Reservations - 5 to 7 day minimum??

[Wrong_Lane]

We are starting to make reservations for our end of July first of August trip in New England.

This year we are encountering many campgrounds responding that they are now only accepting 5 to 7 day (length varies for each location)minimum stays between July 1 to Labor day.

The latest to inform us of this policy is Bayley's in Scarbourgh-Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

The campgrounds with this policy almost always advise us to call a few days prior to arrival and they will see if they can fit us in.

We have limited vacation time and generally move every 3 or 4 days allowing us to see and experience more. We do, however, always reserve in advance prior to arriving. Calling a few days ahead of arrival, in the hopes of maybe getting a site, just doesn't fit our travelling style.

We have been able to find alternatives so it's not like we are stranded but my fear is that if we as a group accept this with no argument than this 5 to 7 day minimum may start to be the norm in popular areas.

I know that these are business and are free to use the business model they feel works best but ---- how many three night stays at $80.00 per night would thay really want to turn away?

Rant over!!

[peaches_cream]

This is exactly the reason our MH usually sits from June 1 thru Labor Day. Campgrounds way too crowded, too many kids, rates too high, and usually too hot. I can stay home (stick house) for 3 mo. and save for the next 9 mo. You summer campers fill those campgrounds up and give them plenty of money. Maybe they will feel sorry for us old farts.

[mlts22]

It depends how I travel. If I know where I'm going, I'll reserve (and pay) in advance. That way, I'm assured of a spot where I am going. I spend plenty of time hunting for parking in the metro area; I don't care to deal with that uncertainty come vacation time.

[willald]

Yep, seen reservation restrictions like that a time or two. Mostly at big resort type parks located in high $$ tourist areas (beaches, etc).

Never been a problem for us, though, as usually if we're staying at parks like that, we're reserving a stay at least that long if not longer, anyway.

As to traveling without reservations: To each their own, but we would NOT do that. I'm not using up a bunch of $$ on fuel and vacation time without knowing I'm going to have a good site when I get to my destination.

Many of the places we camp, without a reservation, you'll either get turned away and have to find somewhere else to stay, or you'll get put in the less desirable sites that nobody else wants. No thanks. I'll leave those sites and that uncertainty for those that don't plan (and call) ahead.

[prichardson]

About the only time we reserve is around a holiday or in an area where there are a lot of seasonals. As for $80 per night on a 7 day stay; I will go elsewhere.

[rk911]

Wrong Lane wrote:
We are starting to make reservations for our end of July statrt of August trip in New England.

This year we are encountering many campgrounds responding that they are now only accepting 5 to 7 day (length varies for each location)minimum stays between July 1 to Labor day.

The latest to inform us of this policy is Bayley's in Scarbourgh-Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

The campgrounds with this policy almost always advise us to call a few days prior to arrival and they will see if they can fit us in.

We have limited vacation time and generally move every 3 or 4 days allowing us to see and experience more. We do, however, always reserve in advance prior to arriving. Calling a few days ahead of arrival, in the hopes of maybe getting a site, just doesn't fit our travelling style.

We have been able to find alternatives so it's not like we are stranded but my fear is that if we as a group accept this with no argument than this 5 to 7 day minimum may start to be the norm in popular areas.

I know that these are business and are free to use the business model they feel works best but ---- how many three night stays at $80.00 per night would thay really want to turn away?

Rant over!!

haven't run across that yet apart from holidays and other local special events. what we will occasionally do is pay for a week but only stay maybe 4-5 days. in many, many cases it is cheaper on a per-day basis to pay for a week even if you stay less than 7-days. just do the math to see where the break even point is.

as to the issue of reservations...we rarely make them but we tend to do the bulk of our traveling while school is in session (mar 1-june 1 and aug 1-nov 1). we tend to avoid most holidays, labor day being the exception. we usually find a spot a few days before labor day and hunker down until the following Tuesday. in the last 26-years we have always found a nice spot for that holiday.

we have two exceptions to our 'no reservations' policy. the first is at our favorite par in mesa, az for spring training baseball. we prefer a specific section of the park and a site that faces north. the other is the annual Dayton HamVention. beyond that we will occasionally call ahead to a park to check availability for an overnite spot but even that is fairly rare.

[JJBIRISH]

Apparently they have determined the short stay reservation have become more of a headache than an asset with too many changes and cancelations taking up too much of their time, and blocking out to many longer term stays… your 3 day $80 stay might prevent the booking of two 5 to 7 day stays at $80/day… in that case it’s better to risk losing the short term reservations…

[Wishbone51]

Son of Norway wrote:
RV parks out your way are $80 a night? That's what I would be ranting about!

I guess it depends on the demand. I once stayed at a campground near Niagara Falls that charged $90/night.. And the campground wasn't all that good.

[WrongWayRandall]

State parks typically allow for a 2 night weekend and 1 night weekday stay, if you are planning on short stops at each destination. Just be sure that you will fit their spots before booking.

- Randy

[Son_of_Norway]

RV parks out your way are $80 a night? That's what I would be ranting about!

Miles

[Eycom]

I live and work on the road and of course, I have my home with me. Leading up to full timing, I used government campgrounds when moving often and commercial parks with some natural ambiance when I wanted to sit for a month. I do the same today and have no desire or need for reservations. That freedom is tempered with visiting the popular areas during their shoulder season. YMMV:)

[rr2254545]

Supply and demand lets them do what they want.

[Sea_Dog]

I have never reserved a site.
Only once, in CA, was the CG full, they sent us up the road to
a much better campground.

If it reaches the point that I have to decide in advance where I am
going to stay any particular day,
I will stay home!

[the_bear_II]

Many folks are beginning to stay close to home so RV parks are seeing an increase in business. People aren't flying and hoteling it...they hop in the RV and travel an hour or two from home instead.

The RV parks near popular destinations and large cities are able to rewrite the rules and still get customers.

Plus us older RV'ers are able to stay for many days instead of just for a weekend. We are either retired, semi-retired or have many vacation days to use up during the year. Employers have pretty much stopped letting you save up vacation time from year to year and some even restrict how much you can take at a time. A bunch of short vacations throughout the year vs. one long vacation is the new norm.