hello
We are going over to France Whitsun week and thinking of using camping cheques.
We have never used them before so not totally sure how they work so though I would ask the collective wisodm of this forum. Comments from regular users would be very gratefully received. Thanks in advance.
First there are 5 of us so I am assuming that we would give over the camping cheques for the number of nights we are staying and then pay the difference for the extra people in cash?
Also having had a look at the website I am confused over the choices for having paper cheques, the silver card or the gold card. We are thinking of using the silver card but just wondered if the gold card would be worth it for us?
How long does it take for the card to come through given we are going in 6 weeks?
We are planning on staying at the Croix du Vieux Pont if that helps.
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Whether you invest in either the Silver or Gold cards will depend whether you intend to use the service in subsequent years. As far as I can tell the Silver Card and Paper Cheques equate to more or less the same thing. The advantage of the Silver Crad is there is no writing addresses on the cheques and everything is done electronically. The Gold Card, which is much more expensove to buy in the first place, offers more advatages in that you can make reservations without paying a deposit and the cheques have a longer life than the paper or Silver Card.
The cheques/cards will cover you for the pitch and 2 adults, all other guest pay the going rate which means that children over 7 tend to pay the same as adults although that does vary between sites.
At some sites you are almost better off handing over 2 cheques for 4 people, even if you don't need 2 pitches! For 5 it would be even more of course. Additional adult prices can be a bit steep, so make sure you are better off at a camping cheque site than, say, a nice municipal with the equivalent facilities. You should be able to check the prices at C du VP on line.
I know the cheques are not supposed to be transferable but if you do have left over cheques and want to sell tham it would only be possible with paper cheques.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
At La Croix du Vieux Pont the supplement for extra people is not too bad - person 3 is 7 euros, but persons 4 and 5 are 3 euros each, so only 13 euros on top of the Camping Cheque price - still a bargain at 27 euros for 5 people on a four star site.
Paper cheques are the best bet for your first foray - then if you decide you want to carry on using them buy a Silver or Gold Card. As Jaymac says, if you buy too many you can always 'trade' paper cheques, but the Silver Card and Gold Card would be only useful to the person who's name was on the card.
If you buy paper cheques you can get your cheques posted with a 24 hour delivery, though I think there's any extra charge for this.
We use Camping Cheques a lot - and still have some paper cheques, as well as those on our Gold Card (some of them acquired through people selling them on here and other similar forums).
Consider using ACSI card. It has 3 levels 11,13 and 15 euros, so often you are getting a site for 13 euros that also takes camping cheques. An even better, though limited option is the vacancesoleil cheques at £9 each (all thes schemes are based upon 2 people+ehu+shower)
ordered my paper cheques last friday, customer services said may take 2 weeks to arrive, but they arrived the very next day.
we decided on paper ones as it is our first time abroad camping, so will be trying it out, used them in this country though, just a pain writing your name and adress 16 times.
ordered my paper cheques last friday, customer services said may take 2 weeks to arrive, but they arrived the very next day.
we decided on paper ones as it is our first time abroad camping, so will be trying it out, used them in this country though, just a pain writing your name and adress 16 times.
stu
We now use Able Labels on ours and never had them refused, in fact most campsites have thought it a good idea!
David
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Many Dutch people we've seen use labels, too! I'm printing out mine later today!
Just a mention that you can also order Camping Cheques through the Caravan Club if you are booking a ferry through them - and that will save you the administration charge (every little helps).
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: camping cheques paper, silver or gold?
