Don't Believe Good Sam Ratings

So I guess like all things "Good Sam" related it will remain one of life's minor mysteries.

Moral: Treat EVERYTHING on this site with skepticism.

Gulf Shores, AL
This is not a rant about the park as they are now getting it together (after two wasted stops)

My search found a Sugar Sands RV Resort in Alabama and a Sugar and another in Matlacha, Fl. Both of these were rated high in rvparkreviews. Which Sugar Sands are you writing about?

How are Good Sam's ratings given?
One of the above posts states the following:
"All privately owned parks that show a rating online and in the directory have been visited by a Good Sam Rep team. When inspecting a park, they use the Rating Guidelines designed by Good Sam to ensure all parks are rated fairly. This Rating Guideline can be found in the 2014 RV Travel Guide & Campground Directory on pages 161-163 and covers the following areas of a park:"

How could a park receive a 10 rating before any amenities are installed? Are they simply SOLD?

Sugar Sands Resort

Visit ONE June 2014 GS Rated 10
Camp office, store and rec center under construction
Bath/wash Houses Two advertised - one in place (3 stalls & 4 showers on men's side for 61 sites)
50 amp service - in place
Water & sewer at sites - in place
WIFI Limited temp only
Cable TV not available
Pool under construction
Lazy River - not present or under construction
We declined to stay since no amenities in place at this Good Sam 10
Rated park

Visit TWO September 2014 Still GS Rated 10
Camp office, store and rec center open. Store empty.
Bath/wash Houses Two advertised - one in place (3 stalls & 4 showers on men's side for 61 sites)
50 amp service - in place
Water & sewer at sites - in place
WIFI Limited temp only (spotty and slow)
Cable TV not available
Small residential size Pool open (Two adults with three children filled it up)
Lazy River - Canceled. "Larger" pool scheduled for construction in late Spring 2015
Propane tank in place but not available.
We declined to stay at this 10 Rated Park.

Although this is a Good Sam Park we were told that no discount would be applied to current "construction" rates or monthly rates.

How could this park be given a 10?

Open the GS book and get to the rating pages. Then rate the park objectively using the criteria in the guide. I've done this several times and come out within 1 or 2 points of what's published. Sometimes I'm lower and sometimes higher. It's fun to try.

thekernel77 wrote:
Registered at Rustic Sands RV Resort in Mexico Beach, FL to stay a month. Was gone after 2 weeks. Filthiest campground I have ever been in. Pool was filthy, empty beer bottles littered the roads inside the part. When it rained the whole park was flooded and we we ankle deep in water in our campsite. Good Sam rates the facility a 7. You got to be kidding me. It is obvious that the campground has never been visited by Good Sam. Never trust their ratings again.

A rating of 7 is not a very high rating. Next time, do some research before you bash Good Sam.

thekernel77 wrote:
Registered at Rustic Sands RV Resort in Mexico Beach, FL to stay a month. Was gone after 2 weeks. Filthiest campground I have ever been in. Pool was filthy, empty beer bottles littered the roads inside the part. When it rained the whole park was flooded and we we ankle deep in water in our campsite. Good Sam rates the facility a 7. You got to be kidding me. It is obvious that the campground has never been visited by Good Sam. Never trust their ratings again.

All privately owned parks that show a rating online and in the directory have been visited by a Good Sam Rep team. When inspecting a park, they use the Rating Guidelines designed by Good Sam to ensure all parks are rated fairly. This Rating Guideline can be found in the 2014 RV Travel Guide & Campground Directory on pages 161-163 and covers the following areas of a park:

1. Campground & RV Parks - Completeness of facilities: The first campground rating evaluates completeness and quality of facilities. In this category we rate interior roads, sites, registration area, hookups, recreation, swimming, security, laundry, store and building maintenance.

2. Restrooms & Showers - Cleanliness and physical characteristics of restrooms and showers: The second rating category concerns the cleanliness and physical characteristics of toilets, walls, showers, sinks/counters/mirrors and floor. If a park achieves a full point in each of the above, it receives a star (*), indicating exceptionally clean restrooms.

Also rated are physical characteristics of restrooms, including interior construction, adequate supplies/odor free, adequate number of facilities, exterior appearance and location in relation to park spaces, and interior appearance.

3. Visual Appearance/Enviromental Quality - Visual Appeal and Environmental Quality: This category addresses the park's setting and site layout, function and identification of signage, overall exterior building maintenance, noise, trash disposal, litter and debris around the grounds and sites, and appearance of grounds, sites and entrance area.

The three concerns listed in your post could affect a park's rating, up to two points, for the unclean pool and litter. The rain would not affect the overall rating of a park, however, we do rate on the conditions of the roads (at the time of visit) and we also report on the type of roads a park has, such as gravel, grass, or paved.

We strive to be the best in our industry and appreciate the feedback we receive. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us.

This is disappointing to hear. We stayed there 5 or 6 years ago and enjoyed our stay. The first site we had was dusty because we were along the road which is sandy. After 2 nights we were able to move into a grass site and it was fine - except for the 4 barking dogs next to us. We used the pool, also had the breakfast they served - all was good and we thought we would return some time. Maybe new owners since we were there - park is in a good location.

By the way, we just stayed in a park rated 10 by Woodalls. No way! I think 5 or 6 would have been more appropriate.

Seems like the common complain is flooding during rain - since the roads are sand that going to create potholes etc - overall the rating from RV Park Reviews are mixed but not terrible , maybe skewed by season/rain issues. First time poster who slams something should be taken with grain of salt.

Thanks for the heads up.

Post a review here: RV Park Reviews

The reviews already there seem to be mixed 50/50 some said it was clean, others said it was dirty.

To condemn the whole Good Sam rating system, nationwide, as a result of one experience,however, is a little much.