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Quote: Originally posted by Jasmine_Park on 05/7/2011

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Mussels- You are very suspicious. I think most people would see a tent in nice countryside, rather than what is being hidden. If we had a selection of large tents then you would think it was cramped, if they were small tents then you would still be wondering why? Is there an optimum picture you would like?

I just read this back and it sounds nasty, im really not. Just want to improve the website if possible.

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I am suspicious of adverts and I'm not knocking your park as I haven't seen it, your pricing structure makes me think it's not cramped so I think a couple of wide shots would help sell the site as well. The best website I've seen had a map of the site with lots of symbols I could click on to see photos taken from that position, I guess that's pricey to do and the campsite probably had it's own tame website designer to hand. That campsite only lost out because it segregates big and small tents in different fields and meeting my parents there who are staying in a pup tent.

I understand the problem of large tents taking up a bigger area and there isn't an easy option, part of the problem from the consumers perspective is that there are lots of different definitions of size limits so it's not like they can buy a standard size tent. I guess keeping the pricing simple as you have done is the best bet, if I have to add up 10 different charges and read small print closely then I'll not bother. I've camped on a Haven site which reminded me of a refugee camp, once bitten etc.

Quote: Originally posted by Jakers on 05/7/2011

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Edited to say: I note that no one has asked how much the inspections charge for their services that now it appears no one look for anyhow!!  We only pay for the WTB grading these days as frankly the rest are simply not worth the money, looks like next year the WTBs going to be out of pocket too!!

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I assumed they cost a lot of money, most things like that do. It would be interesting to hear the figures though.

I think now that people aren't reliant on magazines or books to choose campsites the ratings have lost their edge. If you only have a small picture and five lines to get your message across then a rating system can say a lot, but with a decent website and reviews the rating becomes much less significant.

Quote: Originally posted by Mussels on 06/7/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by Jakers on 05/7/2011

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Edited to say: I note that no one has asked how much the inspections charge for their services that now it appears no one look for anyhow!!  We only pay for the WTB grading these days as frankly the rest are simply not worth the money, looks like next year the WTBs going to be out of pocket too!!

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I assumed they cost a lot of money, most things like that do. It would be interesting to hear the figures though.

I think now that people aren't reliant on magazines or books to choose campsites the ratings have lost their edge. If you only have a small picture and five lines to get your message across then a rating system can say a lot, but with a decent website and reviews the rating becomes much less significant.

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For us its about £150 per year so £20ish per month ( bearing in mind we are only open for 7 months)  for Tourist Board Grading, this is only for the inspection and grading mind you we don't pay the additional to advertise with them.

I have no idea what the AA/RAC charge don't go with them anymore, nor do we pay for the David Bellamy awards as they are about double the price of the WTB plus...

By far our best investment in 'grading systems' is actually on here UKCS for a featured site a bargin at £112 per year - certainly the competition to UKCS want about 3 times this amount for not as good a service.