Membership RV Parks & Discount Camping Clubs, by Alice Zyetz (continued from Page 1)
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Alice
Zyetz and Jaimie Hall have
been RVing fulltime with their husbands
for more than ten years each. Together
they have published two books on the
RV Lifestyle: RECIPROCAL RV RESORT COMPANIES
You must belong to a membership park that will then offer, for an additional amount (usually less than $100 a year), the opportunity to join one of these organizations. For approximately $6 to $8 per night, members can stay in one of a network of membership parks throughout the country. Read the fine print. Available spaces, number of nights, and distance from your home park may be limited. Rentals are available at some resorts. Some of the most popular of these companies are:
- Coast to Coast (1000+ resorts)
- Resort
Parks International (RPI) (350+ RV & hotel resorts)
DISCOUNT CLUBS
For a minimal annual amount (approx. $45), you pay 50% of the nightly charge at a large number of private parks throughout North America. The advantage is that the new RVer is only risking a one-year minimal investment if this option doesn't suit. Again, read the fine print. Some parks have limitations on weekends, holidays, or during high seasons. The most popular currently is Passport America, with more than 1065 participating campgrounds in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Happy Camper Club (recommended by RoadTrip America) provides a 50% discount at 970 campgrounds, and Recreation USA, which offers a $10-per-night rate at over 300 campgrounds in the United States.
"USED" MEMBERSHIPS
THINGS
TO THINK ABOUT To decide what membership is
right for you, consider what camping experiences you are
looking for and then do a great deal of exploring to find
the right one. PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE As full-timers for almost ten
years, my husband and I enjoyed our membership in Thousand
Trails when we wanted to take a break from boondocking. We
would look forward to our two-week stints as our luxury: plenty
of water, electricity, and trashcans. We never took a site
with sewer hookups because they were too close to other rigs
and didn't have enough of a natural view for us. Instead,
we emptied our tanks when we came in and dumped again when
we left. As part of my research for this column, I asked other
full-timers what membership campground companies they are
currently using. Those who responded enjoy Passport America.
Here are two more excellent
Web sites that will direct you to many others. Just like
everything else, do your research on the 'Net first, and be
sure to talk to other RVers. Benefit from their experience,
but always figure each person's bias into the equation! Alice Zyetz
A
number of companies resell memberships for the membership
parks at reduced prices. Individuals also advertise their
own re-sales. This can be a good deal, but check with the
particular membership campground to see if they will honor
the resale and whether there is an additional processing fee.
What
time of year do you plan to travel? Are you willing
to plan ahead? Many membership campgrounds are busy during
weekends and holiday periods. Public campgrounds for discount
coupons may not apply during popular seasons, weekends,
and special holidays. Be sure to check.
May 16, 2004
(Updated June 13, 2021, RTA)
