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Oldbuc
Brandamore, PA USA
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Joined: 08/27/2001
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We sat through the Thousand Trails presentation this weekend and decided to buy yesterday, but changed our minds this morning & voided the contract. We liked the Resort Parks Int'l part of it, but when we sat down & crunched the numbers, it didn't seem that we'd get our moneys worth. We're new to the campground membership idea, but I like the concept. What experiences are others having with membership campgrounds.
Ron C.
Coatesville, PA
2010 Open Range 391RES 5th Wheel
2002 Silverado 2500HD, 4x4, Duramax/Allison, CC
2- Honda EU 2000 gens
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BigMamaKat
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Joined: 03/03/2002
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When we bought our coleman pop-up we got a free 30 day trial membership to TT good for 1 year. Just before it was to expire we decided to take advatage of it. Last year we spent a week at the Chesapeake Preserve and sat through the sales pitch. We decided not to buy at the price they were charging. In February I recevied an offer for $4000 off the membership ($1995 for Zone - East Coast and $2995 for National) and $499 dues for East Coast Membership (I'm in the east) and $398 for National Membership. We let the offer expire because we still weren't sure we wanted to join (we had upgraded to a Travel Trailer and weren't sure if we wanted to drive it or just put it in a seasonal location. Since then we upgraded to a Class C so we drive to different places now) and didn't have the cash up front at the time. When I contacted TT to stay on their mailing list for other offers, they let me sign up with the discount offer and gave me 1 year of RPI for free. Try calling the preserve you stayed at for any offers or if you wait until the off season you'll probably be sent a better offer.
Me, Shpilkah and
Hawkeye the Camping Cat
2002 H/R Atlantis 30PBS
Nissan 200SX Toad
Roadmaster Falcon Tow Bar
Remco Lube Pump
Steer Safe
SMI Brake
Big Foot Hydro Levelers
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Rmort
Lake Tahoe,CA
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Joined: 01/14/2001
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NEVER NEVER NEVER buy a membership at any presentation.. Like a timeshare,they are worth pennies on the dollar in the event you want out.
Just look in Trailer Life magazine classified(also Motorhome and Good Sam's Highway Herald) for membership resales..You can get some with RPI and Coast-to-Coast affiliations at NO COST, or very little cost and $99/year frozen dues.
I learned the hard way when my original park went belly-up and left me holding the empty bag minus the $4000 invested!
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don b
Clermont, Fl
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Joined: 05/16/2001
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I agree with previous replys,do not buy a new membership. There are so many used offers you can take advantage of and save a bundle of money. There are a few items that you may want to research before you sign on the dotted line. A lot of the memberships have different dues that you are required to pay annually. They may differ depending on the original sale date. Sometimes you can take over their dues and sometimes you have to pay the current fees. Another thing you should watch for is a no escape clause. You cannot just resign if you lose interest in camping or even a death of your spouse. They are not always cooperative or sensitive to your problems. They are only interested in your money. This has happened to friends and relatives of mine. This is one of the reasons you see a lot of resales, you can't just walk away. I have owned several memberships and suggest you read the fine print. Do not take the word of the salesperson, your best interest is not always their top priority. Good luck.
