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2 weeks ago i booked a 5 night stay at Camp Site commencing 22nd May. I paid £15.00 deposit & balance of £43.00 on arrival. It rained from day 1 ... and by Day 3 we had enough & felt like coming home (only an hour away). We did sit it out in our van for the other 2 nights  ..... Cos we had paid !!. (i'm sure we are not the first).

I didnt & would assume, that i am not able to knock on office door & state that "decided to leave early & please refund my card the difference".

My question is .... How do you folks book your camping & caravanning time to allow the most flexibility ... whether its due to weather, not happy at site or want to move on as fancy a change of scenery ?? Can you book a night or 2 at a time & extend if want to ?? .

NB : This is not a moan about the weather & how the campsite should refund me if i want to cut short my trip (hence i didnt ask !!) ... but i'm after any ideas on how to increase flexability of the trips away.

Feedback Appreciated

Some campsites do not offer you a refund if its due to the weather, We have only ever cut short our holiday by one day because of the weather.We did not ask for a refund because we cannot blame the owners of the campsite.

 In the high season its best to book for the length of time you need because you could book 2 to 3 days and then after that the owner may book some one else in your pitch after those 2 to 3 days is up and thats cut your holiday short.

Booking logistics can become very complex on very busy sites with fixed pitches so it`s always best to have your full stay booked. Or be prepared to move pitches if you want to stay on. Campsites with fields for tents are usually far more flexible and it`s always easier if you don`t need EHU, so for maximum flexibility take a tent.

In peak season, I would book every night. Off season, I would certainly book weekends at least. Sunday nights during term time are usually not a problem unless it`s a Monday holiday, and even Mon/Tues/Wed nights.

If I didn`t have kids around I could think of worse ways to spend an evening than cuddled up in a nice cosy van, with a glass of wine and hubby. (Or even a good DVD and my knitting.)

Daytime though? Agreed, I`d be out, rain or not. I like looking at gardens, carboots and jumble sales, any local event and we`re members of Historic Scotland so free entry to just about every historic site in the UK.

Quote: Originally posted by Safeway56 on 01/6/2006

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If it rains don't you go shopping? Visit the cinema? Attend a sporting event? or something similar? Sitting in a caravan for two nights simply because it's raining shows an alarming lack of imagination. I can understand people being kissed off if they're in a tent and it's hisses down but in a caravan ? You've got to bear in mind that site owners invest a considerable amount of cash in their sites and for people to demand a refund just because it's raining would dismay even the most optimistic of site owners. The chutzpah of some people never ceases to amaze !!

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Ok first of all ... I go away to relax, take in local scenery & enjoy the countryside  

I would hardly suggest that using my "imagination" is to  go shopping (username Safeway .. says it all) or the cinema as these are very usual activities i would do at home on a regular basis. So something a little more constructive would of been appreciated ... or perhaps, its NOT my imagination thats a little lacking.

I havent got to "bear in mind" anything ... These sites are commercial businesses and charge accordingly ... You make it sound like we owe them a favour or are in some way indebted to them !!!!.

 If you had read my thread properly, you would of seen that that i didnt & would not "demand" a refund but asking for advice on increasing flexability on future breaks.

Fact is, i was using the weather as an example & also suggested other reasons like "if wasnt happy with site" or "wanted change of scenery". If your happy to book your site for a set number of nights in advance .. then thats fine (no different to booking a package holiday is it !!) ... I however, got involved with camping & caravanning because the perception is, that it offers flexability. 

Your post was unhelpful, petty & naive  

 

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 01/6/2006

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If I didn`t have kids around I could think of worse ways to spend an evening than cuddled up in a nice cosy van, with a glass of wine and hubby. (Or even a good DVD and my knitting.)

Daytime though? Agreed, I`d be out, rain or not. I like looking at gardens, carboots and jumble sales, any local event and we`re members of Historic Scotland so free entry to just about every historic site in the UK.

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Hi .... Oh yes ... Couldnt agree more. Easier to find something to do in the evenings when raining

 

Quote: Originally posted by alan+co. on 01/6/2006

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for me camping MUST be totally flexible and if I cant book on a nightly basis then I simply wont go.The whole point of camping IS flexibility.The sites that demand weekly block booking etc. wont be in my choice of sites.

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Totally agree

ive never really had a problem with booking day to day for our camping trips, so i'd say as long as it aint a bank holiday weekend book day to day, ive even been on some haven sites where they dont check if you have paid everyday and got away without paying some days(just didnt push it tho) and if you do book for a week and if its really bad weather the pubs always a good option. also i always find recomendations for campsites is often a good indication weather or not its worth going too

Quote: Originally posted by jamiecbf600 on 01/6/2006

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ive never really had a problem with booking day to day for our camping trips, so i'd say as long as it aint a bank holiday weekend book day to day, ive even been on some haven sites where they dont check if you have paid everyday and got away without paying some days(just didnt push it tho) and if you do book for a week and if its really bad weather the pubs always a good option. also i always find recomendations for campsites is often a good indication weather or not its worth going too

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There is hope then  .... I tend to stay away from going during high season & tend to stick to Mid Season ... Think i'm just gonna chance day to day.

Cheers m8