Once you've decided on your next RV park (the hardest part!), there are just a few things to keep in mind as you prepare to book your spot.
Booking Method
My preferred method of booking is almost always online, but unfortunately it's a bit of a rarity to find a site that allows for full booking online. Side note: if you do find a site that allows for it, keep a lookout for online booking fees, as they're often a hidden "convenience" fee.
If I can't complete the entire booking and reservation online, then I will call directly. I will honestly never fill out the booking "queries" online. It's unknown if they're going to charge you immediately or if you'll simply get advised they do have an opening, and either way there's a waiting period, and by the time I've found a place(s), I want to book immediately.
Questions to Ask
When speaking with the park, there a few key questions to make sure you ask and cover before committing.
- Location of your spot: Is there an option to choose your spot? If so, make sure to give your preferences. You may want proximity to the pool area, a quieter area in the back, the most shaded area, etc.
- Type of spot: Depending on your preference and budget, you should have options for pull throughs vs. back-ins. Pull-throughs are going to be a small upcharge for convenience, but if you'd rather not deal with the hassle of having to back into a spot, we feel it's typically well worth it.
- Are they going to charge you a holding fee? Is it refundable? What is the cancellation policy? Some sites charge a per-day-stay holding charge (ie: 5 days at $10 a day), others will charge a flat rate, typically $100. This generally just gets applied to your stay, but do check their cancellation policy and refundability on the hold if you need to cancel for any reason, especially weather.
- Is there wifi available? Is it free? Do they allow streaming?
- Are there any rules not covered on their website you should know about? (Make sure to read these thoroughly before booking anywhere.) We've found that the amount of rules from park to park can vary greatly. In general, you'll want to check pet rules if you have any - this includes but not limited to: pet types allowed (many parks do have breed restrictions), whether or not pet fences are allowed, the number of pets allowed (many parks limit to two), whether or not vaccination are records required, etc.
- Other rules you may want to look into that we've seen if they pertain to you: Is there a charge for bringing in a personal golf cart? Are motorized scooters prohibited? What are the quiet hours? Are food and alcohol allowed at pool? Are you allowed to wash truck/RV on site? Is there a limit on family size (some will upcharge for additional people over 4, etc and some even have a max allowance).
Be prepared with information to answer some of the more commonly asked questions when booking an RV site:
- Make and model of RV
- Length of RV
- Year of RV
- Model and year of truck
- Number of pets
- Number of adults/children
- Duration of stay
- Any memberships and corresponding account numbers that provide discounts, ie: Good Sams, Triple A
If the rules work for you, pick your spot, apply any discounts available, and you should be set!
