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Old 12-24-2020, 09:31 AM   #21
DaveK
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Biker Bill saved money. This is a simple example.

Everyone knows that a campground in FL costs maybe $70 per day in peak season. In the past 5 years, we have spent approximately 240 days in FL. The math is $70 × 240 days = $16,800. I paid $4,500 for my membership. To say someone is using up what they paid in advance is an incomplete picture.

And, I'm spending 60 more days in FL this Winter. $70 x 60 days = $4,200 more. That's roughly over $20,000.

You might have other valid reasons for not buying a membership, but if you use the membership it's easy math.
 
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Old 12-24-2020, 10:11 AM   #22
Biker bill
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Thanks dave kendal, you explained it better than me.
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Old 12-24-2020, 10:36 AM   #23
Brady’s Mom
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We Love It!

My husband and I got a free basic membership when we bought our rig. At first we thought it was a waste of money to renew because you only get one “region” with the basic membership and our state of AZ had limited options. Plus, in order to get an additional region you had to pay more....not much more but still more. To get the Encore resorts which include about 100 additional camping options you had to upgrade your membership.

With all of this said, we now live in a Thousand Trails RV resort. Our address is 6400 E Thousand Trails Rd. You get your own permanent space where you can put a shed, have a deck, etc. And then pack up and go on a trip anytime you want with a place to come back to. I know this is not for everyone but it works for us. Our favorite Membership Specialist worked with us to ensure that we got exactly what we wanted out of our membership. There are so many options at so many different rates that whether it’s worth it is up to you and what you are looking to do. Jed, our Membership Specialist, can be reached at the Verde Valley RV Resort. During COVID, they are under the gun to sell even though it’s hard to meet with people so now may be the time to speak with someone like Jed, tell him what you want out of a membership and see what deal he can get for you. Just as an FYI the number at the Verde Valley RV Resort is 928-634-8158 and tell them you want to speak with Jed, the Membership Specialist. Good luck.
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Old 12-25-2020, 07:54 AM   #24
captjac39
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Well it has worked great for us. we have kept track and our $750 package saved us $6000 worth of camping this year. I am going to renew our yearly membership and once retired may buy a life time membership.
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Old 12-26-2020, 01:05 PM   #25
Roammer
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[QUOTE=shovelhead86;1207355]I seen an ad for Thousand Trails and thought I would ask here if anyone has purchased it and how has your experience with it been? DW is thinking about giving up the Volunteering at State parks thing.
Any and all info ap
preciated.

We have purchased a camping pass for the north and south east with the extended campgrounds. Cost us about 1000. Great no contract. Saved us over 3000.00 our first year. Campgrounds in system were no fee. Signed up again. It worked well for us you just need to check the Campgrounds in your zone to make sure they work for you. Staying in Florida this winter for almost nothing. Only down side is you have a 2 week max. Worth looking into
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Old 12-26-2020, 01:45 PM   #26
BiggarView
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THere is more to the TT cost than just the membership or applicable fees and rules. If you need good cell service many location are reportedly poor, remoteness means extra fuel and wear and tear on any vehicles when you have to go anywhere. Agree many TT CGs are old and in need of upgrading. All that said... they still represent an option that may or may not work for your particular needs and wants. A choice, among many for RVers.
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Old 12-28-2020, 01:02 PM   #27
jowalker46
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Also, their parks are not kept up. Very little maintenance if any is done.
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Old 12-28-2020, 01:34 PM   #28
DaveK
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That's an overly general statement and gives the impression that they are not maintained. I've been in TT campgrounds across the US. Nearly all have very nice staffs. I think all I've been in are clean. Some are very nice and some are average, but I wouldn't rate any as bad. I don't think they're much different than many non TT campgrounds.

If I was going to generalize, I'd say KOAs have the highest standards but they're pricey. There's no better large scale membership available.
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Old 12-28-2020, 04:00 PM   #29
JABURKHOLDER
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I log every RV park I stay in and I rate each one:
Military
Good/Great
Overnight/Passing through
Not worth revisiting

I have stayed at 95 different RV parks so far in my travels. 15 have been rated “Not worth revisiting”. Of those 15, seven have been Thousand Trails.
Twin Mills in Howe, IN
Moody Beach in Wells, ME
Chestnut Lake in Port Republic, NJ
Timothy Lake South in East Stroudsburg, PA
Lake Towakoni in Point, TX
Outdoor World Williamsburg in Williamsburg, VA
Yukon Trails in Lyndon Station, Wi

My standards for an RV park fall somewhere between resort and Flying J. I don’t go out of my way to book a resort and I haven’t stayed overnight at a Flying J in 5 years. I have been pleasantly surprised by some mom and pop parks. For me, Thousand Trails is barely better than a Flying J parking lot.

My perception, my reality.

Other opinions may vary per their experience.
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Old 12-28-2020, 05:40 PM   #30
DaveK
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Thousand Trails

Recommend that readers read reviews for campgrounds by trip advisor, Good Sam or some other source. Just out of curiosity, I researched on Trip Advisor three of the parks you listed and those reviews are better than your reviews. I'm glad to read negative reviews as well.
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Old 12-28-2020, 06:53 PM   #31
JABURKHOLDER
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I read reviews too. I take them with a grain of salt. A lot of reviews state how great the staff is but leave out that it’s a half hour drive for diesel. Great lake but don’t mention half the 50 amp sites have no power. The views are great and nice wildlife but don’t mention the place becomes a swamp when it rains. People see what they want to see. The only review I care about is my own to myself after I have stayed at a park. I generally don’t share my views about parks because everybody has different expectations. However, in the case of Thousand Trails, I will voice my personal experience and my experience with them has been way less than stellar. In case you missed a prior post, I paid nothing for my membership so I have no axe to grind.

You mentioned KOA standards. I have paid extra for a deluxe site and was greeted with a dirt site with weeds and rusted patio furniture. I guess the standards took that week off.

The only way to know if you will like a place is to just go. Kind of hard to do with membership parks. Buying a membership somewhere takes research. Time you don’t have at the sales meeting when the offer is “only good for today”. You have to trust that what is being offered is acceptable to you.

84% of the parks I have stayed in have met my standards. I neither expect nor look for resorts. 16% have not met my standards regardless of any posted reviews. It’s just kind of odd that 50% of my bad ones were Thousand Trails.

My standards, my experience, my reality.
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