I find that a preponderance of opinion, regardless of the average rating, is the most useful tool. And if the ratings tend to run in the 8-9 category, I will probably avoid those rated 6-7 and wouldn't even consider a 4-5. By and large, we have agreed with most of the ratings we've seen. We also rate campgrounds. Most (but certainly not all!) of our ratings tend to be on the higher side, but that's partly because we choose places based on our research.
I agree that the remarks are more important than the rating. What may be a problem for someone else may not matter to me, and vice-versa. We like the aesthetic value of national and state parks, for example. Others may want swimming pools, etc.
Husband: Derek
Dog: Bucky
RV: 2000 Aerolite 19RB TT
TV: 1996 Chevrolet Blazer 6 cyl. 4WD
This car used to be our toad, now is our TV!
The rating numbers do catch my attention and I am another one of those who tend to spend much more time parsing through the comments provided by the reviewers. We camped at a particular location in NC several times and it had received several negative ratings (by the numbers). Lo and behold, the comments were all about the management enforcing quiet hours and speed limits. Well, DUH! That's just fine by me and it actually equated to a positive endorsement in my eyes.
I would also comment that certain types of parks have a certain agenda that is not always universal across the CG community. Take Fort Wilderness for example - probably not the place to go for secluded camping and quiet times. For what it is meant to do, it does fine. At the same time, a state park generally doesn't have the huge amount of amenities that a resort park would have. When I rate parks, I do tend to weigh my numbers against the expectation of the park (both my own and the park's intended use).
Since we have no standard rating, it is considered an opinion. Look at Good Sam and Woodalls ratings???? Those are not always what you would think either. When I rate a campground it is based on what I see, how I feel about the place and the service I received. When I am looking at reviews, I do not base my opinion on one review but all the reviews. I mostly count on whatthey reviewer has to say and not the number. It has worked well for me this far. We are all different in what we think of a campground and what we think is up to par, so take the ratings with a grain of salt, try it out and form your own opinion.
Everyone's needs are different, and, their opinions are very different.
If the g'kids are with me, I have different needs than when I am solo-ing, and that plays a large part in my reviews. I have a dog, so my needs are very different from those who don't.
So, I tend to look at the amenities and comments moreso than numbers. I find having metered propane available is more important to me than an 'older bathhouse'.
I believe also that everyone has different needs and expectations when it comes to "camping". We are relatively new to RV'ing and I have noticed that when a park has "Resort" in its name beware. We have stayed at some resorts that have websites with all kinds of pictures and when you get there you are trying to figure where they took the pictures. I don't think I have yet to stay at a "Resort" that has met my expectations based on their website. I have reviewed all of them on rvparkreviews.
I would like to see more of the actual pictures of the campsite on websites rather than the buildings and pool area.
We seem to like state, county & national parks the best. The spaces are bigger and the area is usually more rustic for camping.
Now if we are traveling we like to have some hookups and the size of the campsite isn't as important because we are usually just spending the night and
moving on the next morning.
As far as the reviews that people put out there I, too, will go more by their comments than by the number rating. The rating is to subjective.
Linda B.
2009 29' Fleetwood, Fiesta V10 - The Big Bus
2008 Saturn Vue (Toad)with US Gear UBS
& Demco baseplate and tow bar.
Traveling with Robin(friend),Liz(cockapoo)&Buddee(cavalier)
WTTCS wrote: I dont agree with you. A so so campground should get a 1 or 2. If they cannot provide what people want , they need to go out of business. How about we start paying rates, based on the REAL ratings of these parks?
If you could open a park with what EVERYONE wants, you'll be a very wealthy individual....until then, NO campground has what everyone wants....lol
I have noticed two campgrounds that we have looked at and consider RV parking lots but read many peoples comments about how really great they are. Different strokes for different folks.
I am also another one who looks more at the review of the campground than the numbers.
What is a travesty to one is wonderful to another. I saw one once where the reviewer gave the campground a bad review - because it didn't have a pool. But because he "expected" to find a pool, he was disappointed and rated them low. If I went by the numbers, we wouldn't stay there. If I went by the review - we would 'cause we have a pool at home we're not looking for a pool when we camp.
Also, it's what some people expect vs. what they find when they get there. Knowing one campground had hookup spots that was more parking lot than anything, we still went KNOWING what it was like. Rated it high because the campground itself satisfied everything it said it was. Now if the showers didn't work, toilets were dirty, quiet hours not enforced then it would have rated lower.
Some people also rate campgrounds - not on what the campground says it is and what it has - but on how bad a trip the camper had. I've also read one once where the campground was rated really low by one person (others raved about it). In reading his review he had a lousy weekend camping, lost his awning in the wind and felt the ranger should have come by to tell him to put it up. Duh! that's not their job, it's not the fault of the campground and if just looking at numbers, I wouldn't consider it but reading the review told me all about why the numbers were bad.
I try to be as accurate as I can with both the numbers and the review when I do mine on RVParkReviews and will very often, when reading a review about tight spots will use google maps and look an an aerial view of the campground. Combining the two has many times given us a "accurate" idea of what to expect when we arrive.
What I look for a clean rest rooms, though we have our own washroom in the camper we use their showers. The sites and cleanliness of the sites, the visual appeal of the campground and friendliness and flexibility of the staff. By flexibility I mean, when I request not to be near a dump station and get put there anyway, I expect to be moved. Everything should also be in good repair. I never get to stressed about a pool because we also have one at home. I only care if I take a winter vacation to Florida. However, the cleanliness and ambiance of that rec area still tells lots about a campground.
I generally don't look much at the numbers but I do read the reviews and average the reviews overall. One lousy review (which could be genuine to them) out of 10 great reviews then I'll go with the majority. It depends what the complaint is.
What about TL. reviews. I see 9.5/9.5/9.5 for Cap Cod Camping Resort and I can't find anyone who has anything good to say about it. I find that strange. That's why I didn't want to book with them and my brother did and he's feeling uncomfortable, yet their ratings and website are great. He doesn't want to lose 30% non refundable deposit so he's still going. Leaves me scratching my head, though I heard they'd improved. I guess I'll hear when he gets back.
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