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How do you guys look for RV Parks?

CrystalRVTX
Explorer
Explorer
Hello all,

just seeing how much people go on about looking for an RV Park? I'm not advertising my park or anything, just seeing the best way to market.

I'm assuming most people just google it? Or do other people use facebook and/or yelp(yahoo??).

Do you guys look at billboards with RV Park ads or is it mainly online now?

Edit:
additional question - what is really important when you are staying at an RV park? what are your definite "YES I WANT TO STAY HERE vs NO WAY JOSE!" criteria?

Thanks in advanced!
-AK
51 REPLIES 51

westernrvparkow
Explorer
Explorer
jplante4 wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
We now average one review for every 400 guests on both RVparkreviews and Trip Advisor. We don't have any control over how many reviews there are or how recent those reviews are. We actually have seen reviews drop in volume over the past few years.


At the airport we give a Trip Advisor card to everyone that takes a scenic flight. We get a pretty good response, somewhere in the 50% range. I don't know if it's the card or the experience.

Stick 'n Rudder
Neat business. I was just in Chatham a few months ago. Lucky for you I didn't take a flight with you, because I would probably leave a bad review just because the Cape Cod traffic would make Mother Teresa punch out the Pope. And that is the reason I don't push for more reviews from my guests. I am completely sour on all review sites.
I have seen reviews that are not reviews of the business being reviewed. It doesn't make my day to see my park get a "1" because my pool is full of green slime, especially when I don't have a pool. Don't rave about the park and then give it a five out of ten because you don't like the smell of the bathroom soap. You know we require pets to be on leashes and we can't allow campfires when there are burn bans, so don't thrash us because of those rules. Do you really think we encourage the occasional snake to grace our grounds? We may charge more than you want to pay, but we are priced smack dab in the center of what is charged in our area. The fact we charge the going market rate like everyone else doesn't make us greedy criminals.
And finally, if you don't like something we say or do, don't make up a bunch of false claims when you point it out. Saying we wouldn't move someone out of a site so you could have a better view is fine if that is what you really believe we should do and give us whatever score you think that is worth. But don't follow that up by falsely saying the manager was too busy snorting cocaine and beating his wife to remove the carcasses of the dogs he just shot off the site you were assigned. When the park has good review after good review it is pretty clear you are just being vindictive if you have a laundry list of ills that no one else in 10 years has mentioned.
Long story short, I couldn't care less if I never have another review of my parks posted, good or bad.

allen8106
Explorer
Explorer
donn0128 wrote:
Rv park review is my go to thing.


ditto
2010 Eagle Super Lite 315RLDS
2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD 6.6L Duramax

2010 Nights 45
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2019 Nights 76
2020 Nights 68

Oasisbob
Explorer
Explorer
I do some on line research when going to a new area reading reviews. I make a list in priority of reviews. When we were young we just winged it. After spending a night in a parking lot and another in a park right next to a fast food drive through, you want fries with that? , we learned to plan ahead
Oasis Bob
Wonderful wife 3 of 4 kids at home. 1 proudly serving in USAF
2018 Ford Explorer
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HAPPY TRAILS:)

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Explorer
I'm not advertising my park or anything, just seeing the best way to market.


And you'all just got sucked in to trollsville!

Irregardless of the disclaimer in post (which actually just brings more attention to the fact it is an advertising post}. How many of you clicked on his website listed on his profile?

just joined 11/15/2017
link to his website on profile

He's not asking for how we look for CG's, he just got a free advertising ad for his CG to over 7,000 readers on RVnet forum. This is a very common trick. don't list the link on the post, put the link in the profile and you don't get caught for violating forum rules. :R

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

2012Coleman
Explorer II
Explorer II
CrystalRVTX wrote:
Wow, thanks for the overwhelming amount of responses!

We've been advertising on google but the different sites are a good way to branch out!

I guess, what is really important when you are staying at an RV park? what are your definite "YES I WANT TO STAY HERE vs NO WAY JOSE!" criteria?
I google the park and look at pictures. In your case, I could determine the name of your park from your user name, and also found your website link in your profile. So, sorry to say, to me, yours would be a "NO WAY JOSE!" due to the fact that there are no trees, no privacy, and you are packing them in like sardines. Might be OK for an overnight.

You may want to Read This specifically #1.

I do like your sign though. Good luck.
Experience without good judgment is worthless; good judgment without experience is still good judgment!

2018 RAM 3500 Big Horn CTD
2018 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

Itching2go
Explorer II
Explorer II
Allstays, backed up with RVparkreviews for us when we're on the road. On travel days, we don't know just how far we're going to go until the afternoon, so don't look for park options until then.

As for what we're looking for... For over-night stays, we go by the description on Allstays and feedback/reviews on RVparkreviews, looking for a location that isn't to far off of our route, preferably pull-thru's for easy in/out, and to some extent, price. Amenities don't matter that much to us as we're there for just an evening. We never stay at a place that is less than 3 stars on a 5 star scale based on reviews, and target 4/5 star parks when available at a decent price.

For extended stays, we look for the quality and size of the sites, including things like wooded settings and privacy. If longer than a week or so, full hook ups are required. Price is also a factor, of course, but we are fortunate enough that we can afford to pay top dollar if the park and site quality warrants it. Amenities are factored in as minor benefits for us as we don't require campground showers, bathrooms, or laundry facilities. A pool is a nice-to-have in warm climates, but lack of one is not a deal-breaker.

Note that we are a retired couple that spends around 6 months of the year traveling around the country. No kids, furry or otherwise, so dog parks, playground facilities, etc, are not factors for us.

