Questionable Campground Ratings

Hello,

I am going to close this topic due to lack of activity. Thank you for your time and participating. Feel free to open a new thread on this topic in the future.

Thanks,
Stacy
Good Sam Care Team

DryCreek wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
Remember that old huge book called Woodalls that rated all the CG's? After about one week of being on the road that book went right out the window. What a joke, from directions being wrong, ratings that meant nothing, and phone numbers that didn't work. RVpark reviews a complete joke.

I have been full timing now and don't use one single so-called review web site......I have one small magazine type booklet called KOA.

Maps are correct, phone numbers work and no more surprises where ever I travel. :C

I may be wrong, but isn't the Woodalls publication now a part of the Trailer Life/Camping World/Good Sam group?

Interesting Link

Yup. Good Sam owns them all.

rockhillmanor wrote:
Remember that old huge book called Woodalls that rated all the CG's? After about one week of being on the road that book went right out the window. What a joke, from directions being wrong, ratings that meant nothing, and phone numbers that didn't work. RVpark reviews a complete joke.

I have been full timing now and don't use one single so-called review web site......I have one small magazine type booklet called KOA.

Maps are correct, phone numbers work and no more surprises where ever I travel. :C

I may be wrong, but isn't the Woodalls publication now a part of the Trailer Life/Camping World/Good Sam group?

Interesting Link

We did not have the same experience with the KOA book. Wrong directions in a wickedly difficult area to turn around in and vastly overrated park. KOAs often seem to have the highest priced parks in an area. All books can have errors in ratings or current/ever-changing information. I use Good Sam PLUS I go to rvparkreviews.com to see what users have to say. Often parks not in Good Sam book will appear in the parksreview information as a bonus. Happy trails!

Remember that old huge book called Woodalls that rated all the CG's? After about one week of being on the road that book went right out the window. What a joke, from directions being wrong, ratings that meant nothing, and phone numbers that didn't work. RVpark reviews a complete joke.

I have been full timing now and don't use one single so-called review web site......I have one small magazine type booklet called KOA.

Maps are correct, phone numbers work and no more surprises where ever I travel. :C

Actually, it's very easy to see how GS rates a campground.
The ratings are explained in the front of the GS campground directory. It is an objective system that scores points for features and amenities. I don't remember all criteria and our book is in our RV so I can't look it up right now. I recall they get points for a pool and another point for pool maintenance. They are scored on the number of toilets (I think) compared to the number of full hookups. Other points are awarded for paved sites, overall appearance and signage. We like the fact that a very clean restroom will get a star beside the restroom rating. That is one of the things we look for when choosing. I think someone else noted that the cleanest restroom may be a mess at the end of a holiday weekend. Wile my examples may be flawed, my point is there are many criteria and a high rating in one may give the campground a higher rating than you or I think it deserves. Occasionally we'll take the scoring sheets out of the book and score a campground ourselves. We've always come out within two points of the GS rating. It would be worthwhile for GS to post the rating system on this site so those who don't use the campground guide could at least see the rating system without buying the book which, by the way, is a bargain at $6.95.

durangoan wrote:
I don't know how Good Sam arrives at its rating, but my experience differs from the published ratings. We full-timed for 2 years in our Class A diesel pusher and covered a good part of the country. we found many ratings grossly overstated. My recommendation is to go to rvparkreviews.com and compare ratings there for the parks that interest you. That site is non-commercial and appears unbiased (i.e., no paid campground advertisers).

You don't know how GS arrives at their ratings, maybe you should. The ratings on rvparkreviews.com are not accurate by any means as the individual doing the rating use no criteria other than feelings. A simple search on the GS website will give you the information you need to make an informed opinion.

durangoan wrote:
I don't know how Good Sam arrives at its rating, but my experience differs from the published ratings. We full-timed for 2 years in our Class A diesel pusher and covered a good part of the country. we found many ratings grossly overstated. My recommendation is to go to rvparkreviews.com and compare ratings there for the parks that interest you. That site is non-commercial and appears unbiased (i.e., no paid campground advertisers).

wrong on both accounts.

AND people who are not happy will tend to find where to post their rants. Most people who have had a good experience will NOT take the time to find a website to post their appreciation. Contrary to belief not every camper knows about this website.

I NEVER use rvparkreviews. First of all you have to post X amount of reviews BEFORE they will even post your comment. So if you felt like making a nice post you'd have to spend your time posting on several more different CG's for it to show up. THE reason I don't think you get an honest view of any CG from this site.

durangoan wrote:
I don't know how Good Sam arrives at its rating, but my experience differs from the published ratings. We full-timed for 2 years in our Class A diesel pusher and covered a good part of the country. we found many ratings grossly overstated. My recommendation is to go to rvparkreviews.com and compare ratings there for the parks that interest you. That site is non-commercial and appears unbiased (i.e., no paid campground advertisers).

Are you associated with rvparkreviews? I see you just joined the forum and have only one post which is promoting a well known website.

To each his own. I use reviews all the time. It's usually pretty easy to spot reviewers who sound like a commercial or have an ax to grind. If there are enough reviews I think you can get a good idea what to expect.
I don't need the bad to appreciate the good. There's been enough water under the bridge, I've seen enough bad to know good when I see it.

Happy travels!