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Topic: Campsites with Electricity Cards

Mrs E

via mobile 20/2/2024 at 12:08am
Location: South West
Outfit: VW T5 campervan

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We've just stayed at a site where the electric was on a card. Not knowing how much we might use we put £10 on the card and we were there for 3 nights.

We don't use lots of appliances as we have a campervan so it's used for charging phones/tablets and we do use a 2 ring electric hot plate.

What you don't use is refunded. Our refund was £8.66 so we actually used LESS THAN 50P ELECTRIC EACH DAY!!!

So, if you've been to any dog friendly sites (predominantly) in the South West i.e. Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean area I'd love your recommendations!

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2024:
February: Broadstone Park, Coleford
March: Bucklegrove, Rodney Stoke
Easter: Llandrindod Wells, Powys
May: Carmarthenshire
July: Dorset Volksfest + Wilksworth
August: Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza
August BH: TBC
September: Undecided
October: Bull Bay, Anglesey

Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!

Colin21

20/2/2024 at 1:59pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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We stayed at Stonebridge Farm site near Weston Super Mare in 2019 and they had a card meter system. Our electricity use there was about 20p a night for a fridge and battery charger and very little else.

I would have wholeheartedly recommended them, but having just checked them out I see that they are now permanently closed, I think due to a road improvement scheme. I did read something about it last year. A great shame as that was a lovely site.

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Best Regards,
Colin

tango55

20/2/2024 at 7:47pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450

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We stayed at a commercial site in Devon at the beginning of October 2023 for 7 nights which the pitch had electric hook up metered by card payment and initially paid for £10 worth of electric. We use the electric supply for the fridge, battery charger, heating the hot water, warm air heating at night, occasional use of our halogen oven and charging mobile phones. We didn't however take the TV with us. After 6 nights we had less than £1 left so had to top it up to see us through the night but £10 was the minimum charge which I had to pay. At the end of the 7 nights we used just under £11 worth of electric and claimed the refund online which was returned within 24 hours. That works out to £1.57 per night for electricity which is a much fairer way of paying for electricity on site.

Mrs E

via mobile 20/2/2024 at 10:31pm
Location: South West
Outfit: VW T5 campervan

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 20/2/2024
We stayed at Stonebridge Farm site near Weston Super Mare in 2019 and they had a card meter system. Our electricity use there was about 20p a night for a fridge and battery charger and very little else.

I would have wholeheartedly recommended them, but having just checked them out I see that they are now permanently closed, I think due to a road improvement scheme. I did read something about it last year. A great shame as that was a lovely site.

That's a shame and WSM is only about an hours drive for us so would've been perfect for a weekend.

-------------
2024:
February: Broadstone Park, Coleford
March: Bucklegrove, Rodney Stoke
Easter: Llandrindod Wells, Powys
May: Carmarthenshire
July: Dorset Volksfest + Wilksworth
August: Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza
August BH: TBC
September: Undecided
October: Bull Bay, Anglesey

Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!

Mrs E

via mobile 20/2/2024 at 10:33pm
Location: South West
Outfit: VW T5 campervan

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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 20/2/2024
We stayed at a commercial site in Devon at the beginning of October 2023 for 7 nights which the pitch had electric hook up metered by card payment and initially paid for £10 worth of electric. We use the electric supply for the fridge, battery charger, heating the hot water, warm air heating at night, occasional use of our halogen oven and charging mobile phones. We didn't however take the TV with us. After 6 nights we had less than £1 left so had to top it up to see us through the night but £10 was the minimum charge which I had to pay. At the end of the 7 nights we used just under £11 worth of electric and claimed the refund online which was returned within 24 hours. That works out to £1.57 per night for electricity which is a much fairer way of paying for electricity on site.

That's really good. Are you happy to name the site please?

-------------
2024:
February: Broadstone Park, Coleford
March: Bucklegrove, Rodney Stoke
Easter: Llandrindod Wells, Powys
May: Carmarthenshire
July: Dorset Volksfest + Wilksworth
August: Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza
August BH: TBC
September: Undecided
October: Bull Bay, Anglesey

Colin21

20/2/2024 at 10:48pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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I would always opt for a site with metered electricity if I could, but they appear to be very much in a minority. For that reason I have replaced our faulty gas water heater for a new electric one, on the basis that if I am going to be charged a rip-off price for electricity I will use it for everything that will run off it. I used to turn off our gas water heater when we went out for the day, but I don't bother with the electric one so we have hot water to come back to. In my opinion even £3 a night for electricity is a rip-off unless the site fees without it are really low, but then most sites seem to be charging double that or more these days.

