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Topic: Belguim camping -deposit added to booking

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sunshinetours

08/10/2014 at 12:27pm
Location: sunny south east!
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Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 08/10/2014

Quote: Originally posted by Ludovine on 08/10/2014..&
The Parelstrand website is in fact incorrect & gives a route to the Prinsenmeer site nearby in Holland hence the confusion. Not unusual for an English translation of a foreign website to be incorrect & full marks to me for pointing this out, it may well help somebody.

Posters should not forget that threads once posted on ukcs are not for their exclusive benefit & exist to help anybody reading it.

Same thing confused me hence my original question. Was not intended to cause any upset. If suggesting alternatives its quite usual to try and establish the exact location of a campsite so that we don't stray to far from where the OP wants to be. BTW, nothing wrong with booking its just that many of us like the freedom of being able to change our minds if we get somewhere which does not match our requirements. These types of campsites are large recreation parks especially geared towards families and children and are very popular in Holland and Belgium. Perhaps not so suited to a pair of crusty old pensioners

David

Then my apologies to you David, I was unaware the link was broken even though it was labelled and routed correctly in the address

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

sue.too

08/10/2014 at 12:39pm
Location: Cheshire
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Looks like a good site for youngsters and a good price for 2 weeks.

We stayed on a great little dutch site in Germany a few years ago and my kids, (I'm guessing at 8/10) loved the family disco etc.

If it is outside of the normal Dutch/Belgium season though perhaps it would be wise to check whether all their entertainment is still running.

dubs1978

08/10/2014 at 12:42pm
Location: Birmingham
Outfit: Pennine Pullman

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David and ludo

I now see that the route on the website was wrong. Tbh I hadnt even looked at that as I tend to have google maps open on another tab when searching for campsites and working out distance. I now see they have linked another campsite as the location of parelstrand. My apologies but when several people start picking at your post saying you are wrong etc etc it doesn't make you a tad defensive!

As a seasoned French camper (we've been going since 2009.. Does that make us seasoned) its a bit different looking at other countries. As mentioned I thought (and still think) 340 Euros is good value for aug. We've paid more than that in France for a similar site. The deposit irked me, and still does but at least I can save up for that. Also regarding busyness of the site, similar sites in France have been busy at that time of year so I just wouldn't feel comfortable winging it. Also as mentioned my daughter is shy and doesn't cope well in new situations so booking gives us time to prepare her also. We have time to talk about the site, the facilities, the area, things to do as well as consult the internet for photos and videos. Something that would be wasted if we aren't able to get a pitch after turning up.

bellringer18

08/10/2014 at 12:53pm
Location: Pocklington near york
Outfit: Bailey Ranger

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if you are happy book.we always do even though we can go when we like.methinks too many folk on here up their own backsides.

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

Francais

09/10/2014 at 7:28am
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Yep, dubs the txt you quoted from the campsite did read like that for booking a Static.

I guess the campsite just has a one cap fits all policy, and the deposit seems more about possible damage happening than simply securing your booking.

I was surprised when they dropped the whole deposit thing, but said you still may need to pay it on arrival.

So what if you cancel the day before you arrive, there would be no compensation for the campsite owner for loosing a pitch, that they may have turned people away for.

I would have thought they may have just reduced the deposit to say €100 up front and left it at that.

We gave a 100€ deposit to a French campsite back in 2012 for our July 2013 booking, but had to cancel the booking early June 2013 because of moving house delay.

The campsite owner was very understanding, and said the 100€ would still stand if we ever did come to the campsite.

So we did this July, and the 100€ that we had given almost 2 years previous was duly deducted from our bill at the end of the holiday, happy days.

And to top it all we are going back to the same campsite July 2015, in fact we left the 100€ deposit in cash on our day of departure! which saved us the bank charges for wiring the payment over later in the year.

dubs1978

09/10/2014 at 6:44pm
Location: Birmingham
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They wouldn't be loosing anything as you have to pay for the whole holiday in advance anyway. If I didn't turn up they'd have an empty pitch they could relet, and 340€

I have to pay half this month and the other half a month before the holiday in July.

The 200€ was on top of the cost of the pitch for 2 weeks, taxes etc etc

I'm happy to pay a certain percentage of my holiday upfront and completely agree that is done. I've always paid a around 130€ when camping in France several months before the holiday and the remainder when we arrive (or as in the case of this years camp - up until the day before we were due to leave)

This isn't an issue and I'm happy to pay some now/rest later but it was this 'added' 50€ pp that wasn't included in the price I was quoted online that was then added and included in the two installments that irked me. For 3 reasons
1. why does a piece of grass need a damage deposit
2. why do they need to collect it months and months in advance of the holiday.
3. why isn't it added at the point of booking on the website so you have a true cost and can decided to accept it or look elsewhere.

If they ask for it when we check in, I will pay it. I'm not saying I wont but I thought it very unfair to be expected to pay it in advance.

I clicked 'book' on their website based on the price I was being shown at that point. Nowhere did it mention a 50€ charge pp would be added so to me it was underhand by emailing an invoice 24hrs later with it included. By this point some people may have booked a ferry? told their children this is where they are going etc etc. This charge then makes it difficult to back track and decided to look elsewhere. I would have voted with my feet if they hadn't removed it (at least in advance) and gone elsewhere as I don't have that extra cash they were requesting for the first payment this month (was quote 170€, bumped up to 270€. I'd probably have it by July for the final payment but I wasn't about to tell them that.

It does go to show that if you shout you can be heard and we're pretty happy with the outcome.

dubs1978

09/10/2014 at 6:52pm
Location: Birmingham
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Also I've only even stayed abroard in a static once and had to pay a refundable deposit but this was at the point of checking in, not added to the payment of the holiday.

So even these deposits for statics are at the start of the holiday. In fact I've never heard of paying a deposit months in advance for any type of holiday accommodation.

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

JULIENEWBIE

11/10/2014 at 10:42pm
Location: NORTHANTS
Outfit: SUNNCAMP 250

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We have just returned from site owned by same group in Valkenswaard and paid no deposit
t.

longcol

12/10/2014 at 12:54pm
Location: Perigord Noir
Outfit: Outwell Oakland XL

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I can't help but wonder if the company are experiencing cash flow difficulties and are trying to generate some extra revenue to tide them over until next season.

warbis66

12/10/2014 at 3:14pm
Location: Bristol
Outfit: Sungari 600 Icarus 600 with canopies!

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Think i would be very wary of paying a deposit to any campsite on arrival......if you have paid for the holiday in full then why take a deposit on arrival. Fair enough if renting you always pay a damage dep but this is never more than about £100, to take £200 on arrival is utter madness.
I would think twice about committing to that site if i was you. Im sure there must be plenty of other sites in France, such as municipals with pools that would be around the £350 mark. I know for example if you went with tentsetters.nl you can get 10 nights on the Ile Doleron with a ready tent for 500 euros, they do lots of other sites throughout France, and i have found them to be really good. happy hunting

-------------
France Lover

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