Bias against the toad-less
I was refused accommodation today at a Phoenix-area RV park that labels itself as "A Small, Clean, Quiet & Friendly RV Park" and I could use help understanding what the problem is. I sent an email enquiry about staying for a week and received a prompt response to let me know that space was available, but would I please call the owner as he had a few questions.
After we established that it was just me and my husband in a Class C, he asked about the age of the rig. It is less than 10 years. Then he asked if I had a tow vehicle. We do not. "Well," he said, "How do you get around?" I thought he was either just being curious or perhaps showing concern for our comfort. I referred to public transit and the use of a friend's car which we have been offered for a couple of days while visiting the area. (I didn't specify, but his website advertising that shopping was very close-by had led me to believe we could fetch small loads on foot or bicycle, as is our habit.) I also said that if we needed to do major shopping we would take the RV.
The park owner then told me he had a policy to not accept guests without a tow car. I was speechless. He said it would be unfair to other guests, that we might disrupt them by coming and going. Also, he would have to be there each time we parked to guide us into our site. This, in spite of reviews from past visitors who were there in far larger vehicles, suggesting we ought to be able to park our modest-size Class C on our own. As for the disruption caused by a Class C entering and leaving, what about the people who make multiple trips each day in their large, loud diesel pickups, or who have tow vehicles that encroach on their neighbours' sites?
It seemed pointless at this stage to try to negotiate a compromise, with us agreeing to leave the vehicle in place for the entire stay. Who knew what other prejudices might be uncovered if we were allowed to purchase space at his park? He then cautioned me AGAINST considering any other small park in the area, implying they were dens of iniquity. So, help me out, dear readers. Have others encountered this bias against those who are toad-less?
After we established that it was just me and my husband in a Class C, he asked about the age of the rig. It is less than 10 years. Then he asked if I had a tow vehicle. We do not. "Well," he said, "How do you get around?" I thought he was either just being curious or perhaps showing concern for our comfort. I referred to public transit and the use of a friend's car which we have been offered for a couple of days while visiting the area. (I didn't specify, but his website advertising that shopping was very close-by had led me to believe we could fetch small loads on foot or bicycle, as is our habit.) I also said that if we needed to do major shopping we would take the RV.
The park owner then told me he had a policy to not accept guests without a tow car. I was speechless. He said it would be unfair to other guests, that we might disrupt them by coming and going. Also, he would have to be there each time we parked to guide us into our site. This, in spite of reviews from past visitors who were there in far larger vehicles, suggesting we ought to be able to park our modest-size Class C on our own. As for the disruption caused by a Class C entering and leaving, what about the people who make multiple trips each day in their large, loud diesel pickups, or who have tow vehicles that encroach on their neighbours' sites?
It seemed pointless at this stage to try to negotiate a compromise, with us agreeing to leave the vehicle in place for the entire stay. Who knew what other prejudices might be uncovered if we were allowed to purchase space at his park? He then cautioned me AGAINST considering any other small park in the area, implying they were dens of iniquity. So, help me out, dear readers. Have others encountered this bias against those who are toad-less?
