KOA standard charge now $60?!

[agesilaus]

Got hit with a $65/night charge at Devils Tower KOA and the same at Bozeman KOA(walked out) and I see St Mary's KOA is now $60. No more KOA for us

[mileshuff]

Lot of RV'ers spoiled it seems!! Hard to find a nice RV resort in southern California in popular areas for under $75. Try San Diego, Temecula, Buellton/Solvang, Paso Robles etc. Over holidays the price can easily be over $100/nt. Hotels on those weekends run $150-$200+ for a 3-4 star.

[wbwood]

Just checked the KOA closest to us. $48.50 was their highest price for a 50amp, pull through, full hookups.

[murphysranch]

$32 for an overnight in Western Wyoming 1.5 weeks ago. It was perfect, compared to the other options in windy, desolate WY.

[Dutch_12078]

rockhillmanor wrote:

Additionally many of the parks with those higher prices are basing them on a package of amenities..

Just come to Florida during the winter and you will be proven oh so wrong with that statement!

Shocked doesn't even come close to what I was when I saw what they were charging for a sardine site in nothing more than huge open piece of dirt when I crossed the state line into Florida. Then add insult to injury and pay 'extra' for the use of their electric.

Florida winters do not need to be either expensive or crowded, if you do some checking around.

Our $13.50/nite (monthly rate including metered electric) full hook up site near Bushnell, FL last February:



Our $27/nite full hookup site for two weeks at Myakka River State Park near Sarasota, FL last March:

[4X4Dodger]

rockhillmanor wrote:

Additionally many of the parks with those higher prices are basing them on a package of amenities..

Just come to Florida during the winter and you will be proven oh so wrong with that statement!

Shocked doesn't even come close to what I was when I saw what they were charging for a sardine site in nothing more than huge open piece of dirt when I crossed the state line into Florida. Then add insult to injury and pay 'extra' for the use of their electric.

Up until I hit Florida I never paid extra for electric and stayed at some VERY nice CG's for far less. While traveling across the US as a full timer I have experienced them all and found the rates are 'not' always based on amenities .

It's what the market will bare and is done in all forms of business. Buy their product or not, stay at their CG or not.

I understand your point but I did write "Many" not "All". the statement is correct as written. And in the case of Florida the economics are different. It's the countries arguably warmest climate and the demand for space of any type is so high they can charge more regardless of their amenity list.

But Florida is not the other 47 states of the continental US. And in many if not most of the others the economics I describe are applicable.

[rockhillmanor]

Additionally many of the parks with those higher prices are basing them on a package of amenities..

Just come to Florida during the winter and you will be proven oh so wrong with that statement!

Shocked doesn't even come close to what I was when I saw what they were charging for a sardine site in nothing more than huge open piece of dirt when I crossed the state line into Florida. Then add insult to injury and pay 'extra' for the use of their electric.

Up until I hit Florida I never paid extra for electric and stayed at some VERY nice CG's for far less. While traveling across the US as a full timer I have experienced them all and found the rates are 'not' always based on amenities .

It's what the market will bare and is done in all forms of business. Buy their product or not, stay at their CG or not.

[gazingm42]

KOA RV grounds have just gotten more pricey compared to others IMHO. I don't feel the KOA have more to offer. In fact often it is my last choice as I feel the sites are just to small.

The ones the OP talked about are a very tourist area, but others in the are are much cheaper.

[tatest]

There is no KOA standard charge, and the franchises are usually close to competitive with Jogi Bear and enfranchise operators in the same location. All three locations you mention are prime tourist areas. If you can find an equivalent part for $10 a night lower in the same place, go for it. It won't be much lower than that, if it offers the same space and facilities.

[4X4Dodger]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

jplante4 wrote:
I always get a kick out these threads. People driving around in motorhomes worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars complaining about paying $60 for a place to park it.

Before making flipent remarks like this there are VERY 'different' ways people RV. Weekend, vacation, snowbird, full time.

IRREGARDLESS of what 'type' of RV they have it is how OFTEN they use CG's that makes a difference regarding the costs of CG's NOT the cost of what type of RV they are capable of owning. :R

$20 bucks per night here or there for a week end trip or a vacation most certainly will not break the bank for the weekend warrior or for someones once a year 10 day vacation.

FYI:
For the full time and Snowbird RV'er traveling on the road.
60.00 x 30 days = $1,800
28.00 x 30 days = $840.00

Hmmm, possible savings up to $1,000 a month? Don't care who you are a millionaire or not. It's about prudent 'smart' management of ones finances. Just saying.:W

You can play that game with most any purchase. But I don't believe those two campgrounds are comparable. The $60.00 a night place has advantages over the $28.00 place. It might be location, it might be amenities, it might be the $60 is an overnight rate and the $28.00 is the daily rate if you stay for a month. But it isn't a comparison of apples to apples.
What I find amusing about these threads is that the option is not paying $60.00 or nothing it is really about paying $60.00 versus what that person somehow feels should be the price. I have asked a few people over the years who though my price was too high, what they thought the price should be. Most don't even answer, and those that do give some insane amount like 20% of what the rate really is. If that $60.00 site was $56.00 instead, would that really make life hunky dory? It is quibbling over very small amounts of money.

