bad experience

[ekimfaf]

To All Campers,
If anyone is going to the Deadwood S. D. area my advice to you is not to stay at the Fish&Fry campground. My wife and i just got back from a 13 State trip was our worst experience of the 7000 mile vacation. If you don't mind getting kicked out of a facility for voicing your opinion then you won't mind going to this campground.

[whodo]

Be sure and post a complete review of your experience at http://www.rvparkreviews.com/index.html so that everyone we be forewarned.

[afchap]

How about a little info on what exactly happened to you there?

[ekimfaf]

The incident all started over a pay shower that was not working and i went and complained. A argument started because, 1-he did not believe i put in as much money as i said and 2- he certianly did not like me arguing back. I believe after talking to his wife, they did not like the fact that my wife and i used passport america for a discount, because she said that they had already had talked the P.A. people about the fact that the P.A. card holders have been a problem in the past. My wife and I are 60 yrs old and just finished a 7000 mile 13 State trip and we never had problem with anyone else.

[afchap]

ekimaf

Thanks for the followup. That helps draw the picture. Sounds like a good place to avoid on our swing through SD.

[frank]

Thanks for the information!! My wife and I are taking a long trip next year and looked at this CG as a stop. We were also looking at Passport America for a discount prgram.

We will now re-think both!!

[afchap]

We've used Passport America several time over the past nine months. I wouldn't avoid them because of a bad campground that uses them to draw customers. It would be interesting to know if PA does anything in response to a report of such behavior.

[phyllen]

I have had nothing but good experiences when using PA. I would not let one bad experience, stop me from trying again.

[valandste]

We are PA members and have mixed opinions of the camprounds. We stayed in one in Kissimmee (Ponderosa) that was just horrible - really run down permanent trailers with rubbish, parts of engines and the like all over the place! Some areas of the park were better but if staying there...be warned. Also, when I asked for ice, she looked at me as if I was stupid!!! Most RV parks have ice so I didn't think my request was unreasonable. Avoid it if you can.

[tcwal]

We also just finished a 7000+ mile trip which took 44 days. We stayed at a number of Passport America and Happy Camper discount parks, some nice, some not so great. The 50% discounts on this trip amounted to more than double the costs of the memberships.

Rudeness or poor customer service,does not in my opinion, have anything to do with being a Passport America Park other than give the person an excuse.

That said, you must consider why parks would participate in such programs. Many are older parks without all the amenities of the newer "Resort" parks. Some are not in prime tourist destinations. Some are located a little too far from major highways to attract overnight travelers. The parks are in business to make money, so they are not going to give a large discount if they can fill the sites without one. The nicer of the 50% discount parks usually have restrictions on when the discount is available, to me this clearly indicates that there are times when they can fill up without the extra incentive of the discount.

We have been satisfied with our Pasport America and Happy Camper memberships over the past 3 years and 49,000+ miles and will continue to use them. The worst parks we have encountered have not been a member of any program.

Hope you have better luck in your future travels whereever you stay.

[dadburnett]

Thanks for your warning!
We are full timers with 100,000 miles in 3 years. We've used Pasport America and were generally well satisfied ... of course we use them as "in route" stops staying only one or two nghts. We are there to sleep and to dump and perhapsfor a brief exploration of the area. They are not, for us, destiation campgrounds. We do however expect clean working restrooms and showers.
Safe and plesant journeys!

[bukhrn]

I don't think the OP was a complaint against PA, but rather against the park, and as far as them calling PA, sounds like they're trying to blow smoke up your skirt.

[karlandlois]

Thanks for the tip. We will not stay there either. There is nothing worse than poor customer relations and trying to make the camper happy. I have dealt with a few managers who would do better in the woods counting acorn than dealing with the public. I do as you do , "pass the word on" and chalk it up as an unhappy experience. I also had a bad experience in San Angelo, Tx regarding "attitude" I just told my husband we have other camp options. We are full-timers and don't need to tolerate "attitude" . There are hundreds of managers/owners who love the RV business of campgrounds and the people who live in them.

Lois

[donaldo]

I do not want to look stupid but I am new to RVing and never heard of a pay shower. Is there a lot of these? Inform the newbee

[seeyagal]

Often the campground have the pay showers so people do not stay in the shower for a long time. Ones I have used is 25 cents for 7 min. Usually when I see the coin machines I just use my own. It basiclly boils down to high prices on their water bills.

[nomadgirl]

I do not want to look stupid but I am new to RVing and never heard of a pay shower. Is there a lot of these? Inform the newbee

Many campsites offer pay showers for tent campers or people who dont want to use the showers in their RV (many reasons for this). Its just an added bonus some campsites offer such as laundry rooms, wi-fi, etc. Even some of the national parks that do not have hook ups will have shower rooms. Its not uncommon and quite practical for many. Usually about 25 cents for 5 minutes or so. My friends use these showers when they want all the kids to shower at the same time.

[duskangel]

We took a motorcycle trip 2 yrs ago and stopped in Deadwood, SD. We saw the "sights" and traveled on to Spearfish, SD. We stayed at a place called "Chris' Camp. It's AAA approved and a Good Sam park. Very nice, clean, friendly hosts. Their website is www.blackhills/chriscampground. We're planning another trip this summer and intend on staying there again. They are close to most of the sights, but I would suggest not going during the Sturgis biker rally..lol Happy camping!

[budinfla]

I have used PA for a couple of years and it certainly more than pays for itself. But it is true that often a campground is new and trying to build business or old and trying to compete. You need to use it like any service-- find the good ones avoid the bad ones. I am going to be in SD next summer and this campground has lost another paying customer

[papahog]

I just completed a 30,000 mile 30 state trip and stayed in lots of campgrounds and before the next thip I may check out PA. I could use a break on expenses however all the campgrounds I stayed at were very nice with one exception.

