Camping Clubs opinions

[JoanE]

I searched for info on this topic in the forum but it was mostly from 2009. Are you a member of a club that you feel is worthwhile and why? I joined Good Sams and have had discounts at a couple of campgrounds, which is nice. Any others you recommend or feel is a waste of money?

[WickedLady]

Check out Escapees. Great discounts at CGs and lots of friendly people. They also have lots of benefits like mail forwarding.

[cpatinjones]

Escapees is another good club. Here is a link to their website: http://www.escapees.com/

I belong to Good Sam and Escapees.

[Bethers]

Escapees is not yet for me - but possibly someday. Wouldn't join them for the discounts, tho - same as I wouldnt' join Good Sam for the discounts - although if joining for other reasons, would take advantage of those when available. The only club I've found that I get full use of every year, even if only using it once or twice is Passport America. When I don't want to spend a night at a Walmart, and want basics - I look for a Passport America park. I spent a week at one in FL and it more than paid for the dues this year even if I didn't use them again. When I'm doing a lot of travelling, and boondocking a lot, then I'll look for a PA park to have electric and a place to do laundry, etc for a night or two

[mtngal]

Passport too.

[rvgrammy1953]

We use our AAA discount when not staying at military CGs.....

[JoanE]

Thanks for the input. I was looking at both Escapees and Passport America. Glad to hear that members are happy with both when I decide which I need.

[Forestgal]

Joan, I think it all depends on where you plan to travel. I've had both PA and Escapees memberships and with the exception of one stay in an Escapees park, I didn't find either membership helpful to me -- at this time in my life. Looking at the PA parks in California I find that the parks are not places I would visit (even the one in San Diego -- it's next door to where I am now & it's literally a parking lot with hook-ups & has high-season restrictions up the wazoo). If I begin to travel the country I might consider PA, but I think I'd be more inclined to carry a Woodall's guide and see what's listed in there. They might list PA parks, and if it's a decent place I'd stay there.

If you read the blogs of any full-timers (Nick's Gypsy Journal and RVDreams, for instance) I think you'll see that they have several different memberships and have become quite adept at making them work to their advantage. That said, some full-timers are not interested in the camping experience and would much rather spend a week in a parking lot with hook-ups than in a state campground with little/no amenities.

I think what I'd do if I was planning on hitting the road for a couple of months would be to look at the campgrounds on the route I planned to travel & see what kinds of discounts they offered. Then I might choose a membership based on what I saw. So far my AAA or AARP memberships have gotten me discounts. Not much, but it's something.

Laura -- and Jed

[Birdie]

My first preference is Passport America, which normally pays for itself within 4 weeks for me. Next is Escapees, then Good Sam and in TX the TACO card. If you travel in Texas stop at any visitor center and get a free Texas Association of Campground Owners guide that has a card in it that gives you discounts to member cgs - free booklet. Did I say the booklet and discount card are FREE! Some TX cgs belong only to TACO so get it (FREE).

I have a Woodall's directory both hard copy and CD and it is a piece of toilet paper. Woodall's is all about sponsorship and the CD is not user friendly. I much prefer Trailer Life. Whereas Trailer Life has ads they, IMHO, are focused on campgrounds. I don't have a CD of Trailer Life only paper.

[Bethers]

Thanks for reminding me of the TACO card, Birdie. I never spend time in TX without it! Can you tell I haven't been there in awhile?

[SeeyaGal]

We are members of the Escapee club, get a little bit of discount at regular campgrounds being a SKP, they have their own campgrounds that are nice too.
We love the friendships we have made through the Escapees club, been members since 1998. We know lots of gals who are single in the Escapees club
I have used their mail forwarding service since 2001 and very pleased with their service.
We use Passport America, Elks clubs and also members of ThousandTrails parks ( pricey but works for us being full-timers) and close to family.
DON'T GET WESTERN HORIZON MEMBERSHIP....going belly up!

We can't wait to get the Senior Pass ( Golden Age?) when Dan turns 62, but because of our size ( 40 ft & HIGH) we cannot go to most state parks.

[JoanE]

Birdie, I like your thinking......FREE! When I head to TX, I'll be sure to pick up the guide and the card. Thank you.

[longdog2]

I just used my Passport America card for the first time this week as I traveled from Texas to Florida. First night was $17.50 east of Houston and the second two nights were $34 each in New Orleans. It would have been double without Passport America. Well, actually not, since I would never have paid $70 a night in New Orleans but we stayed at Ponchetrain Landing 5 miles from the French Quarter. It was on the water in a secure, gated park with pool, hot tub, laundry, etc., in addition to full hookups. It was nicely landscaped with palm trees and flowering bushes between each site.

It depends on where you travel but you can go online and look at the locations before you join to give you a better idea.

[JoanE]

Where are you in Florida? I live in Sarasota.

[sharon]

Passport...I always get my money back. I can usually but of course not always, find somewhere close to where I'm going. The descriptions aren't real good, but I use the net to find out more about the park. I also have Good Sam, only saves 10%, but that's better than nothing. Trailer life campbook is my travel go to for parks. Have AOR and RPI, but use them so seldom I'm thinking of giving them up. They would be great if I full timed.