Campground Descriptions ~ Just Thinking

[Devonm2012]

We live fulltime on the road and so far have visited 22 or 23 states. Having a wonderful time. However, as I was walking the campground this morning, drinking my coffee, I began to wonder "When does the campground description go from stretching the truth to something more like a lie?" I am not going to name the park we are in, as I am not posting a complaint, just thinking aloud.

This campground advertises itself as a "Luxury Resort". Now, I know we have all stayed at luxury resorts. We have stayed at lots of them. We don't necessarily search them out, but if we come across one, we like to stay. Buckhorn outside of San Antonio, Bella Terra in Foley, AL, Crown Villa in Bend, OR, Portal RV Resort in UT, etc. This place has NO paved roads, lots of dust, sites are fairly close, have seen many large rigs with front tires off the ground, you have to pay to use the showers, the Internet is basically non-existent (even close to the office), the pool is not heated, staff not knowledgeable nor very friendly, etc. Again, this is a decent little campground but, in our opinion, not even close to being a resort and most certainly not a "luxury resort".

Just find this very interesting. Please don't slam on me ~ I am just thinking aloud here and we are happy with our site.

[Popsie]

One tactic that works for us is to leave around 9 am, then drive for four or five hours.

We have possible places in mind, and when we get to the first one, we park and walk around to check the place out. If it doesn't suit us, we move on down the road. We almost always can find a decent place for a reasonable price by the end of the day.

In planning the possible places to stay, we use RVParkReviews, mapping programs and their satellite views, and a number of web sites.

One factor in choosing candidate parks/campgrounds is "why are we going to stop at that place?" We like to drive one day, then stop for a few days or weeks. The places of interest available in the area are usually more important than the parking place amenities.

[Heisenberg]

If you are coming through Lubbock Texas we have some free "Luxury Resorts" in the area. Depending on your direction of travel check Floydada, Levelland, Littlefield, Muleshoe, and Slaton. You can get a night or two with electricity, water, and dump at each of these city parks if nothing has changed. The local merchants appreciate your business, they foot the utilities. The Mexican food at Leals in Muleshoe is as good as it gets. Slaton has a pool. What more could you ask!

[Devonm2012]

fla-gypsy wrote:
Terms like "luxury" and "resort" are very subjective and mean nothing.

X2

[Devonm2012]

msmith1199 wrote:
I think in most cases you can just assume the advertising is a lie. Nobody is going to advertise their RV park as a dump, even though many are. What I typically do first if it is a place I've never stayed, is check the Google Earth photo of the place. You can tell from that if the roads are paved, how much space between the sites, and how far they really are from attractions. For example there is park named Monterey Vacation RV Park. Their website says they are near Monterey and just minutes from the coast. In fact they are 30 miles from Monterey and the closest ocean access is 15 miles. Not knocking the park because it is a decent place, but their name and advertising give the people the impression that this is a coastal RV park and it's not. It's way inland and right next to the freeway.

Yup, we do all of this too. I don't do the research or reservations ~ my job is RV maintenance, prep, cleaning and driving. So, unless we have been to the park before, I am seeing it for the first time when we pull in. Fortunately, I think we were given the best site in the park, and I am perfectly happy with it. I just wish they were more realistic in their expectations. I mean, for example, there are wood blocks under the toilets for fear they will be pulled out of the wall when you sit on them! Would you expect that at a "luxury resort"? No. Now, we have our own toilet so I don't need to worry about that, but I do check out everything, as I want to give a realistic review online of the entire park, not just the parts of it I may or may not use.

[fla-gypsy]

Terms like "luxury" and "resort" are very subjective and mean nothing.

[Devonm2012]

rk911 wrote:

Devonm2012 wrote:
We live fulltime on the road and so far have visited 22 or 23 states. Having a wonderful time. However, as I was walking the campground this morning, drinking my coffee, I began to wonder "When does the campground description go from stretching the truth to something more like a lie?" I am not going to name the park we are in, as I am not posting a complaint, just thinking aloud.

This campground advertises itself as a "Luxury Resort". Now, I know we have all stayed at luxury resorts. We have stayed at lots of them. We don't necessarily search them out, but if we come across one, we like to stay. Buckhorn outside of San Antonio, Bella Terra in Foley, AL, Crown Villa in Bend, OR, Portal RV Resort in UT, etc. This place has NO paved roads, lots of dust, sites are fairly close, have seen many large rigs with front tires off the ground, you have to pay to use the showers, the Internet is basically non-existent (even close to the office), the pool is not heated, staff not knowledgeable nor very friendly, etc. Again, this is a decent little campground but, in our opinion, not even close to being a resort and most certainly not a "luxury resort".

