No .... It seems a good enough reason to steer clear. It is bound to be some scam or another to get your money.
Everywhere you look these days there is a sort of basic price and then loads of add ons. Hey! Camping might have been taken over by that geezer from Ryan Air!
Its possible they lump campervans, even small ones, in with motorhomes & charge same as caravans which often are charged at a higher rate than tents. Fact is sites have all sorts of pricing structures & you need to find one that works for you rather than against you.
We got charged extra for our pop-up tent that we were using as an awning at a Forestry Commission site. Because it wasn't physically attached to the van they said we had to pay for a gazebo which was around £4 or £5 a night. Huge caravans with full awnings and 4x4s parked next to them paid less than we did. Very annoying.
Generally though in the UK I think tents are quite often cheaper than motorhomes, which is what a campervan is usually classed as. Annoying but there you go, tents are often so huge these days it doesn't seem fair.
We usually use C & CC sites in the UK that just charge for a pitch and in France they don't seem to care what you put on your pitch.
We were charged more in Macon, France, for our vw 'van, because there was a 'forfeit', (all in one) price, which included toilet emptying and refilling water. Understandable, but we don't have a toilet onboard, or water storage of any type, just rely on campsite facilities.
Is your Bongo converted? If not politely tell them it is an MPV and no bigger than many large cars.
I have never had a problem in five years of owning a Bongo but then I tend to avoid many big sites and stick to CS's.
My Granvia is the same size as a Bongo (well 6cmc wider if you want to be technical! lol) I usually just call it a small campervan and I've never been charged extra. You don't say which site you tried to book but please let me know then I can avoid it!
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
Maybe in Japan, where they originate from, the word 'bongo' has some significant meaning; the 'British' equivalent is the Ford Freda. Tbh I've often wondered myself who dreams up all the various names you see for cars.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
Interestingly, I've just been looking prices of campsites in France and on some sites a campervan pitch is about 3 euros per night cheaper than a standard pitch. We are presuming they may be smaller pitches?
Quote: Originally posted by Tigermouse on 25/5/2012
Maybe in Japan, where they originate from, the word 'bongo' has some significant meaning; the 'British' equivalent is the Ford Freda. Tbh I've often wondered myself who dreams up all the various names you see for cars.
What about 'Ypsilon' or 'QashQai'
Weird names.
------------- Target for 2012 2oz of Gold Total for 2011 1.4oz Gold
Wouldn't it be nice if they just charged for the pitch, much like you do for car parking spaces, just pay for the space-not what you are parking on it. Extra for electric, or even charge extra per person is far enough to make it cheaper for single campers and non electric users, but surely one you've paid for the pitch its yours to use so long as you don't damage it however you want!? Camp sites are geting greedy and charging for things that incur no extra cost to the site....electric costs, extra adults mean more water to heat for the showers, but beyound that how can extra charges be justified. awnings do no more damage to grass than a tent with a large footprint of the same size. They will keep charging while we keep paying. I would avoid camp sites who charge for every extra, or do without what they charge for. bah hum bug.
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Topic: Campervan Vs Car & Tent
