disatisfied

[becca]

I signed up for ppa in oct. of 06 for 5 yr plan! Now some of the camp grounds around where we go don't except the membership anymore! I'm ill so I can't go far. the campground we use to go to was 10 mins. away. and they don't take it anymore. I wouldn't recomend anyone signing up with ppa. Go to camper world and get a membership they go everywhere in the US. Trust me don't do it , it's a scam!

[eagle]

I take it that you are talking about PassPort America. We are lifetime members of PPA and find it to be an exceptional value and certainly not a scam. Yes, parks do drop out of the PPA program, but they come and go in other programs too including the one sold at Campers World. PPA has easily saved us the cost of the lifetime membership fee. We are also in Coast to Coast, Escapees, Golden Age Passport, Good Sam Club, and other organizations. However; PPA is our favorite.

****

[my55tbird]

I just joined PPA in April in preparation for an extended trip around the USA. Stayed at our first park in NE for one night and it was OK. Got to Alabama and the park said they did not have a space for a PPA member but we were welcome to stay for full price. I did not know they would do that if they had spaces available. We left and drove on to SC to a TT park and had a nice relaxing couple of days. So far I have saved about $9.00 on the membership. At this rate it will take quite awhile to save the original price of the membership in campground fees. I will try to use it in NC in about 2 weeks,and hope I have better luck.
Macke

[mrschwarz]

I bought a membership for a discounted rate. The money I saved at 2 RV parks made me even with the money it cost. If I use it again this year, I will ahead. Most of my camping is at state parks, but every now and then I'll stay at an RV park.

[afchap]

if we had to continue paying $35.00 to $60.00 per night for regular public parks. Don't even get me started on "public parks".

Why would ANYONE pay "$35 to $60 a night" for a "regular public park" ...or for that matter, for ANY RV Park or campground??? Talk about a scam!! That is absolutely ridiculous!!! We normally pay from $90 to $130 a week, or with monthly rate around $350-$450 a month. I think we have paid as much as $32 a night for a one or two night stay somewhere, but paying that much is very rare for us. As for PA, we stayed in a Passport America park a couple of weeks ago on a new concrete slab w/50a power and paid $56 for the week!

[jim01]

We averaged $13 a night for 2006. Some of that was Passport America, but a lot of it was by just doing a little research and not staying at "resort" parks, which we don't like anyway.

I agree with afchap, this is a scam. Buyer beware!!!!

[tcwal]

There are so many different memberships out there that you really need to consider what meets your needs best. Memberships that require you to have a home park may be good for some not others. Likewise, lifetime or multi-year memberships may work well for some and not for others as health or other issues can change your circumstances.

The discount clubs (Passport America, Happy Camper, Camp Club USA (Campers World), Good Sam, Escapees, KOA) are all $60.00 a year or less and provide a discount of 10-50%. Depending on where you are going to travel, one club may have more members than another in that area. Each club's website will give you an idea of where their member parks are. Be sure to check for additions and deletions as parks drop out and new ones join.

Many parks give discounts to more than one of the clubs with the discount varying depending on which membership you have. Each park can set its own rules, to some extent, placing restrictions on how many or few days and time of year the discount applies.

If you get a 50% discount on a $25/night site, you will have saved over $60 after 5 nights. Over the years; I have belonged to Good Sam, Escapees, Happy Camper, Passport America and KOA. All have paid for the cost of membership, saved more with some than others.

[richa]

We belong to a number of different "clubs" also. However, I would not suggest joining Outdoor World or Thousand Trails now. They have both been purchased by a new company, and are in the process of radically changing the campgrounds. They are violating the conditions under which many of the original owners signed a contract, and their response to any calls is simple. If you don't like it, sue us. The PassPort America, RPI, Good Sam, FMCA clubs we belong to have always been very good for our type of traveling. We are full timers and have been for 12 or 13 years now. We joined OW in 1984, and have seen it go from the very best to one of the worst. Our experiences with TT are better, but since the sale to Mid Atlantic, things are changing. Many more rentals and now they are selling our sites to permanent park models. Not a good sign for most of us.

