Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 09/4/2014
Well, you seem to have a lovely site in a nice location and reasonable rates but it would take me about four and half hours to get there which is a little too far for me. Shame because that is the sort of site I would go for.
If you're struggling to find funds for your next meal give me a shout...I can probably manage a small sub.
And that's our problem grrrrrr, lovely location but a 'trek' for all too many :(
We do have pitches for easter for 4 people with ehu (16amp) and awning for 7 nights £150...
Thanks for the offer of a sub but in travel alone I can't afford to collect and the bank charges for transfer don't even get me started lol
------------- If you can't beat em, join em, so we did! And then we sold it for a holiday let & Glamping pod instead 😁
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 08/4/2014
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 07/4/2014We occasionally visit a campsite that charges less than a tenner a night including electric hook up plus there are also both grass and hardstanding pitches. The site has one toilet, a washbasin, shower, water point, grey water waste facility and chemical disposal point. I wouldn't consider paying over £18 per night at any campsite and for those that do are just encouraging the landowners to become more greedy. If one site can charge less than a tenner a night then it proves that many others can reduce their pitch fees too in real camping terms. They call it ripp off Britain but as long as the campers keep feeding the site owners extortionate fees then camping eventually won't be a cheap get-away for the majority most of us.
Are you going to let us in on this one or do you want to keep it to yourself?
I have told that many caravanners about this campsite that it has become that popular I'm now struggling to find available dates myself especially at weekends and holiday times. Basically I shot myself in the foot really for letting the cat out of the bag and not keeping it to myself, however I did leave a very good review on the site so you can search yourself without giving any more detailed information away. Basically the question on this thread was about the cost of pitch prices and I have yet to find a CL, CS, or any other campsite that offers value for money like this one does. You can talk about the cost of electric hook ups, refuse collections or anything else for that matter that involves the running of a campsite, at the end of the day if they reduce the price of their pitch fees they will get fully booked most of the time very much the same as this site does and that includes out of season.
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 07/4/2014We occasionally visit a campsite that charges less than a tenner a night including electric hook up plus there are also both grass and hardstanding pitches. The site has one toilet, a washbasin, shower, water point, grey water waste facility and chemical disposal point. I wouldn't consider paying over £18 per night at any campsite and for those that do are just encouraging the landowners to become more greedy. If one site can charge less than a tenner a night then it proves that many others can reduce their pitch fees too in real camping terms. They call it ripp off Britain but as long as the campers keep feeding the site owners extortionate fees then camping eventually won't be a cheap get-away for the majority most of us.
Be fair though, Tango. For some, that (your description) wouldn't be what they are looking for. We (tenters) like heated showers/facilities mid-winter. Some (not us!) may require a playground for their kiddies, or an on-site pub/restaurant/tea room. Certain folk wouldn't like "sharing" such facilities with the opposite sex. Some would like to shower with their children, and require family bathrooms. Then there's the freezer needed for ice blocks... t'internet... maybe direct access to a beach... the list is endless.
And of course, the more of these facilities we look for, the more likely the cost to go up.
We have used a place (more than once!) that has absolutely superb underfloor heating in the wash room/showers. (We have been known to tent camp in the snow!) Large shower cubicles (3 for each gender), plus two massive shower cubicles in a separate unisex/family room. Numerous WC's/urinals and wash basins. Indoor washing up area. Laundry etc, fridge/freezer, hot drinks machine & Microwave in a covered cabin. "Free" (Included) Wi-fi throughout the site. On site shop, Dog/bike wash, the usual CDP's of course. Games field for the kids to run around. Small playground for toddlers... And great views of the wonderful surroundings!
OK, we don't need all of that, but for the bits we do like, for the two of us, it costs (latest 2014 tariff)...
In the winter, £20 - £22.50 (depending on dates), but includes 16amp leccy, water and TV connection(??) at each pitch. (These are hard standing "caravan pitches"... tent field is closed!)
Main season costs us £14 - £16. Leccy is extra... on a card metre... cost us about £1.20 for a two nighter for laptop, kettle and charging... remember all prices includes full-site wi-fi!
When the snow comes, that underfloor heating is an absolute Godsend for us wimpish tenters, and I for one am happy to pay that £20 (and even the £22.50 if need be) between us, to enable us to camp all year round, in relative comfort.
I can see where you are coming from, to a point, and agree with a lot of what you wrote... it's just that the statement... "I wouldn't consider paying over £18 per night at any campsite and for those that do are just encouraging the landowners to become more greedy"... a little unfair to those that do/would, and indeed to the providers of the aforementioned facilities themselves.
