which discount card ?

Thanks everyone!!
Until I have been on the road for a while there is no real good answer. So, I am thinking about getting the AARP(works for some campgrounds and restaurants and other stuff) and continuing my Escapees membership.
Thank you everyone and see you an the road!

I had a Good Sam membership for a while, but discovered that I seldom used it. It seems there was seldom a Goodsampark anywhere around when I wanted to stop, and being retired military and a senior citizen got me discounts anyway, the same for buying parts, so I allowed it to expire.
I got the KOA card for our vacation, but since then haven't stayed in a KOA, so it has expired, too.
The bottom line is, IF you can and will use the benefits offered, any of them are pretty good. Some, of course, may be better than others, I don't know.
However, if you can't or won't use the benefits, they are all useless.
good luck.

If you can qualify, (if you call customer service and complain you are having trouble they sometime allow exceptions) Pen Fed Credit union.

UNLIMITED 5% of gas.

You do need to open a checking/saving account of $500 (?) but at unlimited 5% off and NO ATM fees
. . . . :B

I have a KOA card for the discount because I stay at KOAs anyway. I have Good Sam Roadside Assistance and their Travel Assist for medical emergencies, but haven't needed either one. Camping World President's Club gives a discount in their stores and have a good selection. Actually, too good. I almost always leave with more than I went in for.
I have AAA for their travel guides and triptiks and their roadside assistance for my daily driver. My local office has people that understand the limitations of MHs and route accordingly. Their service people are independent contractors, so that's just dumb luck if you get a good one. Most don't have the equipment to tow a MH or change an RV tire.
I joined FMCA when I first started RVing, in part because I live about 4 miles from their home office. They cheerfully accepted my membership money even though I have a 'C', but the 'MC' stands for Motor Coach and their magazine makes that clear. Their big thing seems to be organizing group camping trips and pot lucks for their members which is fine if you like that, but I prefer to explore on my own. Different strokes...
The NPS's America the Beautiful Senior pass has to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, even if you don't camp inside. $10 lifetime pass if you're 62 or over, and it works at all NPS attractions.

rr2254545 wrote:
Good Sam and KOA have saved lots, having said that we try to stay a week most places and the weekly rate is usually stay 6 get 7 or a 14.3% discount. In your case maybe a month at a time, for an even better discount. We are only 1/2 timers

The other three are duplicates

X2 on this. Good Sam will get you 10% off nightly rates at a huge number of parks...sometimes you'll get the discount at parks that don't belong to Good Sam. but the discount will be steeper if you book for a week or month at most privately owned parks. for example. we like to stay at the I-10 RV Park in Benson, AZ. their Good Sam nightly rate is $33. at the end of a week you'd spend $231. but their weekly rate is $125 or $17.85 per night.

the passport America system will save you 50% on the nightly rate at a comparatively small number of parks but many limit that discount to certain sites in the park, certain days of the week and/or certain months of the year. we belonged to PPA for a year but didn't renew because at the end of a travel day there were no PPA parks anywhere near where we were.

we also used to belong to FMCA (for the magazine only) and while there are some parks that will offer a 15% discount on the nightly rate and we found them to be more numerous than PPA they were few and far between when compared to the Good Sam parks.

we still have the KOA card but rarely stay at KOA parks. the exception is an annual 1-week stay in Dayton, OH every spring. that particular park does not have a weekly rate and the 10% card discount saves us more than the cost of the card.

If you or the wife is age 62 or over - the federal Senior Pass is essential. One $10 lifetime fee for big discounts at federal campgrounds. Even if you don't camp in National Parks - the free admission for one park one day will pay for the card.

Passport America has the best return on investment of the group. You have to work hard to not make back your membership fee in discounts in the first couple uses of the card. But it is really for traveling - those one or two night stops between destinations. If you don't travel much, it isn't worth the effort.

AAA and AARP pretty much duplicate their discounts at restaurants and motels/hotels across the country. Depends upon your age.

One area where I think many folks get duplication is with 'Roadside Assistance' services. FMCA and Good Sam have very good RV focused programs available. AAA has a great program, but really doesn't like RVs in my experience. Guess what - when you make a call to any of the roadside assistance programs - the tow truck company contacted by all three is the same.

Choose one and don't pay for the other two.

Yes, most RV parks have discounts if asked, and it's pretty much the same for any card, program.

KOA is a bit different because they have their own card/ program. If you use KOA, it is definitely worth it.

I consider Escapees a requirement for full-timing if your full-timing includes traveling. Even if full-timing is staying in one or two places for the whole year - Escapees provides services and information you really need.

I would wait after my first year of full timing and see which ones I used the most. If you are going to be on a budget, then KOA might be one that you won't use as much.

As far as passport America, I would look around they give away some memberships every once in while ;) . Another one to consider might be Harvest Hosts.

Most RV parks will give a 10% discount just for being a senior with NO card or memberships necessary. Escapees does get you a minimum of 15% discount, with oftern 25% to 50% off. They also have an INTERESTING magazine, unlike some organizations.

I just got a KOA card because I had a trip to a KOA planned. After paying for the membership, I still saved another $26.00. It turns out I will use it for a second stay this summer, saving another $40.00. I will likely not renew next year, because I do not live (or travel often) in the US.

I have also had the Camping World membership, used it for a discount on a few items and ended up saving a few bucks in the end. I did not renew this.

I have no problem providing my email address used for spam to save a few bucks...

America the Beautiful Senior pass.

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

Passport America
Good Sam