Surely you must realize that pricing is as much about psychology as anything. The bigger the leading number the worse effect it has. This is like business 101.

Additionally many of the parks with those higher prices are basing them on a package of amenities, some very nebulous, like "POT LUCKS" that many people will never use or even care about. This is the equation that is being made in the buyers head.

There are some very interesting studies about Hotels with pools that is instructive here. First the pool is only used by about 10% or less of guests. The pool itself has very negligible affect on what can be charged. However it's biggest effect is that it tends to keep OCCUPANCY Rates higher than similar properties without a pool. But it's biggest effect is on the ADVERTISING. Having a pool is mentioned by about 80% of prospective guests while making reservations.

And sometimes it is about paying $60 or nothing. If all I am looking for is an overnight stop, I might very well choose the Wal Mart.

[4X4Dodger]

jplante4 wrote:
I always get a kick out these threads. People driving around in motorhomes worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars complaining about paying $60 for a place to park it.

I notice that you might live on Cape Cod...I bet your property is worth in excess of 1 mill. Yet I bet you whine and complain about the taxes you have to pay?....

People have a right to expect value for money no matter how much money they have or how they earned it or how they choose to spend it. Secondly I know quite a few very wealthy people and NONE of them got that way by being cavalier with their money.

[rockhillmanor]

OutdoorPhotographer wrote:

dodge guy wrote:


There is a reason some people have what they have! It's because they/we watch our money!

The key to building wealth is spend less than you make. People mess that up at all income levels.

Amen to that!

X2

[mileshuff]

OutdoorPhotographer wrote:
So what site do you use to get those rates? There is a big gap between rack rate and $75. Few people are paying rack rate. The next question, is are those rates easier or harder to get on short notice for one night? It's a whole other conversation but my preference in a condo from VRBO if I'm not using our PUP for vacation. You can get a lot of bang for your buck.

It's not so much a particular site but knowing the industry. Knowing how to obtain heavily discounted rates for certain hotels at certain times in certain cities. Usually involves rate codes. It's easier on short notice in general. If that fails I often use Hotwire or Priceline bidding.

For RV parks I have negotiated rates at a few. Not easy or all that common. Usually it involves negotiating exactly how discounts are applied, such as parks that give 1 free night for every X nights staying. Sometimes the rates change mid-stay due to holidays etc. I've had luck in negotiating the free night to be during the higher rate period. Hotels are much easier at getting great rates!

[OutdoorPhotogra]

dodge guy wrote:


There is a reason some people have what they have! It's because they/we watch our money!

The key to building wealth is spend less than you make. People mess that up at all income levels.

[dodge_guy]

OutdoorPhotographer wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

jplante4 wrote:
I always get a kick out these threads. People driving around in motorhomes worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars complaining about paying $60 for a place to park it.

Most retirees driving big motorhomes or big 5th wheels with an expensive truck have saved many years for the privilege of buying it! They are not rich as you seem to infer.

We used public campgrounds 95% of our 16 years of full-timing. Not only because of the senior discount but because we'd much prefer being surrounded by nature than being surrounded by row after row of RVs.

I don't think it was a slam on folks being rich or not - we're all RV'ers at some level on this site. I think the price point is different for full-timers and vacationers. A full-timer (or frequent retired traveler) has more flexibility to stop in route where rates are lower and can go state park to state park. As a working family, if I'm on a 2-3 week trip for summer vacation, there is the stay portion and the transit. For us, the stay is almost always a national park. For the transit, I stick to a safe distance per day and try to be set up by 7 PM at the latest but I don't have the luxury of doing 100-150 mile days. If my schedule is get to the border of NY and MA, then I just need to find a decent campground that doesn't divert me off my route more than absolutely necessary. $60 near my route is better than $40 off of it.

It's also about balance. On our cross-country last year, we stayed at 3-4 KOA's averaging around $50/night, 2 Jelly Stones at $50-60, 1 municipal at $12, several private campgrounds and a national park. Loved the $12 municipal in MN for the setting although bath house was a dump. That was fine for the price and a couple nights. Worst experience was a campground in NE that was basically a parking lot, $60+ the best I remember, and had the bath house locked and decided not to leave the code for us after we called ahead to say we would arrive after the office closed. No campground host. What you get for $60 varies.

There is a reason some people have what they have! It's because they/we watch our money!