Thousand Trails - The Trails Collection

[ThomBoles]

Hey All,

We are TT members and were looking for a way to increase our site options for when we return to Florida this winter. The park we are at is a TT park so we walked over to the office today. The guy there mentioned that we might be interested in The Trails Collection. It allows you to stay at over 100 more sites thought out the country.

It's an add-on (but separate) to your existing membership that gives you access to more parks. Our current membership to TT only allowed us to visit 2 parks in Florida. With this added on we can now go to 38 parks. Some of the desirable location parks have additional fees ($20/ night) but many of them are included. Bookings over 3 days force you out for 7 and you can stay up to 14. What really sold it for us is we can back up TT sites with the TC sites so our out week is at one of the other's camps essentially covering the cost to be out of network. You can only book 60 days out (out TT is 90 but that doesn't carry over to this).

It goes from your renewal from year to year (paid with your dues) and can be cancelled after the year if you choose. There is a special number to call if interested. Eight Eight Eight - 579 seven five nine nine. We thought it was well worth adding! We were on the phone when the CSR added this to our account and were immediately able to book reservations.

[Acampingwewillg]

"Shorty" over on the Good and Bad TT Forum has shown me the error of my ways albeit, it can be confusing! Under "Up-grade" it does indicate that you CAN go from Park to Park....so my apologies for not seeing this while studying the program. I'm Happy now!!! 🙂

[ThomBoles]

timmac wrote:

Have you ever stayed at other RV parks, I never had a problem getting full hookups at non TT RV parks, gov campgrounds don't always have them many thousands of private ones do and does not require a yearly membership or thousands up front with strict requirement's of where you can and can not stay.

Free bird is how I travel and free over night at Walmart and truck stops are the best deal with zero membership cost..

As for Wi-Fi I carry my own and have it anywhere at anytime..

We are now in Kanab, UT at a private park, so yes we do use them and we do "pay a premium" to do so in our heads. I try to base my nightly stay's on an average of about $25/night. We have used Cabela's a few times and will continue to do that on nights we are driving most of the day and just want to stop briefly.

As for "thousands up front" in the cost I bought an existing membership so the depreciation was paid by someone else. We have about $1000 into the first year which has basically paid for itself in the number of nights we have already stayed.

We equate Thousand trails to a timeshare. We can use it in a lot of places to see a lot of different things. It may not be perfect for everyone but works for us as we are traveling around the country.

[Acampingwewillg]

ependydad wrote:

Acampingwewillgo wrote:


On edit:
I just read it again and it does state this! If you have access to the TT reservation Website go to the TC heading, look under FAQ and then check the paragraph's under "Booking and Usage" ...its there plain as day and I, for one, might take a second look at this if it didn't penalize me for staying at a TC campground.

I have an upcoming San Francisco reservation with TC (2 weeks). I just made a TT reservation for my departure day (a week).

I don't have a limitation going from one to the other.

Let me try again....I didn't say you can't do it, I'm telling you what it says ON the TT Website regarding this new program. It has also been on the TT the good and the bad Facebook page saying exactly what I'm saying here soooo until they change the Rules in writing, I would NOT even consider this. But your mileage may vary...:-)

[ependydad]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:


On edit:
I just read it again and it does state this! If you have access to the TT reservation Website go to the TC heading, look under FAQ and then check the paragraph's under "Booking and Usage" ...its there plain as day and I, for one, might take a second look at this if it didn't penalize me for staying at a TC campground.

I have an upcoming San Francisco reservation with TC (2 weeks). I just made a TT reservation for my departure day (a week).

I don't have a limitation going from one to the other.

[timmac]

ThomBoles wrote:
I didn't post that to catch flack rather to inform other that choose to use TT that there is an option to add additional parks. We aren't "snobs" but we both like the ability to have water, sewer and electric when we are traveling. Since we are traveling and working I also need a decent internet (cellular) connection. Sure we have stayed at parks that don't have all these things and it just makes it harder for me to do my work and us to be comfortable.

Have you ever stayed at other RV parks, I never had a problem getting full hookups at non TT RV parks, gov campgrounds don't always have them many thousands of private ones do and does not require a yearly membership or thousands up front with strict requirement's of where you can and can not stay.

Free bird is how I travel and free over night at Walmart and truck stops are the best deal with zero membership cost..

As for Wi-Fi I carry my own and have it anywhere at anytime..

[Acampingwewillg]

I was looking at the TT website under the Trail's Connection tab....going to frequently asked questions, it states that you cannot go from a TT Park over 4 nights then go to a TC Park without being out of the system for 7 days and vice versa!

As I said, I'm writing this in a kinda haze because it doesn't make sense to me since I can go from TT to TT without any time out! I'm going over to the WEB site again just to make sure I read this right....I'm doubting myself after reading it 3 or 4 times.