[stitcher]

We have been members for a long time and find we really saved money. Last year we also joined the camping world club and it seem they have most of the same rv parks and the same restrictions. In Fl most of the places do not accept discount cards in season. We bought a membership in Camp Coast to Coast in 1982 and that was the biggest disapointment of all We paid $7000 and an annual fee to the home park and were not able to use it for 10 years . When we could go the annual fee had gone up to $5oo a year and most of the camps around the country had dropped out We finally stopped paying the fee and now are banned from using the few camps left. I love Passport America

[brock]

we are tt menbers but have not used it alot because it is limited to locations. I did not know they sold? Are they not going to let anyone know?

[phyllen]

We joined PA. Spent a week in Gettysburg first year. Save $95.00. Membership cost us $44.00. Now this year we saved $100.00 for a week in New Hampshire. Again, well worth the $44.00 cost.

[beejay]

We spent 6 weeks on the road this spring. Saved $365.00 using PA. I think that is about 8 years worth of membership dues! If that is a scam, scam us some more!

[ellenanded]

We joined PA a few years ago. We attempted to use it over a dozen times, only two times was it honored. Excuses varied from the almost reasonable to the absolutely absurd. One that did honor it only gave a 10% discount. The other was an electric hookup under a tree in the middle of a field. When I went to PA (yes, I was so upset that I went to their main office) they told me that member campgrounds could offer (or not) any discount they chose. This decision was made in order to entice RV parks to join. We have never joined again.

I'm wondering how those of you who are happy are making this work. We often had to make multiple calls to even find a park that was still in the program, even tho they were listed in the most recent book.

I don't like paying premium prices, but since we are a big rig we often find that less expensive sites are not available to us. Would love to hear secrets of success from other big rig owners.

[gussie]

We are in a 40 ft. motorhome and are currently on our second trip. The first time we used it was in Ocala, Fla. and no problem. Were limited to two or three nights as I recall. We are currently in Minnesota. We are limited to 4 nights here. Both places we were happy with our site to park. I know that during high season some parks do not accept any discount programs. We certainly found that to be true in Fla. Some in Minn. will not accept it on week-ends when all the fishermen want to camp. We have certainly saved enough to more than cover our membership already. Another thing to remember is that some parks will charge for 50 amp, cable TV,using the A/C, and Wi-Fi in addition to the base rate. Sorry you have had a bad experience. It is hard to keep up with the parks that drop out and the ones signed on so I check on the Passport America web-site. Keep trying.

[rving]

we love it and it serves all our purposes, we even joined as life time members it pays for itsself in 1 or 2 trips and we found a park close to home and it honors it for as long as we stay.which is alot. its not a 4 sure thing but if you camp alot its nice to have choices .would renew but joined 4a life time ..happy camping
one more thing i think its one:) of the best programs out there.

[tcwal]

I've traveled a little over 42,000 miles and spent over 150 nights in campgrounds over the past three years. I have encountered some problems with campgrounds no longer providing the 50% discount to Passport America or Happy Camper. Since I always call in the early afternoon when I am pretty sure where I will end up for the night, I've never had a problem with being refused at checkin. I have noticed that the different clubs have many of the same member parks, but have also noticed that there are enough differences that if you are travelling in a specific area, one club may be better than another for any given year. If you travel cross country, my experience is that you will find enough member parks to make the modest membership cost worthwhile. If you travel in a specific area or use the same park all the time, it is much more likely that you could have problems as parks drop in and out of the system.

I've also noticed that some of the 50% discount parks are a little older and may not have been designed for the new bigger RVs. I too have found that few member parks are located in the popular destination areas or they limit the discounts to the off season.

[dari1]

we joined TT about 6 months ago have been turned away from several parks
while on the road which the salesmen promised would never happen, also had trouble with the park in Bend Oregon my husband is disabled and the park ranger would not let his ride in to pick him up they said he had to walk up with his yellow slip (which he was not able to do) they were nice but not helpful they would not let them use the phone to call us and were turned away.

[egrabill]

I am also an OW member. Have you been to any of the recent meetings about buying into TT?

