Fast lane? No thanks!
I read with dread the article in the new magazine that "fast check-ins" are being introduced to some sites. This means that once booked and the site fees paid, we can go through a special barrier and by-pass the office. Is everyone happy with this plan? I for one see it as a retrograde step, with more hi-tech and less human contact. At the end of a long drive I enjoy the chat with the warden about the weather, the journey, the pros and cons of the pitches available to me. I consider it all part of the holiday, do we really need everything to be hi-speed? Some people may enjoy jumping the queue (if any) to grab the "best" pitches, but I'd rather take my time chatting with a friendly warden and benefiting from their expert advice.
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Apart from the obvious reason of wanting a holiday I always enjoy meeting other people and having a good old chinwag!
The way the club is going it won't be long before everything is automated including cutting grass and toilet block cleaning.
Stop the impersonalisation. Keep the personal touch!
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Could it perhaps be that the wardens need time to do other things instead of chatting with each new arrival? There’s two ways of looking at it and, ultimately, you’re there for a break in your van while the warden copes with numerous arrivals every day.
I think it could mean an end to the queues of units, which back up onto the highway in some cases, and speed everyone’s way into the site. It looks like a positive move to me. It should help avoid further fee increases to by potentially reducing staffing costs👍
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Ah, I remember it well.
Arrived about 5 pm., went into office, found it full of groupies chatting to warden. Said excuse me and squeezed past them., listened patiently to recitation of rules, went to find a pitch then all the way back to say where we were, but cluster of groupies still there and still chatting. . Warden looked tired.1 -
As I read the article the 'fast lane' will be for those that have paid before arrival and where the site has ANPR and it will still be optional so those that want the interaction with the wardens can still have it. I suppose when all sites have ANPR and everyone pays before arrival then indeed it might go all that way but that's along way off yet.
Fo me I think it's great, warden interaction doesn't rank that highly for a great holiday although I appreciate a good welcome. I can get on to the site far quicker, less queueing behind others to get processed. It could be said that those who do this will get onto the site to get their preferred pitch.
A win for me, but again it is not mandatory so choose the method that suits you best.
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I would always use the Fast Track option if available. I really don't want to have to wait in the 13:00 queue and have to listen to everybody's story of their trip there etc etc, which delays me getting onto my pitch and start enjoying my break but I understand that some do, so the more options the club can offer gets my vote.
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I’m all for it, although they will need a bit more reliability with their auto collection than they have now. For certain sites like Chatsworth payment before arrival should be compulsory. We’ve arrived there just after 1 pm and it’s been 2 pm before we’ve got on the pitch and nothing can leave the site during that time.
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Just putting this out there with any judgement either way but...
maybe the club should offer a discount for choosing the fast lane?
or do follow the airlines and airports and pay extra for the fast lane?
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On our recent visit to Lady Margaret's Park, we didn't opt for the fast check in as, due to a medical emergency, we weren't even sure that we'd be able to set off from home and didn't want to pay in full before arrival only to go through the hassle of getting a refund.
On arrival we queued and then went into reception to book in where we got the usual site plan with indications of one way system, how to pitch to the peg etc. It struck us that those who don't 'check in on arrival' wouldn't get the paper site plan or the instructions that go with it, hence quite a few folks then wandering around looking for the service points.
I've edited my post to add the irritation of people who do go into reception wanting to have a full scale conversation about what's available in the location and what time the local supermarket closes etc. Better that you do that later in the day when it's quieter.
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It once took us nearly 30 minutes to get through the reception at Ferry Meadows, and that was with only one other outfit paying at the same time. Arrival at any site isn’t the time to be chatting extensively with the staff, beyond a friendly hello and any quick questions. Staff were very happy to pass the time of day, say hello, etc… away from the office. So anything that gets some through reception and onto a pitch quickly is a bonus as far as we are concerned.
