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Quote: Originally posted by happybonzo on 24/3/2011

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It's only a patch of grass. I'd love to see a proper cost analysis of operating costs of some the sites that I've used over the years

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Quote: Originally posted by TEFKAS on 23/3/2011

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I like expensive sites. People who moan about expensive sites usually have other grumbles and I don't like mixing with them.

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Nothing is expensive to a millionaire...or a footballer

You wouldn't want to mix with me then. My nickname is Victor Meldrew

Quote: Originally posted by happybonzo on 24/3/2011

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It's only a patch of grass. I'd love to see a proper cost analysis of operating costs of some the sites that I've used over the years

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"How much! I only want somewhere to lay my head for the night"

To which I suggest How about the middle of the M4

Quote: Originally posted by Jakers on 24/3/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by happybonzo on 24/3/2011

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It's only a patch of grass. I'd love to see a proper cost analysis of operating costs of some the sites that I've used over the years

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If only that were the case....... if you search for pitch fees, or expansive sites on here you will find plenty of threads on this very subject, indeed myself I have given on numerous occassions the running costs of our site............................happy reading!

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Just looked at your prices and would have to say that they are extremely moderate. The type of sites that I have in mind are like the one quoted by bighammerfan

Yes, prices have increased and some of the sites I've had my eye on are now no longer in the picture!

I appreciate that campsite owners are probably incurring increased costs depending on their facilities and rates etc, etc but I do object to excessive prices for add ons - i.e. £4 a night per dog, £4 for EHU, £4 for an awning  . 

There are still sites out there that do offer value for money. For example.... We're going back to Seadown for Easter - £14 a night which incs 2 adults, EHU, awning and our 2 dogs. I think their peak prices (Summer Hols) have only risen by £1 per night since 2010  

Quote: Originally posted by happybonzo on 25/3/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by Jakers on 24/3/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by happybonzo on 24/3/2011

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It's only a patch of grass. I'd love to see a proper cost analysis of operating costs of some the sites that I've used over the years

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If only that were the case....... if you search for pitch fees, or expansive sites on here you will find plenty of threads on this very subject, indeed myself I have given on numerous occassions the running costs of our site............................happy reading!

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Just looked at your prices and would have to say that they are extremely moderate. The type of sites that I have in mind are like the one quoted by bighammerfan

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I have just looked at this site and whilst the site itself is an 8 acres site with toilet/shower facilities the price includes for access to a site owned by them close by with club, swimming pools, fishing lake, crazy golf etc..........

Whilst these type of sites are 'family' owned they are actually a 'group' and thus I would assume will have a fair amount of taxes and 'rates' attributed to them - we certainly have ( rateable value to us in the rate review attracted an increase of 504% in just one year!) and we are by no means as 'big'.  They also employ staff which is a humungous cost in itself.

Doing a cost comparison with them vs us, for a 4 night stay over august bank hol, 2 adults, 2 children, ehu on a grassed pitch they = £36 per night, we = £21 per night, but not being as 'big' means we do not have 'entertainment facilities' nor do we pay a corporation tax (which they probably do) then of course there is the elusive VAT increase to be added to everything - please do not kid yourself that the 'bigger you are' the less you have to pay this simply doesn't work out that way. 

That "patch of grass" costs quite a bit of money to provide, much of which never hits the site owners pocket even for the 'big sites', take into account to provide that patch of grass on the site bighammerfan quotes, they have to service 126 pitches which includes for appropriate facilities to toilet and shower that amount of pitches to the standard dictated to by the council licence and the tourist board, plus runnning costs, water, electric, gas, loo rolls, soap, electric annual testing, a cleaner or twos wages? the cleaning products, electric hookup which include for installation, cost for provision of those services many do not realise that to provide electric costs a significant amount and the power companies demand you pay the daily standing charges even when you are unable to open on your licence!, mowers to cut the grass, someone to ride the mower, the fuel to go in the mower, the maintainence on that mower, maintainance on the pitch - seed, drainage etc, roadways to access the pitch??, waste disposal - again don't kid yourself that sites get this included as they don't - we even have to pay for recycling ONTOP of our rates and council tax, I can quote the actual figure for last year which was £35 plus VAT per 1100ltr bin to be emptied each and EVERY time it is emptied on 40 pitches alone in the height of summer this can be up to 4 bins each week PLUS the recycling at £1.10 per bag.  Oh and in our county we have to BUY the bins that the customer puts the rubbish into too - no providing wheely bins for us no no - so thats and additional £500 plus VAT for each bin to be provided.............................  I could go on but I won't as I hope you get the picture, the site quoted also provides for access to a club, swimming pools indoor and out door, crazy golf, fishing lakes etc so my guess is that the rateable values for them are astronomical, ontop of build costs, maintainence costs and staffing provisions......

