BC's Provincial Camp Grounds Rip-off

[J Mac]

Provincial campgrounds have a clever rip-off in place. Securing a campground in some provincial parks is very difficult, but the user still has to wade through an archaic system to anchor a camp site. A new system is apparently on deck for the future. In the meantime a $6.00 per day reservation fee is added, on top of daily rates, to the campers confirmation. This reservation fee is non refundable if plans change. So, in essence, we are being charged for doing all the work! In some ways it's similar to Ticket Masters ripoff fees with one difference. A concert ticket can be scalped, a camping reservation no longer can.

[Greg A]

We call that "hidden taxation" in the states. A number of states have no income tax, and it sounds good on the surface until you evaluate the "hidden taxes." I.E property taxes, vehicle fees, park fees, etc, etc, etc.

[J Mac]

BTW BC Gonernment has the same rip off in place with reservations on BC Ferries. Change of plans means a loss of reservation fees. Reservations are non-transferable!!

[gbaglo]

Remember the 'good old days' when BC Provincial Parks had free firewood?
Of course some campers had to try to burn it all and parks were smothered in wet wood smoke.
Nope, I don't miss that at all.

[KarenH]

Yes, we have the same situation with ferry and camping reservations. Washington State park fees have increased tremendously in the last several years. A park ranger recently told me that the state park system is under a mandate to become more self-supporting as funds are shifted elsewhere. Whereas I'm a staunch supporter of user fees, I do think it's a shame in this case as our park system has priced itself out of range for many, many people. I believe it's the one recreational outlet all residents should be able to enjoy.

Edited: Reading Glenn's post reminded me not only of the free firewood but of the times before leash rules were in effect and most male dogs were not neutered. Dog fights were de rigueur in campgrounds in those days.

[blhvet]

The reservation fee for Alberta Privincial Parks is $12/reservation. Not bad if you're booking several days, but it makes it awfully expensive if you're only there for one night. And there are fewer and fewer parks with first come, first serve sites. I'm trying to make peace with it... ��

[padlin]

Same deal as ReserveAmerica down here, except there is one reservation fee per reservation, verses your per night.

[maurerl]

I wrote a letter to BC Parks after our last experience, suggesting their reservation policy is flawed. No response yet (probably never!).

Reservation fee applies for the first 3 nights of a stay, so if you're reserving 7 nights, you get nights 4 - 7 without the fee -- unless you have to book multiple campsites in the same campground because any one campsite isn't available for the contiguous block of 7 nights. Every time you move, even within the same campground, even on contiguous days, its a new reservation and the 3-day-clock starts anew.

OK, whine/snivel off now. Porteau Cove is still a nice place to camp (if you can get in)!

A bigger problem, in my opinion, is that some parks -- including Porteau Cove -- are now 100% reservation-only, and have zero sites set aside for first-come first-serve campers.

[maurerl]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Remember the 'good old days' when BC Provincial Parks had free firewood?

They still do -- but I hear the penalties for being caught cutting it are pretty severe!

[Iowa Dave]

The nightmare we call government these days is largely run by folks with administrative training but very little field experience. In addition, departments which do not actually produce product cost money to operate also do not generate revenue. The result is to use tax money to run IT, Accounting, Human Resources, and other non revenue producering departments. Then top level decision makers make the producers, water works, parks, recreation, libraries, solid waste, etc, try to make operational costs by raising revenue. Along with this comes reservation fees, higher fees, non resident fees, dog camper fees, and on and on. Solutions : boondock. disperse camp, senior pass, season passes, camp host, shoulder season reduced rates, Sunday thru Thursday outings, no holidays, they're a nightmare anyhow. etc.
I feel your pain.
Dave