The RVer's Open Forum

Swirve.com Links: Swirve.com Free Email Games Fantasy Sports E-Cards Movies Horoscopes Freebies Web Search

NOTICE: Beginning July 10th, 2008, this message board service will no longer be active or available for use.

The RVer's Open Forum / GENERAL RV DISCUSSIONS / Camp Memberships?

Jan
User ID: 2024664 Mar 31st 7:28 PM
We just bought our first! A 5th wheel. I see a lot about camp memberships, and would like opinions as to whether it's the way to go. Feedback?
Jan

tk
User ID: 9892733 Apr 1st 9:19 AM
The answer depends on how often you will use their facilities. I inherited my dad's Thousand Trails membership, which cost us $400/year. In the 4 years that we have had it, we have only used their campgrounds enough in one year for that dues to have been a good deal.
However, I will be retiring as soon as I get through the estate mess that my mother left us when she died, and then I believe TT will be a good deal as we hope to travel 4-8 months/year for awhile.

One of the advantages of membership campgrounds is that most of them are part of either RPI or Coast to Coast, which gives you lots of choices at very reasonable nightly charges, AND you don't need to worry about paying a lot of money to stay in the camps WHEN you are using the system.
And the membership camps can have more amenities than many of the private parks, especially TT.

The disadvantage is that we will sometimes go to a membership camp because it is free, instead of a camp that has a better location or view, such as a State Park.

If you travel over 2 months per year, or want the amenities that a membership park offers, I think they are worth being a part of.
We always enjoy our TT parks, even if some years I only use them 1-2 weeks per year.

Mike
Administrator Apr 1st 10:14 AM
Suggested reading for anyone owning or thinking of buying a 'campground membership'.

http://www.natlassoc.org/

Mike

Jan
User ID: 2024664 Apr 1st 5:31 PM
Thanks tk and Mike! We have no idea how often we will use it at this point. Hopefully long weekends and vacations, as well as NASCAR. Lots of good points to consider, tk. Thanks for the website Mike. I'll check it out.
Jan

cheapcamper
User ID: 1028194 Jul 14th 6:16 PM
I'm thinking about joining PPA and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them. Are they just out for your money? Do you get a computer voice whenever you call for support?

Ram
Administrator Jul 14th 6:16 PM
My wife and I have belonged to PPA for good number of years and it has been extremely easy to use. Of all the PPA parks we've stayed at, most have been well-run and well-maintained. Best of all, the price was right! The system works quite well, especially if you're only going to be a a park for 1 or 2 nights. Our membership paid for itself within the first 2 weeks. I've never gotten a computer voice when I've called. If you call during the day, ask for Tiffany. Nice lady. Good luck.

Mike
User ID: 1564944 Dec 10th 12:49 AM
Im new to this, can you tell me what the PPA is?

Ram
Administrator Dec 10th 12:15 PM

PPA is "PassPort America". It's a membership camping association which has approximately 400+/- campgrounds in their directory. These campgrounds all offer 1/2 price camping to PPA members, but may have restrictions such as "During the week only" or "No Holidays", et al.

It's a very good deal for RVers because it's very likely that a person may recoup their initial outlay during the first 2 or 3 nights of camping at one of their parks. I'm sure you'll find that many people will recommend their system to you. Good luck.

BobMcNabb
User ID: 8437443 Dec 24th 12:44 PM
For the $40 that Passport America charges, you can't make a mistake! Many of the parks are also "Good Neighbor" parks in the Coast-to-Coast system.

There are two key elements to joining other clubs (like C2C) and that goes back to the basic question "How often are you going to use it?" The followup question has to be "Where are those parks located?" We've seldom been to Coast-to-Coast parks to the extent that we're "ahead of the game" so far as cost per year. We'll continue to remain members, but we'd have saved money had we never joined.

Great magazine, tho!

Jan User ID: 2024664	Mar 31st 7:28 PM We just bought our first! A 5th wheel. I see a lot about camp memberships, and would like opinions as to whether it's the way to go. Feedback? Jan
tk User ID: 9892733	Apr 1st 9:19 AM The answer depends on how often you will use their facilities. I inherited my dad's Thousand Trails membership, which cost us $400/year. In the 4 years that we have had it, we have only used their campgrounds enough in one year for that dues to have been a good deal. However, I will be retiring as soon as I get through the estate mess that my mother left us when she died, and then I believe TT will be a good deal as we hope to travel 4-8 months/year for awhile. One of the advantages of membership campgrounds is that most of them are part of either RPI or Coast to Coast, which gives you lots of choices at very reasonable nightly charges, AND you don't need to worry about paying a lot of money to stay in the camps WHEN you are using the system. And the membership camps can have more amenities than many of the private parks, especially TT. The disadvantage is that we will sometimes go to a membership camp because it is free, instead of a camp that has a better location or view, such as a State Park. If you travel over 2 months per year, or want the amenities that a membership park offers, I think they are worth being a part of. We always enjoy our TT parks, even if some years I only use them 1-2 weeks per year.
Mike Administrator	Apr 1st 10:14 AM Suggested reading for anyone owning or thinking of buying a 'campground membership'. http://www.natlassoc.org/ Mike
Jan User ID: 2024664	Apr 1st 5:31 PM Thanks tk and Mike! We have no idea how often we will use it at this point. Hopefully long weekends and vacations, as well as NASCAR. Lots of good points to consider, tk. Thanks for the website Mike. I'll check it out. Jan
cheapcamper User ID: 1028194	Jul 14th 6:16 PM I'm thinking about joining PPA and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them. Are they just out for your money? Do you get a computer voice whenever you call for support?
Ram Administrator	Jul 14th 6:16 PM My wife and I have belonged to PPA for good number of years and it has been extremely easy to use. Of all the PPA parks we've stayed at, most have been well-run and well-maintained. Best of all, the price was right! The system works quite well, especially if you're only going to be a a park for 1 or 2 nights. Our membership paid for itself within the first 2 weeks. I've never gotten a computer voice when I've called. If you call during the day, ask for Tiffany. Nice lady. Good luck.
Mike User ID: 1564944	Dec 10th 12:49 AM Im new to this, can you tell me what the PPA is?
Ram Administrator	Dec 10th 12:15 PM PPA is "PassPort America". It's a membership camping association which has approximately 400+/- campgrounds in their directory. These campgrounds all offer 1/2 price camping to PPA members, but may have restrictions such as "During the week only" or "No Holidays", et al. It's a very good deal for RVers because it's very likely that a person may recoup their initial outlay during the first 2 or 3 nights of camping at one of their parks. I'm sure you'll find that many people will recommend their system to you. Good luck.
BobMcNabb User ID: 8437443	Dec 24th 12:44 PM For the $40 that Passport America charges, you can't make a mistake! Many of the parks are also "Good Neighbor" parks in the Coast-to-Coast system. There are two key elements to joining other clubs (like C2C) and that goes back to the basic question "How often are you going to use it?" The followup question has to be "Where are those parks located?" We've seldom been to Coast-to-Coast parks to the extent that we're "ahead of the game" so far as cost per year. We'll continue to remain members, but we'd have saved money had we never joined. Great magazine, tho!