Best Overall Service: TIE!!!

New Bern KOA (New Bern, NC) and Covert/South Haven KOA (Covert, MI)

I talk a lot about the New Bern KOA and I visit as often as I can. It has been my favorite place to go since the first time I visited. This year, I added another favorite to my list, the Covert/South Haven KOA and am already planning a week there next summer!

Are you wondering what these parks did to get in my list for Best  Overall Service? People can’t control every situation, but it’s how they handle a problem that makes them memorable (good and bad). Both of these parks went above and beyond on my first visit! 

BEST SERVICE PARK 1.

My first visit to the New Bern KOA I was greeted by friendly faces, given suggestions on things to do and my little dog Emmi was even given a gift (a small bag with 2 dog treats, 2 poop bags and a nice message to me about picking up after my dog). They even took my cell phone number to notify me if power went out in the park and Emmi was home alone. 

This location had seen a lot of rain before I arrived. I was escorted to my site and I tried to put my leveling jacks down, they just sunk in the mud. My escort suggested that we go back to the office together and request another site. 

This is the first time I met Pat, and honestly thought she was the owner. I later learned that she is the manager. The park is lucky to have her!

When presented with my problem, I learned that my site was the last available for the entire visit. She could have left it at that or told me what others have, “I can’t control the weather.” Instead, she offered to move me for a night and bring a load of gravel in for my site!

Pat’s kindness, was really all I needed. They were really busy and I didn’t want to create more work for the staff. The escort suggested bringing some long 2×6 boards over and running the across the ground under my leveling jacks. I was willing to give it a try.

This amazing man didn’t just bring boards in minutes, but he got down in the mud under my RV and placed them! Then he waited until my jacks were down to make sure I was happy. I couldn’t have asked for more.

While I was there, a thunderstorm rolled through leaving about 4 inches of standing water in my site. My RV mat was floating! But, my jacks didn’t sink and because of their effort and kindness, I wasn’t unhappy at all! Instead, I marveled at the resulting rainbow and witnessed the most amazing sunset ever!

I have been back several times since that first trip. I forgot one of my Flamingos when I left last time. Before I even missed it, someone sent a message saying that he was in the office awaiting my return. They always find room for me and the service is always the same… extraordinary!

The New Bern KOA has the best service and so much more! It has really nice RV sites (my first site was an overflow site), paved roads, furnished patios with gas grills, great cabins, a nice pool, a clean dog park and dog wash station, the best tent sites I have seen in any campground and that sunset I mentioned! The list goes on and on! You should check it out yourself! 

• New Bern KOA campgrounds and tell them Jenni from Bumping Down Highways sent you.

BEST SERVICE PARK 2.

I had experienced a rough few days on the road. Multiple things went wrong that put me behind and I had to call Covert/South Haven KOA to let them know that I was going to miss my reservation and ask if they could accommodate me a few days later. The person on the phone told me the park was full, but she would talk to the owner and see what they could do. It didn’t take long to hear from them. They really were full, but told me to come anyway, they would find room for me. 

I arrived early (because that happens sometimes on the road). The office/store was crazy busy with checkouts and last minute shoppers. I was willing to wait, but needed to move my rig that was blocking people in the parking lot.

Instead of being short with me when I asked (from the back of the line) where I could go to be out of the way, the smiling face apologized to ME, when I was the one who should have been apologizing. She said she would call an escort to guide me to my site and I could just check in later.

WOW! Instead of stressing over the long line in front of me and the parked cars who couldn’t get out because of me, I got to go relax!  

When I went back to check in, I met one of the park owners, Libby. As she was checking me in, she gave me the “Park News Paper” and took the time to show me which places inside I should visit, told me about their pizza delivery (which I tried and loved!), told me how the store charge account worked (just like a hotel, you can charge any purchases to your site) and said if I needed any repairs while I was there she could recommend a great mobile  RV service guy.  She and others stopped by to check on me throughout my stay.

As if this wasn’t enough, my tow hitch had broken and I needed to leave my car somewhere until it could be picked up for transport back to Florida. Someone told Libby, and she came by to say I could leave there.They would take the keys and handle everything for me!

I left Covert/South Haven KOA with more than fond memories, I left new friends and a plan to return. They have the best service and so much more! It has    really nice level RV sites with grassy areas and shade trees, great cabins, a nice pool, the most amazing splash pad you have ever seen, tons of activities for kids, really good pizza and a clean laundry area. The list goes on and on! You should check it out yourself!

• Covert South haven KOA campgrounds and tell them Jenni from Bumping Down Highways sent you.

If you are an RVer, my followers and I would love to hear your Best RV Park Service stories! Feel free to post them on our Bumping Down Highways FB Page! 

If you are an RV Park Owner/Manager, notice that there were challenges at both parks. I have been at some parks where if I told them I was unhappy with something, they told me they couldn’t do anything about it or were at times, flat out rude, telling me if I didn’t like it, I could leave.

Remember that friendly service and flexibility can be more important than the site or amenities you offer your customer.  Challenging situations can be turned into repeat guests, it’s all about attitude and how you/your staff offer solutions.

If you are interested in learning more about how to make your park one of the BEST, send an email to [email protected] and let’s chat.