Just had my first "escort" last weekend! Very nice campground (Odetah, in Bozrah, Connecticut), and they escort you to your site and guide you in. The escort was nice because he took me up and around (instead of the quickest way to the site), so it was easy to back the trailer in. It was nice to have an escort, but I don't think it was "necessary".
QUOTE(Tom @ Sep 10 2009, 01:44 PM) [snapback]18832[/snapback] Just had my first "escort" last weekend! Very nice campground (Odetah, in Bozrah, Connecticut), and they escort you to your site and guide you in. The escort was nice because he took me up and around (instead of the quickest way to the site), so it was easy to back the trailer in. It was nice to have an escort, but I don't think it was "necessary". We pulled in to Odetah a few yrs back at dusk and our site was in the front part of the campground. I couldn't see as well and with all the hilly grades the escort made it so much less stressful which I was glad for. We loved the campground also...plan on returning again this fall Mike
I had a funny one (not funny at the time) in San Angelo, TX, where the escort directed me through a tight area right into a car as he was waving me into the site. As I was watching him waving me to the right I felt a bump from the back left and found out that he had me swing the back left of our motorhome into a parked car. A crowd gathered back there and then he took off and didn't even bother to apologize. I got out (and did apologize to the owner) and managed to pop out the dent in the car (it was a plastic fender) and managed to rub off the mark on it with some claybar and detailing fluid. So the car owner was happy but then I had to do some bigger repairs on the RV where a fiberglass part had dislodged from the back. And we never heard anything from the escort for the rest of the stay. :blink:
Escorts? Do they expect to be tipped? Have you ever tipped an escort? We recently returned from a 3 week trip to the west coast. In a campground in Nevada our escort wouldn't leave, he reminded me of a bell boy at a hotel who was waiting for a tip. I've never had an escort act this way, it was uncomfortable. I didn't tip him and he finally left. If I should, from now on I will. He didn't do anything special and guided me in so that the set up was more difficult then usual. We have had several and some did and offered alot more than he did, but none acted as if they wanted a tip.
You've raised a great question. I don't know if they expect it, but we have never tipped an escort and honestly the thought never occurred to us that we should. I can see the similarity to a bell hop, but unless there are a lot of rvers who do tip we will probably not start.
A friend of ours was at a fancy campground in SC and he was told the rule was that he get escorted to his site and then the escort had to back his camper into the spot for him. The friend wasn't thrilled with this but agreed. The escort backed the camper into a small pole, knocked it over and then the campground charged our friend $50 for the damage. In a large campground an escort is nice but in a small one I don't see the necessity for it. I have walked people to their spots in our small campground, offered my help if necessary but have never been offered a tip and wouldn't accept one if offered. Helping people is part of my job and I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it. The only thing that would be nice would be if the people posted a good review or complimented me to my boss.
QUOTE(dalsgal @ Sep 26 2009, 02:25 PM) [snapback]19252[/snapback] A friend of ours was at a fancy campground in SC and he was told the rule was that he get escorted to his site and then the escort had to back his camper into the spot for him. The friend wasn't thrilled with this but agreed. The escort backed the camper into a small pole, knocked it over and then the campground charged our friend $50 for the damage. In a large campground an escort is nice but in a small one I don't see the necessity for it. I have walked people to their spots in our small campground, offered my help if necessary but have never been offered a tip and wouldn't accept one if offered. Helping people is part of my job and I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it. The only thing that would be nice would be if the people posted a good review or complimented me to my boss. That's crazy that they charged the friend when the escort backed it in. They should have charged the campground for the damage to the RV. Reminds me of the escort that directed us right into a parked car and then left. Your approach sounds good, hope to visit your campground some day.
I think the person at the desk where you check-in should ask if you need or desire an escort to your site. By dong this, the person who normally escorts can continue working at whatever they are involved with. Those that don't want or need an escort won't be tieing up that person for no reason, and those that do need the service will be better served. Also, while at the desk, those checking in can take a look at the map they have just been handed. They should be able to desern at that time if the map is worth the paper it's printed on, or if an escort would be the best way to go. Additionally, while we are on the escort subject, if one is going to escort... SLOW DOWN to the posted speeds that we are required to comply with. How often have you climbed back into your rig, and watch the escort head off into the park. If you're driving a big diesel rig, it takes a few secconds for all the relays to close before you can even think about starting correctly. Meanwhile the escort is 1/4 mile down the path. I suppose they may be in a hurry because it's hot, they may have more rigs to be escorted, whatever, but give the drivers a little time to get back in their rigs, seated,and ready to pull forward. Pesonnally I don't try to rush to catch the escort, but I have watched others, and they do exceed, by a large margin, the posted park speed limits. As an added note... we just completed a 5 month trip around the country, hitting 44 of the lower 48 states, it was a mixed bag on escorts. Seemingly, the largest percentage of those who did have escorts were on the on the East or West coasts. Many in the middle states did not, and some around the Gulf coast didn't either. My personal preferance... hand me a good map with my site marked, and recommended route there.
QUOTE(AlinerCamper @ Jul 11 2009, 06:58 PM) [snapback]17506[/snapback] As far as the escort is concerned I can take it or leave it. What upsets me is when the escort insists upon giving me the directions on how I'm to back into the site. My wife and I have our system which works well. I'm in full agreement here. If the escort is a must by management, we're ok with that. Just golf cart us to our site number and we'll handle it from there. We always check out the site prior to pulling/backing in and know how we want our unit on the site. We know the lengths of sewer hose and water hose we own and how far our electrical cord will go. Leave us to our routine and we'll be happy campers.
We don't need an escort. Rather they spent the time cleaning up the parks/sites. QUOTE(Texasrvers @ Jul 11 2009, 12:44 PM) [snapback]17503[/snapback] I've read several reviews lately where the person was upset because they were not escorted to their site. That has never made a difference to us, but I am wondering what the rest of you think. Is this a service that you expect a campground to provide?
We're usually escorted at "name brand" affiliated parks. Don't need it as long as the sites are clearly marked on a good map, and my husband, the driver, would never in a million years let anyone else back the rig into a site---ain't never gonna happen! We travel a lot and have had "helpful" directions while backing in, which he grumbles a bit about. Had the need of an escort once because the park had no map, and no site numbers. We just settled on a site where we thought the owner might want us to be, and it worked out!
As a rule at our campground we do not give an escort unless someone looks like they need one. You can usually tell by the deer caught in the headlight look in their eyes. Of course, our maps are easy to read and follow which certainly does help.
