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Harvest Hosts Evaluate

What’s Harvest Hosts?

Harvest Hosts is an RV membership program that gives a distinct type of RV tenting expertise by offering members with the flexibility to spend the night time at wineries, farms, museums, breweries, eating places and different varieties of companies. We even used our Harvest Hosts membership to camp at a bowling alley one night time!

As of penning this Harvest Hosts evaluate, there are over 5,000 areas accessible to members with new hosts being added recurrently. The map under gives you an thought of the place the hosts are situated across the U.S. and Canada.

How Does it Work?

Once you change into a Harvest Hosts member, you get entry to companies throughout the USA, Canada and Mexico which have signed up with this system to permit RV house owners and renters to park in a single day on their property. Whereas the the hosts don’t cost a payment to park in a single day within the RV, the expectation is that Harvest Hosts members will patronize their enterprise in someway. Harvest Hosts suggests a minimal spend of $20 to assist the enterprise members are staying with.

Listed here are some methods to patronize a Harvest Hosts enterprise:

Wineries: buy a wine tasting, glasses or bottles of wines. Each Harvest Hosts vineyard we’ve stayed at even have a present store the place guests should buy non-alcoholic objects. It is a nice possibility for members who wish to keep at a phenomenal winery however might not wish to drink or purchase wine.
Museums: pay for admission to the museum and/or buy objects within the reward store.
Farms: replenish on in-season, native produce

Do Hosts Supply RV Hookups?

Every Harvest Host location is totally different with what they provide by way of parking and facilities. We’ve stayed at nearly each kind of Harvest Host on the market and whereas we’ve discovered just a few hosts that provide water, electrical and loos, most Harvest Hosts merely provide members a spot to park in a single day of their RV.

Harvest Hosts members can see which facilities are supplied by visiting the host’s web page. Listed here are some examples of facilities supplied by hosts in this system:

Present Store
Picnic/Patio Space
Farmers Market
Restaurant/Meals
Climbing
Birding & Wildlife Viewing
Water Hookup
WiFi (be taught extra about The way to Keep Linked on the Highway)
Separate Tow Car Parking

Do Harvest Hosts Present Electrical energy?

Some do, however most don’t. Within the 9 years that we’ve been staying with Harvest Hosts, we’ve solely ever been to 1 host who had electrical energy accessible. That mentioned, we not often want it so we might have stayed at some host areas who supplied it, we simply didn’t ask. That mentioned, if the host does provide electrical energy or water, will probably be listed on their host web page.

If you happen to do discover a host who gives electrical energy, I’d extremely suggest utilizing an EMS (electrical administration system). This can assist stop injury to your RV’s delicate electrical system – particularly should you unintentionally plug right into a 240v plug considering it’s a 30 amp plug. They give the impression of being the identical and your host may not know the distinction and let you know to plug into the 240v outlet. This occurred to us as soon as staying at a Boondockers Welcome location and our EMS prevented any injury to our RV.

How A lot Does it Price?

The price of a Harvest Hosts membership is $99 per 12 months, which supplies members entry to an inventory of over 5,000 hosts round the USA, Canada and Mexico. Every host itemizing incorporates data resembling GPS coordinates, max RV size, variety of areas, pet coverage, amenities, reservation necessities, evaluations and photographs from members and the flexibility to e-book a keep on-line.

Low cost Alert! Harvest Hosts is providing We’re the Russos readers a 30% low cost on memberships by the top of the 12 months.

3 month, 100% a refund assure on Harvest Hosts membership. Attempt it danger free to see if a Harvest Hosts Membership is price it for you.

Your Harvest Hosts membership begins on the day you be a part of and can be up for renewal on the identical day the next 12 months.

Harvest Hosts Lifetime Membership is now not supplied. When it was accessible, the associated fee was $300 for a Harvest Hosts lifetime membership.

Harvest Hosts Plans

There are at present three varieties of Harvest Hosts Plans to select from.

Harvest Hosts Traditional is the bottom degree plan for $99/12 months which supplies members entry to over 5,000 companies.

Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome is the second tier plan for $169/12 months which supplies members entry to over 7,000 areas to spend the night time of their RV. The extra areas are made up of group hosts within the Boondockers Welcome program. Try our Boondockers Welcome Evaluate to be taught extra about this system.

