Undercover Boss

[2012Coleman]

Was flipping through channels last nigh and saw this show - stopped and watched because it was the president and CEO of KOA Camp Grounds. He went to several KOA's and worked with the staff for a day. I guess KOA's CGs are franchised - at least some are. Anyway, he vowed to correct the crappy registration software they use and sent a guy to housekeeping training. He then gave everyone a pile of money - one woman who received 50K ended up leaving to start her own business - a spa. I wasn't overly impressed with thes CG's - what comparission can be made to state parks? I personally want to take my kids hiking, fishing, canoeing and teach them how to have fun relaxing, not put put golf or go-kart racing. Any positive comments about these CGs?

[Gunner45]

BurbMan wrote:
We have used them now and again. We make the distinction between "camping" and "RVing"...We "camp" at state/county parks with minimal or no hookups and take the time to relax, swim, hike, fish, and generally relax. Our "RV" trips usually involve long driving days to distant destinations, and nobody wants to hike/fish after a long day of driving. Kids want to run around, swim in the pool, play in the game room and do stuff like mini-golf while DW and I relax with a cocktail or 2.

It's so nice to see someone put an opinion out there without putting down other's choices just because they like different things 🙂

We are like you, sometimes we camp and sometimes we RV. We also only have one child left at home so we look for places that might have more kid offerings and sometimes we are looking for a more adult site.

We haven't stayed at any KOAs yet but I know there is one that my mom likes that we'll probably try soon.

[tpi]

I hit them now and then usually as overnight stop. The Keep on Adding thing works in reverse too-I'll snag a small back in site with only electric or water/electric and no other options. I usually don't bother with the sewer or water hose for overnighters anyway. Some of them have kind of a rustic charm and they're usually conveniently close to the main highway. No complaints from me.

[mkc]

The Works wrote:
We full time so we do stay at KOA's basically because you know what your going to get. We've been to privately owned CG's that their advertisement say is a great place only to find it isn't.

Keep in mind all but a very small handful (in 2010 it was something between 4 and 10) of KOA's actually are privately owned campgrounds. The owners pay fees (including royalty payments on virtually everything) to KOA to be part of the system to get the marketing/advertising/unified reservation system/web presence.

[Jagtech]

Stayed at the KOA in Great Falls, Montana... once! At $64.00/night plus taxes, its a little too rich for my blood. Noisy, crowded, poorly staffed. Tiny, cramped sites. I mean, really, there's really nothing so special about a KOA that makes it worth that much! I have stayed at numerous private campgrounds that offer everything and more as KOA, for half the price. You don't always get what you pay for!!!

[Mike__Rose]

We have stayed at a few KOA campgrounds and thus far no complaints. In the New England area we find them competitive in price with other neighboring campgrounds especially in tourist destinations. I saw the show and was happy to hear the work they do for kids with cancer. We even became seasonal campers for a season at the Mystic, CT KOA. Great staff and are considering doing it again.

[Thunder_Mountai]

I saw the original airing of that episode and posted my comments. I thought it was very shallow and not real world KOA since he cherry picked those rather unique KOA campgrounds in California. He needed to get out in the real world at "work" at some of the real crummy KOAs along the Interstates that are overnight stops rather than destination campgrounds.

[Dutch_12078]

Yep, we prefer state and national parks for longer destination stays, but we use KOA's as needed for overnights and a few days layover when in travel mode. With our KOA VKR membership discount, the prices are usually pretty close to the competitors in a given area, and the points per stay tyically pay for our membership each year.

[cwstanley]

just like many/most things there are good and bad ones from what I've experienced. Sandusky OH TERRIBLE muddy, sites on top of each other (my slide outs about touched next guys awning!)and expensive, while Bellefonte PA & Watkins Glenn NY were both extremely nice. Both of these gave me plenty of room, and at 43' without truck it does help 🙂

[The_Works]

We full time so we do stay at KOA's basically because you know what your going to get. We've been to privately owned CG's that their advertisement say is a great place only to find it isn't. Full timing also requires us to have a good internet signal which almost all KOA's have. JMHO, have fun where ever you land!

[ford_truck_guy]

Destination camping-- no... Overnight--- yes.. We usually hit one somewhere in our travels.. Heck , we even were fed birthday cake by the owners at one in NC... That's a win for me !:B

[mgirardo]

When we camped in our travel trailer, we would use KOAs for a quick overnight stop. Now that we have a motorhome with a generator, we don't use KOAs any more. Our experience is that KOAs are almost always the most expensive option out there, so for a 6 or 8 hour stay, it is definitely an expensive rest. I don't ever remember a bad experience at a KOA though.

-Michael

[tomkaren13]

Aka the breeze wrote:
We also have used KOA's basically for overnighters also with no complaints... They almost are always helpful and clean.. No issues here.

Stayed in one once. We must have found the worst one. Difficult to get in even with the escort. Had a rain storm and expected wet grounds not a mud hole.

Only good about it was the checkin lady she was very nice.

Yes we reviewed it.

[FunnyCamper]

we don't hit alot of KOAs but when we do it usually is overnight on the road stop. a few times we went for kiddo. kid fun is scheduled there and kiddo has a blast.

nothing wrong with KOAs. I just prefer state parks mostly. I want less people and activity directly around me but when we want kiddo type activities a KOA is a good cg.

all KOAs will never be created equal 🙂

[steepgrade]

Love 'em.
Consistently clean and usually well maintained IMO.
Cannot remember a time I was disappointed.
Nothing bad to say here.