Hope this helps...
2008 Jayco Designer 35RLSA pulled by a 2007 Chevy 3500 D/A SRW

ncrowley
Explorer II
Explorer II
We use RV Park Reviews on every trip. If you read the reviews, you get a pretty good idea of the good and the bad. You can then decide if the park will work for you.
Nancy
Newmar Northern Star

jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
westernrvparkowner wrote:
We now average one review for every 400 guests on both RVparkreviews and Trip Advisor. We don't have any control over how many reviews there are or how recent those reviews are. We actually have seen reviews drop in volume over the past few years.


At the airport we give a Trip Advisor card to everyone that takes a scenic flight. We get a pretty good response, somewhere in the 50% range. I don't know if it's the card or the experience.

Stick 'n Rudder
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
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2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

mowermech
Explorer
Explorer
Like bigred1cav (I could call myself "tropiclightningdivarty" if I wanted to), I do not look for "amenities", I look for ease of access, price, low lighting, and fairly quiet. We often look at Woodalls to find a park when on the road. Very seldom do we use internet sites, and we seldom post reviews on any internet site.
CM1, USN (RET)
2017 Jayco TT
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jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
I did the same thing as 2gypsies - looked on RV Park Reviews. You have some stiff competition down there, with several parks above 7.5 and a few 10s. I tend to ignore reviews with fewer than 5 reviews and if there are no reviews within the last 6 months or if there are no reviews for the time of the year I'll be there. So with that in mind Bayou Bend is the only review I'd trust that the 10 is real.

I guess, what is really important when you are staying at an RV park? what are your definite "YES I WANT TO STAY HERE vs NO WAY JOSE!" criteria?


To Stay:
1. In an area where I want to stay. If I'm picking an overnight, this isn't all that important, but we tend to stay at a park for 4-7 days and we like RV parks that are near scenic areas.
2. RV Park Review > 7.5 after throwing out the high and low and recent reviews.
3. S/W/E. Cable is a plus but not necessary. We do't care about WiFi because we use a cellular hotspot. Even when there is WiFi, we find it's so slow that Verizon is almost always better.
4. Reaonable price.

No Way Jose
1. We won't pay more than about $75 a night. If the park is spectacular and the area is someplace we really, really like, we may waive this requirement. Check out Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort for the kind of place we would waive the $75 a night rule.
2. Park reviews says "a lot of seasonals". I know they pay your bills, but in most places they form cliques and outsiders are not made to feel welcome.
3. RV Park Review rating < 6.0
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

bigred1cav
Explorer
Explorer
Mostly by cost. I do not need pools playgrounds etc. I want clean quite, safe reasonable costs. I am not a camper I am a tourist that takes my hotel room with me. If I am long term I want full hookups, clean water effective sewer and non surge reliable amperage. I sometimes use park bathroom not often. I use internet search then ask for reviews and look at photo's I disregard 50% of photo's as BS due to hyped images. Nothing looks as the photo's when you get there. I abhor listening to drunks or others choice of music.


CrystalRVTX wrote:
Hello all,

just seeing how much people go on about looking for an RV Park? I'm not advertising my park or anything, just seeing the best way to market.

I'm assuming most people just google it? Or do other people use facebook and/or yelp(yahoo??).

Do you guys look at billboards with RV Park ads or is it mainly online now?

Edit:
additional question - what is really important when you are staying at an RV park? what are your definite "YES I WANT TO STAY HERE vs NO WAY JOSE!" criteria?

Thanks in advanced!
-AK

CrystalRVTX
Explorer
Explorer
2gypsies wrote:
Here is the listing in RV Park Reviews for Baytown, Texas. No one has done a review of your park if your park's name is Crystal Lake RV.

***Link Removed***

Again, I don't know if Crystal Lake RV is your park. However, I 'Googled' Crystal Lake RV and the only things that are in the description are the Wifi and roomy sites. Does the park have any other amenities such as a clubhouse, activities, laundry or even a bath/shower house? Families are mentioned but is there a playground? Pool? Listing everything is what folks would be looking for.

Perhaps the park near you that has more business also has more amenities.


Yeah, doesn't look like the park is listed there. I'll register it so it can appear.

We have work to do to make our park more attractive so I guess once we completed the work (hopefully end of this year) I can list it on the site and that should drive traffic up.

Thanks again for all the input, really appreciate it!

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Explorer III
Here is the listing in RV Park Reviews for Baytown, Texas. No one has done a review of your park if your park's name is Crystal Lake RV.

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/texas/baytown

Again, I don't know if Crystal Lake RV is your park. However, I 'Googled' Crystal Lake RV and the only things that are in the description are the Wifi and roomy sites. Does the park have any other amenities such as a clubhouse, activities, laundry or even a bath/shower house? Families are mentioned but is there a playground? Pool? Listing everything is what folks would be looking for.

Perhaps the park near you that has more business also has more amenities.

Also, from the pictures of the web site it appears that the park might be for permanent tenants, not for transients.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

CrystalRVTX
Explorer
Explorer
Wow, thanks for the overwhelming amount of responses!

We've been advertising on google but the different sites are a good way to branch out!

I guess, what is really important when you are staying at an RV park? what are your definite "YES I WANT TO STAY HERE vs NO WAY JOSE!" criteria?

OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
Explorer
Human nature is good intentions and lack of follow through on nonwork items. I've left reviews but it tends to be at the best places or worst places. I still regret not giving a negative review in CT that was by far the worst park I've ever been to. I won't do it now that it's been three years.

We all need to do more reviews if we want recent reviews.
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F-250 6.2 Gasser

Former PUP camper (Rockwood Popup Freedom 1980)