All Entry Plan is the all inclusive plan for $179/12 months which supplies members entry to over 8,500 areas. This Harvest Hosts Plan is nice for RVers who take pleasure in golf because it consists of entry to over 400 golf programs the place members can spend the night time. Though, you don’t must be a golfer (we’re not) with a view to use the golf advantages. Some golf programs enable members to spend the night time with out enjoying a spherical of golf. As an alternative, members can take pleasure in different facilities and restaurant(s) the Golf hosts have to supply.

Do Harvest Hosts Get Paid?

The hosts aren’t paid by Harvest Hosts to be a part of this system. That is why Harvest Hosts suggest that you simply spend a minimal of $20 once you go to because it’s the hosts approach of “getting paid.”

What’s it Prefer to Keep at a Harvest Host?

The primary Harvest Host we ever stick with was a vineyard and winery in Paso Robles, CA in 2015. A number of days prior we known as and instructed them we had been a Harvest Hosts member and wished to come back keep for an evening at their vineyard. After checking availability and ensuring they might accommodate our Class A motorhome and tow automobile, we had been instructed they’d like to have us.

Once we arrived just a few days later, we went inside to examine in with the proprietor who then confirmed us to our in a single day RV parking spot. As soon as we had been arrange, we walked to the tasting room to pattern their wines. After going by virtually each wine they made, we bought a pair bottles and walked again to our RV, arrange our camp chairs and loved one of many bottles whereas we watched the solar set over the winery.

When the vineyard closed for the night time, we had all the place to ourselves and the house owners even instructed us we might stroll by their vegetable backyard and decide something we preferred…which we did and had a tremendous dinner. Learn extra Tales From the Open Highway: The Adventures and Misadventures of RV Residing.

Within the seven plus years we’ve been utilizing Harvest Hosts, now we have loved each stick with one exception. We booked a keep at a dairy farm in Arizona and didn’t take into consideration the truth that there can be cows on property…a whole lot of cows. So naturally it smelled like a dairy farm. Fortunately for us, the hosts had been very good and offered energy for us to plug into so we might shut the home windows and run the A/C. This host additionally made some wonderful dairy merchandise which we completely loved. After this Harvest Hosts expertise, we discovered to inquire about livestock when planning a farm keep. 

When to Use Harvest Hosts?

For us, Harvest Hosts is nice for these instances we’re driving cross nation and want a spot to remain alongside our route. A Harvest Hosts expertise is a lot extra fulfilling than staying in a Walmart parking zone, in a single day parking at a truck cease or boondocking at Cracker Barrel. Plus, we get to expertise no matter our host has to supply and we haven’t been disenchanted but.

Since we don’t want RV hookups, we might quite take the cash we might spend at a campground and put it in the direction of supporting a neighborhood enterprise within the Harvest Hosts program. A number of instances, we’ll search for farms alongside the route with a view to replenish on produce, eggs and different items. We also have a farm in Washington that we at all times make a detour to go to as a result of we love their merchandise and the house owners are nice individuals.

How A lot Do You Must Spend at a Harvest Host?

The quantity members spend at Harvest Hosts will differ, however the urged minimal is $20. The quantity we’ve spent has various from nothing to properly over the minimal. One Harvest Host enterprise we stayed with was renovating their facility and didn’t have any merchandise to promote, however they invited us to spend the night time anyway. More often than not, we completely love the merchandise and replenish as a lot as we are able to as a result of we don’t know after we’ll be again in that a part of the nation.

The Harvest Hosts member portal makes it straightforward to examine every hosts and what services or products they provide. If we don’t suppose a bunch could have something we’re enthusiastic about shopping for, we merely gained’t e-book a keep there. Right here’s an instance of a bunch description to get an thought of what to anticipate:

“A farm vacation spot together with a 12 months spherical plant nursery with recent produce and farm recent eggs. Christmas tree farm, pumpkin and corn patches, out of doors occasion venue with catering and newbie panorama pictures. Internet hosting a number of annual, household pleasant occasions all year long! Park alongside the highway and check-in with the host for parking directions.”

What Forms of RVs are Allowed?

All varieties of RVs are allowed together with Class A, Class C and Class B motorhomes, camper vans, fifth wheels, journey trailers, truck campers and schoolies. 80% of Harvest Hosts are in a position to accommodate any dimension RV and for these different 20%, every Harvest Host will listing what limitations they’ve. 

Pop-out trailer fashion campers the place the perimeters pop up and out are prohibited. Additionally prohibited are bikes, bikes, roof-top tents, floor tents and sleeping in vehicles, vans or minivans. Vans and truck campers with pop-up roofs are allowed in addition to tear-drop fashion trailers, nevertheless out of doors kitchens will not be used. 

