RV park "STANDARDS"

[hamrs_62]

Are there any standards for the RV parks associated with Goodsam, I was wondering if they have standards posted or mentioned some where, like a park claiming to be a resort, but offer nothing, no rest rooms, no pool, all there is, is a spot,, thanks

[mdcamping]

I have never had an issue with a KOA.

lately noticed lots of turnover on who ownes/runs parks. All boils down to finding a clean park with level sites, good utilities and enforced policies. Do your research :C

Mike

[toedtoes]

JoeH wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

afidel wrote:


KOA actually does have definitions and requirements for Journey/Holiday/Resort and if you call to complain about a resort not having amenities claimed the campground has to respond to corporate with an explanation and a timeline for the issue to be resolved. Campgrounds that get lots of complaints can get kicked out of the KOA system, I've seen it happen. Jellystone is similar, though they're a bit more skewed towards the campground owner in that I've read many reports of it taking quite a few years for a campground to have the Jellystone name removed.

KOA is different. It is a "company of campgrounds" not a directory.

Not sure what you mean by a company of campgrounds. KOA is mainly a franchise operation that brands privately owned properties, along with a couple dozen corporate owned cg's. I have had less than pleasing experiences at some of these franchise locations and have notified corporate. As the post above indicates, they do contact and have leverage over the franchise holders to make corrections.
Good Sam-- I'm with the others that see GS and Camping World as having evolved into a substandard operation under Lemonis' "leadership"

I mean just that. KOA is a franchise. All parks in the franchise carry their name. The KOA company has a vested interest in each park holding to a standard - because they have an ownership in the park. If a park doesn't hold up to their standard, they kick them out of KOA.

Good Sam is just a directory. It just lists a bunch of parks so folks can find them in one convenient place. They have no ownership, no vested interest, etc, in the individual parks.

It doesn't matter if you like Lemonis or not. KOA is a completely different thing than Good Sam RV Park listings.

Comparing them is like comparing McDonalds to the local morning show's "10 best hamburger joints" list. The former, you know you're getting McDonald's - the food will be pretty much the same, the atmosphere pretty much the same. With the latter, you could get anything - and the joint may be on that list because they paid a fee not because they are actually any good.

[phillyg]

I've found that parks can go dumpy after meeting whatever standards their "sponsor" requires.

[Mike134]

As someone said earlier need to look at a satellite view of the campground along with reviews.

As to KOA they run the gauntlet from packed in like cordwood (South Dakota near Mt Rushmore ) To nice wide open areas (east side of Glacier NP) But always clean and well kept up. Geared towards families looking for activities.

[JoeH]

toedtoes wrote:

afidel wrote:


KOA actually does have definitions and requirements for Journey/Holiday/Resort and if you call to complain about a resort not having amenities claimed the campground has to respond to corporate with an explanation and a timeline for the issue to be resolved. Campgrounds that get lots of complaints can get kicked out of the KOA system, I've seen it happen. Jellystone is similar, though they're a bit more skewed towards the campground owner in that I've read many reports of it taking quite a few years for a campground to have the Jellystone name removed.

KOA is different. It is a "company of campgrounds" not a directory.

Not sure what you mean by a company of campgrounds. KOA is mainly a franchise operation that brands privately owned properties, along with a couple dozen corporate owned cg's. I have had less than pleasing experiences at some of these franchise locations and have notified corporate. As the post above indicates, they do contact and have leverage over the franchise holders to make corrections.
Good Sam-- I'm with the others that see GS and Camping World as having evolved into a substandard operation under Lemonis' "leadership"

[toedtoes]

afidel wrote:


KOA actually does have definitions and requirements for Journey/Holiday/Resort and if you call to complain about a resort not having amenities claimed the campground has to respond to corporate with an explanation and a timeline for the issue to be resolved. Campgrounds that get lots of complaints can get kicked out of the KOA system, I've seen it happen. Jellystone is similar, though they're a bit more skewed towards the campground owner in that I've read many reports of it taking quite a few years for a campground to have the Jellystone name removed.

KOA is different. It is a "company of campgrounds" not a directory.

[Bird_Freak]

Good Sam used to mean something but since Lemonis took over it's really gone to pot. I can usually get the same discount with AARP.

[afidel]

toedtoes wrote:

wildtoad wrote:
Lemonis does nothing to assure quality at any of his businesses as far as I can see. Crappy products, bad service, overpriced, no oversight. Just my opinion. As long as people pay their bills, he won’t fix it.

Lemonis has nothing to do with the quality of RV Parks.

The Good Sam RV Park directory is nothing but a directory. While in the beginning it was advertising as a way to "guarantee" a good park, it has not done that in years.

It is like using AAA guidebooks to find a hotel - it gives ratings, but those ratings have no substance behind them. No one from Good Sam (or AAA) is going around evaluating the facilities in the directory.

When choosing an RV Park, look at reviews, check out satelite views and don't assume anything based on what it calls itself. An RV resort is no different than an RV park - either one can have great ammenities and sites and service; either one can have absolutely nothing.

KOA actually does have definitions and requirements for Journey/Holiday/Resort and if you call to complain about a resort not having amenities claimed the campground has to respond to corporate with an explanation and a timeline for the issue to be resolved. Campgrounds that get lots of complaints can get kicked out of the KOA system, I've seen it happen. Jellystone is similar, though they're a bit more skewed towards the campground owner in that I've read many reports of it taking quite a few years for a campground to have the Jellystone name removed.

[toedtoes]

wildtoad wrote:
Lemonis does nothing to assure quality at any of his businesses as far as I can see. Crappy products, bad service, overpriced, no oversight. Just my opinion. As long as people pay their bills, he won’t fix it.

Lemonis has nothing to do with the quality of RV Parks.

The Good Sam RV Park directory is nothing but a directory. While in the beginning it was advertising as a way to "guarantee" a good park, it has not done that in years.

It is like using AAA guidebooks to find a hotel - it gives ratings, but those ratings have no substance behind them. No one from Good Sam (or AAA) is going around evaluating the facilities in the directory.

When choosing an RV Park, look at reviews, check out satelite views and don't assume anything based on what it calls itself. An RV resort is no different than an RV park - either one can have great ammenities and sites and service; either one can have absolutely nothing.

[ken56]

Letting my membership expire. Not worth it anymore.

[dedmiston]

deadticket8 wrote:
What park is 00000 and who is Lemonis?

Marcus Lemonis is the CEO of Camping World / Good Sam and the benefactor of this site.

[deadticket8]

What park is 00000 and who is Lemonis?

[wildtoad]

Lemonis does nothing to assure quality at any of his businesses as far as I can see. Crappy products, bad service, overpriced, no oversight. Just my opinion. As long as people pay their bills, he won’t fix it.

[hamrs_62]

this place gets ZERO's all the way through, no restrooms, no showers, no laundry, dirt, unlevel, oooooooooooooo

[BB_TX]

Here are their standards for what it’s worth.

https://www.goodsam.com/campgrounds-rv-parks/ratings/guide.aspx