KOA’s Big Discount Weekends!

February is a great time of year to begin booking your summer campouts.  Everyone loves a discount, and that is why you need to know about the KOA Value Kard Rewards Membership, and these special discount weekends offered at KOA Campgrounds.  They can provide big savings for your family!

You do not have to be a KOA Value Kard Member to camp at a KOA campground.  All campers are welcome at KOA campgrounds.  If you do become a KOA Value Kard Rewards Member, it pays you back with big savings!  The more you camp at KOA Campgrounds, the more points you accumulate, and the more discounts or free camping you’ll receive. 

First, for a yearly membership of just $30.00, you save 10% on every stay at any of the almost 500 KOA Campgrounds across the US and Canada.  Secondly, you receive points for each stay, card renewal, special offers, and more.  The points you receive with each campout, can later be redeemed for more discounts or free camping.  And, as long as you maintain your membership they even carry over from year to year.  Third, being a KOA member entitles you to these special discount weekends listed below, and the Hot Deals advertised on the KOA website for each individual KOA Campground.  You can get more information about KOA’s Value Kard Rewards Program at https://koa.com/value-kard-rewards/.  If you have any questions about the program that we can answer for you, please feel free to call us, and we’ll help you!

Each year, KOA offers these special weekends.  If you take advantage of just the VKR weekend, where you receive one night free when you purchase one, it will more than pay for your $30 membership fee, and you’re saving additional money every time you camp!   

May 11 & 12 is Care Camps Big Weekend!  All paying guests renting a campsite Friday May 11, receives Saturday May 12 for just $20.00!  We dedicate this weekend to raising money for Care Camps across the United States to help send sick children to enjoy the healing nature of camp.  In 2017, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful campers and suppliers, KOA raised over $1,000,000 for this effort.  In addition, KOA covers all the administrative costs for the charity.  That means, that every dollar of every donation our campers make, goes directly to sending a critically ill child to camp!  This weekend can save your family on camping! We hope you’ll donate to help us send a child to camp!  Your family saves big on your weekend of camping, and you’ll walk away feeling great about helping a sick child enjoy just being a kid at camp!  It truly redefines who they are, and as always, we thank you for your generosity.     

On Father’s Day Weekend, June 15 & 16, kids camp free for all Value Kard Reward Members at all participating KOA Campgrounds!  If you have a large family or want to take the grandchildren or bring extra kids camping for Father’s Day, this is the perfect weekend for you to come camp!  The participating campgrounds will have fun family events and activities planned to celebrate Father’s Day!  Come join us at Meadville KOA! 

Each year in September, KOA hosts a national Value Kard Reward Members Appreciation (VKR) Weekend!  KOA wants to make sure you know how much we appreciate all of our great KOA Value Kard Reward Members!  All KOA Value Kard Members receive Saturday night at no charge when they purchase Friday night at all participating KOA Campgrounds.  This year, the national Value Card Weekend is September 14 & 15 at all participating KOA Campgrounds.  Come join us for this great weekend of fall camping that more than pays for your KOA membership and gets you points!   

No matter how you add it up, if you take advantage of just the Care Camps Big Weekend, or just the Value Kard Rewards Membership Appreciation Weekend, you’ll have more than paid for the cost of the KOA Value Rewards Kard Membership fee and already started saving money and collecting points.  You can get more information about KOA’s national events and which campgrounds are participating at http://koa.com/national-events/.           

We hope that your summer camping plans include us at Meadville KOA Camp-ground! We invite you to join us for Care Camp Weekends and to not only get a great discount for your family, but to help us change the lives of critically ill children. We thank you, as always, for your generosity.  

We look forward to seeing you this summer!  Until we do, we always wish you safe and fun camping, wherever your travels take you!     

By Robyn Chilson

Tim & Robyn Chilson own and operate Meadville KOA Campground in Meadville, PA.  Robyn can be reached at 814-789-3251 or at www.MeadvilleKOA.com.

It’s 2018 RV Show Season!

It’s Time to Attend the 2018 RV Shows!

RV Shows are a great place to begin your search for local reputable RV dealers.  Local RV Shows are generally scheduled for January and February in the Northwestern PA and Eastern Ohio when dealerships are slowest. 

RV Shows provide you the opportunity to see newest models and talk to dealerships that you may not have heard of, and reduce your expenses and time by not having to drive to many different dealerships. 

It’s one stop RV shopping.  As a customer you can see and compare prices of like models, brands, layouts, and more with one stop shopping.  There is always a huge range of quality and prices. 