Our preference is for an envelope pinned to the office door, and map inside saying see you later!😁
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You are a scamp at times Corners🤣
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I did say without judgement either way
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it
(Attributed to Aristotle but I leant this week that might not be be the case)
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On two CAMC sites we stopped on recently they were operating a fast check in even for those who had not paid, like us, as we booked on the old system. We were given a map by a site manager stood outside the office, handed over our membership card, a quick talk on how to pitch and sent on our way, come back and pay later. All very efficient, on site and pitched in 10 minutes. Wouldn’t work so well if they do away with physical membership cards though.🤔
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Would you be happy that they retained your phone? I believe that's what SteveL was implying.
That sounds like a grand idea SteveL
If there's to be a fast lane, that'll be more tarmac, bigger gap in boundary and suitable barriers. Considerable expense? Add it to the site prices??
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https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/faqs/uk-holidays/#fast-check-in
"How will I know where to pitch?
Once you arrive at the barrier, our cameras will verify your registration, a welcome screen will remind you of the pitch type you have booked and you can proceed onto site. We will send you a link to the site plan by TEXT before arrival and we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the site plan before you arrive."0 -
I have yet to experience it on a Club site but on commercial sites I use and have used it is an excellent sytem. I hope all sites will eventually be so equipped, who knows where it can lead to. Perhaps earlier arrival times if you have already paid or even pay on departure rather than arrival?
peedee
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And so would I !
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I wonder if there will be a 5 minute delay between the barrier opening to let the next vehicle through if not I can imagine the chaos of letting this queue of vehicles through (that you all seem to get stuck in) all them vying for the prime pitch.
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I've never been in a queue of more than a couple of outfits, until yesterday.
We arrived at a very popular site in France that does not welcome arrivals until 13.30. We had tried and failed at 3 Aires to park up for an hour or so, as we had a site booking and knew there would be a queue.
It was chaos, over 15 outfits trying to get into the site, many parked up on the road outside. Some MHs decided not to bother and drove off. Others had parked on the road and then both driver and passenger walked to wait outside the office.
Once some had gained entry this left big gaps in the queue, whereby those arriving later jumped the queue of those who had abandoned their vehicles. The site owner was working the desk, his wife making sure that you booked in, in order of vehicles. While their son took you to your allocated pitch.
All worked fine until a few 'other nationalities' got a bit upset as they had been standing queueing for awhile yet not being allowed to book in. Yes they were the ones parked out on the road that had been queue jumped.
Madam insisted that she would only allow those vehicles that were next in line to be the next to book in.
In the end it took a lot of explaining and raised voices to those drivers, that they should stay with their vehicle and move forward in an orderly way.
Madam then said the British know how to do it properly 😂 well I never. She also said its like this every day they just don't get it that leaving their vehicle just causes problems.
So having a fast lane to book in would definitely be a yes from me.
We use an aire system in France that works very well, arrive, tap card on bollard. Barrier lifts and in you go. When it's time to leave repeat the process. Tap card, barrier lifts and off you go, paying on the way out with your card. It's such an easy system.
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Ok, fair comment, I accept that we are a mixed bunch, although I'm not sure I like being called a "groopy"!
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I don’t think the idea of familiarising yourself with the site plan a very good one. Some sites have dead ends and complicated layouts and it would be difficult to remember those. Although you can download it for offline use, on anything less than a pad would be very difficult to see. Stationing a person to hand them out would rather defeat what they are trying to achieve, but what’s wrong with a box near the barrier with maps that can be taken if required. We always refuse them if we know the site, so they wouldn’t be required by everybody,
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Even those in the slow lane who are handed leaflets sometimes fail to grasp those concepts so I doubt it’ll make any difference. Information overload takes place at traditional check ins.
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We recently stayed at our local Bearsted site . Turned up and one of the wardens was standing by the barrier clip board in hand . Said they were expecting a busy afternoon ,so ticked us off his list ,asked if we'd been there before , answer yes , great he answered , opened barrier and said pitch up get settled in and pop to the office later to sort paperwork. Who needs fast track when you have professional staff.
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but I agree with the sentiments expressed about being behind OP
