By Nanci Dixon
We are park hosts in a huge regional park. There are a variety of things that make for not-so-happy campers. Have you ever wondered what campers complain about the most? Do other people share the same annoyances as you? We have answers.
Here are the top five complaints the campground office gets from campers at the park.
1. “My neighbors are too loud!”
The number one complaint to a camp office is that the camper’s neighbors are too loud. Campers will call the office when their neighboring campers are noisy, playing loud music, or shouting.
I am constantly amazed at how far the high pitch of a gaggle of screaming pre-teen girls can carry. Watch the noise level. Sometimes it is hard to tell how loud your music, outside TV or group is getting. Respect quiet hours.
2. “Those dogs are off-leash!”
It is frustrating when dog owners don’t follow the same rules. It’s unfair to one Fido, who so desperately wants to run free off-leash, that another Fido gets to break the campground rules and be off-leash. This is the second most common complaint.
No one wants to risk a dog bite or unruly dog entering their campsite. Keep your dogs leashed at all times. If you’re going to tie them up at the campsite, make sure that the leash won’t allow them to get to walkers passing by.
3. “Quiet those barking dogs!”
Sometimes campers will keep their dog(s) inside their RV while they go sightseeing for the day. You all know what happens next … the dog(s) bark all day. If there are complaints, the park office will call the owners and ask them to come back and take care of their dog(s). If the barking continues, barking dog owners may be asked to leave the park. Make sure your dogs are under control and not ceaselessly barking, in or out of the RV.
4. “My site isn’t level, and it’s too muddy!”
At the park we’re currently at, there are a number of sites that are as flat as a pancake, but there are also some that will raise the RV tires right off the ground. The best bet is to call the office ahead of time and ask for guidance on the most level sites. Some parks will list online how level sites are, and if there is enough room for slides to deploy. For muddy sites call ahead and ask about the general status of the ground if there has been a lot of rain. The park will generally accommodate a move, if possible.
5. “Yuck! The restrooms are dirty!”
The restrooms at our park are scheduled to be cleaned three times a day, but, as you know, a lot can happen in between! Staff won’t know that they need cleaning again unless you call and tell them.
Please do your part to keep the restrooms and showers clean (that goes for laundry rooms, too, and other public facilities). Pick up any type of paper if you drop it, keep water in the shower and wipe up your own toothpaste, shampoo and soap spills. Wads of someone else’s hair are gross for anyone, so please discard!
##RVT1182
leash your dogs
I’ve noticed most larger dogs are leashed or tied. It’s the little fur baby ankle biters that are the ones allowed to roam free at the campsites. These seem to be more protective of their territory.
Plus, don’t tie them out if you are not with them. And don’t use retractable leashes.
This comes from a Plumber. Women are “pigs” in public restrooms. Will throw anything down the toilet- you know what I mean- and they figure they clean it up at home so they don’t when away. I have “refused “to service a public restroom till it is cleaned and I don’t mean the clogged toilet I was called for. Just the disgusting dirt all over the place.
A long time ago I worked part time for a building cleaning service and was told at the very beginning that the Ladies rooms are always filthy. I was skeptical at first, but after a week decided that was understated. Yech.
Interesting. Many moons ago I was a janitor for a factory and cleaning the men’s restroom in the office part was disgusting. There were always fully loaded toilets (not flushed) and the wall with the 4′ x 3′ urinals was covered in urine. The women’s restroom was pristine compared to the men’s. Maybe the difference was that these weren’t public restrooms. Only office workers at the plant could use them.
The lighting in the bathrooms is too dim.
I’ve hosted at several parks, Private, State and County, and have the most complaints about loose dogs #1, Loud music #2.
Out of Toilet paper #3 and paper towels #4.
Dogs bark and that’s what they do. Most people, 9 out 10, control their dogs.
Never had to have someone leave because their dogs bark.
We’ve thought about becoming camp hosts, what stops us is my patience level.
I agree. From our experience of seeing bad behaviour it’s the dog owners who can be the worst. For my part you do NOT need to encourage them with the opportunity to post pictures of their pets.
Do not get me wrong. We are ranchers and we have dogs. But we don’t travel with them into camp grounds and parks.
Dogs should be banned from all campgrounds, I have 4 now, have had as many as 9, all house dogs – I love them all – but not at campgrounds.
Dogs are not as loud as peoples uncontrolled kids, personally I would love to go to a campground with no kids! And do they need to scream constantly?
We spent the summer working in a campground with many feral and free range children. The problem is not the kids. It’s just like dogs, no bad dogs or kids. Just bad parents.
In 17 years of camping, my biggest complaint is barking dogs. This is more of a case of a dog tied up outside the camper being generally good, then folks walk by with their dog(s) on a leash and you have an explosion of canine vitriol! Neighbors’ noise and other campground sounds are very very subjective. Some folks camp thinking they are in their private forest or pasture and expect total silence. We had neighbors call a ranger at a No. Caroline SP on us at 6 PM when my wife and I enjoyed the company of my 72 yr. old brother and his 80-year-old friend. I guess they were jealous of laughter.
Pick up your dog’s turds!
Pick up your dog!
Lights!! It’s a campground, not a movie premier.
We camp with our dog. She is always on a leash, we always scoop the poop. If I see other people have left their dogs poo I usually will scoop unless it is overwhelming and a shovel is needed.
Sadly the non responsible dog owners ruin it for us all and most won’t be reading this anyway.
All examples are legitimate reasons to moan…especially the first one.
For me, #6 would be booking a full service site, and the sewer inlet is higher than the RV outlet! lol smh
The biggest complaint I have is trucks, motorcycles, with loud aftermarket exhaust especially used during quiet hours. Shouldn’t be allowed in parks.
second the trucks, motorcycles and those freaking exhaust systems…why do people feel the need to rev them up coming in or out of the park?
Cuzz they are children.
Thank you, Nanci! Have a great day, a good Thanksgiving, and safe travels!
Dogs are my biggest issue even with boondocking most of the time. I never use campground bathrooms. That’s the big reasons for RVing…my bathroom and my bed.
The dogs barking and running loose, I don’t understand it. I take my dog, he’s all I’ve got. He ignores people and dogs and does not bark unless someone comes into our space. He is supposed to alert me. He stays on leash when not at home and minds his own business. It seems like if a dog means anything to people, they’d follow the rules. I require other people and dogs stay away from mine. And those retractable leashes should be banned–many dogs on those have come running at my dog, while the human thinks its cute. In my state, all the campground rules say no longer than six foot leash. It’s very easy to follow rules. Dogs do not need a meet and greet. I’ve read about too many disasters.