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Meramec
River Monitor
HOW
TO SAVE ON AND GET THE MOST OUT OF
YOUR
RIVER EXCURSION DOLLARS!
Saving
money, finding bargains and getting the most for your bucks
has always been wise, but in today's economy and job market
it can make all the difference between a great outing, a limited
outing and/or no outing at all. The following precepts, suggestions
and advice can and will make a difference for you.
SHOP
AROUND! Use the price comparison charts below! There
are many camping and floating providers, some of which
offer significantly lower prices than others. See the
comparison charts of canoe and raft prices below, soon
there will be similar charts for kayaks, tubes and camping.
We suggest you pick a reasonably priced float outfitter
and the cheapest priced campground nearby, and realize
some significant savings.
STAY
CLOSER TO HOME, the shorter the drive the less gasoline
used/needed, pick a provider on the part of the river
nearest to you.
BRING
EVERYTHING WITH YOU: purchase everything you need
at discount stores near your home and bring with you,
resort stores are there as a convenience for you to
purchase needed supplies but are notoriously pricey.
Make a check list of the things you will need, get them
at a local discount store and bring them with you. Use
the resort stores for souvenirs and other items you
can't get anywhere else.
BUY
BARGAIN FIREWOOD: it used to be a good idea, if
at all possible, to bring your firewood with you, but
since the infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer from
Asia has occurred in the US, moving wood in infected
area's is risky and/or illegal. Missouri is an infected
and quarantined state. In that light we recommend that
you buy your campfire wood from a discount dealer along
the way, somewhere near your destination. There are
usually discount wood dealers set up on the roads near
the resorts. Those dealers exist because buying it by
the small bundle at the resort or campground can be
very expensive, a medium to large campfire can be quite
costly, which created the market for small scale reasonably
priced campfire wood dealers to exist. They are usually
locals, who can really use the revenue. In addition,
if you have wood left over when your excursion ends
DO NOT take it back with you.
FILL
YOUR BOATS: put three persons per canoe instead
of two and switch places along the way, same principle
with rafts, this can reduce the number of boats needed
and significantly reduce your total costs.
FILL
YOUR CAMPSITE OR CABIN: filling your choice of accommodation
will often reduce the "per person" cost.
WEEKDAY
DISCOUNTS: many providers offer significant discounts
for weekday services and facility rentals.
"Enjoy
and appreciate the river and outdoors, but do so wisely
and safely, obey the laws and drink in moderation."
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Canoe
Prices Comparison Chart*
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Canoes on Weekends
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Canoes on Weekdays
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| Adventure
Outdoors |
$40: 1-2 adults,
$53 - 3 adults, Aluminum Canoe
$45: 1-2 adults, $58 - 3 adults, Old Town Canoe |
N/A
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| Arapaho
Canoe Rental |
$35: 1-2 adults, $40 - 3
adults |
N/A
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| Bass'
River Resort |
$46: 1-2 adults,
$69 - 3 adults |
$38 1-2 adults,
$57 - 3 adults (Sun-Thurs) |
| Birds
Nest Lodge |
$40: 1-2 adults, $50 - 3
adults |
N/A
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| Blue
Springs Ranch |
$42: 1-2 adults, $49 - 3
adults |
$38 1-2 adults, $45 - 3 adults
(Sun-Fri) |
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$40 1-2 adults, $50 -
3 adults
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$35 1-2 adults, $45 - 3 adults
(Mon-Fri) |
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$30
anytime, no 3rd person charge
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$30
anytime, no 3rd person charge. |
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$37.50:
1-2 adults, $47.50 - 3 adults, Aluminum Canoe
$40.00: 1-2 adults, $50.00 - 3 adults, Old Town Canoe
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N/A
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$46:
1-2 adults, $69 - 3 adults
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$38 1-2 adults, $57 - 3 adults
(Sun-Fri) |
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$40: 1-2 adults, $48
- 3 adults
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N/A
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$36: 1-2 adults, $46
- 3 adults
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N/A
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$40: 1-2 adults, $45
- 3 adults
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N/A
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$46:
1-2 adults, $69 - 3 adults, Aluminum Canoe
$50: 1-2 adults, $75 - 3 adults, Old Town Canoe
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$35:
1-2 adults, $52.50 - 3 adults, Aluminum Canoe
$46: 1-2 adults, $69.00 - 3 adults, Old Town Canoe |
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$40: 1-2 adults, $50
- 3 adults
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$35:
1-2 adults, $45 - 3 adults |
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$39: 1-2 adults, $49
- 3 adults
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N/A
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* The prices listed here
are for a standard floating arrangement for adult passengers,
and in no way reflect the only fee possibility that may be offered.
Most outfitters offer special group rates and a myriad of special
package deals which are far too numerous and complicated to
be included in this table. We at the Monitor however believe
that economy and simplicity go hand in hand, and the best prices
are both simple to compute and easy to understand.
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* Many outfitters charge less or nothing for children
under a certain age as the third person.
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* Prices color coding: Green =
lowest ($40 or less for 3 adults), Blue
= midrange ($50 or less for 3 adults), Red = highest (more
than $50 for 3 adults. It is said that "you get what you
pay for" in this world, and that is often so very true, but
not always. This price chart does not indicate the quality of
service you will receive from any of these outfitters at any given
time. Equipment breakdowns, employee absence and numerous other
events may occur which may affect the quality of service received
at any of them on any given day.
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* These prices are current and
collected from the Outfitter websites as of May 8th, 2010 and
are subject to change without notice.
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Kayaking, Tubing and
Camping charts will be coming soon!
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