Thousand Trails-Vacancy Question
Hi all. I searched but didn't find too much on this. We are purchasing a TT membership, and I have gotten all of my ?s answered except this one: HOW DIFFICULT is it (generally) to find vacancy at a TT...
Forum Discussion
We've been T/T members for a few years and love it. Very low cost way to RV and get around. First thing I would suggest is looking for a pre-owned membership. You can buy one from anyone in the US or Canada. We got ours off CL from a seller in AZ for $800. Need to get a seller's memb. no. and phone head office and confirm the specific contract details. There are many different features and benefits and variations of membership contracts - there are no standard plans. Older memberships can have desirable features that are no longer available. Some even have frozen dues for life. We have an older platinum membership and can stay at any T/T CG across the US and can stay "in the system" continuously and move from park to park. We never pay extra per night. The only time we've paid extra is for cable TV on the OR coast.
This blog has some great info. on buying a pre-owned memberships and highly recommend you read through it.
I don't know about T/Ts in the eastern US, but in WA, OR & CA, getting into some of them in the high season can be difficult in our experience. Seaside in OR is one like that. Some holidays, esp. July 4th can be very hard to book if you leave it too late. The best strategy is to routinely book as far in advance as you can unless you're on a long road trip with no fixed plans. T/T CGs are popular with kids and once school's back in session you'll have no problems booking a site on short notice. We do however often book a site a day or two ahead of going to our home park in Birch Bay WA without a problem, and I typically go down early on a Friday to snag a decent site, otherwise you can find yourself having to use one of the least desirable sites in the CG. Have heard that one or two T/Ts just east of Seattle are almost impossible to get into because of high housing costs in/near Seattle area and they let workers stay long-term.
Encore parks are part of the T/T network but you normally have to pay additional - full retail I think. There is an upgrade option available now that gets you a discount into them. Don't know much about it tho.
Note that many T/T CGs have outdated electrical, water and sewer services. You will run into occasional low voltage and having an autoformer is recommended. Sewer hookups can be sparse and some have none so a tote tank is a good idea. Have had a couple of instances of low water pressure. Piping can be old and I would suggest using a water filter and definitely a regulator. Have yet to stay at a T/T CG that we would not go back to or recommend. Our T/T home park is the most well kept and best managed CG we've ever been to anywhere along with super-friendly staff.
This blog has some great info. on buying a pre-owned memberships and highly recommend you read through it.
I don't know about T/Ts in the eastern US, but in WA, OR & CA, getting into some of them in the high season can be difficult in our experience. Seaside in OR is one like that. Some holidays, esp. July 4th can be very hard to book if you leave it too late. The best strategy is to routinely book as far in advance as you can unless you're on a long road trip with no fixed plans. T/T CGs are popular with kids and once school's back in session you'll have no problems booking a site on short notice. We do however often book a site a day or two ahead of going to our home park in Birch Bay WA without a problem, and I typically go down early on a Friday to snag a decent site, otherwise you can find yourself having to use one of the least desirable sites in the CG. Have heard that one or two T/Ts just east of Seattle are almost impossible to get into because of high housing costs in/near Seattle area and they let workers stay long-term.
Encore parks are part of the T/T network but you normally have to pay additional - full retail I think. There is an upgrade option available now that gets you a discount into them. Don't know much about it tho.
Note that many T/T CGs have outdated electrical, water and sewer services. You will run into occasional low voltage and having an autoformer is recommended. Sewer hookups can be sparse and some have none so a tote tank is a good idea. Have had a couple of instances of low water pressure. Piping can be old and I would suggest using a water filter and definitely a regulator. Have yet to stay at a T/T CG that we would not go back to or recommend. Our T/T home park is the most well kept and best managed CG we've ever been to anywhere along with super-friendly staff.