[ibtallwalt]

Were full timers, we travel, and don't stay put beyond two weeks, wouldn't consider TT or CC, as PPA and Happy Campers & Good Sam MORE than recover thier costs in a short time if you actually travel to any extent. We are not the type of travelers that consider a trip of 135 miles or so a trip, we've been across the states two to three times a year...and are satisfied with the PPA, HC, GS clubs and HIGHLY recommend them to any real travelers.:D

[ghostrider49]

Camping 10 mins from home is NOT camping. If you are that ill stay at home. We full time and many of our RV friends have health problems and still manage to get out there and enjoy life. We are also members of several discount groups and have found that Passport America is an exceptional deal. Yes there may be restrictions but for the money you can't beat it.

[suesodyssey]

We have used PPA for many years. Yes, sometimes parks say they have not PPA spaces available, and with a big rig, we sometimes have problems finding a site big enough. But we always call ahead and make reservations. Most PPA parks only allow 1 night at the 1/2 fee, and for us that is usually all we neet. We are TTN and Mid Atlantic members, ROD and also RPI. We full time and the membership parks allow us to stay at nice parks (for the most part) up to 3 weeks at a time.

By the way, Mid Atlantic did not buy TT..the company that owns Thousand Trails bought Mid Atlantic and Outdoor World. Now TT is managing all the parks (until further notice) Things are changing, lots of speculation about various things, but not much has been published. Lots of new park models have been put in some of the TT parks, I think one TT park will close, but it is still a good deal. There aren't any membership parks in the mid west, so you have to rely on RPI, PPA and CTC or private parks or state parks. But if this is the way of life you have decided on, you learn to cope.

Sue

[franky14]

We belong to a number of different "clubs" also. However, I would not suggest joining Outdoor World or Thousand Trails now. They have both been purchased by a new company, and are in the process of radically changing the campgrounds. They are violating the conditions under which many of the original owners signed a contract, and their response to any calls is simple. If you don't like it, sue us. The PassPort America, RPI, Good Sam, FMCA clubs we belong to have always been very good for our type of traveling. We are full timers and have been for 12 or 13 years now. We joined OW in 1984, and have seen it go from the very best to one of the worst. Our experiences with TT are better, but since the sale to Mid Atlantic, things are changing. Many more rentals and now they are selling our sites to permanent park models. Not a good sign for most of us.

I have been a member of OutDoor World for close to 10 years. It was passed down from me from my famuly. I am now the third owner and can not sell it or anything. I am still very happy with it but I am sure it will be going down hill. I wonder how hard it will be to get out of it when the time comes.

[bukhrn]

I love my PPA,I recovered my investment the first time I used it. If you look in the book, the restriction are clearly spelled out, you simply work around them.
It beats the heck out Good Sams measly 10% discount. Let's see 50%, or 10%, give me the 50% scam every time.

[billcolleen]

:( Wow, Do I feel better now. After reading the post from stitcher. $7000.00 for a membership in coast to coast, and then letting it lapse. We paid $1500.00 for membership, and got fed up w/coping w/the coupons, and the unprofessional way that the administration handled their business, and also let it lapse, (couldn't imagine anyone buying us out). Have always felt ripped off by them, but as I said I don't feel as bad now, our $1500.00 was merely "chump change" by comparison.

We belong to PPA, and have used it sparingly, but feel that it is useful, and would recommend it. BUT, also believe that many of the better parks do not subscribe to campground memberships, because they don't have to in order to fill their spaces. Most of the membership parks we have stayed @ leave something to be desired.

Love the lifestyle, Bill

[kamp19]

Coast to Coast is $89.95 yearly and does not use coupons. You paid $1,500.00 for your home park and the other guy paid $7,000.00 for his home park, NOT for Coast to Coast. Also, the idea behind selling memberships has nothing to do with trying to "fill the spots".

Dan

[mikep]

Some of them have discounts on other things as well.

I just saved $183.75 at Dell using a 5% off coupon offered to all Good Sam members.

[roadrunner16]

We got our PPA two years ago and have saved twice its cost on our first trip. This year we are doing much better then that and the year is not over

[langford]

Glad to see that most of you like passport cause we are getting ready to join.
Leaving next month on a 6 month trip out West and hope to save lots of money.

[jdensie]

Passport, Don't leave home without it.

[utmtman]

I had PPA for three years and lost my butt. One has to take detours up to 15 miles to get to one of their parks. That hurts with gas prices what they are now. Some were dumps I would not recommend to anyone. A lot of them said they were full or had no PPA spaces available. And if you plan to stay in one around a holiday if you dont reserve a year or two in advance you cannot under any circumstance get into them.

