Bucky Badger wrote: koa isn't the only place that does this....I guess it's been a while since we had a koa bash thread http://www.crazyhorsewi.com/Rates.cfm
X2.. Why don't people complain like this when Joe Blows RV park charges a resort fee.I stayed at two places in a row in Ca that charged a resort fee and the third didn't.But then they were $10 higher than the other two.
I have stayed at a lot of KOA's and have only found one we didn't like,but then we didn't stay there either.. OOppss,there was another one,but we had to stay there and it was the one at South Lake Tahoe.That was the price and not the amenities..Oh yeh,there was the little item about the slide being 1" from a BIG tree and we had to run the cable in thru a window and wait for the owners daughters friends to leave so that we could get into our site.Owners were nice about it tho,but the daughter and her friends were pure witches about it tho.Other than that,really tight roads around BIG rocks.
I have, Crazy Horse was a joke and why we only stayed there the one time. that and the crabby/grouchy people running it! we had the option of staying at Forsyth GA KOA or Stone MTN Park campground in GA. very happy we stayed at Stone MTN. we only stay at one campground that had a "resort" fee that we would still stay at....Warrens WI Jellystone. lots of things to do and the resort fee covers them, it is expensive, but worth it. I hardly think a "resort" fee should be applied to a swing set or jumping pillow!
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Welcome to the world, post internet. Anything that keeps the initial quoted price low is now in play. Airlines, hotels, rental car companies and just about every other business has added fees to their quotes. Shipping and handling costs more than the items. Fuel fees on airlines, local franchise fees on car rentals and a host of other things are now added to the quoted price. Win the google search and the on line price war and win the customer. Today, getting the customer the first time is just way more important than getting them the 2nd time. Without the first sale, you never get a shot at the 2nd. Get use to it.
Jagtech wrote: Got ripped off at one KOA, will never stay at one again. Rates are over the top, and they're no nicer than most others.
X2
excellent decision, make your final decision based on one experience.
bumpy
Same experience several times...Most KOA's are franchised and KOA home office has no "real" control over the local owner. I only stay at KOA as a last resort. I guess some are used to being squeezed like sardines and treated this way...not me.
I have been at KOAs on a couple of occasions when the KOA inspector/bus is present checking out the campground for compliance. with a KOA you can usually count on them meeting a certain minimal standard, whereas with an independent you are totally in the dark as to their procedures and policies.
and I am somewhat amused since in some of these threads people whine about adding fees on for upgraded amenities and in other threads people fuss because the rate is high and includes playground, etc. etc.wi fi, etc. which they didn't use. I have paid maintenance for swimming pools and have never used one, playgrounds and have never used one. Like I say, if you don't want to pay, stop at a wal mart and enjoy the scene.
bumpy
gheicher wrote: Most all my KOA experiences have been positive, however, they do operate in a system of "free enterprise" soooo CAVEAT EMPTOR.
X2
I joined KOA in 1978... I've had good experiences at most and a very few bad experiences in all my travels and stays. The good vs. bad ratio with them is probably more "positive" than all the private campgrounds I've stayed at. I still don't know why they have the moniker "Keep On Adding" while no other campgrounds do...I've stayed at far more non-KOA campgrounds that nickel and dimed me to death than I have with KOAs. Maybe I'm just lucky. The only KOA I can remember over the last few years where I didn't pay what the base rate that was listed was at Harpers Ferry last fall and it was about $5 if I remember correctly. Then again, it was a very nicely appointed KOA (huge meeting rooms, many dedicated purpose buildings and mere minutes from Harpers Ferry, we even walked down one day; well worth the $5 to me. I can't remember any others that I've stayed at that I paid more than the "advertised" rate; nothing more for WiFi, nothing more for any more hook ups than I signed on for, yes, a FHU 50 amp is going to cost me more than a 30 amp electric only, but, I didn't pay a separate price for the sewer, the pedestal and water...just a set price for the upgraded site, the same as you would find at any campground.
The only thing that ever bothered me, mildly, was with our first 50 amp rig. Annoyed me, in the beginning, that a lot of campgrounds, and not just KOAs, charged some $s more for a 50 amp plug. Occurred to me that it was actually fair...I'm drawing 2 50 amp lines as opposed to a single 30 amp line and I'm using them because I'm using more than 30 amps worth of electricity. Only fair to pay more for more electrical usage and to defray the cost of the installation of said service. The same applies to KOAs...I pay their price because I can expect a "usual KOA" campground and amenities. I don't need their amenities; my son is 41 years old and hasn't traveled with us for decades, no need for playgrounds, we don't use the game rooms, we have cats that don't use pet runs, but, I can count on them to usually be clean, reasonably quiet and handy to a lot of places that we like to go. Most of the ones we've ever stayed at were older...it is an "ancient franchise"...they did sometimes need a coat of paint here and there, but, being older, they also tended to be more green; older trees, bigger bushes, more grass, have ponds or on streams, etc.
As for the "I stayed at one and I'll never go back" crowd. I stayed at a State Forest early on and it was the worst camping experience I've ever had; lousy sites, the worst "rule" enforcement I've ever seen, obnoxious campers, their kids and their animals... I've stayed at some others, and to be honest, I've never enjoyed them as much as I have private campgrounds and municipal parks. But, to say, based on my initial "bad" experience, that I'd never stay at another? Nope. Life's too short to take that kind of attitude about anything. Had a bad steak one time...you serving steak? Yum!
My 2 cents, your mileage may vary...
Don
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Last time we enjoyed a stay in KOA was in the 70's, they have been going downhill ever since. Since then, we use it only as a last resort, last time in Golden CO, two years ago, worst one we have ever seen. Broken sewer connector, so sewage was leaking. Faucet next door leaked, we were downhill so our site was floating in water. Mens room shower our of order, we were traveling in our Class B Van and need it. Laundry out of order. Pool filled with algae and leaves, looked like they had been there a month or more. We had come in the dark, paid for three days, asked for a refund for two days. They refused. Never been to another one since.
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While I dont agree with the extra charge, you do get a lot more at that KOA then you normally do at most other KOAs. Sometimes the rv park used to be some kind of resort before it was a KOA. The owners of that KOA own 7 more around the country, but not all of them charge a resort fee. All KOAs have an 800 number. Just give them a call and ask is the best way to know.
My only complaint with KOA in general is that I have to pay for "Resort" facilities that I don't use. I generally avoid any Campground that has Resort in the name. Specifically I object to being told one price and then being charged a higher price. I can't think of any other CG that we visited that quoted us one price and then charged a higher price. We did find a CG in Gettysburg that claimed that part of their fee was not subject to the Good Sam 10% discount. Anything to make a buck.
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Some people just love to complain and do not matter what the issue is…
I had a guy complaining about his job one time… he was a wine taster… go figure…
KOA and all the other things people love to complain about here have been around a long time, and they did it by being over crowded, dirty, unfriendly and over priced…
I guess that’s what works for them…
That is why they still make chocolate and vanilla ice cream…
We have choices…
Speaking about choice… no one was ripped off by KOA, once you choose to register and stay… there was never a requirement that you stay and pay the fees…
* This post was
edited 02/09/12 10:46pm by an administrator/moderator *
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