Consider, all varieties of campers have to be self-contained. Which means your camper will need to have an inside bathroom and waste water holding tanks. Cassette, porta-potti and composting kind bogs are allowed so long as they’re dumped off-site. 

If you happen to’re touring with different RVers, every RV will need to have somebody who has a present Harvest Hosts membership.

Can I Use Harvest Hosts in a Rental RV?

Completely! We’ve met individuals who don’t personal an RV however have a Harvest Hosts membership as a result of they take pleasure in touring in rental RVs. Because you’re sometimes transferring from spot to identify when you could have a rental, Harvest Hosts is usually a nice possibility for these in a single day stops and a spot to wind down from a protracted day on the highway. Simply ensure that to plan forward and never arrive after hours. 

Harvest Hosts memberships aren’t tied to the RV, so you need to use it in no matter leisure automobile you need so long as it adheres to the foundations.

Do Harvest Hosts Permit Mills?

Sure, some hosts enable mills. If you happen to plan to make use of a generator, examine along with your host first to see if it’s allowed and if that’s the case, if you find yourself allowed to run it. We’ve been at some hosts which might be both out in the course of nowhere or in busy city areas and nobody would ever discover or care if a generator was working. Different hosts dwell on website or are near residential areas the place working a generator might disturb others.

If you’re allowed to run a generator, be thoughtful if there are different RVers staying in the identical location. by both parking away from them or limiting your use of the generator.

Why We Love Harvest Hosts

Extra Than Wineries.

We’ve stayed at numerous Harvest Hosts location since 2015. Solely a handful have been wineries. Others varieties of Harvest Hosts we’ve stayed at included:

Each Harvest Hosts keep gives a novel expertise and it’s at all times a pleasant shock after we pull up in our camper. Essentially the most distinctive has been a Titan II missile silo that the house owners had transformed right into a trip rental and would give excursions when it was not occupied. We parked on property and received an in depth tour by the proprietor.

Extra Than a One Evening Keep

The rules state that members are restricted to 1 night time with every host. We’ve discovered that after we arrive and meet the house owners/managers of the property, they’ll generally invite us to remain longer than one night time.

At our very first Harvest Hosts keep, the proprietor supplied to allow us to keep three days on their property since we had been visiting through the week they usually had the provision. Different hosts have supplied us the choice to remain longer within the years now we have been members, however we nonetheless go into every stick with the expectation that it’s for one night time.

Additionally, some Harvest Hosts are solely open on weekends or have occasions happening which may restrict the variety of nights a member can keep.

Help Native Companies

We discover staying with Harvest Hosts to be an effective way to buy native and assist small companies. As talked about earlier, the urged minimal spend at every host is $20. As an alternative of going to a series grocery retailer to purchase produce, we are able to plan an in a single day keep at a neighborhood farm and purchase straight from them.

More often than not we get an opportunity to satisfy the house owners of the enterprise and be taught extra about their merchandise and listen to their story. Certainly one of our favourite farms is North Ridge in Almira, Washington. We’ve stayed there twice in a single 12 months and received to take pleasure in two seasons of recent produce grown on the farm.

Canine Pleasant Harvests Hosts

One of many major causes we determined to RV was to journey with our canine and we aren’t alone. With many RVers touring with pets, Harvest Hosts makes it straightforward to search out pet pleasant hosts in this system. There’s a “pet allowed” filter on the discover hosts web page in addition to a “Pets Welcome” itemizing on the host’s web page.

Pets are anticipated to be stored on leash always and members ought to learn the outline for extra details about pets, resembling whether or not or not the enterprise proprietor has pets on property. It goes with out saying that members are anticipated to select up after their pets.

Join with Different RVers

Harvest Hosts members are superior! We’ve met some nice individuals alongside the best way that we keep in contact with. Particularly should you’re new to RVing, it’s an effective way to search out and construct group on the highway.

There have been loads of instances the place we’re the one members parking in a single day and that’s fairly cool too.

Peace and Quiet

The hosts we’ve stayed with are sometimes outdoors the hustle and bustle of the town. As soon as the enterprise is closed for the day, the parking zone is empty and silence falls over the property. We make the most of these peaceable and quiet instances to take pleasure in a very good e-book, watch the sundown or star gaze.

We have now not run right into a scenario the place the world was so distant we couldn’t get cell protection. If you happen to’re involved about connectivity, take a look at our submit on Web for RVers.

Member Opinions and Pictures

The Harvest Hosts member portal consists of feedback, photographs and movies submitted by customers. Usually instances we are going to discover useful data within the evaluations part resembling cell protection and highway noise.

