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

[coacbcps]

Why do some camp grounds advertise that they are family friendly then charge a per child/per night fee? Twice I was suckered into staying at camp grounds that charged for kids. We were camping with a group and I wasn't aware of the extra charge since I didn't place the initial reservation. You would think that they would at least give you two kids for free. At both campgrounds I had to pay for the children but the DOG was FREE! It's very irritating because I see one price ($35) but end up paying up to $10 more for my girls. It might be psychological but I hate having to pay extra for my children. At a "family friendly" camp ground my children should be acknowledged as being part of my family! What are your thoughts?

[meatwagon45]

All of my camping is on weekends only. We do not go seasonal or really spend more than 3 nights in our trailer. If I see a campground advertising that they are a family or family friendly campground, I will visit them. That said, if they tell me I need to pay more for my 3 year old daughter or my 1 year old son due to "extra services" then I will not be staying.

If a campground is respectable and makes it clear in their advertising that kids cost X more, then fine, they are letting me know in advance. What that tells me is either their rates are going to be the lowest in the area for 2 adults, or they do not want kids there.

[Galli]

All of my camping is on weekends only. We do not go seasonal or really spend more than 3 nights in our trailer. If I see a campground advertising that they are a family or family friendly campground, I will visit them. That said, if they tell me I need to pay more for my 3 year old daughter or my 1 year old son due to "extra services" then I will not be staying.

If a campground is respectable and makes it clear in their advertising that kids cost X more, then fine, they are letting me know in advance. What that tells me is either their rates are going to be the lowest in the area for 2 adults, or they do not want kids there.

I understand that you are upset but unfortunately, I cannot agree with you, Family friendly it means that they accept children and should be inclined to deal with family necessity, however, that's not dealing with the number of persons eligible to be at the camp.
I honestly would act like you , namely, next time I shall look for a place more reasonable but as long as the contract for staying specifies the number of people, they can charge you for any head above said number.
One thing there is to consider, you may go there with one extra person/child and you are upset for being charge for it, let’s say they let the child stay free, the next one may have two, other with three other again with… etc.., where do we draw the line ?
If I may give you a suggestion, before moving to a specific campsite why don't you call them to clarify this subject ?
The issue concerning the extra charge, I believe may be based on the fact that extra people implies more persons in the swimming pool, using more hot water in showers, if the electricity is included in the daily rates, extra person uses more electricity and other facilities that were evaluated per cost per site including a specific number of people.
I agree with you but, we also have to see their position, they are there to make money and if we change the contract conditions, they have the right to collect the extra .
I am sorry…., I would be upset like you but I cannot criticize the owner.

[KentuckyCampin]

I understand that you are upset but unfortunately, I cannot agree with you, Family friendly it means that they accept children and should be inclined to deal with family necessity, however, that's not dealing with the number of persons eligible to be at the camp.
I honestly would act like you , namely, next time I shall look for a place more reasonable but as long as the contract for staying specifies the number of people, they can charge you for any head above said number.
One thing there is to consider, you may go there with one extra person/child and you are upset for being charge for it, let’s say they let the child stay free, the next one may have two, other with three other again with… etc.., where do we draw the line ?
If I may give you a suggestion, before moving to a specific campsite why don't you call them to clarify this subject ?
The issue concerning the extra charge, I believe may be based on the fact that extra people implies more persons in the swimming pool, using more hot water in showers, if the electricity is included in the daily rates, extra person uses more electricity and other facilities that were evaluated per cost per site including a specific number of people.
I agree with you but, we also have to see their position, they are there to make money and if we change the contract conditions, they have the right to collect the extra .
I am sorry…., I would be upset like you but I cannot criticize the owner.

I have to disagree with you on the price of water and electricity.
I have numerous friends who live in apartments and their highest electric bill is $60 and water around $25. And that is for 1 month. If a campground has say 45 sites and charge $35 per night, and those sites are full over a typical weekend, that is $3150 in two days!!!! And there are typically 4 weekends per month, that is $12,600!!! Not a bad take for a month!
There is no way a typical family of 4 can use $70 worth of electric and water in 2 days.
Granted, a campground has other bills it must pay to stay in business, however, not every campground has a pool.
I know, trash pick-up, employees, etc. etc. etc. also come into play, but I just feel that this is another way for some campgrounds to make an extra ton of money!! Because even if they charged $5 per kid, a family of four is now spending $90 for a weekend. Thats a big difference in overall income for the campground. $4050 for the weekend if all sites have 4 or more people camping, and $16,200 for the month. That does not even include campers who stay during the week as well!!!!! If all 45 sites were full all month long and ran AC, The campground still comes out waaaay on top! For a family of 3 in all 45 sites for 30 days, that is $54K for the month. No way could the campground have an electric bill even close to that!!!!!!
I know, this is unrealistic for a campground to be full all the time, but Im just making a point. Granted that most campgrounds are pretty much empty through the week, and make most of their money on the weekend campers, is an honest assessment. But if no one is camping during the week, then there is no electric and water usage.
So do you see my argument??

So I cant agree with you on this one, no way, no how!!!

[Galli]

I have to disagree with you on the price of water and electricity.
I have numerous friends who live in apartments and their highest electric bill is $60 and water around $25. And that is for 1 month. If a campground has say 45 sites and charge $35 per night, and those sites are full over a typical weekend, that is $3150 in two days!!!! And there are typically 4 weekends per month, that is $12,600!!! Not a bad take for a month!
There is no way a typical family of 4 can use $70 worth of electric and water in 2 days.
Granted, a campground has other bills it must pay to stay in business, however, not every campground has a pool.
I know, trash pick-up, employees, etc. etc. etc. also come into play, but I just feel that this is another way for some campgrounds to make an extra ton of money!! Because even if they charged $5 per kid, a family of four is now spending $90 for a weekend. Thats a big difference in overall income for the campground. $4050 for the weekend if all sites have 4 or more people camping, and $16,200 for the month. That does not even include campers who stay during the week as well!!!!! If all 45 sites were full all month long and ran AC, The campground still comes out waaaay on top! For a family of 3 in all 45 sites for 30 days, that is $54K for the month. No way could the campground have an electric bill even close to that!!!!!!
I know, this is unrealistic for a campground to be full all the time, but Im just making a point. Granted that most campgrounds are pretty much empty through the week, and make most of their money on the weekend campers, is an honest assessment. But if no one is camping during the week, then there is no electric and water usage.
So do you see my argument??

So I cant agree with you on this one, no way, no how!!!

Hi, I like your breakdown of costs and as I said in my first message, If I find anything more convenient, I shall go there myself, however and notwithstanding that, if the cost per day per RV site is based of a specific amount per (i.e. 2; 3; 4; ..etc of people) it means that, they have the right to charge an extra.
A camp side is an agreement submitted to you before taking possession of the spot and if you do change the conditions, they change the price.
One thing I cannot debate with you is the breakdown that you provided in your message first of all, how do you know the cost of the water or electricity, taxes or staff service in a specific part of the world/America is similar among Florida; California or Texas or...... and the location of the camp may have a different commercial value depending of the location, size and facilities; in final, your calculation may be accurate for the full capacity of the campsite but you didn't account for the time that the camp is half empty and they still have to provide all these service.
In closing , I appreciate that you don't agree with me, debating an issue among intelligent and educated persons is always a pleasure and there is always some thing to learn a each end of the conversation.
Regards,
Galli