Family Friendly Campgrounds, Should they charge extra for children? Options

[dalsgal]

One thing that makes a difference in apartments and campers is the amount of insulation. We had a couple here for three years and their camper was new and in good shape. They were hooked up to a spot where the electrical box was for their site alone. Their electric bill this past summer was over $200.00 a month....for two people. Campers do tend to use more electricity than a well insulated home. When I looked back over the bills for the last 2 years I saw that it ran that high almost every month that they were here.

[kcmoedoe]

I can understand where both sides come in. It surely does run up the daily tab to have to pay for extra people and it surely costs the campground more. There is a third side to this triangle. Parks that charge extra for children tend to have a lot less children in the park, advantage KCMOEDOE. I prefer to visit the zoo, not stay in the middle of one. I purposely choose parks that do not cater to families. That being said, a park can be "family friendly" and not be a three ring circus. A pool, a game room, a playground or just the fact that they are not exclusively for 55 and older can make a park "family friendly". I also agree with several other posters, just where would you draw the line before charging? What if the Brady Bunch showed up with 6 kids? John and Kate and their 8? How about Octomom and her 11? It may be a good experience for them, but it would make my stay miserable if I was next door. I never have a problem with a business that is upfront about their pricing. If I don't like it, my rig has wheels. I would expect a park that charges extra for extra people to be upfront with that fact. If they are, I can make an informed decision. Apparently, charging for children is working for the parks that are doing it, because they are still in business.

[Galli]

I can understand where both sides come in. It surely does run up the daily tab to have to pay for extra people and it surely costs the campground more. There is a third side to this triangle. Parks that charge extra for children tend to have a lot less children in the park, advantage KCMOEDOE. I prefer to visit the zoo, not stay in the middle of one. I purposely choose parks that do not cater to families. That being said, a park can be "family friendly" and not be a three ring circus. A pool, a game room, a playground or just the fact that they are not exclusively for 55 and older can make a park "family friendly". I also agree with several other posters, just where would you draw the line before charging? What if the Brady Bunch showed up with 6 kids? John and Kate and their 8? How about Octomom and her 11? It may be a good experience for them, but it would make my stay miserable if I was next door. I never have a problem with a business that is upfront about their pricing. If I don't like it, my rig has wheels. I would expect a park that charges extra for extra people to be upfront with that fact. If they are, I can make an informed decision. Apparently, charging for children is working for the parks that are doing it, because they are still in business.

.I think that the main problem is of not reading the agreement before taking possession, I agree with you, if I find to many children I change place since I am more inclined to stay in parks mainly for adults

[olivercamper]

We own a campground, however, we travel in the winter. I feel your pain....why does a campground want to charge " extra" for cable and wi-fi? Those two items are now a part of the camping experience and should be included in the rate.

Our rate includes water ,electric, cable, sewer, wi-fi and up to 4 people over the age of 5. We feel this is fair to both our busines and our campers. Our rate of $35.00 provides a great clean safe place for your family to camp!

While we do not travel with children we have heard your same comments over and over....the rate should include the average household number of children. We agree!

Perhaps speaking with the offending campground will make a difference when they review their business plan and rate structure.

[brep]

I am an owner of a park and have struggled with this issue for the past few years. We did, finally, decide to charge for children this year.

Our thinking is this. Why should a family of 2 have to pay as much as a family with 2 to 4 children? There are multiple costs to having all of the extras we have to provide for the little ones. We do not think it fair to overcharge couples so that little ones can be free.

I understand how the families feel but we have to be fair to everyone, don't we?

[Galli]

I am an owner of a park and have struggled with this issue for the past few years. We did, finally, decide to charge for children this year.

Our thinking is this. Why should a family of 2 have to pay as much as a family with 2 to 4 children? There are multiple costs to having all of the extras we have to provide for the little ones. We do not think it fair to overcharge couples so that little ones can be free.

I understand how the families feel but we have to be fair to everyone, don't we?

Brep, I agree with you, if a side is calculated for a specific number of person, every extra one should pay extra.

[Lonesoldier]

So I have to pay for the crumb snatchers Even if I am camping alone. Why? You pay for your kids and I still have to pay the price of two. I am pretty big but don't use as much water or electric than two people. I agree a flat rate for families, 2 or 4 is the best solution but one person should get a discount from the standard charge of two. Of course there is always the ones that will pick up all the neighbor hood kids and bring them along even if they don't have any of their own, because they get the family rate.

[parkowner]

I am a park owner and our rates are set up for 2 adult people per camper and any extra person 12 years old and older are charged $3.00 a/night.This is set up in our ads and policys.

We have'nt had any complaints at this time and we have been in business since 1983.

Hope this has helped.

[Galli]

So I have to pay for the crumb snatchers Even if I am camping alone. Why? You pay for your kids and I still have to pay the price of two. I am pretty big but don't use as much water or electric than two people. I agree a flat rate for families, 2 or 4 is the best solution but one person should get a discount from the standard charge of two. Of course there is always the ones that will pick up all the neighbor hood kids and bring them along even if they don't have any of their own, because they get the family rate.