On edit:
I just read it again and it does state this! If you have access to the TT reservation Website go to the TC heading, look under FAQ and then check the paragraph's under "Booking and Usage" ...its there plain as day and I, for one, might take a second look at this if it didn't penalize me for staying at a TC campground.

[ependydad]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
I too am an Elite Connections member and after seeing this post here I looked into it over on the TT Website. The way I'm reading it in the FAQ's is that if you stay at an eligible Encore Resort longer than 4 nights, you cannot go to another Encore or TT Park immediately ....you have to stay out a week? That makes no sense to me...I have 21 nights in with no time out on my contract...seems like a step backwards although I am impressed with the saving at the San Francisco Park since I've thought about staying there before.

It depends on your membership level (zone pass has more limitations, I think), but it's my understanding that you can go from a TT to TC directly (and vice versa).

You just can't go from one TC to another and use the discount program.

[ThomBoles]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
I too am an Elite Connections member and after seeing this post here I looked into it over on the TT Website. The way I'm reading it in the FAQ's is that if you stay at an eligible Encore Resort longer than 4 nights, you cannot go to another Encore or TT Park immediately ....you have to stay out a week? That makes no sense to me...I have 21 nights in with no time out on my contract...seems like a step backwards although I am impressed with the saving at the San Francisco Park since I've thought about staying there before.

We have been able to to to a TT park for 14 days (scheduled) then on our 7 days out we will go to a TC park. I've checked on the Facebook forum listed above as well I was told that when we signed up. We were on the line when the CSR added all the additional parks to our list so we were able to book right then.

[johnhicks]

Be sure to check rvparkreviews.com for the parks included in the new program.

[Acampingwewillg]

One other thought for those who see TT as a losing battle. It's probably easier for me cause I live in So. Cal but last year I spent roughly 150-175 nights at TT Parks in my contract(Texas, Calif, Oregon, Arizona) which cost me absolutely nothing upon arrival. I've been a member 6-7 year's now so maybe 700+ nights in TT Parks...that's a bargain compared to what I paid up front and my 500.00 a year dues.

Like anything else, if you use it, it becomes very easy to see why people have it....it's not shangri-la by any account but it works for many!

[Acampingwewillg]

I too am an Elite Connections member and after seeing this post here I looked into it over on the TT Website. The way I'm reading it in the FAQ's is that if you stay at an eligible Encore Resort longer than 4 nights, you cannot go to another Encore or TT Park immediately ....you have to stay out a week? That makes no sense to me...I have 21 nights in with no time out on my contract...seems like a step backwards although I am impressed with the saving at the San Francisco Park since I've thought about staying there before.

[ThomBoles]

ependydad wrote:
(Though, as you correctly noted- you can go directly from TT to TC and vice versa on most TT memberships.)

For us, it should be a money saver and opens up a lot more parks.

This is primarily the reason we bought it. We need to be near our house in early October and just booked ourselves into a park right down the road.

We were sort of lucky. Our membership renewed in July so the $200 is good for most of the year. We are looking forward to now touring Florida for most of the winter but still being able to stay nearer to our house there (one of the kids moved home and it's "his place" for now). We're already booked most of Oct jumping back and forth between them.

[ependydad]

I'm another fan of the program. We have an upcoming reservation at San Francisco RV Resort, an Encore park. My cost went from $1,000 for 2 weeks to $315 for 2 weeks. Plus, as you said, it opens a lot of affordable options for Florida.

The catches:
- the first year isn't prorated. Our membership renews on Dec 1, so I paid $200 for August-December usage. It works with my $700 savings.

- you can't go directly from one TC park to another and get the discount. We looked at a winter tour around Florida, but would have to have a week out between TC stays. (Though, as you correctly noted- you can go directly from TT to TC and vice versa on most TT memberships.)

For us, it should be a money saver and opens up a lot more parks.

[myredracer]

I'd look for a pre-owned T/T membership. We got a platinum membership off Craigslist for only $800 and we can go to any T/T in the US and do not have to be out of the system and can stay up to 21 days at a CG.

You can buy a T/T membership from anyone in the US and all you have to do is get their membership number and phone head office to get the terms and conditions of the particular contract. Membership contract details can vary a lot and the older ones can have better terms and conditions too.

Being able to book 90 days would be a major advantage as many of the T/T CGs are extremely popular in the summer. Another thing I'd look for is a membership that includes encore CGs because a few of them charge full retail even with a T/T membership.

If you do decide to look for a pre-owned membership, wait until the off-season. I'd also do some googling to learn what all the various contract details there are in the various T/T memberships. Some are desireable and some should be avoided.