Thousand Trails Cabin Pass-honest review and complaints-2024
Thousand Trails, known primarily for RV and camping sites, rolled out a unique membership program in 2022, the Cabin Pass. For $1,500 for the year, you can access cabins, yurts, tiny homes, and other unique accommodations all year round. There are some stipulations, but only a few. You can stay up to 7 days with 14 days out, which, if you're a frequent traveler like we are, you can stay two times a month. Also, most places have a minimum stay of 2 days.
What is the catch?
That is the first thing we thought: this has to be too good to be true.
We were pleasantly surprised to find out that it was, in fact, a good deal for the price, and we even signed up for a second year at the same price. We live in Florida, and they have many cabins to choose from, but we found a few problems: the number of cabins available differs from park to park. For instance, we stayed at the Spring Hill location and were told that in the Winter peak season, the cottages are already rented out to long-term returning guests paying the premium.
Interested in becoming a Thousand Trails cabin pass member?
For more information about the Thousand Trails Cabin Membership, click here and fill out the Form. I’ve teamed up with Sharon and Warren Lewis to get you the best deal on cabin pass memberships.
Upon doing a little research on the Thousand Trails website, I noticed some of the resorts and campgrounds on the program only have one or two cabins, which seems strange and would be hard to book in high demand.
Some Follow Your Park posts may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you.
Another issue was with the same park in Spring Hill; they made me pay a deposit of $200 upon check-in. This was not clearly stated to us upon signing up or securing our reservation, and we had never paid a deposit at any of the other parks, so this was surprising. I couldn't understand why they couldn't charge me if they found an issue, but I was already there and at their mercy. They promptly returned the money to my bank account within two days of checking out.
Why we love the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass.
We live in Florida, and our main draw was staying in the Florida Keys. Since we're so close and our jobs allow it, we could pack up and go with little notice and planning if a cabin/hotel/tiny home became available.
Another perk we love about the cabin pass- inviting guests.
We enjoyed all the cabins we've stayed in, even if they were hotels in the Keys. When we stayed in Vero Beach, our tiny home seemed brand new and was directly across from the pool. Another upside is you can stay with friends and family because most cabins can accommodate up to 6 guests.
When we stayed in Williamsburg, Virginia, we brought our parents along, and each couple had a room and bathroom. My in-laws enjoyed it so much that they went to the office, signed up for a pass, and renewed for a second year recently.
How far in advance can you make a reservation?
You can book your stay up to 60 days in advance, which works well for us. We also drove to all the cabins we stayed at to plan quickly with flights or other accommodations.
Complaints with the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass.
Here is our honest review and our complaints regarding the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass. It's important to note that not all cabins are the same, and Encore and Thousand Trails staff members provide inconsistent information/not enough. For example, we were told that hotels are not included in the cabin pass, but the Fiesta Key Resort has hotels and tiny homes. During our first use of the pass, we stayed in a hotel which was quite different from what was advertised on their website. Based on their website info and photos depicting tiny homes or cabins, we were shocked to be in a small hotel room.
Not all Thousand Trails cabins are created equal.
It is essential to do your research and read reviews before booking a stay at RV campgrounds like Thousand Trails and Encore Resorts. We learned this the hard way when we struggled to park our RV at the Lake Myers campground in North Carolina. The park was in poor condition and mostly occupied by long-term residents. Although cabins were available, we would not recommend booking one based on our experience at the RV park and the overall lackluster condition of the campground.
Since the new cabin Pass, we have relied on Trip Advisor for Thousand Trails and Encore lodging reviews. We're also part of a Facebook group specific to the Thousand Trails Pass. The group is called Thousand Trails Cabin Pass on Facebook and has almost 700 members. It's been helpful to see other members' experiences and reviews and get updates on changes to the past as they happen. Since we've been members, any changes made to our pass have yet to be communicated directly.
Top 3 cons we don't like about the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass:
Some parks are run down, and the cabins need updating.
Some places have limited availability.
They need to provide pictures of the cabins correctly from site to site.
We've seen multiple reports from our TT members that number three is a significant, challenging issue. Knowing the inside of the cabin and the amenities it provides can help you plan. However, Thousand Trails sometimes uses pictures of cabins that do not resemble the cabin, and some sites have no photos. It would be great if they could improve this. You have to rely on traveler's photos on Trip Advisor or other online platforms, which can be time-consuming.
Our Conclusion: Is the Thousand Trails Cabin pass worth it?
We believe that the Thousand Trails Cabin pass offers excellent value for its price. However, it is most suitable for those who can travel on short notice (within 60 days), have access to a vehicle for driving to cabins, and are comfortable with some cabins being better than others.
We stayed over nine times in the Florida Keys the first year we had our pass. The rooms and tiny homes at Fiesta Key cost between $250-$400 a night, so a seven-day stay more than pays for the pass and can be used all year long. We suggest doing your homework and talking to a member at Thousand Trails before making your purchase. To find out more about our stay at our favorite resort in the Florida Keys, under the cabin pass, Fiesta Key, read our post “How we stayed 60 nights under $60 at Fiesta Key Resort-Florida Keys”