One just outside Atlantic City.

Some were quite spendy but very very nice. I tried to stay in them when spending a few days.

I plan to do this again in 2009 and will check out PA again.

I am a full timer and life on the road has been great. Gas prices are causing longer stays at each place.

[rosco]

Agree.. PA has been good to us over the past 3 years.. Usually good for a night or two.. Most PA campgrounds are real nice.. We stayed at real dumps that were not PA.. We even found a nice one in Brownville that gave us the PA discount for the whole month... Good Sams and PA is all I travel with.. You all have a good one... Rosco

[tntrvlr]

Agree with Rosco, we've been with PA 4-5 years and have had no problems; however, we also check Woodalls for CG reviews. Still consider it to be a good deal!

[janetgary]

Agree, PA is a great club to have in your back pocket. But do check on the reviews on the park. Some are great parks and some are ....well..stay inside. This is usually the parks management and not PA's fault. If you don't find a review here on this website go to www.rvparkreviews.com. And don't forget to write your review up so others will be forwarned. You will usually get some honest opinons with the reviews. Also remember though that not everyone likes the same thing, so just post your opinons and let everyone decide for themselves.

Travel safe, Janet and Gary

[genekatt]

This is a very good thread for us because we will be full-timing come June 1, and we are members of PA. The most important thing to remember is that PA cannot do anything about these parks if no one notifies them. It is hardly fair to blame PA for something they don't know about.

[cisco8325]

sounds like the main problem was that they disparage the p.a. folks when he try to explain his problem about shower

[poconopeg]

We've travelled this country extensively over the last several years and use Passport America whenever it's convenient. Most of their parks are okay but once in a while you find a bad one. We use them mostly for overnight stays. Thanks for the heads up on your bad experience though. We'll make it a point to avoid Fish & Fry. We travel through that area of S.D. every other year and usually stay in the Sturgis area. There a a few campgrounds there and they're just fine.

[southwindblues07]

Will know to avoid that place. We recently spent time in PA at a Passport America site--I posted that on the forum--Mt. Top campground. They only advertise through PA. It was ok.

We usually stick with Good Sam spots.

[vetteme4]

We are PA members and have mixed opinions of the camprounds. We stayed in one in Kissimmee (Ponderosa) that was just horrible - really run down permanent trailers with rubbish, parts of engines and the like all over the place! Some areas of the park were better but if staying there...be warned. Also, when I asked for ice, she looked at me as if I was stupid!!! Most RV parks have ice so I didn't think my request was unreasonable. Avoid it if you can.

We are in Frosty Acres in New York state right now. Will be leaving soon. With the 30 amp service, and nothing running, I cannot use my microwave. Also, the lots are not level and with all the rain it is a muddy mess. They get passport america people in here because of the 14 day stay. Don't bother. We have found that some half price parks give you their worst sites. We found that to be true in Zanesville OH also.

[donnie]

After reading the posts, my thought was would a letter to PA to let them know what was encountered do any good? Or whoever else they might be connected with?
Just a thought.
Id also do as was suggested and make a post on the rv park reviews site.

[alhol]

On a trip through VA, PA, OH, IN, Ky and TN stayed at several PA parks. Saved over three times membership cost. Most parks were nice and clean. On that same trip the two worst parks were not PA members and were in fact the two highest rated (by Trailer Life Directory) in Virginia. And concerning PA parks being mostly out of the way there are several in the Pigeon Forge TN area, Amish areas of Pa. and Ohio, and all are nice, clean and big mainstream tourist areas if thats what you want.

[jwillie44]

I have learned in 5 years of full-timing that there are a small minority of RV Park owners who have been in the business too long, or never should have gotten into it at all. On the rare occations when I run into these people, I just move down the road as soon as possible. I quit dealing with morons and idiots when I retired.

If I have misgivings at check in, I will only pay for one day with an understanding that I may stay longer. And that is after I have selected a pad. And I NEVER put down any money for a reservation in a park I have never been to before, no matter what the owners want or say.

It has been my experience that good RV Parks don't demand a deposit for reservations and will always let you pick out your spot before paying for your stay if you express concern about finding a spot you like ahead of time.
e.g. under trees, not under trees, level, near the dog walk, not near the dog walk, on a row end, near the bathrooms, near the exit, not near the exit, away from the highway, etc., etc.

Bottom line, do NOT spend your money at an RV Park that is not in the "people business".

[overthehillfan]

I have learned in 5 years of full-timing that there are a small minority of RV Park owners who have been in the business too long, or never should have gotten into it at all. On the rare occations when I run into these people, I just move down the road as soon as possible. I quit dealing with morons and idiots when I retired.

If I have misgivings at check in, I will only pay for one day with an understanding that I may stay longer. And that is after I have selected a pad. And I NEVER put down any money for a reservation in a park I have never been to before, no matter what the owners want or say.

It has been my experience that good RV Parks don't demand a deposit for reservations and will always let you pick out your spot before paying for your stay if you express concern about finding a spot you like ahead of time.
e.g. under trees, not under trees, level, near the dog walk, not near the dog walk, on a row end, near the bathrooms, near the exit, not near the exit, away from the highway, etc., etc.

Bottom line, do NOT spend your money at an RV Park that is not in the "people business".

EXACTLY!! The best way to keep the GOOD parks in business,( be them large or small)....and to put the BAD parks out of business, is to vote with your wheels. We live and work from our RV, and have left a many a bad park, but have also stayed a bit extra at the good ones, as well as passing the good ones on to anyone who will listen!