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Canadian News Special Report: Campers “Give Up” Trying To Book As Pandemic Drives Newbies To Flood Market

Campers are now resorting to alternative efforts to make their camping trip happen this summer, a special report says.

According to a Globe and Mail special report, new campers are flocking to provincial parks in response to the pandemic hampering international travel. This has also led to increased competition for campsites.

In the report, one camper noticed that many members of online camping groups, such as Facebook, have given up trying to book because of the online booking frenzy. As a result, some campers are trying alternatives to push through their camping trips.

Checking for cancellations is the first action suggested by the camper mentioned in the report. Confirming with your travel agent two to three days in advance to ensure you are able to cancel last-minute is recommended, the report says.

Last-minute campers can also opt for first-come, first-served spaces. As an example, in B.C. Parks, about 55 percent of the campsites are available for reservation, while 45 percent are still available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The camper in the special report also suggests driving a bit further from the city center to increase the chances of getting a spot. This is especially true if you travel mid-week when there is less demand.

They also recommend reserving a campsite that is accessible only on foot. These sites are somewhere in between backcountry camping, which requires you to hike or canoe to get to your campsite, and car camping where you can park your car right next to it.

In an email with the reporter, Greg Part, Communications Advisor for Alberta Environment and Parks, stated that camping reservations reached an all-time high in 2020 with 199.393 bookings.

Comparatively, 114.145 reservations in 2019 have been recorded. With 264,968 reservations [by mid-July], exceeding the numbers the year prior.

In the report, the camper encouraged people who can’t use their reservation or cannot come due to bad weather to cancel. They believe that cancellations are contributing to lower campground numbers.

Alberta Environment and Parks instituted a queue system to book bookings in 2021 after its website became overwhelmed by traffic in 2020. This was in order to avoid the website from collapsing.

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JazzyPanda987
JazzyPanda987
March 23, 2024 2:19 am

With camping getting super popular, experienced campers recommend checking out less crowded spots and quieter times for a more peaceful adventure. Trying out backcountry camping or RV rentals can offer a cool alternative to traditional campsites.

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Hi, you might find this article from Modern Campground interesting: Canadian News Special Report: Campers “Give Up” Trying To Book As Pandemic Drives Newbies To Flood Market! This is the link: https://moderncampground.com/canada/canadian-news-special-report-campers-give-up-trying-to-book-as-pandemic-drives-newbies-to-flood-market/