Passport America and its ilk

I have just looked in the PA website.

The interesting part is that many require reservations. You would think if they are trying to fill unused sites, that they would insist on drive up business for PA.

Do they ask for reservations so that they can refuse you without having to explain the number of empty sites in the park?

I just find it a strange requirement. Hotels will only give discounts for walk in customers.

I think we paid for three years (?), anyways, it more than paid for itself on the trip up the west coast last fall. We had pulled into one place planning to stay for a couple of days. When we asked if we could stay longer because it was raining and blowing so hard, they said sure, stay as long as you want at the PA rate.

Bill

We use it, had one place this summer in N.M. I didn't like, but 3 years for $55 is good price if you buy on the right week.

We bought the 3 year membership for $109. In April we went to the Florida Keys for 5 nights and saved nearly $250 for a five day stay. Obviously paid for itself more than twice over.

We probably don't use our PPA more than a dozen times a year for night stops when we are travelling. It works well for us and more than pays for itself. The restrictions for each site are spelled out clearly in their book and on their website so there are no gotchas. You may just have to use a little planning around how you use them.

I think this thread has run its course. My thanks for the many helpful comments. I'm struck, as always, by the variety of our experiences traveling in RV's. This site is a great resource!

Rich

As a sample of one we joined PPA because of one park an hour from home. It is a very nice park associated with a large casino near 30+ wineries. PPA is good for 4 out of 7 nights a week on their basic large back ins for a true savings of $25 per night. On six visits of 2-4 nights where 2 of the nights are PPA I have $250 more for poker and wine. Over 4 years I think we only used PPA for one other night. The one park works for me.

Us out West wrote:

One thing to remember is that the participating PA Parks have the right to limit your stay and not offer the discounts during peak season...up to the individual Park.

Likewise we found some PA parks willingly letting us stay longer for the discounted price and easing up on the restrictions. Not all...but some do if you ask and if they're not crammed full - like at off-season time.

Bumpyroad wrote:

NYCgrrl wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
I am always skeptical of the savings people claim. Yes, they may be offering 50 percent of their posted rate, but is the posted rate fair compared to the neighboring parks? Half off of $50.00 when another park offers 10 percent off a $35.00 rate means you really are only saving $6.50. If the Passport park is either a lesser park or is further off the beaten path (which seems to be a common issue with Passport America), you are either giving up amenities of trading site fees for fuel expense.

Bingo!
It's like hotels offering a percentage off the "rack rate" which is a price guests rarely pay.

I see it like the "out the door" price of a RV/auto/etc. doesn't matter what the discount % is, trade in is, or misc. items. It is what it costs me to stay there. If it is $17.50 I don't care if it is half of 35 or 1/4 of ??, or 10% off. if all the other campgrounds in the area are $35 and up.
bumpy

Bango!

Passport is a great CG discount service and, like others have said, pays for the signup fee very quickly.

One thing to remember is that the participating PA Parks have the right to limit your stay and not offer the discounts during peak season...up to the individual Park.

PA has been more of a hassle for us. We signed up last year and never reserved a campground through them. We're vacationers, so the restrictions were always coming into play, so we gave up. Not worth it for us, but everyones situation is different.