Reservations

Did you agree to that "deal?" Was your reserved space occupied by someone that night?

You would be surprised how many excuses people have come up with to get out of a reservation cause they found a nicer place on the way, which when one like your comes in they just hose you off, bummer.

lose

It does suck, but as was mentioned the people you reserved from have no idea if you're trying to just get your reservation money back and are lying through your teeth. If people were more honest it wouldn't be an issue.

I don't like to lose a campsite deposit any more than the next person, but I do understand that it was the deal I agreed to when I made the reservation. That said, I do prefer the parks that just charge a nominal fee for cancellations unless its within 24 hours of arrival. Since there may not be much chance of them renting the site again that quickly for the first night, I do understand charging the one night fee in that case.

I've never camped without reservations. I'd much rather risk losing a nights site fee than risk getting to a campground and having to turn around and go home after packing everything.

You may be able to camp during the week when it is not that hard to find spots, but with work, and kids in school, weekends and vacations are all we get. Even reservations are hard to get on weekends around here. Weekends at the beach, or lake during the summer are about impossible unless you reserve a month or more ahead of time.

I strongly believe that if you have reservations that cannot be met that the site should remain vacant or they should reimbures you the camp fee and cancellatrion fee. This is why I prefer to boondock, peace of mind.

I would write a letter to the management of the campground and explain what happened, include documentation for the bearing repair and request your deposit refund.

This will prove to them you weren't one of the RV'ers that makes reservations and shops around other RV parks to find a more desirable spot.

"This is why I prefer to boondock, peace of mind."

Me too, 4aSong. Last 21 days out, once in an RV park...to exercise my AC, fill with water and dump.

Not much you can do about it, except cut your losses and move on, especially if they have it in their written policies and disclaimers. You agreed when you made the payment to the rules.

The alternative is to do away with a reservation system. Then, really ... do you honestly think you'd ever get into your chosen campsite?