I get the impression that the site you mention doesn't intend to "go down that route", so are unlikely to change either their facilities or there tariff(s)? I suspect there are many more with the same outlook.
But some of us don't have "on board facilities", so if we have to pay for someone to provide them for us, surely that's not such a crime?
Once you get more than half a dozen tents on site, things could get quite embarrassing for the poor soul at the back of the queue for that one single loo, of a morning!
Surely, there's enough sites out there to make sure we are all catered for... at a budget we are each comfortable with?
The site Tango is describing is a fairly basic site but seems to have everything most campers might need (want and need being two different things of course).
I have always had a similar gripe but I rarely go to sites which only has one loo. The sites I generally go to have all mod cons but aren't OTT in facilities and don't charge a fortune. Last year I paid an average of £12 a night I believe. I generally expect to have to pay about £1 increase every year. I can recall when anything over £4 a night was expensive and now I am up to about £16 a night and to be honest would struggle to have to pay much more than that.
I also believe that if one campsite can provide good facilities and charge a reasonable rate then so should another and if it wasn't for people willing to pay over the odds the expensive sites wouldn't survive.
One problem is that new campers don't usually have a clue what is a reasonable rate. They probably compare camping with their previous holidays abroad and think spending a couple of thousand pounds a year on camping is chicken feed.
Of course, many campsites are businesses trying to make as much profit as they can and who can blame them, but there are lots of family owned campsites or campsites owned by people who themselves used to be campers and who are happy to earn themselves a reasonable living whilst keeping their tariff as low as they can. These are the sites I generally try to seek out.
It is very difficult to compare prices though. No two sites are the same. If they were we would all be bored to tears. The tariffs quoted cover a multitude of things including concessions for solo campers, the elderly etc. When I complain I sometimes forget that when I have paid say £10 a night as a solo camper and think that is cheap, a family using the same site may have to pay considerably more.
Some valid points from Mucker and Bob61. Admittedly, as a tenter and an ageing one at that, I would prefer a site with more than one loo!
On the other hand, the more people demand free wi-fi, hand-standings etc., the more the cost goes up for the basic camper - take a look at what the CCC have been doing for several years.
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
Having just done our 10 yrs through the years on our campsites facebook page it is eye opening how the campers wants and needs have changed... demands of a campsite are far greater than they ever used to be...over the time we have gone from no electric on most pitches to 16 amp electric on all pitches, from a small toilet block with 3 loos and a rickety old boiler to a toilet block with 9 loos, seperate cubicles and a facility for the disabled, served by an entire boiler room, we never had the need for internet in 2004 and yet now almost every customer asks if we have it, a couple of swings was all that was necessary to entertain the children, but now we have a climb around, adventure fort and indoor playroom.......
Luckily there is a site out there to suit all needs and all budgets - happy holidays to you all
------------- If you can't beat em, join em, so we did! And then we sold it for a holiday let & Glamping pod instead 😁
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
To 'Mucker1884' and 'Bob61'. Just to add on here that the campsite in reference to my posts doesn't accept tents so is aimed mainly at motorhomes and caravans owners to which the majority now have their own onboard facilities anyway so the single toilet and shower etc. are a provision that the site has installed as an extra. However, from a tent owner's point of view, yes I agree that the provisions for some campers are inadequate but then that's probably the reason why the site doesn't accept tents. As 'Jakers' said, "Demands of a campsite are far greater than they ever used to be" which is absolutely right. My experience of camping with a tent during the 70's and 80's era was a cheap get-away for most families but with the greater demand now for facilities compared to back then, the investment has been increased to accommodate the new age camper which the campsite needs to recuperate the costs so maybe this is the evidence why now the site fees are escalating.
We have just opened our CL for Motorhomes and caravans. We decided that we wanted to go down the route of how CL's used to be so ours is a basic site (just rubbish bins and fresh water and somewhere to empty waste water. We dont have a chemical disposal point but we do have a lovely little site with a large wildlife pond and lots of wildlife around. We are only 3 miles from the sea and it can even be done as a walk on the bridle path. We welcome dogs and children too and keep chickens so there are lovely fresh eggs for breakfasts. We shall have to see how things go before we invest in hardstandings, EHU etc. http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=14724
Thought about going to a site about 30 mins away - so local and knew it was pricey - Wellington Country Park
There are 5 of us and for Bank holiday weekend (beginning of May) cost for 4 (age 2 is free)
£46 per night no electric - not going as you can imagine would rather pay more in petrol money. However you do get free entry into the country park (this is not a theme park just a country park)
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Site fees - yikes !
