Reserve America

[winnehonda]

Reserve America! What a joke and ripoff. All reservations now charge $6.70 and subject us to an almost mandatory extra charge of Active America or something like that. This used to be a free service! Thoughts? How can this charge be avoided?

[mikestock]

After making a reservation with Reserve America I got hit with a $64.95 charge from "The Active Network". I got in touch with them after I found the charge on my AmEx Jan. 16. When I talked to their agent I asked how this came about and if I failed to uncheck something when making a reservation to Topsail SP. He didn't answer but, became somewhat rude as though offended by the question. He then said something to the effect, "I am refunding your money. What else do you need?"

At a later date I went online with Reserve America to make another reservation. Then, I saw how they route you to this Active Network site and it appears as a final, trivial step to complete your reservation. It is easy, if you aren't careful, to get yourself signed up.

[CKNSLS]

Walaby wrote:
Just made reservations for Memorial Day weekend for a Georgia park on ReserveAmerica.

No additional charge ($26 per day x 3 days = $78)

After paying I got the typical window for access america or whatever it was, just scrolled to the bottom and selected no thanks.

Some states I know charge extra, some don't. I find Reserve America easy to use, and in about 15 minutes, found a place the wife and I can go to on one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Mike

What happens in popular places,especially in California is campers reserve the day (or two) prior to the Holiday-and the day (or two) after the Holiday and then cancel the days on either end and those spots stay empty for those days because who needs them? For example-Memorial Day weekend-They would reserve the Thursday before the weekend and then the Tuesday after the weekend and then cancel.

[Walaby]

Just made reservations for Memorial Day weekend for a Georgia park on ReserveAmerica.

No additional charge ($26 per day x 3 days = $78)

After paying I got the typical window for access america or whatever it was, just scrolled to the bottom and selected no thanks.

Some states I know charge extra, some don't. I find Reserve America easy to use, and in about 15 minutes, found a place the wife and I can go to on one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Mike

[Teamfour]

Fiesta wrote:
Fees in this country are ridicious.

There are 196 other countries in this world (195 if you don't include unofficial Taiwan) that you are welcome to camp in. Probably no fees, but certainly not the type of camping us Americans are used to.

[Gjac]

steveh27 wrote:
I hate RA. Last year I drove into the Everglades National Park & there were plenty of open spots but they said I could not have one unless I went through RA. I had no internet access there & tried calling, but they said all were reserved. The park rangers agreed RA was a disservice to campers & they wished they could do the reservations.

When I went there about 3 years ago the CG never filled up and at that time still had some "first come first served" so I got in no problem. The ranger told me they were going to Reserve America for all sites the following year and told me the same thing that it would be a disservice to campers and the camp ground. I don't see why they can't reserve some sites and keep others open for travelers. In 2006 when I went to Alaska I never made reservation in 3 mos. Sounds like this is getting harder to do.

[Fiesta]

I also hate RA and won't use a park if they use it. Fees in this country are ridicious. They charge a fee for several reservations even done at the same time.
Were finding private parks with the discount clubs are about the same as State Parks. Especially when they charge $5/person or vehicle and then $20-30 for camping. Weekenders at State Parks are rude and noisy.
We've gotten in early on Fridays (11-2 pm) to find open spots with no fee.

[tarnold]

Just made reservation in Ky. State park. $22 for w/e and $7.50 to RA!!! And you still have to go to a person to check in, who could have made the reservation in the first place.

[Dutch_12078]

Florida state parks, like most private parks, hold a no-show paid reservation for the first night of the reserved period, releasing the site at checkout time the following day. If the park does not report no-shows to RA though, the site will not be released since RA has no other way of knowing about it.

[steveh27]

I hate RA. Last year I drove into the Everglades National Park & there were plenty of open spots but they said I could not have one unless I went through RA. I had no internet access there & tried calling, but they said all were reserved. The park rangers agreed RA was a disservice to campers & they wished they could do the reservations.

[fla-gypsy]

In spite of what some candidates think, nothing is ever free. RA works well for me in Florida.

[cyntdon2010]

No, camping is not free or cheap. If $6.70 a big issue you need to stop camping.

we use state campgrounds and prices range from low of $18.00 to $45.00 per day

[2gypsies1]

Corky12 wrote:
Unfortunately a few people making reservations every weekend of the season as soon as the window opened then cancelling a few days beforehand make the cancellation fees necessary. Once again "It's all about me."

X2

We've volunteered in parks and you'd be surprised at all the last minute cancellations that are made. It's expensive and it's inconvenient for the parks.

Think of the people who really wanted a spot in that park who were unable to get it because of those holding on to their reservations until the last minute.

Some folks make multiple reservations and don't show. That's not fair to anyone.

[Gjac]

winnehonda wrote:
Reserve America! What a joke and ripoff. All reservations now charge $6.70 and subject us to an almost mandatory extra charge of Active America or something like that. This used to be a free service! Thoughts? How can this charge be avoided?

I liked it better when CG's were first come first served. The only way to get around it is camping during the week. All the sites are booked on the week ends. I use Reserve America to see what is available during the week for local camping in SP's then show up and stay usually 2 -3 days. When traveling out of state most NF CG's still have some first come first served sites along with Reserve America sites. Although less and less as years go by. Some SP's keep a few site off of Reserve America for people that travel or breakdown. I think if you are still working RA works well, for retired folks that were used to getting a site on Thursday or Friday and checking out Monday not so much.

[dahkota]

I have probably made 30+ reservations in the last three months with ReserveAmerica and not once have I been hit with a mandatory extra charge for Active America. If one pays attention to what one is clicking on, it is easy to avoid it.

As for the service fee, it varies by state, local and federal department, if booking public campgrounds.