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02-03-2018, 02:52 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 39
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Florida state parks...
good evening,
we are trying for the first time to reserve sites in FL state parks for next winter and it's getting really frustrating. we know we can book 11 months in advance and we are flexible on dates but every morning at precisely 0800am we log in and no go, it's always sold out. Any feedback or advice would be appreciated. The parks we are looking to book are John Pennecamp, Bahia Honda and Curry Hammock mainly because of good diving locations.
thanks!
JL
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02-03-2018, 03:39 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Columbia
Posts: 76
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I know we are in an online world but if it were me I would try the phone, they could give you the best advise.
__________________
2018 Sprinter 334FWFLS, towed by a 2017 F-250 6.2, SC, LB, and a Reese 18K hitch.
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02-03-2018, 05:15 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northeast Florida/Southeast Maine
Posts: 784
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Welcome to ReserveAmerica! It's best to call - we've had little luck with their on-line system, too. And be careful, there's a hefty cancellation charge - so be sure of your dates.
If you decide to spend the night in NE FL as you enter the state (it's a long drive to the Keys) consider Hanna Park; it's a City park right on the ocean. I know there's an on-line reservation system but we've never tried it as the last time we stayed there we could call in direct to the park to reserve our spot.
__________________
Now: 2019 Winnebago 2500FL w/e2 WDH;Sold: 2015 Bullet Premier 19FBPR (shown)
2012 Ford F-250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab (gas 6.2 L, 3.73 gear ratio 2WD, 172" WB)
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02-04-2018, 03:05 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 39
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called the parks but they can't help and said to call reserve America. tried calling them for hours with no luck. What I found weird is that before 0800am there is a few sites available online which I can't book before 0800am and when I try at 8 sharp, there are gone....
So I guess we'll book a private overcrowded campground and pay 3 times the price of a state park.
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02-04-2018, 03:24 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
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JeLo,
Make reservations at that expensive private campground, but keep trying to book reservations where you really want to camp. Maybe, maybe not a site will come open when you're able to book it. If so, you can always cancel the private CG reservations. Even if you have a small cancellation fee, at 3 times the price, you'll still save money.
Don't give up, keep trying and "maybe".....
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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02-04-2018, 03:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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This has been the norm since most state & national parks went to Reserve America, but they've saved money not paying someone locally to man the phones. If you show up 1/2 the park will be empty , but still nothing available.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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02-04-2018, 05:25 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Georgia
Posts: 104
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My husband and I went through this last year to book a site at Bahia Honda. We'd have different sites ready to hit Submit on two different computers exactly at 8 a.m. Problem is that many others are doing the same. We've heard that some people even hire others to do it for them... It took us three months of doing it daily to finally score a site.
Another issue is that some of the S. FL parks are still closed following Hurricane Irma. Only one loop of Bahia Honda (and also the cabins) is currently open. Long Key SP is still closed to camping. This puts extra pressure on those trying to find camping reservations in the Keys.
__________________
Beth and Joe
2017 Keystone Bullet 248RKS
2013 Ram 1500 HEMI
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02-04-2018, 06:03 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Newnan
Posts: 16
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Good luck!
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02-05-2018, 11:38 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Asheville
Posts: 56
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We have booked twice through reserve America for site in Florida SP....both for different locations in the panhandle....didnt have any issues....as others mentioned, stick at it
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02-05-2018, 03:04 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 144
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I found that with Reserve America you need to have your site selected before the online time to make a reservation and then about 1 or 2 secs before 8am, start hitting the reserve button and you may get lucky.
I do hear you about sites being empty for days when it says full. This is particularly frustrating in RI and until the parks start cracking down on people making reservations and not showing up, nothing will change.
__________________
2016 Chevy 2500HD Duramax LTZ Z71 double cab long bed
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi (with K&N Air Intake) (traded)
2012 Rockwood 2109S (SOLD)
2014 Cougar X-Lite 21RBS
His & Hers 2016 Vespa Sprint 150's
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02-05-2018, 04:16 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: kissimmee,florida
Posts: 95
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I live in Florida and i can not get a site in the keys. The problem isn't the reservation system. People are "gaming" the system! after many hours of research i found a few facts.
First you can reserve a site in-person 1 year ahead of time therefore the site doesn't become available online. This years campers are already paying for next year.
Second there are a few "camping clubs" that reserve the sites electronically and then resell them within there club by changing the reservation information.
The real problem is you can spend the winter in the keys real cheap at the state park compared to staying at a private campground and now that a few are closed the private campground prices are going up.
In my opinion they should increase the rates, have a no refund policy, limit your stay to 2 weeks a year by your license plate and only take reservation online.
At least others like you and me could have a shot
This is not a isolated problem. They have the same issues with Yellowstone and few other popular parks
__________________
Barb & Kev & Missie (lab mix rescue dog)
2017 F350 DRW 6.7 4X4 24K Anderson ultimate
2009 Cougar 320SRX 1995 Custom Fatboy
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02-06-2018, 08:53 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 177
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Like First Time Fiver, I too live in Florida. This isn't really a new problem. Been happening for years. We love our Snow Birds to death (especially the $$$ they pump into the Florida economy), but finding a spot most anywhere during snow bird season can be a real challenge. So much so, that we usually park the rig and do the maintenance and upkeep stuff until they drift back north usually in late March or April.
__________________
2017 Ram 3500 Dually
2017 Montana High Country 310RE
B&W Patriot Hitch
Love the smell of fresh coffee & diesel in the morning!
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02-06-2018, 09:22 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 39
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I got lucky this morning and was able to book a site at the Curry hammock park for 14 days! I probably hit that ''book now'' button 100 times between 0800 and 0801!!!
JL
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02-17-2018, 05:41 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stockton
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SummitPond
Welcome to ReserveAmerica! It's best to call - we've had little luck with their on-line system, too. And be careful, there's a hefty cancellation charge - so be sure of your dates.
If you decide to spend the night in NE FL as you enter the state (it's a long drive to the Keys) consider Hanna Park; it's a City park right on the ocean. I know there's an on-line reservation system but we've never tried it as the last time we stayed there we could call in direct to the park to reserve our spot.
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This is just the beginning of an exchange I had with someone on FB yesterday. For a fee he is offering reservations at any park on the Reserve America web site. I have the entire conversation if anyone is interested. He actually wanted my log in info and credit card number. What I got from it is that it is a web café and the entire staff bombards the RA site for all available spots at 759 each morning, Basically scalping state park camping reservations...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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02-17-2018, 08:00 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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And bombarding your credit at the same time!! Surely you didn't fall for this scam?
Hope no one does, I'll make my own reservations THANK YOU!
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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02-17-2018, 08:05 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stockton
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans
And bombarding your credit at the same time!! Surely you didn't fall for this scam?
Hope no one does, I'll make my own reservations THANK YOU!
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Oh, goodness no!
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02-17-2018, 08:34 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 409
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freejack6466
This is just the beginning of an exchange I had with someone on FB yesterday. For a fee he is offering reservations at any park on the Reserve America web site. I have the entire conversation if anyone is interested. He actually wanted my log in info and credit card number. What I got from it is that it is a web café and the entire staff bombards the RA site for all available spots at 759 each morning, Basically scalping state park camping reservations...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Hopefully, you reported this to the state police and state parks dept.
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02-17-2018, 12:01 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stockton
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by madmaxmutt
Hopefully, you reported this to the state police and state parks dept.
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I was told they are aware of this
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02-17-2018, 12:03 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stockton
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freejack6466
I was told they are aware of this
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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02-17-2018, 12:04 PM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stockton
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freejack6466
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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This is just highlights of the exchange...
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