When Will RV Campgrounds get with program and have better websites

[RubenZ]

Am I the only one that gets annoyed by the fact that most campground websites severely lack decent Content? I like to see a good view of the campsite from the RV sites, etc. etc. I want to get an idea of how much shade the campsite has, etc. etc. before making the long journey.

[trudinator]

Originally Posted by RubenZ

Am I the only one that gets annoyed by the fact that most campground websites severely lack decent Content? I like to see a good view of the campsite from the RV sites, etc. etc. I want to get an idea of how much shade the campsite has, etc. etc. before making the long journey.

Maybe they're not too proud of their sites! I stayed at a campground quite a few years ago that had "special" tent sites. Yeah, they were "special" all right - 100+ yards from the nearest tree, in the middle of a field with the sun blazing all day. Needless to say, after we saw the site, we got a refund and went somewhere else.

[DF5.4]

If I'm going to a CG I haven't been to before I checkout their sitemap and then go to Google Earth. You can get a pretty good idea of where the trees are.

[yvesm]

Bing maps also works good sometimes, you can locations of roads and highways

[momtovn]

i do that too, i use google satellite we saw one site that looked more like a city dump than a CG, phew, glad we did not book that one!!

[Los Popes]

What also frustrates us is there are many campgrounds where you still can't make online reservations or check availability. You have to complete and submit a request form or call for availability.
I understaand that it can be expensive to upgrade your internet infrastructure but most of these places seem to have enough business to support the upgrades. Maybe they don't receive enough customer complaints about their websites so they don't change.

[zaih05]

Keep in mind we're new to all this, but I was just fighting the booking site reserveamerica.com for a spot at Starved Rock here in IL. I'm sure it has to due with budgets or lack of, cost of website administration, database administration, etc, etc, etc. seems many places farm out the online booking / website part. I just wanted to TALK to someone to ask a simple general question... IF you can find the hidden link to get to cryptic page that may or may not have what you need, good luck getting a live person on the phone! UGH! Sorry for the soapbox rant but this one is still near and dear to my heart.

[MrT]

Originally Posted by RubenZ

Am I the only one that gets annoyed by the fact that most campground websites severely lack decent Content? I like to see a good view of the campsite from the RV sites, etc. etc. I want to get an idea of how much shade the campsite has, etc. etc. before making the long journey.

Ruben--take solace in the fact that you are among good company in this forum. I try to access every available (online) resource to determine if a particular campground or RV park is what we are looking for. We all have our tastes and preferences, as do those that rate campgrounds. Sometimes you are the bug, and sometimes you are the windshield... Submit reviews when you can, and that may help the folks next in line.

[hoffkm]

Problem with campground information on the internet (be it a campground website or google earth which are both sources I use) is the age of the information. You have to be careful and try to make an educated guess if the info is recent or not (age of RVs in pictures, hair styles on guests, apparal, etc.). The google earth pictures of our home are about 6 to 7 years old for example.

We have booked at campgrounds that looked nice on the internet and then were not so nice in person. We have also been pleasantly suprised at very nice campgrounds with wonderful owners that had "sub-par" websites that left us guessing. It sometimes is the luck of the draw and that can be half the fun (unless you get stuck with the extremes).

Another possible warning sign sometimes can be "under new ownership". It all depends on the reason for the new ownership.

[campnqueen]

Have you checked out Federal recreation, camping and tour reservation information - Recreation.gov some of the fed and state parks DO have photos of actual site! shade and all! They have length of site and how far from water/lake or river too.

A lot of the fed/ state park campgrounds are manned but volunteer hosts... they are more than happy to chat with you about the facilities. Most of them live on site.

[j2detroit]

ya the wife and i had reservations at a camp ground near st louis we got there and found out it was in st louis coplete with 8ft tall chain link fence with razor wire all the way around the top the entire cg 1 block big was paved with asphalt hookups consisted of a 2place plug in and a waterhose hook up well we circled the block checking it out and just kept on going called and told the mgr we coulnt make it that nite and canceled found a neat koa a little ways down the road that was way way better

[campnqueen]

Surely don't trust the Woodall's or Trailer Mag director either!

We stayed in a campground just outside Cincinnati a few years ago... stated it was a very nice 4-5 star/diamond campground. NOT! Maybe 30 years ago! It was a nasty dirty very old and run down campground. There were old dead trailers on blocks and really creepy folks LIVING there! Luckily it was just an over night stop... we didn't even unhook :O

[ALMcKinney]

Maybe we can start a fourm on campgrounds?

AL

[RubenZ]

Originally Posted by ALMcKinney

Maybe we can start a fourm on campgrounds?

AL

I agree. My side business is photography and I'd be glad to post pics of campgrounds I stay at with mini reviews.

[Koodog]

j2detriot,
Know what you mean. Stayed at the campground for a week as it was close to the dome for a convention I was attending. Went over the river the next year to the Casino Queen. MUCH BETTER!. Really enjoyed the stay there. Walking distance to the dome over the river and the buffets at the Queen were awesome.
Could have taken the train across the river, but needed the exercise after the buffet.
Almost forgot.....across the street from the St.Louis campground is a cop shop. I felt pretty safe with the razor wire and the boys in blue so close.

[Terier]

Campground Directory - campsitephotos.com

There is a drop down window to select your state. I have found this site to be helpful in ruling out sites or sometimes campgrounds based upon my needs.

Since we don't know when the photots were taken keep in mind that things might had changed a bit.

[LadyWindrider]

As for starting a campground review website, you might want to check here:

RV Park Reviews :: Home

Has everything this thread has been talking about. Now the reviews are by campers, and must be viewed that way. There is also a date of the review, and by whom. No need to reinvent the wheel, when it is already rolling.

[RubenZ]

Originally Posted by windrider

As for starting a campground review website, you might want to check here:

RV Park Reviews :: Home

Has everything this thread has been talking about. Now the reviews are by campers, and must be viewed that way. There is also a date of the review, and by whom. No need to reinvent the wheel, when it is already rolling.

NICE! Thanks for the site

[camper_Lucy]

Originally Posted by zaih05

Keep in mind we're new to all this, but I was just fighting the booking site reserveamerica.com for a spot at Starved Rock here in IL. I'm sure it has to due with budgets or lack of, cost of website administration, database administration, etc, etc, etc. seems many places farm out the online booking / website part. I just wanted to TALK to someone to ask a simple general question... IF you can find the hidden link to get to cryptic page that may or may not have what you need, good luck getting a live person on the phone! UGH! Sorry for the soapbox rant but this one is still near and dear to my heart.

Folks,

There are two different issues here, first is the campground web site content or lack of, this is something that can easily be corrected by the campground owner as it under there direct control. They may not want to spend the money to do it but they control that decision - so let them know.

The second item - reservation systems such as reserveamerica, KOA, etc. are outsource contracted services used by the campaground operator, they have no control over these sites and how the site operates other than they link their web site to the reservation site. So again if making the reservation is difficult to use let them know after enough complaints they may get the idea to change. Personally I avoid all the reserveamerica sites as it takes to much effort to make a reservation on their site.

[RubenZ]

The thing is, to have decent pics doesn't take much these days. I'm sure the owners can have their grandchildren or children do it. Now days cameras are cheap.