I was wondering what the feeling is regarding "campground guide books" versus just getting online to find campgrounds? Thanks Al
Roz said
09:27 AM Oct 24, 2007
Al,
We have found it faster and a bit better for us to go on-line, as most of the guide books have an on-line version which is updated often. Also, there are a few sites we use such as www.epgsoft.com and www.rv-clubs.us/rv_campgrounds.html. We also search state and National government web sites. By using these and the on-line versions of three directories, we have no complaints. Also we have less to keep on board.
Charles
Howard said
12:25 PM Oct 24, 2007
Al,
It depends on how web-savvy you might be, how consistently you have internet connection, and how often you need to find a campground in the area at the spur of the moment.
We started out with the Good Sam/Trailer Life Directory, Frommer's Guide to America's Most Beautiful Campgrounds, The Big Rig Campground Directory, the Passport America Directory, the KOA directory, and the Escapees RV Club Directory.
After our first two months on the road, we have used Trailer Life & Frommers maybe a half dozen times. And we haven't even picked up the others. Ninety-nine point nine percent of our research is done online.
With that said, we are pretty good at web research, we are almost always connected to the internet, and while we don't make reservations often, we always know where we are going when we go from one campground to another.
We sometimes use the directories in a back-up plan situation when our chosen campground isn't what we thought it would be and have to find an alternative at the last minute. Other than that, it's online all the way for us.
poweredbytheholyghost said
12:28 PM Oct 24, 2007
Thanks for the info Charles. Al
poweredbytheholyghost said
12:29 PM Oct 24, 2007
Thank you Howard! Al
RVDude said
04:28 PM Oct 24, 2007
A couple thoughts... The gentleman that developed the www.epgsoft.com campground web map has been hired by www.RVFamilyFun.com to develop that same campground mapping utility for www.RVFamilyFun.com where many more features are now available as well as a far more complete campground database. It is getting to be a fantastic map based campground resource. An excellent resource of what printed directories to have on hand and why is discussed by the Our Odyssey blog. Google Earth also provides a fantastic preview of where you are going if you are concerned about access or visibility and the like.
Luvglass said
07:11 PM Oct 25, 2007
We use a combination of the Trailer Life CD, printed directories, the web, and RV Park Reviews to get an independent opinion.
It would be great if there was one book or site that was a comprehensive listing of all available campgrounds, like a pnone book.
Fred
bjoyce said
07:23 AM Oct 26, 2007
We plan our trips using Microsoft Streets and Trips and the overlays from http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfo.htm and consult web reviews, web sites and our paper directories. But sometimes our plans change and we are glad to have the paper directories to consult. Plan changes are bad things like weather, traffic, vibes from our chosen campground, or something breaking, but can also be good things like getting to an overnight destination early or the navigator noticing something while we are traveling that would be fun to see or do. Our paper directories are Trailer Life, Passport America, the Escapees Travel Guide, Elks guides and our membership park directories.
-- Edited by bjoyce at 16:18, 2007-10-26
Speedhitch said
11:33 AM Oct 29, 2007
Another great idea is to tap into this forum and find out from all the fine folks here where to stay. We just returned from Concan TX and stayed where Linda and Howard were on the Frio River. What a great place! Man you can't beat the information that you can get off of RV Dreams!!!!! With as many members as we have here how could you miss all the best spots!
Just try it.
Joe and Sherri
Froggi said
03:19 PM Oct 29, 2007
Hey Joe & Sherri, what is the name of the park you stayed in there...I am looking for a park to winter in down in TX and was looking at that area.
Speedhitch said
05:34 PM Oct 29, 2007
We stayed at Parkview. It is locacted across the river from Garner State Park. You will love it. If you decide to stay let us know because we will be back down there as soon as we can.
Joe and Sherri
Froggi said
07:51 AM Oct 30, 2007
Thanks, I bookmarked their site and when it gets closer will be checking on them for the month of December. The other one I was looking at is Becs Store & RV Park in the same area.
Thanks
Al
We have found it faster and a bit better for us to go on-line, as most of the guide books have an on-line version which is updated often. Also, there are a few sites we use such as www.epgsoft.com and www.rv-clubs.us/rv_campgrounds.html. We also search state and National government web sites. By using these and the on-line versions of three directories, we have no complaints. Also we have less to keep on board.
Charles
It depends on how web-savvy you might be, how consistently you have internet connection, and how often you need to find a campground in the area at the spur of the moment.
We started out with the Good Sam/Trailer Life Directory, Frommer's Guide to America's Most Beautiful Campgrounds, The Big Rig Campground Directory, the Passport America Directory, the KOA directory, and the Escapees RV Club Directory.
After our first two months on the road, we have used Trailer Life & Frommers maybe a half dozen times. And we haven't even picked up the others. Ninety-nine point nine percent of our research is done online.
With that said, we are pretty good at web research, we are almost always connected to the internet, and while we don't make reservations often, we always know where we are going when we go from one campground to another.
We sometimes use the directories in a back-up plan situation when our chosen campground isn't what we thought it would be and have to find an alternative at the last minute. Other than that, it's online all the way for us.
Al
Al
The gentleman that developed the www.epgsoft.com campground web map has been hired by www.RVFamilyFun.com to develop that same campground mapping utility for www.RVFamilyFun.com where many more features are now available as well as a far more complete campground database. It is getting to be a fantastic map based campground resource.
An excellent resource of what printed directories to have on hand and why is discussed by the Our Odyssey blog.
Google Earth also provides a fantastic preview of where you are going if you are concerned about access or visibility and the like.
-- Edited by bjoyce at 16:18, 2007-10-26