Ha, ha, ha and don't complain, yes I believe that you are alone but when you bring in your girlfriend for the day or a bunch of guys to play cards, how much extra water and electricity are you using .... and that without considering the extra garbage (i.e. beer bottles and McDonald’s containers to be thrown away by the resort..... !!!
And that is also part of a good Samaritan who's sharing the cost with those with too many children......
By the way, consider that, if you are a good catholic you may forfeit 10 or 15 years of purgatory for your sins.... he, he, he

[Lonesoldier]

Ha, ha, ha and don't complain, yes I believe that you are alone but when you bring in your girlfriend for the day or a bunch of guys to play cards, how much extra water and electricity are you using .... and that without considering the extra garbage (i.e. beer bottles and McDonald’s containers to be thrown away by the resort..... !!!
And that is also part of a good Samaritan who's sharing the cost with those with too many children......
By the way, consider that, if you are a good catholic you may forfeit 10 or 15 years of purgatory for your sins.... he, he, he

I am over and down at the bottom of the hill, no partying for me, been there, got it out of my system Check the name) . I have never complained and won't, if I want to stay at a park, I pay to stay. If I don't, thats what wheels are for, to move on down the road, over the next hill, etc.
If the park says it is family friendly, then don't add extra charges for kids, they are part of the family, including the dog, cat, pet pig or whatever. Charging extra for the kids, if you advertise family friendly, should not mean you have a swing, there should be daily activities that are kid friendly, if not I would consider it false advertising.

[brep]

I am over and down at the bottom of the hill, no partying for me, been there, got it out of my system Check the name) . I have never complained and won't, if I want to stay at a park, I pay to stay. If I don't, thats what wheels are for, to move on down the road, over the next hill, etc.
If the park says it is family friendly, then don't add extra charges for kids, they are part of the family, including the dog, cat, pet pig or whatever. Charging extra for the kids, if you advertise family friendly, should not mean you have a swing, there should be daily activities that are kid friendly, if not I would consider it false advertising.

It is not just a swing. It is face painting and arts and crafts, ceramics, relay races, candy bar bingo, etc, etc.
I guess what I take offense to is the---We are not family friendly---part. Are you suggesting that I should raise my rates evenly across the board and charge you, a single person, the same that I would need to charge that family of six? What am I now, not couple or single friendly? Doesn't seem fair to me.

[Galli]

It is not just a swing. It is face painting and arts and crafts, ceramics, relay races, candy bar bingo, etc, etc.
I guess what I take offense to is the---We are not family friendly---part. Are you suggesting that I should raise my rates evenly across the board and charge you, a single person, the same that I would need to charge that family of six? What am I now, not couple or single friendly? Doesn't seem fair to me.

Go ahead brep, I shall vote for you ; definition of family is so vague that it may extend to grand mother and father, second generation of nephews and nieces then for the piece in the family, how can you refuse this title to a mother in law , or, when the wife is not around, the girl friend should be well accepted within this parameters, after all she would be just a replacement.
Now serious = FAMILY FRIENDLY is just a commercial definition like when they state.. EVERY THING IS REDUCED BY 50 %, if you think about it, ask yourself,50% OF WHAT ? when you advertise FAMILY FRIENDLY, does mean that you are not extending the same curtsy to the single one or you are going out of your way for a family group at the expenses of the others . Most of the times, the words in advertising are misleading and they could be challenged for what they mean but in this case, family friendly it should mean gently service, ready to go a step further to please groups but does not mean that you may have with you more people than the number of persons prescribed for a given rate.
Yes I know I am a traitor of the consumer group but we have to be realistic

[RLM]

You would think that they would at least give you two kids for free. It might be psychological but I hate having to pay extra for my children.

When anyone has guests in their homes the utility bill goes up. The electric company doesn’t want to hear me complain about it. I have to pay. A ‘family’ restaurant isn’t going to raise prices on everyone just so kids can eat free. An amusement park charges to let kids in. Is not a campground a form of amusement for them? If they don’t have their own, the bowling alley will charge to rent kid shoes. I could go on.

Compared to the cost of some other amusements we spend money on, I’d suggest camping is reasonable, if not cheap. Staying in a hotel with similar kids amenities isn't cheap. How much was the entry fee to get the kid into the soccer or t-ball league? What about the cost of the equipment and the cost of the gas to get them to practice and games? All probably done without complaint. That pizza plus tip that was ordered for the family the other night was about the cost of a campsite for a day and you didn’t get to enjoy it for an entire day.

Maybe that family friendly campground should charge full price for the kids and let the parents in for free. Perhaps a bit of reverse logic to make customers feel better about paying.

When you become parents you are expected to fund them.

Now where is my discount for being alone? Gosh, I’m glad I’m not a campground owner!

[Texasrvers]

Until this discussion I had never thought of "family friendly" as having anything to do with charging (or not) for kids. To me it simply indicated a place that had amenities (playground, pool, gameroom, etc.), possibly some planned activities, and perhaps most importantly, an atmosphere that would appeal to kids.

[dalsgal]

I can imagine someone calling here for rates and having to say "If you are alone it will be $X, if there are 2 of you it will be $xx, if you have a child it will be $xxx and if you have 2 kids it will be $xxxx. It would be so very confusing to both employee and to camper. Then we also have the For 30 amp it will be $X, for 50 amp it will be $xx, for full hookup it will be $xxxx and for electric only it will be $xxxxx, these charges also vary depending on how many there are you in your group. Too many variables.