Early arrival penalty costs

[Ron_5041484]

I agree with Shiraz on the 12 oclock rule but I think that site staff should take you to your alloted site as soon as you arrive to stop traffic jams to the feed lanes leading to the site as happened to us at the Devises site, and that was early season we were unfortunate and arrived at 12-30 and there were 3 other vans in front of us and 2 behind , if another 2 had arrived they would have been out onto the main road, you should be able to park and then go and complete business, as it was we only blocked the lane Ron.C

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi Shiraz

We too have been members of the Caravan Club for almost 30 years and have enjoyed every site used in that time and we are more than happy with their organization ,to the point that we have just booked for the next two weeks starting on Sunday. We have also been happy to work with their rules regarding times of arrival and departure, although on occasion, we would like them to be different.

Two seasons ago, we went to the Devizes site which was a Caravan and Camping Club site (the first time we had used one) and we joined there and then although during the course of our stay we felt that it wasn't quite as good as Caravan Club sites, in our opinion. It was only when the Caravan and Camping Club mags and sites pack came that we read that penalty costs were incurred upon arrival before 12.00. which was something we felt was very inappropriate when we pay to belong to this club. It wasn't the 12.00 limit, which we just accept as the norm, merely the 'fines'.

What prompted me to put my original post was in response to a letter in the current Caravan and Camping Club magazine about this very topic, again experienced at Devizes. Two units arrived at the site early and were charged

 

[Surfer]

As a result of these "rules" we now tend to use CLs more than club sites and the CLs alone are worth the subscription costs. You can arrive on a CL at 5 am and leave several days later at 8 pm.

If the CL is expecting new arrivals, there is nothing stopping you moving your van off the actual pitch and parking it up somewhere else on the site providing there is room to do so and then taking a drive around the countryside and collecting the van at a later stage. Most CL owners are very accommodating.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi Ian

Thanks for your thoughts. It sounds as though we should give a CL a try, as being able to leave the van, drive round and pick it up later is just what you want to do sometimes, especially if you want to make the most of a weekend. As I said, we do like the CC sites, but now they are getting dearer,it would be nicer to have the option to stay later in the day if possible. Will give one a go. Happy caravanning, Chris

p.s. does anybody know the thinking behind the implementation of the 12.00 rule. I would have thought that staggered arrival would be easier, but I would be interested to know.

 

[VIP2006]

The CC who usually think very hard before implementing a rule must have (and I agree with them) thought that 1200 hours was a fair time for people to arrive and depart.

The only type of outfit that is not covered is for those people who want to come as early as possible and stay as long as possible particularly at weekends.

I, being retired always book my weeks breaks arriving on a Friday afternoon and leave on the next friday morning so as to avoid taking up a part of the second weekend.

when taking short breaks I always arrive on a Monday morning after noon and leave on the friday morning before noon. This suits me as I have plenty time to travel stress free and without speeding etc.

When I was working I used to have a number of sites which I visited for weekends (approx fifty miles away) and we hot footed our way there on a Friday and by the time we pitched we were just in time for the bar meal at the local pub, a good nights rest and then a good day out on Saturday. on the sunday after a leisurely breakfast we slowly packed up to leave at 1200hrs. if we could stay over for a few hours well and good and if not then so be it.

 

[Mike_5041089]

Couldn't agree more with Ian - use CL's - the owners are normally very accommodating, most will let you arrive early/leave late (provided you extend the courtesy of asking them first), they're much cheaper and better located and offer the true spirit of caravanning. But please don't all of you use them, otherwise there'll be no room for Ian & I!

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Perhaps that is the difference between those who are retired and those who are not. If the weekends are the only time that some can get away apart from their main holidays, then arriving Friday night and leaving Sunday at 12.00 really means that only Saturday is a full day. When charges are getting on for