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07-12-2018, 01:34 PM
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#1
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 29M Windsport
State: Georgia
Posts: 92
THOR #12172
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Good Sams Club Campsites
Being new to the RV world, I would like to know if the Good Sams Club Campsites are what there cracked up to be. We have plans to hit some State Parks but would also like the discount at GSC campgrounds.
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07-12-2018, 01:36 PM
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#2
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau Super C 33SW
State: Florida
Posts: 92
THOR #10499
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A couple of years back, we made a trip out through the NW US. I used the Good Sam ratings to find campgrounds, and we were pretty happy with them all. I found that we had a little better discount with our AAA than the Good Sam, but teh campground ratings were helpful and I felt pretty accurate.
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07-12-2018, 01:45 PM
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#3
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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If you're looking for ratings try: RV Park Reviews - Trusted Reviews of Campgrounds & RV Parks
Its like Yelp for campgrounds. I've used it for the past 5 years or so to find campgrounds.
(No affiliation with them, just a happy user; Thorforums here is affiliated with them, however.)
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07-12-2018, 02:18 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31S
State: Texas
Posts: 4,157
THOR #6411
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I find Good Sam campground ratings to be accurate. Just because a campground belongs to the Good Sam group does not insure it a great campground. Buy the directory and note the rating or log on to the website and check the ratings.
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Jim & Roy Davis
2016 Hurricane 31S
1961 Rampside in tow
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07-12-2018, 02:19 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35C
State: South Dakota
Posts: 1,132
THOR #3761
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Good Sam does an annual inspection of their associated/affiliated campgrounds and the ratings are fairly accurate. We are workamping at a GoodSam park now and I know the owners are very conscientious of their excellent GoodSam rating and keeping it that way.
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John
2016 Thor Hurricane 35C with pups Piper and Annabelle
2013 Ford Fiesta toad
FMCA - F457085
Blog - https://traversity.us
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07-12-2018, 02:35 PM
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#6
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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We've got reservations for one in Narvon, PA for this October... we'll be sure to report on how it all works out!
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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07-13-2018, 01:12 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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When in doubt, read the reviews.
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07-13-2018, 01:18 PM
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#8
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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I'm not sure if I trust reviews...
Aren't there folks who get paid to post great reviews: even though they have no idea of what the product or accommodation is really like?
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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07-13-2018, 01:21 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
State: Arizona
Posts: 408
THOR #7580
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I'm sure there are, I try to get a concenus. Either way, it's pretty much a crapshoot. Lol.
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07-13-2018, 01:25 PM
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#10
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
I'm not sure if I trust reviews...
Aren't there folks who get paid to post great reviews: even though they have no idea of what the product or accommodation is really like?
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Good Sams, and Woodalls use paid reviewers--all the reviews are paid. Paid by you when you purchase the book.
RV Park Reviews are, like Yelp, whomever logs in and decides to post a review. Are some of them paid? Perhaps, but I haven't really been to a campground that "looks nice enough to have spare $$ to pay a reviewer" if you get what I mean LOL. I guess the only way they could "pay" a reviewer would be to give a night or weekend for free for a good review (have never seen nor heard of such a thing, however).
Now the real question: Would I post a review (positive or otherwise) if a campground approached me and said "hey we'll give you a free night if you post a good review here..."? I probably wouldn't as I generally turn down free stuff (nothing is "free")*.
* The most "free" stuff I take advantage of is "free" EV charging; but even with that I try to limit it because it won't be "free" forever (and I've noticed people abusing it which only hastens the end of "free").
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07-13-2018, 01:32 PM
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#11
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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I've got a good story for you about Yelp...
The Missus and I were once looking for a pizzeria in a nearby Town...
I googled the name, and saw the usual stuff pop up...
See their menu
Yelp reviews
A website for them
and a whole bunch of other nearby pizzerias!
For fun: I started reading the Yelp reviews for them...
I came across the exact same wording; in the reviews for each of them!
I think that I smell a rat: far more than I smell a coincidence!