Just find this very interesting. Please don't slam on me ~ I am just thinking aloud here and we are happy with our site.

one person's luxury resort in another's dump. it's all about expectations. most of the park's we've been in over the years have had better-than-most wifi but then our expectations are likely lower than most. we don't want to stream audio or video...just check mail and some light surfing. same with the parks. if it's clean, the hookups work as expected and the neighbors are reasonable we're happy.

I don't do anything online but check email and Facebook, but can't even do that here. Nothing loads.

[ctpres]

"Resort" "false ad" It is up to us to spread the word. Seems a business could do more damage than good by trying to elevate status. I am more likely to say bad things about a park that took my reservation/money by leading me to believe I am headed for a fantastic park only to find a dump. I understand dirty showers will happen - but not rundown. rvparkreviews, woodalls etc are necessary tools in the camping kit.

[Dog_Folks]

wny_pat wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:
Some use the words "luxury"and "resort" to raise the prices.

Personally if I see those two words, I stay away, as I will not use any of the "amenities" and don't want to pay for them.

I live near a campground that calls its self a "RV Resort". Has no real amenities. Does not even have a pool. No cement or blacktop slabs. They do have fire rings, picnic tables, volleyball, horseshoe pits, a rec hall, showers, and laundry. Sites have 20, 30, and 50 amp electric and chlorinated water. They only charge $29 a night, and they also charge $10 to dump. I certainly do not call it a Resort, but the $29 a night is not bad for what you get. But it is in a big open field with no trees! Nice public golf course near by.

There are "exceptions" to every "rule." You have found one.

[msmith1199]

I think in most cases you can just assume the advertising is a lie. Nobody is going to advertise their RV park as a dump, even though many are. What I typically do first if it is a place I've never stayed, is check the Google Earth photo of the place. You can tell from that if the roads are paved, how much space between the sites, and how far they really are from attractions. For example there is park named Monterey Vacation RV Park. Their website says they are near Monterey and just minutes from the coast. In fact they are 30 miles from Monterey and the closest ocean access is 15 miles. Not knocking the park because it is a decent place, but their name and advertising give the people the impression that this is a coastal RV park and it's not. It's way inland and right next to the freeway.

[wny_pat1]

Dog Folks wrote:
Some use the words "luxury"and "resort" to raise the prices.

Personally if I see those two words, I stay away, as I will not use any of the "amenities" and don't want to pay for them.

I live near a campground that calls its self a "RV Resort". Has no real amenities. Does not even have a pool. No cement or blacktop slabs. They do have fire rings, picnic tables, volleyball, horseshoe pits, a rec hall, showers, and laundry. Sites have 20, 30, and 50 amp electric and chlorinated water. They only charge $29 a night, and they also charge $10 to dump. I certainly do not call it a Resort, but the $29 a night is not bad for what you get. But it is in a big open field with no trees! Nice public golf course near by.

[Eycom]

Relatively speaking, I spect my expectations are a lil bit low. Over the years, perhaps I've spent too much of my work related extended travel staying in government campgrounds and on as rare occasion as possible, Passport America parks. Today, I don't move as far in one day as I used to and I can't seem to get out of that "walk-up" mentality I developed over the years. I still prefer the natural ambiance of government parks, but occasionally, need to avail myself of a monthly rate at commercial parks while visiting family or doctors. RV Park Reviews serves as one of my locators and makes for interesting reading. But for me, nothing beats a walk-through... not even a park with "Resort" in the name.

[Campfire_Time]

It can also be relative to what else is in the area. If that's a "luxury resort", maybe the neighboring RV parks are even worse.

[Dog_Folks]

Some use the words "luxury"and "resort" to raise the prices.

Personally if I see those two words, I stay away, as I will not use any of the "amenities" and don't want to pay for them.

I once asked a realtor what was the difference between a "duplex" and a Carriage house" because they looked the same to me.

His response: "No difference except $10,000 in price."

[wallynm]

Park Review Clicky

afrescop wrote:
I use rvparkreviews.com for the most accurate RV park information. After we stay at a park I go to this web site and post my opinion of that park. It is the one place where you can read user posted opinions.

[TucsonJim]

Hey all - Thanks for the "RVPARKREVIEWS" website. I didn't know about that one.