*This Message was edited on 28-May-02 07:59 AM by don b*
*This Message was edited on 28-May-02 08:00 AM by don b*
2003 Dolphin Model 5380, Workhorse 8.1, 04 Honda CRV, Brake Buddy, Blue Ox, Banks System, Garmin 7200.
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Bea PA
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Joined: 12/28/2000
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We bought a resale at a TT preserve 5 years ago. It was a National for $1800 and our dues are $441 a year for 50 days. We really use our membership as we go to FL every year , we use our 50 days at TT and our RPI and PPA on our weeks out. Over our 50 days we pay 5.00 a night. Of course we have unlimited day use at TT. Here is the ans. I gave another person when he asked about cost. We bought a TT/Naco resale thru the TT park at Orlando 5 years ago. We paid $1800 for the national plan. We can go from 1 park to another which we will do when we go out west this summer. We pay $441 dues for 50 days and $5 a nite over 50. Since we use all 50 days in FL each year we will be paying $5 a night this summer.Our LTR upgrade would have been $299 which we didn't take because TT already owns a number of parks on the west coast and being from PA didn't think we will use it. I have RPI along with TT and PPA and use them a lot also. In FL we stay 2 weeks TT and 1 week out at an RPI park for $5 or $6 a night or a PPA park. We also use PPA while traveling. Money wise prorating our membership over 10 years plus the dues, PPA, and RPI,and some camping fees, Our 4 MONTH STAY in FL works out to $9.43 a night. This is NOT counting our camping the rest of the year. Last year we camped an additional 4 months going from PEI and Nova Scotia to Yellowstone and back using TT/Naco, RPI and PPA parks. In fact we took Pass Port America because they have parks north. So you can see that it actually cost us much less than $9 a night on the road. Hope my reply to him helps you a little. Happy Trails
*This Message was edited on 28-May-02 05:20 PM by Bea PA*
*This Message was edited on 28-May-02 05:25 PM by Bea PA*
Bea PA
Down sized Winnebago 2012 24V Class C
2003 Gold Wing 1800 recently triked (Big Red)
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BigMamaKat
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Joined: 03/03/2002
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If you're going to buy a resale membership get the membership # and seller's name and call Thousand Trails to find out the details of that specific membership. Many memberships I saw advertised had large transfer fees and the dues being advertised by the seller would not be the same once sold. Also, some were only TT, for me, I wanted access to TT, NACO and LT. Resales are great, just don't take the seller's word on the details.
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Turn Key
North Central Texas
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Joined: 06/01/2002
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We looked at the 1000 Trails CG idea as well. Did the free trip with the sales pitch. Got to say it was very nice and well worth the money. But as you said, only if you use it. We decided to take a pass on it as we don't want to be "locked down" that much. It is something we may look at again later.
Turn Key and DW
Bentley, One Very Pushy Chiweenie
Sunshine, One Crazy Pug (I Guess They All Are!)
'03 Chevy 2500HD, 4X4, X-Cab, Long-Bed
'14 Winnebago 26FWRKS ("Sunday Haus III")
Twin Kayaks, "The Ride" by Wilderness Systems
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Kampin' Krowd
Crestline, Ca
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Joined: 05/16/2002
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We bought ours on the pitch weekend. We also stayed in one of their rental units for the weekend. I hit the guy up during the pitch and had him pick up the cost of the rental, lunch and dinner for our family of six and throw in a year of RPI and some other discount camp thing and Premiere Access (another discount something or other).
It really wasn't too bad price wise and our dues are fixed at 400 a year with minimal increases yearly. I figure by the time we retire and become fulltimers...it will have really been a good deal.
We just signed up on Mother's day and have already been to 3 different campgrounds heading to the 4th next weekend. It's really nice because the one we signed up at is just a few miles from my dad's house. So we had him come over to the CG. He doesn't have to go crazy with 4 bored kids under foot and in the pool they are a happy little krowd.
The one outside of Santa Barbara was really nice. Tucked away in the mountains at an old ranch it was a nice getaway. We have 3 we can get to with just an hour of driving.
I really like the rental units. We haven't bought our RV yet..still shopping, but it usually runs us well over 125 a night for a family of 6 in a hotel. It's either a suite or a tent. The TT rentals are giving us a good idea of what we want and don't want in our RV and at 30-50 bucks a night well...well that's just plain cheap. The kids think it's fun too.
So far no down side...pretty happy with it actually.
Take Care
Alcina
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bobkat21
Acworth, GA
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Joined: 01/15/2002
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Everyone is entitled to there opions on TT. We joined last year and we love it. We have our travel trailer setup onsite just 30 minutes away and we use it every weekend. It has worked out great for us because we wanted a getaway to go to on weekends. Our yearly dues are $384 and this goes towards maintenace and upkeep of the park. It may not be for everyone, but for us it is what we where looking for. Once we purchase a new tow vehicle we plan on traveling to some of the other parks, but for now we are just happy to have a place to get away from the rat race. Good luck in making a decision. Whatever you chose to do enjoy.
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Gaia Davies
Parrish, Florida, USA
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Joined: 04/15/2003
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Just want to say thank you to all of you who replied to this question. Helps us in our search and decision making process.
Gaia
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