Finding the Right RV

When comparing units, make sure you’re comparing the prices of like models of differing brands.  One RV may look like another one, but you need to compare the construction, included equipment, options, and features they both have to offer. See who offers the best deal but remember if the dealer isn’t reputable or isn’t equipped to work on the RV, or is located too far away to conveniently return the RV for service, your purchase may not turn out to be the best deal.  Don’t be afraid to talk with other RVers at the show. Many of these people have years of RV experience and knowledge of different products and dealerships.  Most will be honest and tell you when and where they’ve gotten the best deals & service.   

Buying an RV from a local reputable dealer insures you the best possible service, convenience, and shortest distance to travel for maintenance, repairs, & warranty work.  It is always a good idea to visit the dealership’s physical location before you buy, check out their service department, service hours, etc.  In addition, many RV dealers offer show discounts and sometimes manufacturer rebates are available.  So not only do you save money with the one stop shopping, but there are huge savings in the purchase prices!  RV shows sometimes include educational seminars, entertainment, and raffles for door prizes, free RVs, and more!  So there are a lot of potential gains to attending!  Show specials also sometimes include discounts or coupons from campgrounds.  So, your new RV sometimes comes with savings to use it, too!

Special Camping Deals

For more information about local RV Dealers who have partnered with campgrounds in Western PA who offer over $1,000.00 in free Camping with the purchase of a new RV from those dealerships in a Very Special Camper (VSC) Discount Offer, visit our website at: http://meadvillekoa.com/discounts/

Campgrounds and RV Parks Featured

RV shows aren’t just for RV dealers to showcase new and used RVs.  RV shows offer a wealth of information on the whole RVing industry.  Most campgrounds or RV resorts are slow or closed for the winter.  RV shows allow campgrounds to showcase new activities, special events, new amenities & extended stay (aka seasonal camping) availability to potential campers.  Make sure you stop by their booths and find new places to explore and exciting things to do with your family this summer!   

Other Camping Accessories 

You can also find information for aftermarket RV products, RV accessories, RVing insurance, Camping or RVing Clubs, Discount Clubs, pick up brochures, camping directories for your state and other states, or the free KOA directory for the whole USA and Canada and more!  

Tent Camping and Cabin Vacations Information

You don’t even have to own an RV to enjoy camping or go to the RV Shows!  Even if you don’t intend to buy an RV, you can learn about cabin camping or pick up information about campgrounds for tent camping! 

Many people think of a camping vacation as ‘roughing it” with a tent, on the ground, in the rain, and a less than pleasurable vacation.  This is no longer the case.  For about the price of a hotel room, most campgrounds are now offering cabin rentals.  Prices for the cabin rentals vary by campground and the amenities offered.  “Camping cabins” are generally the least expensive because they offer the fewest amenities.  They are generally one room with beds and a table.  Cottage Cabins sleep 2-4 people may offer kitchenettes, or a few more amenities. Deluxe cabins are lodges with deluxe facilities like multiple bedrooms, full kitchens, and bathrooms.  There is no requirement to own an RV to have a family fun camping vacation!  You can enjoy the luxury of RVing with a camping vacation in a cabin and not miss any of the campground recreation programs and planned activities! 

Why not pack up the family for a fun winter-day activity and attend one of the local RV shows in your area.  Invite a friend to come along, and enjoy a day of looking forward to a summer camping season filled with friends & fun at these RV Shows!

RV Show Dates and Locations

Pittsburgh RV Show January 06 - 14  At David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA!  See their website for show hours, admission prices, parking, and discounts offered at:  http://www.pittrvshow.com/!  Check them out on Facebook (they raffle off free tickets)!  And follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MeadvilleKOA, for a chance to win free tickets too!   

Cleveland, Ohio RV Super Show, January 10 – 14, at the I-X Center, Cleveland, OH.  Info on show hours, admission, and parking fees along with discount coupons for admission available on their website at: http://www.ohiorvshow.com/!

Erie RV Show Feb 10 - 13 At the Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, PA!  The show entrance is family affordable and the parking is free, but the limited floor space limits the number of dealers and RVs on display! For more info see their website online at:  http://www.eriepromotions.com/RV/eri/default.aspx

We invite you to attend any and all of these RV Shows!  Stop by the KOA Kampgrounds booth and pick up some brochures, a KOA directory and a KOA bag!  Tell folks in the booth that you received your invitation to the RV Show from Meadville KOA Campground!  We hope to see you there!    

By Robyn Chilson

Robyn and her husband Tim Chilson, are CPO campground owners who own and operate Meadville KOA.  You can reach her at 814-78-3251.