Algonquin Adventures / $11.50 reservation fee?

**Posted by swedish pimple** 7/23/2017 10:30 pm

a friend asked me to secure a campsite for him and a friend sometime mid aug. i drove to the campgrounds office of the park and made a reservation for two nights. the all in cost was $36.50 x 2 nights plus the $11.50 service charge = $95.49 for the two night stay. i just looked at the transaction record to see that i was charged $11.50 fee for making the reservation. i made the reservation at the park office in person face to face, not on line. is this the proper protocol? i thought that the fee was charged to people using the online/phone ontario parks reservation system only. if this is the case , i find that this two night stay is very expensive.
any insights about the fee structure? can they charge me this res fee.? or is it possible some one made a mistake.
thanks

**Posted by Peek** 7/23/2017 11:55 pm

Hey Swede.

Yeah, this is normal protocol for any trip beginning in the future. It's charged for any and every reservation, regardless of how said reservation was made; however it is slightly less expensive when done online.

The only time you do not incur a reservation fee is for trips beginning the same day you get your permit. (Or the next day if you find a nice staffer)

Last edited by Peek (7/24/2017 7:55 am)

**Posted by swedish pimple** 7/24/2017 12:39 am

thanks peek
i thought the fee was strictly for online/phone reservations done through "ontario parks" system. not for bookings made face to face in that park office. a lot of money for a service charge, $11.50 for less than 2 minutes work.

Last edited by swedish pimple (7/24/2017 1:18 am)

**Posted by Peek** 7/24/2017 7:55 am

Agreed. A total cash grab. Esp. now that reservations can be made online.

**Posted by Dead_Weight (DW)** 7/26/2017 3:19 pm

Don't get me started on the reservation fee ... if you book one night its over 30% of the total price. For some people I'm sure its enough to go to a private campground instead.

Peek ... I thought that even if you book a site on the same day you still get charged the fee ? I think that I booked a trip to sec by driving up to the gate and booking and paid the fee .. .but I could be wrong ...

**Posted by Peek** 7/26/2017 5:56 pm

Hey DW.. I can confirm I've never paid/been charged the reservation fee when picking up a permit for an immediate canoe trip. it's entirely possible they charge it for Campground sites regardless if booked in advanced or not, but I have no idea, I've never stayed at a campground in Algonquin. As for backcountry, for sure you are not charged this fee unless booking in advanced.