Had we ourselves known what we now do we would not have even begun developing our park, thus we would be 'quids in' BUT the customer would be worse off as they wouldn't have the standard of facilities they do, nor the nice surroundings they are able to camp in.  Yes there are sites and owners out their who will capitalise on a increasing popularity of camping/caravannning, but talking to many site owners for various sizes of parks these are few and far between they are simply covering ever increasing costs to run a site, plus a little profit to either spend as they wish ( and whats wrong with that?) or reinvest in the site to further supply the ever increasing demand for a 'standard'.

There's still of course the benefit of there being many and varied sites in and around the uk then answer to my mind is simple, you don't like the prices, vote with your feet and go elsewhere..............

Quote: Originally posted by theclarkes on 25/3/2011

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I would say that £4.00 per night for electric is reasonable seeing as many campers now have heaters on for at least 12 hours a day, george foreman grills, fridges, kettles, tvs, playstations, nintendos, dvd players, and any thing else that they can plug in. Sites electric rates are not domestic, they are commercial and the tariff is more expensive.

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I am not a great lover of metering, mainly because of the inconvenience of having to find a 'shilling' but in the case of EHU I think it might be a good idea to have a meter on each pitch...including caravans...then we would only be charged for what we use and this would stop all the complaints of overcharging. However, that would no doubt cost campsites extra to install and maintain so it's a catch 22 situation.

I suppose we could always offer to clean the loos once a day for a substantial reduction, or mow our own pitches

Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 25/3/2011

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I am not a great lover of metering, mainly because of the inconvenience of having to find a 'shilling' but in the case of EHU I think it might be a good idea to have a meter on each pitch...including caravans...then we would only be charged for what we use and this would stop all the complaints of overcharging. However, that would no doubt cost campsites extra to install and maintain so it's a catch 22 situation.

I suppose we could always offer to clean the loos once a day for a substantial reduction, or mow our own pitches

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Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 25/3/2011

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Supply my own Marigolds? Do you know how much they cost!!

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You could always go without thus making a saving  but don't fancy it meself with some of the stuff you have to touch some campers/caravanners can leave behind some pretty discusting stuff

I am so sorry for (1) those that are still at work under pension ages but then we had a much lower wage to survive on.(2) with children or animals. As we are  going to the C.C.&Club sites

For the two of us in  Caravan + EHU +small annex for wheelchair etc.No TV or anything inc. the kitchen sink will we take as its deemed unnecessary on holiday and always will be.

But our fees iwth the age concession for middle weeks is:

Hereford=£15.61pn

Oswestry=£19.56pn

Conkers=£15.55pn

West Runton=£16.15pn

Kessingland= £15.55pn

Hertford=£15.55pn

Although to do this we have to stay put for the other approx 9 months doing nothing but save.It to us is worth it. But for how long I have no idea as the diesal fuel is up & up. The usual run to Scotland has not been done For the last 2 years and I doubt it will be again unless things go dramatically in the opposite direction. Do not hold your breaths I am not.As adults I can put up with it but with small children it would be more difficult. Even more so when they have all else at home electrical, as being satisfied with what you have does not come easy nowadays for them, not having learnt to be or go without such things. But even if they do get them away say to the beach when they are very small tots. Its still a massive expense for the general ice creams etc.Taxed to the hilt,Fleeced to the hilt, whilst the powers that be fly off for their usual 3-9 months hols over paid and fiddling. The ordinary folks do the suffering.If they want people in these islands to spend time and their money on home grounds they have to make it so its viable to do so. But then they would not listen to sensible people as they are out of touch with everyone.We hopefully will go, I can only say we class ourselves as fortunate to do so.There are those that help & those that just take it is a pity the takers do not read this site They may learn a lesson of life from it as their are plenty of helpers on it. Many thanks to all those that have helped Bob & I to keep going forward.To even have the chance to have everything ready & mended to go on May 8th for without it we would be spending the other 3 months inside at home.