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Best Regards,
Colin

birdman101

via mobile 21/2/2024 at 8:25am
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford

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4 of the 11 sites we used last year had card metered hook ups and even with running Aircon unit on the hottest days still had refunds on cards when leaving. We would be happy all sites going this way as with fixed charge electric pitches we have been overcharged for years.But with electrics prices forecast to start dropping, I cannot see many more going that way, as when metered they cannot charge extra for it than their supply.

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2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.

Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!

iank01

21/2/2024 at 8:57am
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Buccaneer Cruiser

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs E on 20/2/2024
That's a shame and WSM is only about an hours drive for us so would've been perfect for a weekend.

We now use West End Farm in Weston as it is just as good as Stonebridge. Morrisons is not too far away either.

birdman101

via mobile 21/2/2024 at 9:19am
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford

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We have used West End Farm and going back when part of it was leased to the Caravan & Camping Club. Very handy for Weston Super Mare and Morrisons quite handy.

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2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.

Colin21

21/2/2024 at 9:28am
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 21/2/2024

Quote: Originally posted by Mrs E on 20/2/2024
That's a shame and WSM is only about an hours drive for us so would've been perfect for a weekend.

We now use West End Farm in Weston as it is just as good as Stonebridge. Morrisons is not too far away either.

Are they as reasonably priced as Stonebridge though? When we went in 2019 it was the first two weeks of July, which they classed as low season, and we had a fully serviced pitch for £16 a night plus metered electricity that cost us £2.80 for two weeks. The closest we had come to that when looking was £20 a night for a standard pitch, plus £5 a night fixed charge for electric. We won't usually pay extra for a fully serviced pitch but they all seemed to be like that at Stonebridge. Real shame it's gone as that was one of the best and most reasonably priced sites we have been on.

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Best Regards,
Colin

birdman101

via mobile 21/2/2024 at 9:43am
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford

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We only use full service nowadays and have only gone there low season and they are as cheap as any we use.

-------------
2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.

Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!

tango55

21/2/2024 at 11:25am
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs E on 20/2/2024

Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 20/2/2024
We stayed at a commercial site in Devon at the beginning of October 2023 for 7 nights which the pitch had electric hook up metered by card payment and initially paid for £10 worth of electric. We use the electric supply for the fridge, battery charger, heating the hot water, warm air heating at night, occasional use of our halogen oven and charging mobile phones. We didn't however take the TV with us. After 6 nights we had less than £1 left so had to top it up to see us through the night but £10 was the minimum charge which I had to pay. At the end of the 7 nights we used just under £11 worth of electric and claimed the refund online which was returned within 24 hours. That works out to £1.57 per night for electricity which is a much fairer way of paying for electricity on site.

That's really good. Are you happy to name the site please?

When we booked with the site which was 'Cofton Holiday Park' in Dawlish, we actually booked a grass pitch with electric hook up so the electricity supply was included in the pitch fees but because the weather had been very wet prior to our stay, the site decided to close the field and asked if would mind being pitched on a hard standing with metered electricity. We had no choice really but to accept but that's how we ended up on a metered electric supply which was an eye opener really as to how much electricity we had consumed in one week.

Mrs E

via mobile 23/2/2024 at 12:44am
Location: South West
Outfit: VW T5 campervan

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Tango55, yes it really is an eye opener to see how much electric you do actually use! I'll have a look at Cofton. Thank you.

-------------
2024:
February: Broadstone Park, Coleford
March: Bucklegrove, Rodney Stoke
Easter: Llandrindod Wells, Powys
May: Carmarthenshire
July: Dorset Volksfest + Wilksworth
August: Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza
August BH: TBC
September: Undecided
October: Bull Bay, Anglesey

Colin21

23/2/2024 at 11:15am
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs E on 23/2/2024
Tango55, yes it really is an eye opener to see how much electric you do actually use! I'll have a look at Cofton. Thank you.

Yes, I don't know how many high consuming appliances you would have to have on to use as much as £3 a night. At a guess I would say few people use as much as £1 a night in summer, unless maybe they have a large air-con unit running all day. It might be a bit different in mid-winter of course, if they were running electric heating.

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Best Regards,
Colin

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