Showing posts with label Cottages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cottages. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Happy New Year! It's RV Show Season!

RV Shows are a great place to begin your search for local reputable RV dealers.  They are generally scheduled for January and February in the Northeastern US 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.  As a customer you can see and compare prices, brands, layouts, and more with one stop shopping.  There is always a huge range of quality & prices.  So 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 options, construction, equipment, 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.

We talk to dozens of RV owners each year.  One of the biggest complaints we hear is that campers bought their RV from one of those big “discount dealers” that is 4-5 hours drive away, have trouble with it, and it’s a pain to take it back to the big discount dealership, and the local dealerships don’t want to work on it.  If you think about it, you can kind of understand their position.  after all, you didn’t buy it from them, and them doing the work and getting the refund from the factory is very time consuming to their business.  Time is money.  That time also means time that they are taking away from serving the customers who did buy from them.  Who can blame them?  If you were their buying customer, you wouldn’t want to stand in line behind a repair for a non-customer, would you?  There you have it.  So, keep that in mind, these small business owners can’t compete with these “Wal-Marts” of the RV industry on price because they can’t buy the volume of RVs those mega discount RV dealers can.  But, those big discount RV Dealerships can’t and don’t offer you that home town connection, service, and responsiveness that your local RV Dealer can.  And remember, you're not just buying an RV.  When you buy from a local dealer, you're supporting a neighbor and all of his employee's families!  

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!  Show specials also sometimes include discounts or coupons from campgrounds.  So, your new RV sometimes comes with savings to use it, too!

For more information about local RV Dealers who have partnered with campgrounds in Western PA who offer $800.00 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/

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 & 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!

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!

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 camping as ‘roughing it” with a tent, the ground, 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 supplying cabins.  Prices vary by campground and the amenities offered.  Camping cabins are generally the least expensive.  They are generally one room with beds and a table.  Cottage Cabins may offer kitchenettes, or a few more amenities, and deluxe cabins are lodges with deluxe facilities like suits with multiple bedrooms, full kitchens, and bathrooms.  So, 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:

Cleveland, Ohio RV Super Show, January 6 – 10, at the I-X Center, Cleveland, OH.  Show Hours: Wed. – Fri. Noon to 9 pm, Sat. 10 am to 10 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 6 pm.  Ticket Pricing: Admission is $12.50/person.  Two Day pass $20.00.  Children 12 & under are free.  Parking is $10.00.  Discount coupons for admission available on their website at: http://www.ohiorvshow.com/!

Pittsburgh RV Show January 09 - 17  At David Lawrence Convention
Center, Pittsburgh, PA!  Show Hours: Saturdays: 10 am - 9 pm, Sundays: 10 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday: 4 pm - 9 pm.  Ticket Pricing: $10.00 for Adults, $9.00 Senior (55+), $5.00 Children 6-16.  Monday and Tuesday are BOGO nights!  Buy one adult ticket and get one free! No other discounts accepted with that discount!  One dollar off Discount Coupons available online at: http://www.pittrvshow.com/!

Erie RV Show Feb 11 - 14 At the Bayfront Convention Center, Erie, PA!  Show Hours: Thursday 2 pm to 8 pm, Friday Noon to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 7pm, and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. General Admission: Adults $6.00, Children 10 & Under Free, and FREE PARKING!  More info 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!

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Save Money on Your Summer Camping Vacations!


Who doesn’t love to save money? Everyone does, right? So we thought some ideas to help you get the biggest bang for your buck on your summer vacation travel plans were in order. We think these proven methods will help you maximize your summer fun and minimize your summer expenses!

Stay Closer to Home! Camping within 100 to 120 miles (that’s 1 – 2 hours to travel time) of where you live reduces your travel time and expenses, and gets your family enjoying your weekend much sooner for less. Staying closer to home gets you the experience without the expense of a longer distance trip, travel time, and more!

