I can understand sites taking deposits. It gets a commitment and discourages change of mind nearer the date, however a moderate deposit to cover first couple of nights is surely adequate?
If the sites are so popular and full, as to require large deposits, they should have no difficulty in filling pitches from "no shows" and a two night deposit should cover losses?
Like many others on here, we do not pre book which gives us great flexibility on our trips, but I can understand the desire of families to have the reassurance of a confirmed booking of their ideal site, and perhaps their ideal pitch.
On the other hand, I have not encountered a fully booked site in mid July in France. Even in mid August, the busiest French holiday month, site owners will tell me that they have never, ever, been so full as to turn away business, but I'm sure it is possible on very commercial places, but seasoned caravanners tend to avoid these.
If the sun shines, there are seldom any unhappy campers.
------------- playing at tinkies
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I like that sort of small campsite too - I just don't go along with that sort of British expat owner who wants me to book for a fixed time slot and pay upfront in the way Belringer has described.
I might not like it when I get there, I might not like the other people there, the weather might be bad, or I might simply want to move on. So I pick similar sites to the one described, but with different owners. There are lots about. And they don't charge 22 eurosfor two people in low season which those British expat owners charge.
I agree with mucker, no other holiday would let you make a booking, then rely on you not changing your mind/not like it/not afford at the time. campsites have to make money too, they are not there for the convenience of the vagaries of the customers.
We only camp in low season, and are happy to take pot luck at finding somewhere on the day, but quite understand why sites charge a deposit in advance.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I was behind a German lady in reception onsite in Loch Lomond back in May, Couldn't help overhear!! She was on a stopover going up north and wanted to return and book a pitch for whole of July, And the lady took £930.00 off her right there and then as it was a'high season'booking requiring FULL PAYMENT!!...
We're almost never asked to pay a deposit. In the days of the 2 week family hols we'd pay a €50 deposit by credit card for the whole fortnight, which is fair enough and easy to do.
Last year, doing a bit of semi-pre-planned wandering around we encountered 2 very different sites.
The first, in the Val de Loire, was pricey at €29 a night but very pretty, with sheep etc etc... and it was only for one night after all. Then they asked for a €10 booking fee on top! We went elsewhere.
The other wanted a €26 deposit for a 4 night stay sent by bankers draft basically because of the online booking system they'd signed up with, I think. I mailed them & they said oh never mind, pay us when you get here. When we got there they were lovely and we agreed the bankers really didn't need a cut of our hard-earned money
Just an ordinary French site but by far the nicest campsite people I've met for a while. Les Domes, near the Puy de Dome.
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: large deposit
