Campground Cancellation Fees

fla-gypsy wrote:
I don't like paying cancellation fees either but as explained to many people were gaming the reservation systems for public campgrounds.

All of my cancellations were with private campgrounds, 7 months prior. As I said, I get it that I agreed to the fees, but I think people are using this as a revenue stream.

I don't like paying cancellation fees either but as explained to many people were gaming the reservation systems for public campgrounds.

I get both sides. Lets say the campground is really full and there was no cancellation fee. You don't cancel until the day before - there are a lot of people that passed on that campground and made other plans. I am with you - I plan really far in advance too. Sometimes you can't get reservations even when you plan that far ahead - Yosemite is a good example. The campground might be able to get someone to reserve the site, but if they don't, they at least get your cancellation fee. Do I like it, NO, but I understand it. On the other hand, if its a really full campground and I cancel months in advance, there is at a minimum a 99.9% chance they will get someone to reserve the site and also get my cancellation fee.

Note: I reserved a spot in New York (New Jersey actually), and they have a no refunds policy. I was going to stay 2 weeks, but I couldn't stomach loosing $600+ if something went wrong and we couldn't make it. I barely could stomach the $300+ for the one week. They also make you pay 100% up front at that place.

You do realize all the rules are implemented for a reason, they didn't just pop up.
Somebody got burnt once to many times.

I've talked to a number of people that like to make reservations sometime 2 or more for the same dates and willing to pay the fee when they pick another location. It seems to reinsure them, most of the times we don't make reservations and really don't have a problem finding a place to stay. Exception -- holidays.

When you "agree" to and "accept" the terms of the reservation. Then live by it!
If a few bucks are going to break your finances because you want to cancel a reservation, then I would think about a different pastime than camping. Or stay at hotels that don't have a cancellation "penalty".

The reasons for the cancellation penalties are just as Lantley stated. Too many conniving people trying to cheat the system.

You are right on point, could not agree with you more. I had a really bad experience when I phoned and made a registration for two months in advance. As soon as I disconnected my CEO/Navigator told me I had reserved the wrong campground. I immediately called back (it had been less than five minutes) and spoke with the same person I had just talked to. He said he was sorry but he had to charge me a $25.00 cancellation fee. I argued in a polite manner but he wouldn't change his mind. I asked to speak with the owner, he replied, "I am the owner" and hung up on me.

The fees are all about keeping people from gaming the system. If there were zero penalty people would make and cancel reservations all the time. They'd book the entire month and eventually cancel the weeks they did not need and make a mess of the reservation system.
Let's say I wanted the week you just cancelled but it was unavailable because it was booked. because there is a fee I trust that the person was truly interested in the site and suffered a penalty for cancelling.
Without a penalty everyone could book sites they really never intended to use and cancel later.
While that may seem harmless enough the cancellation effects people who may have wanted the same site but could not book due to availability.
In the end someone will be happy you cancelled,however someone else maybe disappointed because they also made plans several months out but were unable to get a site because it was booked by someone who is actually not going to use the site.
Penalties and fees help maintain the integrity of the reservation system. In some case higher penalty fees are needed to keep people from booking sites that they know they plan to cancel at a later date.

It does seem unfair to pay the fee when you cancel 7 months prior to the date. But, like you said, you agreed to it.

You make perfect sense. I guess all you can do is plan a little better than you are now.
Or, just go camping and forget about it. :)