their high season. If you get in, then consider yourself lucky. Other than that, keep trying. It's not Reserve America's fault.