mwallace61
Alabama
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Joined: 03/28/2008
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Never had a problem with them, both reserving and cancelling a couple times.
Mike & Karen
ForrestGump the Wonder Dog
USA
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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We use RA extensively because the State parks in California and Oregon are on it. We have had no problems. I do not understand why some people can't make it work, but you do have to learn the procedures. As others have suggested, start by creating a user account. Then learn what the reservation opening and closing dates are for the park you are interested in. That is very important. If you try to book a site for a date that is outside that window it will not work. The system wiil show that there ae no sites available.
We have found that making reservations on line rather than by phone is faster and more likely to be successful, especially at popular parks.
In California some parks, especially the ones with beach access, are very popular. To get a site there we have to be really fast, because they might be all booked within 15 minutes of opening. What I do is pick out several sites ahead of time and have a window on my computer screen open for each one ahead of the opening bell. If the opening is at 8:00 am I will be ready at that time and will start hitting the "Book This Site" buttons at 8:00:01. If I am the first to request that date the computer will take me to the next step. If someone has beat me to it I will move on to the next choice.
Once I have grabbed a site I have something like 15 minutes to enter the rest of the required information. During that time the site is locked down and nobody else can book it.
I suggest that you do some trial runs ahead of time to learn the system. Go through the process and then cancel out before the transaction is complete.
Note that the system will log you off if you are signed in but not doing anything for a while.I think the timeout period is 15 minutes, so be careful that you do not let that happen while you are waiting for the reservation window to open.
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Camping Hoosiers
Southern Indiana
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Joined: 02/17/2003
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I really like the system and have never had a problem. Check in at the park is quick and easy since they already have the info.
2006 Jayco Eagle 314 BHDS
2001 Dodge QC - 5.9L Gas
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JoeH
Apollo Beach,FL
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Joined: 02/21/2001
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I use it 6-8 times a year and have never had any issues, other than fighting the "crowd" to get a site at popular places.Just need to know what the lead time is to make a reservation at your destination and then mark your calender to set up the reservation on that date... e.g. 11 months in advance for FL
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Mike& Rose
Lake & Horse country,Blackstone Valley MA
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Joined: 02/12/2007
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I have used Reserve America "online" making reservation in MA at the state parks. One time I booked the wrong weekend(my mistake and was charged $9). One thing that I noticed with on line reservations is that they open windows of blocks of time you can reserve. So you have to keep checking in for when those months or weeks open. Another issue is that not all the sites are listed on line. I am planning on calling Reserve America as soon as DW summer schedule is finalized (we have a favorite site # that is not on the list of sites for some reason, Only half the sits are listed). Also, if you call, they can tell you right away of any cancellations which would take a couple of days for them to put back as available on line, so if it is a busy weekend you can book it.
See you on the road!
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Hiker3
Florida
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Joined: 01/21/2007
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Big Katuna wrote:Florida used to manage their own reservations at the individual campground and it was a gamble. Some parks did a good job but generally, it was hard to get someone and they typically weren't trained as reservation agents. RA made it much easier to plan ahead, make your own reservations online, etc. I don't like their cancellation and change fees but its a business. Like all central reservation systems, they have no persoanl knowledge of the park and can't give any advice that isn't on their computer screen.
Check in has generally been much easier. Typically you roll up to a window, you tell them you have a reservation, they hand you the stuff and you drive off. Some places will still make you go in.
I agree. I will say that one state park ranger told me that Reserve America listed their park as having "walk up" sites for last minute arrivals. She said that was incorrect and they had not had "walk up" sites in years.
Livin Lite Quicksilver 8.0 (Folding Tent Camper) only 900 lbs!
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Mountain Lover
Waynesville, NC
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Joined: 06/23/2009
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I have used them many times, no problems and their website is very user friendly. Good maps of campgrounds and even pictures of individual sites on many parks. I have never had any problems checking in after making a reservation. I wish everyone used this system.
Mountain Lover
KB4BT
2010 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Auto
2003 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Man
2009 Jayco EXP 17C
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tybeebeth
Georgia
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Joined: 01/26/2007
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Never had a problem. We use it quite a bit for Florida State Parks. I like being able to look at the campground maps and site descriptions. I really like being able to pick my own site.
Beth, husband Henry, 80 lb. labrador retriever Blondie
2005 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD/CC/DA
2006 Titanium 29E34TS
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egrove
Dallastown, PA
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Joined: 07/07/2001
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I never had any problems booking a site with Reserve America. My only complaints would be the added cost ($8 per reservation) and their poor user interface, although the user interface has improved a quite a bit over the last year or two.
Eric Grove
Dallastown, PA
2009 Jayco Greyhawk 31GS
Our 2010 cross country trip
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dkhender
Colorado Springs
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Joined: 02/15/2007
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Nebraska State Parks also use Reserve America - very easy to use and no problems in the last year.
2007 Four Winds/Thor Hurricane 34B w/ 2006 Chevy HHR TOAD
2002 Ford Explorer --> 2004 Ford Expedition & 2008 Gulf Stream Gulf Breeze 23 TRS
1994 Ford Explorer & Coleman PU
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