Published on November 9, 2023 | Modified on November 10, 2023
AutoCamp Asheville is taking Bookings
FINALLY! AutoCamp Asheville will open May 15, 2024. Funny, their website STILL says “Opening Early 2024.” Just as they did with Zion, which opened May 1, 2023, but they kept saying “Early 2023”.
May is not early.
It’s the 5th month.
The second quarter.
They announced the bookings 24 hours ago and still haven’t updated the web page. Well, hopefully they’ll update the web page soon.
But anyway, YAY…it’s finally open and Autocamp Asheville is taking bookings.
***** BUT**** be careful! That really sweet $139 a night rate has a HUGE catch to it!
AutoCamp Asheville is taking Bookings: Read the Cancellation Policy!
Two of the three available rates essenitally have a NO CANCELLATION Policy. If you cancel, you forfeit the cost of your entire booking!
We were going to book May 15 – 18 for a 3 night stay. We were super excited to see $139 a night for a Classic Airstream!
So, I jumped on the first option for RATES AND PACKAGES
Welcome Rate Promotion – Be Careful!
And then we ran into a giant wet blanket of disappointment. First, we selected the
“Welcome Rate.”
Look at the PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICIES
YOU CANNOT CANCEL!!!! You will lose the entire cost of your booked trip!
Holy smokes! That’s awful! That’s one really lousy “welcome”!
Ok…so I went and I tried the second RATES AND PACKAGES, “Advance Purchase Rate.”
Advance Purchase Rate Promotion – Be Careful!
So, you get to pay over $75 a night MORE, and again…
I sure hope people are being careful and reading the cancellation policies!
Let’s go to the final promotion and see what happens there.
AutoCamp Web Rate
Last, I tried the “AutoCamp Web Rate,” which they call their “lowest, non-restricted rate.” True, no unreasonable restrictions. You can cancel up to 72 hours in advance which is realistic.
NOW we’re talking. 72 hours.
But it’s going to cost you over $562 for the privilege of having a reasonable cancellation policy.
You’re better off purchasing trip insurance … or using a great credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which gives you amazing insurance coverage. (Note: no affiliate link here).
Conclusion: booking Experience
My excitement about booking Asheville was greatly diminished by this booking experience. I had the same issue when I was booking Russian River last year. Russian River ended up being my favorite of all the AutoCamp locations so far, so hopefully I’ll love Asheville, too.
Hopefully, other glampers are being super careful and reading those cancellation policies carefully. It’s awfully hard to book something 6+ months away and not have some assurance of cancelling in a reasonable time frame.
Want to know when new articles are published?
We won’t bomb your inbox!
If you enjoy reading about Airstreams and AutoCamp, please sign up for our mailing list if you want to receive an occasional article on what I’m reviewing at AutoCamp. I do not rent/sell/trade or spam with the mailing list. There will be few emails, and all of them on the topic of AutoCamp Reviews!
