The more I have looked into it over the years, the more I found it wasn't a good deal in any way for the average on-the-move RVer. Most of these programs are in out-of-the-way places, not where you'd want to spend time anyway. For the RVer that is actually a "pad to pad" concrete Snowbird, they are putting up with rules and locations just to park free somewhere. Are they worth it? Absolutely not! I've never seen a program that was in any way geared to the savings they espouse. The Camping World hawking salespeople are the worst! Beware of them when leaving a Camping World store. They are the equivelant to condo time-shares, that you can't give away. If someone can show me a program to the contrary, I would be happy to inspect it.
Yup, I'm in an out of the way place, just 10 miles from Niagara Falls - of course this isn't any place where someone would want to be. Last week we were in Gettysburg, again a place no one would want to be. How about the north end of the Shenandoah Valley or in Salisbury, NC just north of Charlotte? Or Casa Grande, Arizona in winter, Crystal River, Florida, Clermont, Florida? There are places all over and while you may be 10-20 miles from a big city, that is no problem. That means you aren't listening to truck traffic on the freeway at 1 in the morning. Rules and regulations are no worse than any other RV Park.
No, they aren't for everyone, but if there are parks in areas you like to spend time they may be right for you, and for anyone who fulltimes, they really do save you money.
Barb
Barb & Dave - full-timing Traveling catpanions Kit (age 18) and Shadow (age 11) Figment II (2002 Alpine 36 MDDS) Mischief (2004 Subaru Forester Toad) FMCA - F337834, SKP #90761 http://homepage.mac.com/barbaraok/ Our blog
It sounds like you may be considering a membership so you don't have to do reservations and maybe to guaranty a site. Having a membership does not mean no reservation is required and no matter what they say it also does not guaranty a site.
With the membership I have there are plenty of restrictions. Even though I recently upgraded it the "reservations accepted no more than 60 days in advance" rule and probably the "maximum 2 weeks and then be out for at least 1 week" rule are still in effect during the prime season. During the "off" season I can reserve 90 days in advance, stay up to 3 weeks and go directly to another one of the systems park without any "out of system" time.
You also need to be aware if the dues are frozen or not. If not frozen they could go sky high. Also, going to their sales presentation can be detrimental if you purchase a resale. In my organization if you have not been to the presentation the transfer fee is something like $500 but if you have attended one then it is $2,000.
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