Harvest Hosts Cellular App

The Harvest Hosts app is one in every of our important apps for RVing for a cause. Accessible for Android and iOS gadgets, this app is stuffed with options that make it straightforward to search out and e-book a stick with hosts. Right here’s a few of our favourite options:

A full listing of Harvest Hosts with the flexibility to look by state, location or route
Particular person host’s data web page that gives data resembling an outline of the host, hours of operation, contact data, web site, facilities, photographs and evaluations.
Request-to-Keep system that lets you see the host’s calendar and submit a request to remain on-line.

Nice Buyer Service

Whether or not you’re an current Harvest Hosts member or trying to be a part of, you’ll be able to contact Harvest Hosts buyer assist by sending an e mail to staff@harvesthosts.com.

The One Draw back

Though Harvest Hosts has grown considerably since we first joined in 2015, extra hosts in additional areas is at all times a plus. Some states/areas have extra hosts than others and we want there have been extra in all places, together with Baja, California.

On a shiny observe, new hosts are added recurrently and we’re notified of these through the member publication. As we journey, we additionally encourage companies that may accommodate RVs to affix this system.

As new hosts are being added, some current hosts are additionally being eliminated. Certainly one of our favourite hosts in Colorado was eliminated this 12 months attributable to enlargement of their facility and taking on the house that they had reserved for Harvest Hosts stays.

Harvest Hosts Video Evaluate

Take a step again in time and watch the video we made about our Harvest Hosts expertise after we had been nonetheless touring in a Class A motorhome.

Is Harvest Hosts definitely worth the $99 yearly payment? 

All of it is dependent upon how you employ your Harvest Hosts membership. If you happen to solely use it a few times a 12 months, then it’s in all probability not price the associated fee. Nonetheless, should you’re utilizing it a bit extra continuously, then Harvest Hosts is a good RV membership to have.

We have now discovered that since we turned members in 2015, there have been time we simply flat out overlook to make use of it and go months with out visiting a bunch. Different instances, we discover ourselves visiting hosts back-to-back particularly in areas the place free tenting on federal land is just not accessible. 

Harvest Hosts has a referral program so should you like it and refer buddies, they’ll get 15% off and also you’ll earn $15 in money! The referral program may also help off-set your yearly price (and even pay for the membership completely). If you happen to determine to affix Harvest Hosts, right here’s our referral hyperlink so you may get a reduction.

We have now seen a gradual improve within the Harvest Hosts yearly payment (the final improve was from $79 to $99) and there’s no cause to suppose it gained’t proceed to rise as they work so as to add new hosts and options. That mentioned, one factor that has been constant is your charge is locked in so long as you proceed your membership year-over-year.

Harvest Hosts Code of Conduct

When signing up to your Harvest Hosts membership, they’ve a code of conduct you could conform to:

All RVs have to be self-contained
Please don’t arrive unannounced. All the time name forward or use the app to request a keep. 
Arrive throughout enterprise hours. Some hosts have given us permission to reach after hours with particular directions. 
Let your host know what dimension/kind automobile you could have and ask what one of the best ways is to get to your parking spot
Introduce your self and current your membership card
Please make a purchase order
Don’t stay longer than 24 hours until invited by your host.
Solely park the place indicated. Consider not all parking spots are degree. 
Maintain a low profile and switch off loud music and mills by 10pm
Indoor cooking solely
Don’t use jacks on asphalt with out jack pads. All the time ask earlier than placing jacks down. 
Keep in mind that most of the websites are working farms and historic areas so don’t discover closed or restricted areas and don’t go away youngsters unattended. 
Ask earlier than utilizing your generator
Take all trash with you
When departing, thank your host
Pay attention to native alcohol restrictions
Members acknowledge that they’re insured in keeping with all native, state, provincial legal guidelines. 

Abstract

We’d suggest Harvest Hosts to RVers in search of distinctive dry tenting alternatives throughout the USA. It’s an effective way to go to areas off the primary highway, uncover new experiences and take a look at your boondocking abilities.

At $99 for a single 12 months membership, it’s greater than price it. Learn extra about our first Harvest Hosts expertise in Tales From the Open Highway: The Adventures and Misadventures of RV Residing.

If you happen to discovered our Harvest Hosts evaluate useful, take into account utilizing our referral hyperlink to affix Harvest Hosts to obtain a 15% low cost in your membership.

Thanks for studying! Don’t overlook to share your Harvest Hosts experiences within the remark part.