Arrival time - again
Having just spent 9 days at Carnon Downs (great site) I was surprised to see a number of caravans and camper vans arriving during the morning on several occasions - some as early as 10.00AM. What happened to the "No arrivals before 1.00pm" that we have all had impressed upon us?
Unless of course all these early arrivals had paid for the previous night and were just arriving late - unlikely as that may seem.
The site was half empty, so do the wardens have discretion on arrival times?
Comments
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It seems to me that if you let people in early it may be fine for them but unfair on those who conform to the rule. People may not like the rule but the rule it is and should apply to all. Once it becomes common to let in early arrivals we go back to people arriving early to get the perceived best pitches. People will not differentiate between sites with easy access and those without. So the clashes between arrives and leavers will return. Additionally not fair on wardens if some are enforcing the rule and some are not.
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The warden might reply to his critics by quoting Matthew’s gospel, chapter 20, verse 15. “Is thine eye evil because I am good? “
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I agree with Mikey.....
and here's a total change of thinking....of course it's not a club site...a site we use each year has an arrival/departure time of 5pm....yes, 5pm.
however, due to the huge turnover of vans (the site is always full but vans come and go from dawn onwards) there will always be space for anyone arriving at pretty much any time..
and as the office is manned all day, early birds are allowed on site if there is a space, which there inevitably is...the choice of pitches will be less, but there is no congestion that I've ever seen as the office satisfies a trickle input of vans.
not only that, there is no need for a 'late departure' policy as the pitch is yours till 5pm.
so, early arrivals are happy, late departers are happy, the office is happy no congestion or bow wave to deal with...what's not to like?
...and it's less than £18 a night....with free sunshine🫢
forget the location, it's the system that does the job.
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It’s a good system YT, but cannot work on Club Sites for two reasons. There aren’t enough staff around to make sure the reception is covered, and the Club has Members who like everything written in tablets of stone and will kick up a fuss if there might be any hint of someone else getting preferential treatment actual or merely perceived.
I’d put a “social media” supplement onto certain pitches…….any where those staying can report back about the doings of others. Those near reception, dog walks, recycling areas, etc…… 🤣 You get a cheaper holiday if you just get on with enjoying oneself🤭
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We don’t have any problem working with the 1pm arrival time. It’s clearly stated, easy to understand. It doesn’t matter that earlier arrivals would be logistically possible and matters not a jot what happens elsewhere, when again we work with the system in force. Every site we have visited this tour has had clear signage stating no arrivals until 1pm, some saying to go away and come back later. The current one even had cones across the entry when we walked back in before 1pm yesterday. The sooner folk accept not to arrive before one, as seems to be the case on C&CC sites, the better.
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+1.
This thread is about club site arrivals so in my view what happens elsewhere is irrelevant. Even more so as I don't think the club is going to change any time soon.
This is how the club operates for better or worse, so don't choose it if isn't to your liking?
As you say the arrival time is clearly displayed, it's on the confirmation email, part of the T&Cs, so why people think these do not apply to them is a mystery.
The also communicates very simply what may happen if one does arrive early and from personal experience and recent reviews people are being turned away, and in my view so they should.
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Are you suggesting or reporting that these deliberate early arrivals were let in prior to the 1pm now sites wide stipulation? Surely, the problems occur due to a few abusing the ‘rules’ and wishing to get ahead of the rest of us. After all, if staff are unavailable due to being engaged in other responsibilities then how can they deal with those who try it on without impacting detrimentally on those other duties we all appreciate and allow them to complete?
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Of course you've hit the nail on the head, you only have to read the responses to this 'outlandish' suggestion to see that....rules is rules and we can't have anyone 'getting one over on anyone else' (even for a few minutes), so stick or go away...
the basic issue is that the customers have to work around the tight staff numbers/rotas not the other way round. This drives how the site works and if we don't all fall in line, chaos reigns and we can't have that.
So, like you, we 'go away'....either well away or to places other than Club sites when in the UK. can't be doing with paying £40+ to sit in a queue to get on a site merely because 'everyone else has to do it'..
as Basil F might have said.....'Ah well, back to the world of dreams...'.
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"Surely, the problems occur due to a few abusing the ‘rules’ and wishing to get ahead of the rest of us." see TDDA post above....
Right! Off with their heads.....
but hang on, would that be the customers' heads for trying it on or the staff's for letting it happen?
going to be a lot of chopping.....
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The answer to your point about staff duties is to employ a cleaner to deal with tne toilet block, a gardener to cut grass, and a receptionist to meet and greet visitors. Them members could choose an arrival time slot that suits them best- just as they choose their own time slot when ordering supermarket groceries. And if the site is not full there will be morning slots available.
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Heads off, that’s a bit extreme no matter who’s it it. However, this issue has been probably one of the most contentious areas of discussion since even before CT graced the ether. Solutions have been aired and some actions implemented. My recent observations seem to suggest that the message is getting through to all. Of course there will always be a few but they are reducing in number it seems. I’ve yet to visit a site this season which has not informed me prior to arrival. I’ve also seen arrival times post at the roadside sign and then again at the barrier and reception door. Friendly education is surely way better than decapitation.
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Morning
So, here's a thing then. I'm currently having my rest days at Carnon Downs and I had a rough idea why people were coming in early so I enquired at reception. It is as I suspected that all those coming in before 13.00 are seasonal pitch holders. If you have a seasonal pitch on our sites there is no time constraint at all. Glad to help
JK
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Cheers, JK. It proves the adage “it’s good to talk” is true 😀
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Thank you JK. I wondered if it might have been a rally meet up, but seasonal arrivals, makes sense.
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I don't think there is too much problem when things are not busy. But when lots of people are leaving when lots of people are arriving it can be problematic.
For example, when there is a narrow lane before the entrance and early arriving caravans or motorhomes meet leavers half way. Trying to reverse down some of those country lanes is not fun.
I keep to the official times for that reason.
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I appreciate this but as someone once said, ‘it’s good to talk and problematic to assume’.
Knowing why there are some anomalies and appreciating how these are managed may go a long way to answering some folk questions. We don’t get this piece of info. on the booking details although I’d not expect such justification. Just knowing that staff are managing the situation at a site specific level is good enough for me. Others clearly need it.
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And that’s one of the reasons the arrival time rule is in place. It doesn’t mean folk can turn up early and park at the entrance waiting for 13:00 to tick around either as that causes the congestion problem you describe.
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