Stay Longer!  Instead of making four, 2-day camping trips with the RV this summer, make three, 3-day stays. You get an extra day of camping in, and the travel expense for only 3 trips! It saves you money on the gas, wear and tear, and is more relaxing!  Many campgrounds offer a stay 7 nights for the price of 6! Make it a staycation, and save even more!

Cook on the Campfire or Grill! Cooking over the campfire is a favorite of campers!   Try new recipes and don’t forget to make s’more or mountain pies! The meal doesn’t have to be elaborate to be loads of family fun! The kids or grand-kids will love making their own dinner and eating it!  Eating at the RV instead of eating out saves big dollars! Maybe even enough to slip in another day, or another whole trip depending upon how many times your family eats out, normally.

Become a KOA member! You don’t have to be a KOA Kampground member to camp with KOA, but there can be some big savings for your family if you are a member! KOA Kampgrounds charge you $27 per year to be a member. You save 10% every time you camp at a KOA Kampground and you get points like a hotel card. The points you earn can be redeemed for discounts and free camping. VKR Members can also take advantage of special offers and KOA Hot Deals, which save you even more! 

KOA has Special Offers: In 2015, when you purchase a campsite on May 8, you get Saturday Night, May 9th for just $10 at any participating KOA Kampground. On Father’s Day Weekend, Kids Camp Free for all VKR members! And of Course, on VKR Appreciation Weekend in September, you get one night free when you buy one night at all participating KOA Kampgrounds for all VKR members. If you don’t have reservations to camp on these weekends, book them today! With these kinds of savings, even paying the $27.00 for the card makes sense, because you’re still money ahead.       

Check for other Discounts, Free Camping, and Special Offers! Always check out the campground’s private website for discounts and special offers. At Meadville KOA, for example, we offer a hero’s discount on select weekends for fire fighters and police officers to honor their service to our communities. Other examples are our buy one night and get night free weekends on May 15 & 16, and Oct. 9 & 10, when you introduce another family to Meadville KOA for the first-time!  We provide your friend a free night for trying us for the first time and you a free night as a thank you for sharing Meadville KOA with others. We’ve met many new campers because our existing campers recommended us. We thought it’s only fitting to say thank you for sharing Meadville KOA with your friends by providing you both a great discount offer. We also offer returning camper discounts for our campers who camp with us 2 or more times a season!  It’s just another way to say thank you and show you our appreciation. Make sure you visit that discount page, and see how we’re working to help stretch your dollar.

Camp During the Shoulder Season! If you camp before Memorial Day Weekend or After Labor Day Weekend, you should find lower rates. Also, because demand is lower, you might be able to find great special offers that are available. One example is our cabin discount for April – June where you rent a cabin 4 nights for the price of 3! Yes, that’s a 25% discount. It’s a great deal for an early summer, affordable cabin vacation for your family. The rates for RV camping or tent camping sites are lower in the shoulder seasons too. If you used some of our money saving tips, you might even be able to fit in an extra autumn campout with your savings!

Seasonal camping is a great value! Seasonal camping reduces your gasoline costs because you can drive the better mileage vehicle back and forth to camp. It reduces wear and tear on your tow vehicle and RV, your time, and your work. It maximizes the use of your RV and time with your family, and minimizes your work. Why vacation just once a summer, when you could vacation on any days off, all summer long? It’s fun and affordable! It makes a lot of sense, and provides your family that time to get away together that all families need! Call us today and get started planning a very special camping vacation for your family - a whole summer of camping fun for the price of just one vacation! You can check out more info at http://www.meadvillekoa.com/seasonal-camping/.

We hope these simple ideas will help you save money, get provide you more time with your family this summer.  

As always, we hope your plans include Meadville KOA Campground!  Until we see you this spring (hang in there, it’s only 7 weeks away!) we want to wish you and your family a very happy camping season and a great family vacation, where ever your travels take you!  

By Robyn Chilson                                                                                                                  


Tim & Robyn Chilson own and operate Meadville KOA Campground.  Robyn can be reached at 814-789-3251.