Good Sam membership
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Topic: Good Sam membership
Posted By: Larry158
Subject: Good Sam membership
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 11:19am
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All, Contemplating joining Good Sam as we are planning our first trip out west from the Adirondack mountains. Any thoughts on the benefits or perhaps is there is a better club to join? Thanks in advance Larry158
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Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 1:17pm
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We use KOA , they have a set standard of what they will allow to carry their name. We have travelld up and down the east coast and have not been disappointed. We also use their points system for discounts on stays at other KOA's. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2025 Ford Transit Camper van 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 7:38pm
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As far as finding campgrounds: as Leo B has said, KOAs have standards for their campgrounds, and I can rely on a KOA - no matter where I run across it - to be clean, well-run and family-friendly. I've also always liked the Good Sam (previously Travel Life Directory) rating system; they're usually fairly accurate. And, of course, http://www.rvparkreviews.com/ - rvparkreviews.com has probably got the best/most accurate/most complete/independent campground ratings around. As far as which discount membership to choose: have a look at your route and your likely stopping points. Check out if a campground is a KOA or offers Good Sam or Passport America discounts. Make your choice of camping club based on which campgrounds you're most likely to stay at. KOA and Good Sam pretty much offer a 10% discount at any time (occasionally, long weekends aren't included). They generally pay for themselves in 3-4 nights. Passport America offers a 50% discount on essentially last-minute camping. The idea is to attract customers with a heavy discount to rent a campsite that would otherwise be empty that night. There are no standards for PA campgrounds, so do your research and choose carefully. And, there are a lot of restrictions (although the campgrounds are all independent and may impose rules slightly differently). Generally, the rules are: no reservations, midweek only, no long weekends, one or two nights maximum, occasionally they'll be the least desirable sites in the campground, and occasionally the discount is in non-peak-season only. Also, call ahead as campgrounds move in and out of the Passport America program. But, if you're prepared to do a little research, its not too difficult to get some very good discounts with PA as you travel. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Grayotter
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2015 at 9:07pm
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In the west we boondock, use NPS, USFS, BLB, BLR and some State Parks. When we can't find anything else we use Passport America as our bridge from one park to another. They tend to be RV Parks for long term campers. Usually they have a row of campsites for short term campers. Not particularly kid friendly. Frequently don't see a difference in campsites. We're retired and don't have kids with us. We enjoy the 50% discount. If you have kids that need entertainment, KOA or Good Sam might work better for you. Happy Trails... Gar ------------- Love2 1der |
Posted By: Larry158
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2015 at 6:08am
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Leo B, Outbound, Grayotter, Thank you all for your replies. Grayotter tour rvparksreviviews.com site appears to be quite helpful. I will certainly use that. Larry158
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