What a shame

[hotpepperkid]

What a shame campgrounds see fit to triples their prices when there is a major event it town. Happen to go through Albuquerque when the balloon was on. I didn't realize it was balloon fest time but I needed a place to stay for a couple of days. The camp ground was a dirt parking lot we had only water and electric and the Wi-Fi was pretty much non existent

[hotpepperkid]

Nutinelse2do wrote:
If you think triple the price is bad, you would be astounded at 5-6x the normal rate for Hotels and RV Parks during The Colorado River Run in Laughlin, Nevada, in April every year.

Not only that, but they usually have a 4 night minimum requirement. Every room and rv park around is booked a year in advance.

It's a simple case of supply and demand.

The supply and demand is I have the supply and I demand an out ragious price. Yea I know and its still a rip off. You can a hotel room in my town Kingman during the river run for the same price you can get it in the middle of June

[Lauren]

We lived in Estes Park, CO - right next to Rocky Mtn NP - for 8 years. Although expanded a little now with Fall visitors (we called it the season of the newlyweds and nearly deads), it was basically a 100 day season.

We, just like the visitors, had to pay the highly inflated prices for even the basics like food and fuel. One guy told me one time that if I did not like his summer prices go someplace else - and then laughed. I never spent another penny in his place and told many people about his attitude and they did not go there either.

We would gather our lists of needs and make trips 35 miles down the mountain to Loveland and shop.

As has been said - it is the way of the world in tourist places with tourist weekends / seasons.

[Sam_Spade]

It is called "free enterprise", the capitalist system and business charges whatever the market will bear.

Hotels have been doing that since......forever. Look at the card on the back of a hotel room door. Note that the "normal" price is often 2 to 3 times higher than what you paid. You got "a discount" for an off-peak time.

Sorry but that's just the way it works.

[NCWriter]

hotpepperkid wrote:
What a shame campgrounds see fit to triples their prices when there is a major event it town. Happen to go through Albuquerque when the balloon was on. I didn't realize it was balloon fest time but I needed a place to stay for a couple of days. The camp ground was a dirt parking lot we had only water and electric and the Wi-Fi was pretty much non existent

So your alternative during peak demand is a place that does not raise rates like a state park. But plan ahead. You'll need to pay the full cost up front and there will be penalties if you cancel.

Florida State Park campsites in the Keys on the water (at a cost of about 1/3rd the commercial going rate) sell out 11 months in advance most of the year, but especially in the winter months, as soon as the booking window opens.

And when I say 11 months in advance, I mean to the second after the clock hits 8 a.m. Eastern Time. If you don't believe me, try to book a site for February some time.

[Thom02099]

It's not just campgrounds that do this. As others have pointed out, try finding a hotel room near a venue for a major event, whether it be a football game, a baseball game, a concert, a traveling Broadway show...All events where hotels can and likely will raise prices astronomically.

I recently went to the Pepsi Center in Denver to see Maroon 5. Normally, when I go to concerts there, I book a hotel room in advance and stay overnight, as I don't like to drive late at night. I waited too late for this one, and the already ridiculous downtown Denver prices were even more ridiculous, 2 and 3 times their normal rate. Hotels closest to the event were in the $400-$600 range! I drove back home that night.

[LarryJM]

Roy&Lynne wrote:
Of course, when gas stations raise the price of gas before a hurricane, its called price gouging, and against the law but when a campground does it, its called capitalism

If you don't understand the difference in prices for a commodity that is essential like fuel to comply with a government mandated evacuation order and routine everyday life sustaining items like food and water are vs optional and descretionary entertainment based event costs are then I'm not sure what one could say to make you more aware of just how uninformed your comparison is.

Larry

[Lantley]

Strabo wrote:
Welcome to 2016, take your time getting use to life.

that's funny!

[Strabo]

Welcome to 2016, take your time getting use to life.

[Nutinelse2do]

If you think triple the price is bad, you would be astounded at 5-6x the normal rate for Hotels and RV Parks during The Colorado River Run in Laughlin, Nevada, in April every year.

Not only that, but they usually have a 4 night minimum requirement. Every room and rv park around is booked a year in advance.

It's a simple case of supply and demand.

[Lantley]

avan wrote:
And though you could have voted with your wheels and kept on driving, you stayed.

The above pretty much sums it up. During high demand events you can protest with your wallet and not stay but you can be sure someone will gladly take your spot. Because of the increased demand the rooms are simply worth more money.

Super Bowl tickets sell in the $1000.00 each range. There are way more people wanting to go than one stadium can possibly hold. The tickets are that valuable, If you don't want to pay $1,000.00 for a seat there hundreds waiting in line behind you that will.

[kmbernstein]

We have learned over the years to check the scheduled activities in any area we are heading to. That way, we can change our itinerary if we need to.

[Allworth]

Would you please identify the CFR that regulates a gallon of gasoline at the Federal level.

As long as the tax is paid there is no other Federal regulation that I know of.

[Tom_N]

The HIGH season vs the LOW season.

I have never heard of a single campground owner becoming a millionaire or even making a decent living.

[bfast54]

Roy&Lynne wrote:
Of course, when gas stations raise the price of gas before a hurricane, its called price gouging, and against the law but when a campground does it, its called capitalism

So let me get this straight --in which way are you equating a gas station selling a gallon of gas (that is federally regulated).... to a campground??????


can you please explain further


A natural disaster like a tornado an earthquake or a hurricane is not a planned event -----therefore if you suddenly raise the price( there is the federal excise tax and stuff )--and guess that's why it's State &Federal regulated..(hence Price Gouging making money off others misfortune.)

A Balloon Fiesta ,the National Cherry Festival, Super Bowl.......... things along this line ---- are events that are planned months, years in advance--- and there's a supply and demand .

so I really don't see where a gallon of gas and a camp spot are even close to being related---- except you need fuel to get to both.

That my Friend --Is the difference between capitalism and price gouging.:W