[cb5300]

They are violating the conditions under which many of the original owners signed a contract, and their response to any calls is simple. If you don't like it, sue us.

If that's the way they want to be then all I can say is, "Their wish is my command," ....Get together with other TT members that are having the same problem and contact a good Lawyer and pop their bubble.

[cb5300]

Camping 10 mins from home is NOT camping. If you are that ill stay at home.

ghostrider, that's cold hearted. The guys health isn't good and you're slamming him for camping 10 mins from home. :rolleyes: I just hope that you never lose your health...Instead of slamming someone maybe you should be thinking your lucky stars that you're not in his shoes.

[kroving]

Hi Y'all
Thousand Trails (TT) was sold, a couple of years ago, to a realistate holding company called Equity Life Styles (ELS). This company has gone on a buying spree. They have also purchased What was called BullEk (a groupe of 7 membership parks) but could not purchase the name so they changed it to Mid-Atlantic Resorts. Then they purchased Outdoor Resorts, with the name, (a groupe of about 12 membership parks) all on the east coast. They are offering the old TT members, upgrades to include the new parks and offering the members of those new purchases, upgrades to TT. $$

The comment has been made that they are taking sites from the members and making park model sites. Well, ELS was (and is) in the "park model" sales and lot sales or rental business. This is where they have been so successful. They say that the "old membership" will not loose the priveliges that they had, but in my experiance, there are fewer avaliable sites, in the most popular parks like Orlando. Also, the new memberships they are selling or upgrading to, allow those members to make reservations 30 days sooner than I can. Thus, the older memberships cant get in because its full. They say they will be happy to sell me an upgrade so I can make earlier reservations to.$$:confused: This is not what was implied when I purchased what was the best membership at the time. It is a ?leagel? racket and I guess the old saying holds, that if you want to play, you have to pay.:mad:

I fear that this sort of thing is just going to get worse. We have a world full of unscrupulous people out there that have found that they can make huge amounts of money, and get away with it. And with the baby boomer bunch getting into this lifestyle, there are more buyers than the market can supply.:eek:

[kamp19]

Hello,

Just to let you know, TT is still selling the 90 day membership with 14 in/7 out of the system still. The are offering the Platinum Plus or VIP membership with the 120 day reservations and the 21 in with park to park priviledges to new customers. The starting price is nearly $20k. Of course, as all sales presentations go, the price comes way down as the customer says "no". They are offering their current members a chance to upgrade for much less.

Thanks,

Dan Monaghan
Moderator

[jacks647]

don't buy a new memberships...people are always selling there memberships in highway magazine, etc.

we posted an ad on a 3x5 card in a tt campground in las vegas for $500 plus the annual dues $750 and sold it within 2 hours...

good luck ;)

[dlrupper]

Heck I love my memberships, Good Sam and Pasport America. What more could a person ask for. Cheap and there is always one or the other campgrounds available wherever I happen to be. If I get downright desperate I have a seldom used KOA membership.

[vidcity]

Passport America is a tremendous value!

Sure they have some bad parks and they have some parks that drop the program but they have so many parks in the program that we don't find it to be a problem. We have stayed in some horrible PA parks as we were on the move from place to place but we have also stayed in some wonderful parks, in great locations, at great prices. I guess it's all in what you're looking for and what you expect. We love it!

I use Microsoft's Streets & Trips program and have all of the PA parks show up on the maps as points of interest. We actually search them out because of the great value. I also have them marked in my GPS.

[utmtman]

I stopped at the PPA booth at the Quartzsite RV and Vacation show. The woman there tried to tell me you can get into any PPA park at any time for as long as a person wants. She also told me that all PPA parks are right next to every major interstate in the US and there is one in every major city. She got a lil upset when I told her I was a member once and that she was not telling it like it is. Sad

[teofff]

We have now been on the road two weeks, and have stayed primarily in PPA parks....except for the 3 days this week, where we paid $45 per night for a specific location we wanted....for the two weeks, we are averaged $24 per night....we love PPA!!! It's true,some places only give you one or two nights, or don't honor it on the weekend, holidays, etc. but in many cases. I have not felt any park had negative feeligns about extending the discount, if we were within their stated terms int hePPA book....but you have to plan ahead to make it work.