Pitch preference
We have booked 5 nights at Start Bay, booked through the Caravan club website. There wasn`t any choice given at the time of booking to choose our pitch preference. (hardstanding superpitch).
At the start of the season, my wife rang the site directly, and she explained our needs.
We were gobsmacked at the reply....... "Sorry, we can`t allocate pitches, you just choose when you get here".
Which is ok if your not fussed about where you end up. But what if the only superpitch available has just been claimed by someone who just rocked up on the offchance?? Driving 200 miles there only to be given a choice of pitches that we dont like!!?? What happens then?
I`ve never come across this on any other sites we`ve been to. we`ve usually booked the type of pitch we want so when we get there we know what to expect.
Anyone been to Start Bay??
Comments
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I think if you've booked a "super pitch" (I assume you mean serviced pitch), then this couldn't happen. A serviced pitch will be waiting for you. It may be the last one, you might not like it, but it will be the pitch type you've booked.
Allocating or pre-booking pitches has been discussed often at great length and the concensus of opinion always seems to be against the idea (amongst those who actually use club sites anyway!)
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I`ve never come across this on any other sites we`ve been to. we`ve usually booked the type of pitch we want so when we get there we know what to expect.
Presumably you have not booked CC pitches before then as the only choices generally are serviced (with waste and water), awning pitch or non awning pitch.
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Start Bay only has standard awning pitches, no super or serviced pitches.
Some are HS, some are grass and it’s not possible to choose a surface type when you book in common with just about every other club site.
I've not stayed at the site but know where it is. I suggest checking the route on Google Earth.
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Looking at the booking page there is only two types of pitches.
Hardstanding with awning and grass with awning. There doesn't appear to be a 'Superpitch' type.
Most C&MC sites have a mixture of grass and hardstanding, some are with awning some without, some sites have 'service' pitch but it would appear at Start Bay they don't.
I would suggest if you want a hardstanding then you will need to arrive as close to 12.00 as possible. Its been discussed on CT many times that some folk would like to be able to book a hardstanding as they don't want grass.
The club did do a trial however they did not take it forward as they said members were 'confused'
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You could choose your pitch type at the other Start Bay site at Slapton run by the C&CC. But they only allow a handful of caravans on there so book early for that one. Both sites are very nice, don't worry too much you'll need that for the approach roads.
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You can book a full serviced pitch (a hardstanding with water hook up, waste water drainage and EHU), an economy pitch (a pitch without electricity), a non-awning pitch or a standard pitch. A standard pitch is grass or hardstanding and you will need to choose from what is available when you arrive at the site.
It is well known on here, and elsewhere in the Club that I feel we ought to be able to choose a hardstanding or grass standard pitch when we book. I bought this up at a Club Council Meeting five or so years ago and have been arguing the case ever since. I will continue to do this whenever I have the opportunity.
Personally, to get around this, I usually always try to book a full serviced pitch, which (apart from one site), guarantees you a hardstanding. Alternatively, I book CAMC sites out of season when grass pitches are not in use (I always check first). There is a list of Serviced pitches somewhere on the website, or alternatively there is a thread which I set up here.....
Hope this helps a little. In the meantime, I will continue to argue the case..
David
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We have stayed at Start Bay , lovely site.
We didn't find the approach to the site too difficult following the site directions .
As others have said, no service pitches, just grass or hardstanding.
We happily used a grass pitch.
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Apologies, I didn't know that. Not been to Start Bay - that may well be because there are no serviced pitches. I have to say, pitchtypes apart, I do tend to look for serviced pitches where possible. It means I don't have to take the wastemaster!
David
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My apologies to all, you are all correct, but it clearly states on their map PDF. hardstanding or grass pitches......................
I`m off to look at Slapton Sands
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The booking system, whether at Slapton Sands or any other club site seems to work well. Arrive and choose your pitch on arrival is fair and has proved to be for many years.
If you arrive late and have to take what's left then you can always move to a better pitch the following day as you see people move off. You couldn't do that if a pitch became vacant and had been pre booked.
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We choose Slapton because it's away from the main road and Slapton Ley nature reserve is just over the road with some really lovely walks (dogs allowed.) The village is very attractive with a shop and two good pubs. But the Start Bay site is nice too, we haven't stayed on it but have walked past it as there is an excellent farm shop and café nearly next door plus good local pubs etc. Both sites are within easy walking distance to the coast and the coastal path plus good bus services. Spoilt for choice really, hope you enjoy whichever site you choose!
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It does state that but doesn’t give you a choice on booking.
We wait with our fingers crossed for that day!
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Slapton is the "other lot". Do they allow you to select HS when booking?
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Hi cyberyact, yes you an pick your type of pitch with the C&CC. You don't have a choice of where on the site that will be, it is allocated to you on arrival and then when you arrive on site, you are escorted to the pitch and sited. I know most CAMC members prefer to select their own pitch when they get on site, but doesn't bother us, in fact, on the occasions we have used a site where we could choose our own, we have taken longer to pitch as we couldn't decide which one to go for, lol. Comes of both being Librans, "used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure".
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I do find C&CC sites greatly improved over recent years and very welcoming. At Kingsbury Water Park last year we'd booked a HS pitch but when we arrived it was bright and sunny and we fancied a grass pitch instead. No problem, we were shown a variety of pitches and told to call in at reception later for a refund of our over payment! ,
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Surprised no one has mentioned the C&CC site at Stoke Fleming. A lot easier to get to than Start Bay - and from our experience, a lot less packed in, depending on the time of year. I don't think there are any fully serviced pitches but you can choose between hardstanding and the lovely grassed area, which we prefer, and does have a restricted sea view. We have been going there for the last four years and have always been able to select where to pitch.
Added bonus of an hourly bus service right outside the site which allows you to avoid the parking chaos in Dartmouth.
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Memory isn't what it used to be.
The clear answer, for those who 'must' have HS, is to stick with the "other lot". Given the heat generated on threads about pitch choice and the mid-day rush and the absence of the option with CAMC, the classic forum response of " go elsewhere" is the solution.
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If you haven't booked for some time, some of the confusion might come from how the club have changed how they describe pitches. Certainly a few years ago, at sites that were all hardstanding the pitch descriptions often mirrored this. Giving the impression you had a choice, although there were no grass to book. Possibly because of the addition of service pitches during revamps, these seem to have been changed to standard and service pitch, despite all pitches on the site still being HS. There are a few quirks. At Culloden there are still HS and grass apparently bookable. Although the site plan only shows two touring grass pitches and they never seem to be available. Similarly at Baltic Wharf, where there is one grass pitch. A site where you can book surface type, other than a service pitch, is Tewkesbury. They have something called multi surface, which has a pad for the caravan and car and space on grass for an awning, when conditions permit.
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There are a lot of things on the website, especially in site details, that have been adapted and added to over the years and it leads to confusion. A total rewrite would be better.
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