A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

Lopo wrote:Darn! I just joined about 2 weeks ago and paid full price. <sigh> Check their site, Anne, to see what they're all about. It's escapees.com.

Thanks for the info, Lopo. This really helped.

This got me to thinking - there must be many different travel "Clubs" (I know that Good Sam is one, many places also offer discounts to AAA members).

I will be doing a bit of travel this winter (California) but when the weather turns nice next spring I will be going a lot more. I would really appreciate it if those of you who use travel clubs and get their discounts could post the names of these clubs, and why you like them.

Thanks, Beth, for posting about Escapees. Was news to me, and I may join up.

Anne

Some answers can be different depending upon what sort of places you like to visit and park.....

One of the best is the Senior Pass you can get for $10 after you turn 62! Gets you into National Parks entrance FREE. COE and National Forest Campgrounds are usualy all 50% off. Old age pays, finally! Until then....

Passport America can pay for itself with just a couple of night's stops. It is nice that the campgrounds are now listed on their website. It is easier to check out than the books..... 50% off a night's stay. Most of the campgrounds do have limits to their use. Either seasonally of number of days or "no weekends", etc. So it is important to read the fine print for each campground. Many of the PA parks are not necessarily destination parks but maybe close to the main highways and great for overnight or two stops....and just fine for that.

The Escapees membership is good for knowing that around the country there are campgrounds were you will be considered like family and welcomed in whether it is for an overnight (I use the on near Knoxville off I-75 a lot) or for an affordable community to spend a few weeks or months....

There are more expense camping memberships like Thousand Trails, etc. I have never researched them seriously. I do know that these memberships CAN be very expensive and are cheaper if they can be purchased/transferred from someone else... There are full-timers that use their memberships enough to recover the cost but until you get out on the road and get a feeling for how you travel, when and where? you will not know know if these other memberships make sense for you.

What Tina said!

I never thought I would be happy to be 62 until now : )

The Senior Pass gets you 50% off camping at Nat. Parks and gets you in free at all National Parks, Monuments, Refuges, BLM, etc.

Pretty well said it..one of our sisters on the forum perhaps more have the Thousand Trails...and because they full time do make them pay but have to use them....I've thought of passport but haven't done it yet again need to know where they are located...and with your Senior pass...some times free isn't free example at the Mt Rushmore you don't have to pay for the entrance into the monument but you have to pay for the parking and there
is no where else to park...also no discount...my husband was so ticked as it was going to be the first time he got to use his Senior Pass
sheila

PASSPORT AMERICA is, imo, the best. With the half off it is often cheaper than staying at a state park, etc. That said, they are usually a little off the beaten track but for overnights on a trip you can't beat them. I once stayed for a week at a PA park for half of what it would have cost me for the state park which was right across the road (same scenery) and I had full hook ups including cable and wifi and no loud weekend partiers.

I dropped Good Sam mostly because of the volumes of junk mail they send and the constant renewal letters just a few months after you've joined.

Always ask about discounts at check in or on the phone. A lot of parks give AARP members 10% off.

I also avoid KOA's (Keep On Adding). They have gotten way overpriced and you're usually crammed in like sardines.

retiredhappy wrote:PASSPORT AMERICA is, imo, the best. With the half off it is often cheaper than staying at a state park, etc. That said, they are usually a little off the beaten track but for overnights on a trip you can't beat them.

Er. . . WOW.

I checked out their website, and some of the "off the beaten track" rv parks you mentioned are in the very areas of my projected volcano travels!!

Thanks SO much for posting this!! I think I will join Passport America in the Spring, when I begin to travel more. Or sooner, if I decide to hit the road a bit this winter.

Awesome!!

Anne

Cudedog wrote:

retiredhappy wrote:PASSPORT AMERICA is, imo, the best. With the half off it is often cheaper than staying at a state park, etc. That said, they are usually a little off the beaten track but for overnights on a trip you can't beat them.

Er. . . WOW.

I checked out their website, and some of the "off the beaten track" rv parks you mentioned are in the very areas of my projected volcano travels!!

Thanks SO much for posting this!! I think I will join Passport America in the Spring, when I begin to travel more. Or sooner, if I decide to hit the road a bit this winter.

Awesome!!

Anne

Sometimes Passport America offers an extra 3 months when you sign up or renew. They were doing that when I renewed mine this summer.
Sandi

WickedLady wrote:The Senior Pass gets you 50% off camping at Nat. Parks and gets you in free at all National Parks...

huh?

BarbaraRose wrote:

WickedLady wrote:The Senior Pass gets you 50% off camping at Nat. Parks and gets you in free at all National Parks...

huh?

Barbie, the camping is half price, the entrance fee is zero. Blonde eh.

Didn't read it that carefully... just call me Dewfus! (No, not a natural blonde )

The National Parks senior pass also gets you a discount in their gift shops. The FL State Parks senior pass (issued at age 65) will give you 50% off camping fees (with free admission included). Many of the National Parks do not have the hot water showers and electrical hook ups that are usually in State Parks. Some county campgrounds give their residents a discount on camping fees.

I love Passport America (PA). There are lots and lots of PA parks here in FL. Many of the PA campgrounds have swimming pools and Jacuzzi's. The money I saved the first time I used it paid for the membership fee.

I have to keep a Good Sams membership because I camp with a local chapter, but rarely use Good Sams for a camping discount. However, I have used my Good Sams discount in Camping World. Love the store, but not their prices.

Good Sam does send out a lot of junk mail and emails but you can opt out so they don't send them to you.

I belong to Passport America, Good Sam and Escapees.