Have you ever gone to or called an rv park to get reservations or to stay there and they had no spaces available?
Did that irritate you?
Were you bothered by it?
The reason for the question was from trying to find a park to winter in last year and a lot of them were full. And it was irritating that one cannot find places to stay.
Now the biggest reason for this is the people that have bought the park models or an rv that they permanently leave and are coming down every winter to stay in the parks thus taking up all that extra space. Why not just buy a house or a condo so others can also rv and enjoy the snowbirding experience?
Park models and Permanent location RV is not fulltiming nor is it really rving in my book. Is like buying a million dollar rv to take primitive camping. Thats not camping in my book.
Im sorry if I have stepped on some toes here but I have also seen others in the forums complaining about people staying in rv parks in park models that make the rv park look like a ghetto or complain cuz the best sites are always taken by the permanents.
I would like to hear others outtake on this and again I apologize now to anyone who may feel offended.
* This post was
edited 05/09/08 02:10pm by an administrator/moderator *
utmtman. I can readily understand your frustration. Developers building most of these "snowbird destinations" sites, however, are interested in selling those sites rather than renting them. Really a subdivision of "trailer" villages. The RV's that rent are just an expedient while lots being hawked "for sale". One particular park near Marco Island is an outstanding exception, all class A's ONLY! Unfortunately most sites are now sold and rental of these privately owned sites is possible only after "the season"! Just as well, that's the only time I can afford it anyway.
Aside, finding more and more often that initially when, "I don't have a thing open for those dates", if I just stay quiet, hold the phone, breathe normally that in a minute or two they will say," well let me see, maybe I can put you in here or here's a cancellation, or well, I can move these folks and put you in there " or something similar. Just have to be a little patient while they turn their brain on.
Also, I am amazed that they can juggle RV's, lengths, dates, duration of stay and all the rest and stay sane.
Yes
NO
NO
We understand the way it works. If you know where you want to go for next Winter, make reservations now. With the cost of fuel we can all look forward to more and more RV'ers leaving their rigs in seasonal sites. We have the same issue for a Summer site in Canada. We reserved last year and are here now. The park officially opens tomorrow and they are FULL...NO sites available.
Understand your frustration in finding a spot for the winter. The nicer the spot and the nicer the weather in that particular area, the more people want to go there and the harder it is to find a vacancy. Imagine that! Why those parks wouldn't hold open a spot or two just in case you might decide to grace them with your presence is beyond me!
We solved our frustration with that problem by buying a lot in our version of winter paradise. It's the next door resort to the one Horace references above. We escape some of your wrath by not having a park model and by not leaving our 5th on the site year round. I hope you'll forgive us but we only occupy our site during 'prime time' and travel the rest of the year but we no longer put the site in the rental pool while absent.
You express your opinion stating "Park models and Permanent location RV is not fulltiming nor is it really rving in my book. Is like buying a million dollar rv to take primitive camping. Thats (sic) not camping in my book." and yet your profile shows your rig as
Quote: 37 Foot W/2 slide outs, 2 bathrooms, satellite television
Slideouts? Satellite TV? Two Bathrooms?? My guess that many of our fellow campers/purists might find your version as 'not camping in their book' either.
Now the biggest reason for this is the people that have bought the park models or an rv that they permanently leave and are coming down every winter to stay in the parks thus taking up all that extra space. Why not just buy a house or a condo so others can also rv and enjoy the snowbirding experience?
Park models and Permanent location RV is not fulltiming nor is it really rving in my book. Is like buying a million dollar rv to take primitive camping.
There are some merits to having a park model in your favorite snowbird RV park:
1. The cost is far less than a motor home or 5er
2. They depreciate far less than a motor home
3. More room than most RV's
4. You know you will always have a spot in your favorite snowbird park
5. You can make improvements to your lot, a shed, a patio cover, plantings & more
6. You can leave your big BBQ grill & your bikes in the shed
7. You can save more by driving a fuel efficient vehicle all winter
The biggest negative I see is you are not as mobile & you will have to stay in motels on the way down.
Park owners like the seasonal's too as it is usually less work & steady income.
I haven't considered that we "camped" after we traded in the tents for a tiny class C and started the adventure of being retired. Three rigs later we changed our way of life.
I imagine all parks are different to some degree but where we winter is basically half park models and half RVs. We own a "park model" but I've said before it is a trailer w/ a Florida room. This past winter was our first full winter in it and we're not turning back although a second bathroom would make my day!
Make reservations early. Today might be too late. People reserve for the following year before they leave. This is people in RVs - our house just sits there until we come back.
Pat
May the road rise with you, the wind be always at your back.
Quote: Park models and Permanent location RV is not fulltiming nor is it really rving in my book. Is like buying a million dollar rv to take primitive camping. Thats not camping in my book.
It's not camping in MY book either but.....I usually don't CAMP when we snowbird and it's not MY opinion (or yours) that matters when it comes to someone ELSES life style. For that matter I don't consider it being CAMPING to even STAY in an RV Parking lot with full hook ups, no campfires, located most often inside a city or town. Sorry you found some full RV parks but consider that if some weren't FULL there would certainly be a lot FEWER of them to choose from. Hope things go better for you next year.
The very small RV park we snowbird in at Camp Verde, AZ had available sites all last winter. I'm pretty sure there are around 40 full hookup sites and 7 or 8 water & electric only. We reserve every year because we and they know we want to return. If interested in this park see their website www.ranchoverdervpark.com.(Sorry, not a link).
RRUGG
2008 Dodge 2500 QC 4x4 SB Cummins 6 speed auto 3.73
1997 Holiday Rambler 29FK travel trailer
2006 Summit 22RB travel trailer
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport
Bob & Grace professional retirees
Good Sam life members
The place we stay in Florida for 6 months wants every one to rent year round and there are several that do and take their rig home when they leave. There are a few who rent year round and only stay for a couple of months. I lost my 6 month spot for next year because someone wanted to rent it year round. the parks are looking for a year round income because Florida is no the place to be in the summer.
Our resort is undergoing a transformation. At the end of the 2007 season, we bought one of four remaining RV lots in a resort my DW discovered. RV lots make up about 10% of the 442 resident locations. This April, we were surpised to find four "new" RV lots materializing.
Here's the scoop! Older "permanent" units (trailers, old park models, etc.) are being purchased (for quite reasonable prices), and the new owners find people who will remove those old units (for little or no cost), leaving a perfectly good 35' X 70' RV lot! Use them as they are, or remodel with your personal touch.
In this instance, the number of RV lots is growing and the number of "permanent" units is decreasing. Lower purchase price, low taxes, and a low maintenance cost due to volunteers mean a continuation of our lifestyle in spite of the high fuel costs. Location??? Southern Florida!
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although a second bathroom would make my day!
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