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Planned the perfect trip to Silver Lake. I had plenty of time to go online and get reservations (June 11th), but one catch, Silver Lake and everything north of Grand Haven was booked. So I get a spot in GH, but one catch, the "two day stay" policy. OK, fine, I will pay for 2 days even though I only need one. Credit card was billed and I thought smooth sailing for now.
I get to Grand Haven at 9 pm Friday. They say, yep you have it reserved, but because I did not show up on the first day (Thursday), they cancelled my reservation and put it back into circulation for someone else to take. Now, when I pay in full for something, I expect to have it, whether I am there or not. Me and my buddy talk to "Ranger Rick" there and nope, can't help ya. Oh, but he could, as the site I had claimed online was still vacant. I could stay, but only if I paid for another night! I told him I already paid for tonight and we are not paying again. We went back and forth in a civilized manner (although the blood was about at a boil - had a death grip on the counter). There was no reasoning with the guy so we left at 10 pm, Friday night, 100 miles from home and no place to stay (checked into another couple campgrounds in the area, and no dice). Thank goodness I have an Aunt that lives in North Muskegon and she let us use her front lawn to camp on.
That 2 day rule is such bullshit, as is the cancellation policy. I tried to get Fri and Sat night, but all the weekends were booked, so I got the next best thing, Thu and Fri nights. I guess the only way this would have worked, according to "Ranger Rick", it to have me drive up 100 miles Thu night, say "Here I am!", drive back home another 100 miles, get up Friday, drive another 100 miles and them camp out. Even if I knew about the cancellation policy and called up there, it still would not have worked according to them (you can not call in to claim your spot, you have to be there in person).
Sorry for the excessive length. For those that dozed off, Cliff Notes are:
Paid for 2 days in campground (forced to - did not want).
Showed up day 2 (did not need night one)
Was told since I did not show up day one, the site goes back into the pool.
Got royally pissed off.
Spend night in front yard of Aunt (free of charge).
Sore back and headache from little sleep.
I will never, ever stay in another State Park if I can help it. And I have stayed at Silver Lake State Park for at least half dozen times in the last 3 years or so with absolutely no issues or complaints.
Do other parks have the same stupid rule? Any recommendations on campgrounds around Silver Lake to stay at that have more "user friendly" policies?
Rant is over, thank you for your time. :thumb:
I get to Grand Haven at 9 pm Friday. They say, yep you have it reserved, but because I did not show up on the first day (Thursday), they cancelled my reservation and put it back into circulation for someone else to take. Now, when I pay in full for something, I expect to have it, whether I am there or not. Me and my buddy talk to "Ranger Rick" there and nope, can't help ya. Oh, but he could, as the site I had claimed online was still vacant. I could stay, but only if I paid for another night! I told him I already paid for tonight and we are not paying again. We went back and forth in a civilized manner (although the blood was about at a boil - had a death grip on the counter). There was no reasoning with the guy so we left at 10 pm, Friday night, 100 miles from home and no place to stay (checked into another couple campgrounds in the area, and no dice). Thank goodness I have an Aunt that lives in North Muskegon and she let us use her front lawn to camp on.
That 2 day rule is such bullshit, as is the cancellation policy. I tried to get Fri and Sat night, but all the weekends were booked, so I got the next best thing, Thu and Fri nights. I guess the only way this would have worked, according to "Ranger Rick", it to have me drive up 100 miles Thu night, say "Here I am!", drive back home another 100 miles, get up Friday, drive another 100 miles and them camp out. Even if I knew about the cancellation policy and called up there, it still would not have worked according to them (you can not call in to claim your spot, you have to be there in person).
Sorry for the excessive length. For those that dozed off, Cliff Notes are:
Paid for 2 days in campground (forced to - did not want).
Showed up day 2 (did not need night one)
Was told since I did not show up day one, the site goes back into the pool.
Got royally pissed off.
Spend night in front yard of Aunt (free of charge).
Sore back and headache from little sleep.
I will never, ever stay in another State Park if I can help it. And I have stayed at Silver Lake State Park for at least half dozen times in the last 3 years or so with absolutely no issues or complaints.
Do other parks have the same stupid rule? Any recommendations on campgrounds around Silver Lake to stay at that have more "user friendly" policies?
Rant is over, thank you for your time. :thumb: