Changing my mind...

[punomatic]

...about KOA. I have not had good experiences with KOA. They are mediocre parks, in my experience, with incredibly high prices and unsympathetic staff. Well, we are camped at Benbow KOA in Garberville, CA. The park is old and in need of upgrading. KOA apparently bought an older park and is in the process of upgrading it.

So, we have been pleasantly surprised by the friendly, helpful staff, and the fact that, instead of charging us the advertised $57 a night, we were charged $35 minus a 10% discount because I am a veteran! 🙂 Not only that, but the cable service is good, and I can watch my Oregon Ducks as they lead the TCU Horned Frogs 31-0 at halftime in the Alamo Bowl. Way to go KOA. We will stay here again.

BTW, the park has a little golf course and a pool, for those of you who like that sort of thing. The setting is beautiful, in the California coastal mountains. So, I am warming to KOA...at least to this one. Thanks Benbow KOA.

[punomatic]

jplante4 wrote:
IMO, KOA gets a bad rap because the "campers" have a thing for campgrounds like that and it just gives them a label to put on it. For some people, if you're not crapping in the woods, it's not worth going there. I've stayed at a few perfectly nice KOAs and never understood the aversion to them.

If it's convenient to where you want to explore or if it has enough attractions to keep your party busy, then just stay at one.

My big complaint in the past has been that, in my experience, KOAs have been 20-25% higher priced than similar parks in a given area. Add to that the "snarky attitude" that someone referenced, and it just takes the fun out of staying there. Benbow KOA is the one exception I have encountered. I may try another KOA, but we will definitely stay at Benbow again.

[JoeTampa]

We just stayed at the KOA at the Lion Country Safari near West Palm Beach, FL. Very nice campground, with very nice shower/restroom facilities. We would stay there again.

On the other hand, we tried to stay at one that tried to shoehorn me into a site way too small for our TT. We wound up leaving and staying in another one further up the road. A decent experience there as well..

[jplante4]

IMO, KOA gets a bad rap because the "campers" have a thing for campgrounds like that and it just gives them a label to put on it. For some people, if you're not crapping in the woods, it's not worth going there. I've stayed at a few perfectly nice KOAs and never understood the aversion to them.

If it's convenient to where you want to explore or if it has enough attractions to keep your party busy, then just stay at one.

[FULLTIMEWANABE]

Thanks for the post. Has totally changed my thoughts on KOA's to not blacklist them in our minds anymore just because they say KOA.

Since our early years as newbie RVers in the 90's we had such bad experiences with them based on price for facilities and staff/owners having the give us your money with every add on for this, that, and the other, there's your site, shut up and don't bother us attitude was our experience. As a newbie, we targeted KOAs as likely being a comfort thing based on the glossy ads/promos I guess.

Many years further on and improved comfort levels within ourselves,we've since discovered we enjoy being off grid moreso than in any RV CG. The exception of course is unless targeting a specific attraction in an area we can't avoid but to stay in an organized CG/RV Park.

Nice to read that where you stayed they adjusted the rate to compensate the renos going on as well for you. Smart marketing knowledge on their part that "word of mouth" (known today as Reviews) makes or breaks you in todays age.

[winnietrey]

wildtoad wrote:

profdant139 wrote:
I would not choose a KOA as a destination, ....

How true. I have stayed at many a KOA over the years and for the most part have been OK with the stay, some not so much. But then we don't need or want much, just a level site, hookups, perhaps a store for an ice cream, local information on places to see or eat. As far as taking a "camping" trip to a KOA, not!

We've found some with bad cable, weak to useless wifi, and one or two with bad tasting water. Found most of the folks nice and helpful.

I agree, have found they don't make a bad base camp though. If you are going to stay in one location for a few days, go out sightseeing during the day, then return in the late afternoon. But as for "camping" in them, not something I would want to do.

[wildtoad]

profdant139 wrote:
I would not choose a KOA as a destination, ....

How true. I have stayed at many a KOA over the years and for the most part have been OK with the stay, some not so much. But then we don't need or want much, just a level site, hookups, perhaps a store for an ice cream, local information on places to see or eat. As far as taking a "camping" trip to a KOA, not!

We've found some with bad cable, weak to useless wifi, and one or two with bad tasting water. Found most of the folks nice and helpful.

[profdant139]

To me, KOA is sort of like Motel 6 -- not great, but usually adequate. When we are on the road and need a decent place to stop for the night, we have found KOA to fit the bill, almost every time. I would not choose a KOA as a destination, unless the reviews were very good.

[winnietrey]

I am a fan of KOA'S, when traveling with the GD. Traveling without the GD, state parks are what we prefer.

KOA'S all tend to have some sort of kid activity, pools, playgrounds etc. Very important to the granddaughter after a long day traveling. And sight seeing

We really like the nationwide reservation system, as we do not plan out where we will be from day to day. So very nice to figure out where we want to be the next day, log on and make a reservation. The night before.

I agree they are not the cheapest, nor are they the best private park in any area. But we have found the further they are from a big city, the closer to a tourist attraction, generally the better they are.

Have run into a couple of snarky staff, but the same could be said for any park, private or not.

So yeah we kind of like them, as a general rule.

[Jim_Shoe]

As with many things, location is important, and Devil's Tower KOA is a perfect example. The tower is 40 miles from the nearest expressway and the KOA is just outside the entrance. Not the nicest KOA I've been in, but it served the purpose. And they show "Close Encounters" every night on a big screen outside. IMO, its possible to be too close to some things, and Devil's tower is one of them. The tower is 1267 feet above ground level, and looking up while standing at the base will give you a stiff neck. The 40 mile drive from Sundance, WY. as you near the tower was more impressive. And the prairie dog village outside the entrance will entertain kids. Kind of a live "whack a mole" game.

[willi4nd]

Have yet to stay in a KOA in the short time we have been camping (one summer/fall).
We have only stayed in privately owned ones and all their their faults and wins. My wife grades them on the cleanliness of their shower houses lol

[agesilaus]

CA Traveler wrote:
Well the Ducks tanked...

I guess you could say they are dead Ducks.

[punomatic]

Yeah. This year's Ducks were so dependent on Vernon Adams. The defense was not good all season, but Adams could provide enough offense to overcome that weakness. He did it in the first half. The defense lost this game, but the loss of the center and Adams killed the ability to offset the shortcomings of the D. I'm not sure what next year will look like with Adams gone. I don't see a QB in the wings, but maybe they can get another 5th year senior to transfer in. I hope they can recruit some guys who can play in the secondary. With Buckner gone, they will need them!

[CA_Traveler]

Well the Ducks tanked...

[Gottahaveit]

I was never a fan of KOA's however....I must take that back now since staying at the Benbow, Moss Landing, Pescadero and Tuscon KOAs. We ended up at 2 of them because there was no other place that had openings. I must say I found the price well within the range for the areas and the places were nice as well. Now had I bought the "Card" I would have more than paid for it with the 10% discount it gives. I may not search out KOA's but I won't avoid them anymore.