Thousand trails resales vs zone pass?

We have had a Zone Pass for 2 years now and have found it to be a good value as we use between 40 - 60 nights each year. We purchased it when it was buy one/get one so had 2 zones the first year. Then they asked us to attend a web conference and gave us an extra zone so we now have 3 (SE/SW/NW) for no extra cost :). The web conference was a very low pressure sales presentation showing all the options available so do attend if asked ;)

Also, we had a ready-camp-go card the first year for $99 but found we hardly ever used it since most of the Encore parks are also Passport America and that is usually cheaper....

The Ready, Cap, Go Value card looks interesting. I wonder if that would get in the way of us purchasing a resale later?

Also, with a TT Platinum or Alliance, do you have a home park? Does it make a difference which one?

Have any of you with TT in Washington & a C2C membership also been able to get into the K/M parks in Washington? C2C Deluxe waives the 125 mile rule from your home park, but I don't know if K/M would honor it. We are still tryong top figure out how we will spread our $ to allow for the most Diesel! Thanks!

The advice to get a zone to try it out is a good one. Dues are relatively low and no upfront cost. Couple downsides, the current zone offerings allow 31 nights of free camping then costs $3 per night you can stay in for a max of 14 nights and then you have to be out of system for 7 days. You can go park to park if you stay no more than 4 nights at any single park. Watch for one of the specials and you can get 2 zones instead of 1. In your case that would most likely be the northwest and southwest zones. This will give you the site in Canada, all the sites in WA, OR, CA and the one site each in Las Vegas and AZ.

As someone else stated it will only work if you use it and the places parks are located is where you want to go. Lots of full-timers use it to control their costs of travel but like anything else it is NOT a cure all perfect for all solution.

When looking at a resale, get the membership number from the seller and call Member Services. They'll tell you what is included in the transfer, what expires and what special restrictions there are. It seems that every contract is different.

RVcrazy wrote:
I notice that it looks like TT is now only selling the zone passes. Has anyone had any trouble after buying resale "original type" memberships having them honored?

The original style doesn't include the Encore parks, does it? I know that some of what people think are TT are really the NACO/LT & to watch for a resale that includes those.

How much are the annual fees, generally? How hard is it to get out of a membership you no longer want? Didn't the law change about that some time back?

We are still considering whether to join, or not join, a membership system aince we are preparing to fulltime starting next month. Thanks!

Memberships like Thousand Trails work great if the parks are located where you want to go. Add ons like Coast to Coast, ROD, and RPI increase the number of parks that you can access at discount rates. According to the TT website, the zone pass gives you discounts at Encore Parks: "Q: What other discounts will I receive as a Zone Camping Pass member?
A: All Thousand Trails members using their RVs receive discounts on stays at Encore Resorts. These discounts vary by resort. For a list of discounts please refer to the Thousand Trails website at www.ThousandTrails.com or our TrailBlazer magazine."

Another way to try out the Thousand Trails/Encore Parks without a long term commitment is the Ready Camp Go Value Card which gives you access to Thousand Trails and Encore parks.

There is a membership on Craigs List out of Sac Ca under RVs for sale for $500
plus transfer fee. Suppose to be a Life Time Membership that the Guy paid $8,000
for. He said the transfer fee is $600 plus. I think it is over $700 now but don't know for sure. It is not my ad nor do I know the guy other than he said he was 78 and two old to use it anymore

As a long time member of TT I would recommend a Zone Park one yr membership.
Try it for one yr and if you like sign up for another yr. I prefer the parks in Cal,Ore, and Wash and as you live in Wash St that would give you an idea if you like TT or not. I have not heard of anyone having a problem after buying a regular membership. My membership did not include Encore, LT, NACO so I had to upgrade. My dues are only $275 a yr and no time out between parks. My sons dues are nearly $700 a yr. There are many types of memberships and the dues are priced according . We use about 150 days a yr and spend the summer in TT Parks in Ca, Or, and Wash along the coast for the last 10 yrs or so

I think TT is trying to discourage resales as much as possible. We purchased a resale of a Platinum membership via Craig's List. This was originally a lifetime membership. When the paperwork arrived we now have a 10 year membership that can be canceled after 10 years by either myself or TT. Dues went to the prevailing rate $635 and no lock on dues at 65. The 10 year rule works both ways though, we can't cancel for 10 years either even if we wanted too. We paid $2k plus transfer fees for ours and thought we got a good deal. A year later some friends got the same type of membership for $500 plus transfer fees. As you said we do not get the Encore parks which I do believe zone members do get. Overall we are happy with our membership but you need to use it at least 30 days a year or you might as well not purchase one.