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mosseater's avatar
mosseater
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2015

Reserve America: a minor rant.

For those of you who book ahead, what do you think of Reserve America's software format? Pa State Parks went to this service and I really dislike it. I've used it several times for other bookings in other states and it just seems overly cluttered, glitchy, and not intuitive at all. I always find myself getting irritated when I use it. And now, since almost all our travels throughout the season are in PA, I get to use it every time I book. Very disappointed and told them so. That and $1.06 will get me coffee at McDonald, I know. I'm sure they have a very good reason for screwing up the system they had. They were even starting to put pictures of each site on the net when booking so you can see exactly what you're getting. Now that's out the window too. Grrrrrr.....
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  • SDcampowneroper's avatar
    SDcampowneroper
    Explorer
    Feb 25, 2015
    I dislike it because it allows reservation of any sites that are within the ' date window' the inquirer requests. While the inquirer may get to choose from a larger pool of available sites for their dates this leaves many open dates in the camp, thus less opportunity for others and income to support the public camp.
    A much fairer system would be one that shows only those sites that meet the enquirers specifics.
    We have been victims of this policy several times and have witnessed others with less flexible schedules find nothing available for their time frame when making reservations at state parks from Al. to Ca.due to 'cherry picking'.
  • rr2254545's avatar
    rr2254545
    Explorer
    Feb 25, 2015
    mosseater wrote:
    For those of you who book ahead, what do you think of Reserve America's software format? Pa State Parks went to this service and I really dislike it. I've used it several times for other bookings in other states and it just seems overly cluttered, glitchy, and not intuitive at all. I always find myself getting irritated when I use it. And now, since almost all our travels throughout the season are in PA, I get to use it every time I book. Very disappointed and told them so. That and $1.06 will get me coffee at McDonald, I know. I'm sure they have a very good reason for screwing up the system they had. They were even starting to put pictures of each site on the net when booking so you can see exactly what you're getting. Now that's out the window too. Grrrrrr.....


    I have no problems with it maybe you just had a bad day
  • kknowlton's avatar
    kknowlton
    Explorer II
    Feb 25, 2015
    I'm used to them too - they've been doing Idaho SPs for some years and WI SPs (our former camping haunts) for many years. I will say they have not (so far) messed us up with mixing up reservation dates, etc. BTW, they still post campsite pictures for Idaho, Oregon, Utah and some other states. Perhaps PA is to blame for that feature being lost? RA contracts with each state individually, as far as I know.

    The only hassle we have had with RA, which I now expect so it's not a hassle anymore, is that our password changes if I don't use the site in a few months. And they generate the PW. I now know to save the one they gave me last.
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    Feb 25, 2015
    Been using them for years with no issue for Florida State Parks. Extra fees and features are state/organization specific and not a RA issue.
  • mdcamping's avatar
    mdcamping
    Explorer
    Feb 25, 2015
    I get very forgetful, if I don't use the soft ware everyday I forget how to move around, so this said when I first start my booking ever year I get cold fingers till I start warming up and moving around with the site, Recreation.Gov is the same.

    Mike
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Feb 25, 2015
    It's one of the worst websites I have ever used. Takes forever to load each page, you have to go through a zillion pages, the map controls (zoom, pan) don't work, the maps are inaccurate so you have to go to some other site to check which campsite to pick, etc., etc.

    Oh, well. What're ya gonna do?
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer II
    Feb 25, 2015
    I've used Reserve America a lot over the years, I don't remember if I've used it for anything in PA. I've never had any issues with it. The graphics are really basic but they get the job done. I can't really think of any complaints I would have.
    Sorry to hear you have so many problems with it.
  • wildtoad's avatar
    wildtoad
    Explorer II
    Feb 25, 2015
    I don't really have an issue with the technology. I'd rather complain about the high booking fees but that would not be productive either. Information and pictures about each park varies, but not sure who you is to blame for that.

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