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"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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07-13-2018, 01:53 PM
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#12
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 33.2
State: Colorado
Posts: 48
THOR #12314
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I always go to RV Park reviews and just like anything you have to take it with a grain of salt. Somebody might be having a bad day or something.
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2016 Thor Palazzo
2009 Ford Edge
U.S.Army Retired
Calhan, CO
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07-13-2018, 01:57 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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Common sense and cross-referencing reviews will give you a pretty accurate picture. I've found most Good Sam CG's nice and as reported. I also use the app "Park Advisor" as a comparison. Seems it's a bit less biased on vendors and shows more options and people post reviews. Good Sam tends to "lead" you to the paid vendors along your route and totally eliminate other great places and campgrounds.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
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07-16-2018, 06:00 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Texas
Posts: 2,672
THOR #11781
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Another one for using RV Park Reviews. I also use FreeCampsites.net as the number of free places offered by small towns is incredible. Another resource is called The Next Exit, but it only covers the interstate system.
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Lt Keefer
2018 Hurricane 29M
CHF, Saf-T-Plus, SumoSprings
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09-22-2018, 07:24 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.1
State: California
Posts: 22
THOR #7113
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some are good, but many are not so much. KOA has better sites. They seem to take more pride in their camp grounds and keep them up as well as enforcing rules.
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09-25-2018, 01:37 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Texas
Posts: 2,672
THOR #11781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GrayDawg
some are good, but many are not so much. KOA has better sites. They seem to take more pride in their camp grounds and keep them up as well as enforcing rules.
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You know what KOA stands for don't ya? Keep on adding.
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Lt Keefer
2018 Hurricane 29M
CHF, Saf-T-Plus, SumoSprings
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09-25-2018, 01:53 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37TB
State: Kentucky
Posts: 1,032
THOR #1020
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For the last 4 years we have been vagabonds 8-9 months each year logging 60k+ miles. We have gotten stung a couple of times in absolutely clunker campgrounds because I simply didn't do my homework and made a last minute reservation. Most times, I am obsessive about campground and route research. Cross referencing is the best way using multiple sources. Ours include RV Park Reviews, Good Sams, Allstays, Trip Advisor, Google, etc. IMO RV Park Reviews is the most accurate when there is a fairly large sampling of reviews (at least 20). I know for a fact that not all the reviewers there are paid - we've submitted multiple reviews. I believe that if we don't contribute to the reviews, the good and bad rv spots won't be clear - so take the time and contribute. Thank you.
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US Army Retired - Loving The Road Trip
Challenger 37TB
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09-25-2018, 12:01 PM
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#18
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GrayDawg
some are good, but many are not so much. KOA has better sites. They seem to take more pride in their camp grounds and keep them up as well as enforcing rules.
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We just heard that KOA's cancellation policies can vary wildly from one campground to the next. This is something that you should ask about, before making a reservation.
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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09-25-2018, 12:16 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37TB
State: Kentucky
Posts: 1,032
THOR #1020
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Bob - when we travel with our grandkids, we often stay at KOA. Consistently lots of stuff for them do - generally in a cornfield. To keep a more standardized cost and policy, I use the KOA website. PS: Rare for us to stay at a KOA without some of the grands and so far by using the points, we pay for our annual membership by using accumulated points.
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US Army Retired - Loving The Road Trip
Challenger 37TB
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09-25-2018, 12:26 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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Take reviews as a guide but not fact. The dealership I bought from had a 5 star review...written by one of the Sales Managers and thanked for such a great review by a Sales Manager at a different store. They think this will offset a few of the 1 star reviews they get. Do the research...google view the grounds...read the reviews from different sources. For the most part Good Sam member campground are on the up and up. I've found the "ParkAdvisor" app to be an excellent source and the reviews seem more accurate than most. Plus, it's not bias driven by preferred vendor/service locations as many other sources are. The Good Sam locator website is very biased and doesn't include a ton of great locations and fuel stops. Multiple sources are the answer.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
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