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Has anyone else had problems trying to book pitches? I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say which site it is, so at this point I won't, I'll just state what happened.

I emailed the site as requested, and had 2 replies to my initial email  - one of which asked me to look at the site website to see if dates were available, and then email back prior to them sending out a booking form. I did - 3 times - and had no reply whatsoever, so telephoned and spoke to the site owner who told me he had been away on holiday so hadn't picked up any emails, fair enough, and that he would check to see if the dates were available and call me back within the hour. That was 2 days ago, and I'm still waiting.

I am so disappointed. The reviews were great, and the site looked amazing. But I now feel very let down, and don't want to go there if that's the attitude I'll meet anyway. If there's no availability then I understand, but the website stated that the dates we wanted were free, and all he had to say was unfortunately they has since been booked. To not reply at all is just downright rude - isn't it? Can I leave a negative feedback on this experience on the site itself? I just feel I should let them know how gutted and upset we are.  Comments and advice will be gratefully received!

Are you sure the last few e-mails had got through (or indeed that you have had no replies)?

Sometimes e-mails end up in spam bins or similar, despite the best will in the world, as ever if things are critical, there's nothing quite like a phone call to talk to someone (or an answerphone).

S

I'd ring them saying you think your having problems with your email and just want to confirm your booking

We have rung them, and they promised to ring back within the hour - this is now 4 days ago! We mentioned all the emails we had sent when we were speaking to the site owner, who told my husband he hadn't had chance to look at any emails that day (I had been sending them for 3 consecutive days), and told me he'd been on holiday. Do site owners go on holiday in the main holiday season?? Whatever the reason, surely only common courtesy to call me back even if just to say the dates had gone - if they had!

I have tried to confirm my booking 3 times by email, and once by phone and have requested a booking form 4 times!! What else am I supposed to do?? Carrier pigeon.....smoke signal.....ideas on a postcard please!! We are now looking at going elsewhere, as our custom is obviously not good enough for them. I will leave negative feedback, I feel miffed, and they deserve it!

Just a thought but have you tried phoning them, you never know he might have wanted to phone you back but lost your number. I doubt if you are the only one to have emailed him.  Some people are so laid back that they go at a snails pace and don't seem to realise that not everybody else wants to be like that.

Jeannie

I would be really annoyed too - you don't want to look like you're desperate but then you want to get it sorted. I would say it's just common courtesy to return calls when promised & I'm not sure I'd want someone so rude to get my money (oh, I do sound bitter & twisted!).  It's the same situation as when your trying to get hold of someone to do a job in your house - we had loads of probs last year trying to get a plumber & eventually found a lovely one who I would've been happy to pay extra for (but I didn't of course!).

I'd definately leave a comment - they may have done this to lots of people already (& tell us which site it is please!!).

This website isn't Ebay, please remember. People leave reviews of campsites they have stayed at and reviewers are requested to be factual with the intention of the review being useful for someone considering staying at the site. I agree that is sounds as though you have had a tough time trying to book this site and I also agree that I would prefer to spend my holiday where my custom is wanted and appreciated.

But I think it's also worthwhile remembering that campsite owners are also human and can also make slip-ups now and then. It is the height of the season and they are very busy at the moment. Vote with your feet and book elsewhere, I don't agree with leaving a negative review of a site that you haven't stayed at which could be damaging long-term to his business. There are campsite owners who post on here who can testify how hard it is to run a campsite and they are human after all.

We have now booked elsewhere, and I haven't left negative feedback, and I do understand what running a business is like - although not a campsite admittedly! BUT - and it is a big one - if I treated my clients in the way that I've been treated (and every business is hard at the moment!), I would not be in business anymore. I believe in the old adage "the customer always comes first" - without your customers you have no business - they really are the most important part....aren't they?

Camp site owners may be human, but aren't the campers and caravanners too? A little mutual respect is what is required I feel.Yes, we all make mistakes at times, of course we do, but this does seem to have been a catalogue of errors.

The campsite in question for anyone interested is Trellyn Woodland Park at Abercastle. As I said, sounds idyllic, and the reviews great.If anyone else has had problems booking there I'd be interested to know. I'm not a vindictive person, but I am still disappointed and a little disgruntled at what seems a total lack of customer care, and I'm sure I'm not the only person ever to have had problems booking this or any other site - but I'm not bitter or twisted about it!! Honest!!

I think a lot of campsite owners are peopl who have had the land or campsite passed on to them and want to sit back and let the money roll in.  You also meet the majority who are so nice and helpful, and then you remember why you go camping.

Brian