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Old 07-20-2019, 12:40 PM   #1
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RV Park Site Escorts

This may be a touchy subject for some, but I'm going to ask anyway.
Many RV parks have escorts to guide you to your site. I don't have a problem with that as some parks are kinda difficult to get around in.
I'm wondering though if anybody has a polite way of telling your escort that their assistance in helping you get into the site itself is not necessary. I find that usually it is more difficult to have someone telling you which way to turn or just how far back you need to be on the site. I sometimes am frustrated by their attempts and the various hand signals and voice commands (it really gets to be fun when there are two of them giving you different instructions). Many times, I'm better off if I can get out, look at how the site is laid out, where the obstacles are and then depending on my wife to keep me from hitting something.
Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me? I don't want to step on any toes and I realize that they are only doing their job. Does anyone have a polite way to say: "Thanks, but I really don't require your help"?
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Old 07-20-2019, 12:55 PM   #2
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I have not stayed in many of the large RV Resorts, but every time I do get this assistance. It is a mandatory thing according to the campground setup. In most cases.

For me it was mostly for direction including going down a one way the wrong way. They have offered to help me park a they are supposed to stick around until I am.

I usually mentioned that I am quite capable of doing it all on my own, but still let them stand there and direct me if they wish. I always end up where I want to be, so no real harm done.

Even though they may not be working in my own style, I just go along with what they want, and usually end up with the great stay there.
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Old 07-20-2019, 01:25 PM   #3
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Same as Jim. They've never asked if I want help, they just do it. I believe they want you parked in a specific spot or manner. Their campground, their rules.
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Old 07-20-2019, 02:51 PM   #4
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I usually comply and re-position (if necessary) after they leave...

...their house...their rules.

Fred M.
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Old 07-20-2019, 03:05 PM   #5
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It maybe required for the insurance purposes, I just let them do their thing....
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Old 07-20-2019, 03:40 PM   #6
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I have only rarely encountered these, and in those cases I have found them somewhat useful, but the idea of someone telling me which way to turn the wheel (rather than how much space I have left of which side I am of the intended location) is really annoying. You could just turn the radio up...

I do understand that they are intended both to be helpful, and likely to reduce property damage due to RVs hitting bushes, fences, utility pedestals, and even other RVs.
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Old 07-20-2019, 04:08 PM   #7
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You could just turn the radio up...
I don't think that I'd have to do that. According to my wife I have selective hearing.

Are you supposed to tip these folks?

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Old 07-20-2019, 04:12 PM   #8
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I have not, not that I asked.
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Old 07-20-2019, 05:05 PM   #9
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I had one staff member linger a bit to long, maybe he thought he was going to get a tip.

Sorry I can’t tip everyone.
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Old 07-20-2019, 06:00 PM   #10
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I had an excellent attendant at a private campground and yes he did tell me which way to turn the wheel. He knew the campground very well, he knew how to position the unit before backing. I listened to him and obeyed what he said. It was most helpful and eliminated my learning a process that he already knew.

I would add that this campground was in North Carolina and built on a hill side. A steep hill with each site cut into the hill side. It was one quick back-in operation, I am sure the other residents appreciated that the process was completed quickly and quietly.
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Old 07-20-2019, 06:57 PM   #11
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I have never experienced someone taking me to my site and helping with backing up. Though, that's likely because I've only stayed in one private campground (New Orleans) and their place was small, but nice and easy to get around. We always look to stay in State Parks and other public campgrounds. Good to know I could expect this service next time we stay at a private campground.
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Old 07-20-2019, 07:55 PM   #12
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I wouldn't go that far. I've probably stayed in a hundred commercial CG's over the last 13 years, I could probably the times I've had an escort on one hand.
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Old 07-23-2019, 03:11 AM   #13
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KOA seems to be particularly fond of the escorting. I've definitely had mixed results in terms of the quality of the directions. Sometimes they're decent, other times I wait until they're gone and fix it. Sometimes they "direct" me poorly while standing where the nose of the tow vehicle needs to go, or in a blind spot near the back corner.
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Old 07-23-2019, 06:13 AM   #14
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I've seen this most often at KOA if I arrive during office hours. Usually, though, my KOA stops have been late arrivals after the office was closed, so no escort. When arriving late for an overnight stop I pick KOA because I know what I'm getting, even though they are expensive.
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Old 07-23-2019, 07:34 AM   #15
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When arriving late for an overnight stop I pick KOA because I know what I'm getting, even though they are expensive.
We just use free spots like Walmart, a field access on a rural road, or even an out of the way parking lot closed for the night for overnight stops.

I have only stayed at a few KOAs and they have mostly seemed super busy and very commercial, not our style, though did find a decent one in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho though a bit of train noise there too.
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Old 07-23-2019, 07:51 AM   #16
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We just use free spots like Walmart, a field access on a rural road, or even an out of the way parking lot closed for the night for overnight stops.
Although many people do this, I haven't worked up the nerve. I'd be less reluctant if I were traveling in a motorhome, when I could just pull away if there was a security problem. The thing about "knowing what you are getting" with a KOA is that they are relatively secure at night. For me that's worth the expense, every now and then.
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Old 07-23-2019, 07:56 AM   #17
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We've only had two guides, both in AZ. At the one park in Tucson which was mostly permanent single and double wide units on huge lots of gravel with concrete strip and separate paved area for tow. After parking and dropping trailer I parked by trailer on gravel (trailer was on gravel beside patio strip) and day later was told must park on paved area so had to move truck to it where driver door was right by neighbour's hummingbird feeder which was surrounded by wasps. For two weeks I approached truck carefully!
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Old 07-23-2019, 09:00 AM   #18
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Although many people do this, I haven't worked up the nerve. I'd be less reluctant if I were traveling in a motorhome, when I could just pull away if there was a security problem. The thing about "knowing what you are getting" with a KOA is that they are relatively secure at night. For me that's worth the expense, every now and then.
I have never camped like this and felt nervous. There is a part of my makeup, probably coming from living with my parents, that hates paying big money for a place to just sleep. I know, weird.....qq

Walmarts and a few other large stores and fuel stops have been great as there is usually a few others there too. On backroads in the country there are just farmers for the most part who are nice guys.

I have pulled into recreation hall parking lots, asked at a few other large stores, and even stopped in a residential area on the end of a block not right in front of homes.
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Old 07-23-2019, 02:37 PM   #19
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When towing I try to drive for only six hours or so a day, so that I'm ready to stop when it's still daylight. But it's just a matter of time before I get into a late night jam and end up in a Walmart parking lot.

Some states allow overnight parking at interstate rest stops, and some have overnight security as well (Texas?).
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Old 07-23-2019, 03:05 PM   #20
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I've seen this most often at KOA if I arrive during office hours. Usually, though, my KOA stops have been late arrivals after the office was closed, so no escort. When arriving late for an overnight stop I pick KOA because I know what I'm getting, even though they are expensive.
I also try to keep towing to 300 miles/6 hours so don’t worry about arriving late at night. But, if there isn’t a campsite around the area I want to stop, I prefer using Harvest Hosts. No charge to camp and often an interesting place to visit. No hookups, but that’s not a problem for me. On my last trip, I stayed at an orchard/store (large grassy field) and at a coal mine/attraction.
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