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Old 05-13-2015, 05:29 AM   #1
bsmith0404
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Best Park Guide?

Over the past few years I have looked for campgrounds and read reviews. Some times we have been pleased when we arrive, other times we have wondered if this is the same campground we looked at on-line. Some are very good at taking pics for their website. We read other campers reviews as well and try to put some faith in what is said, but just like anything else in life opinions vary. If they were reviewing cars, some would give a Yugo 5 stars.

My question, and I know this will fall into opinions vary as well, but what is the best RV park guide available? Which guide seems to be the most accurate for getting what you actually expected when you arrive?
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Old 05-13-2015, 06:44 AM   #2
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www.campgroundreviews.com is quite popular and fairly comprehensive but, as you pointed out, it is subjective and in some cases, a review of a park by numerous campers can be all over the place.

If there appears to be a trend in a review - almost all "good" or almost all "bad" - that is about as accurate as one can expect. Like a lot of things there are no guarantees.
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Old 05-13-2015, 06:55 AM   #3
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Yeah, we've just been very disappointed with what we've been able to find online. Most recent example and was the straw that broke the camels back and prompted me to start this thread was a drive to Deming, NM. We were looking for something close that would be good for a long weekend or just a quick 3-4 day trip to get out of the house. Deming is only an hour away so after checking the campgrounds online we made the drive to see them in person. WOW! Could not believe any of them received 5 stars, even 4 stars. I would have been hard pressed to give even 3 stars. Maybe it's because of what I consider camping is different from others. I don't see any campground in the shadows of the city and major hotel chains as anything more than an overnight stop on the way through. To see people give 4-5 stars for week or longer stays just amazes me, especially when you're paying $50 or more per night. What also REALLY amazed me was that they were able to take pics of the "resort" without showing the run down neighboring buildings/closed businesses.
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Old 05-13-2015, 08:01 AM   #4
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There's a difference in "travel trailer sites" and "camping sites". Many of today's RV'ers are young adults, many with young children are looking for sites that provide an extension of home: Cable TV, WiFi, playgrounds, adult entertainment, no mud or sand, easy access with pull through sites, patio with a firepit and all within a few miles of their "reason for the trip" (whether it's an amusement park, a beach or another destination). Many of these RV'ers leave their "camper" to play all day and use it only as a place to fix meals, check email, let the kids unwind with a movie and sleep. They want what they left at home, just in a different location, close to the attractions that created the desire for that trip.

Then there's the RV'er who is looking for a "camping site." Level, quiet, "space between rigs", hookups if available. A place to spend a day or longer away from home. They don't need what they left at home, just some solitude, a quiet morning cup of coffee, maybe a fire/maybe not. Just a place to park their "comfortable bed, warm place when it's raining and a convenient kitchen to prepare meals.

It's hard for an "rv parking lot" to provide for both types of RV'ers and still turn a profit. Some of the most "praised" RV "campgrounds" are those at places like Disney, 6 Flags, Cedar Point and large casinos. They provide a "parking lot advantage" complete with the destination for the family and all the amenities. It's a "stark contrast" to the rustic state park with quarter acre sites, dirt/gravel pads, mosquitoes, limited or no hookups, but stars at night, and solitude, even before "quiet hours"..... That contrast is evident in the $100+ per night charges vs the $13 State Forest Campground charge.

Two very different environments for RV use. One is "camping" the other is probably better described as "RVing".

Many of today's RV review sites seem to place more emphasis on the technology availability than on the camping features. They seldom touch on whether or not there's enough space to open the awning AND slides, more focused on length of the site. It seems the first features described are "cable, TV, WiFi, amount of concrete, size of campground store, food availability and proximity to major highways. Much further down the list are noise level, space, and potential for a restful stay. Seems to me the emphasis has changed from ambience to amenities.

Resorting to "old technology" (printed paper) is what we've decided works for us. Back when Woodall's Directory was printed (before the merger with Good Sam), their "short and sweet assessment" was usually pretty accurate. We've got an outdated Woodall's that we still pack around. I think it's a 1998 edition ??? Anyway, we find campgrounds online, then confirm what Woodall's has to say. We've avoided a few mistakes that way, but as I said, it's "old technology", complete with sometimes "outdated" reviews from "before the technology driven requirements."
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Old 05-13-2015, 08:28 AM   #5
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Deming was a good example of how a five star rating can go downhill pretty fast. Having been to Deming before, I Google Earthed the RV park sites beforehand and decided we would stay somewhere else. Other than the Adobe Deli restaurant out of town, which is truly good, I would pass it by.

Google Earth is a good resource for a "visual" on the prospective location. I also use the RVParky and Passport America apps on the iPad for a cross reference.

BTW...If you're a pilot passing through, the FBO at Deming airport will provide a free, overnight loaner car to get around while you're there. Between the fuel price in the past, the loaner car, the Holiday Inn and the Adobe Deli, Deming is a good overnight.
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Old 05-13-2015, 08:54 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
There's a difference in "travel trailer sites" and "camping sites".
Very well stated.
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Old 05-13-2015, 09:32 AM   #7
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Everything is subjective when it has to do with campgrounds - that is a review is in the eyes of the beholder --- and for the subject of this thread.

I use about as many sources as I can reasonably find in a fairly short period of time on an internet search. I do use the now becoming useless Woodall's as a starting point, then go into a state guide, RV Park Reviews then look at Google Earth. Woodall's reviews are at least a year old, RV Park Reviews - some of them are older then my oldest grandchild (19!!) and no longer relevant and even Google may be a couple years old. Yep, even then we have 'screwed up' and a reason that I'll only make a 2 day, max, reservation unless we already know the CG. We have pulled out early several times and lost one or two days fees which is not a welcome part of RV wandering, but better then listening to drunks party until the wee hours or the next door 150 pound mutt bark for hours
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Old 05-13-2015, 10:35 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Dave W View Post
Everything is subjective when it has to do with campgrounds - that is a review is in the eyes of the beholder --- and for the subject of this thread.

I use about as many sources as I can reasonably find in a fairly short period of time on an internet search. I do use the now becoming useless Woodall's as a starting point, then go into a state guide, RV Park Reviews then look at Google Earth. Woodall's reviews are at least a year old, RV Park Reviews - some of them are older then my oldest grandchild (19!!) and no longer relevant and even Google may be a couple years old. Yep, even then we have 'screwed up' and a reason that I'll only make a 2 day, max, reservation unless we already know the CG. We have pulled out early several times and lost one or two days fees which is not a welcome part of RV wandering, but better then listening to drunks party until the wee hours or the next door 150 pound mutt bark for hours
Dave,

You make a very valid point. No matter how carefully you review the information available and no matter how good the facility may be, there's always the occasional "immediate problem" that simply won't be "valid next week" or even "tomorrow". Occasionally even the best, most careful planning can fail to identify a problem with the next door neighbor or their drinking habits or pets. One can only hope that the facility management would take action to fix these "temporary" problems. If not, then even the most accurate review wouldn't have helped. We've left a couple of times in situations like you describe, but fortunately, they are a miniscule part of our travels.
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