O.K.----What is the arrival time?
I book and it asks me --What Time? I tick a box saying 12.00 to2.00 and I know it is 1.00pm earliest. We have no traffic and get near at 12.30. Wait in lay bye and arrive just after 1.00pm. I notice many units finishing setting awnings up etc. Hey Ho. BUT I spend the next 5 days watching people arrive as early as 11.00am and be allowed straight on.
This happened over New Year at White Water site near Stockton. Will the Club explain is it Wardens discretion, is it totally ignored, are they happy with a rule that may as well be removed.
Totally confused!
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Weve all been there and got the tee shirt!
I can't be bothered with all that "gotta get the best pitch" nonsense. Let em get on with it I say.
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You are unlikely to get any response from the CC on here, or any other than arrival times are as stated by writing to them. This subject has been debated extensively on several occasions and folk seem to fall into three camps.
- Those that are happy with arriving at the stated time or later and see no need for any change.
- Those who see them as a challenge, and are prepared to ignore them and try and gain earlier access.
- Those who argue for flexible access but are willing to abide by the current time limits.
The club needs to make its policy very clear and either rigidly inforce the times. Or adopt a flexible approach at sites where access restrictions permit.
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This has been brought up in the past, and has never been sorted out by the Caravan Club, and I'm sure we all agree that it's not very nice meeting another caravan in a narrow lane at 11am when your leaving and they are on there way to a CC site when it's midday arrival, but the CC do nothing about it. You can post for evermore and nothing will happen.
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Ticking a box with an ETA does,nt really mean a lot as you could be held up for any number of reasons but i always arrive after midday so there is no problem with getting on the site.That is how the system is ment too work and it does work for those of us who are prepared to accept it and abide by it.
v9
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I agree it's very frustrating Bernard. Steve has summed it up perfectly. Personally I put myself in group 3 - many CC sites have absolutely no access problems (can't speak about Whitewater as I've never been there) and it does seem rather daft that we have this supposed earliest arrival time when a more flexible arrangement would cause no problem whatsoever. Turn up early, get set up, make the most of your first day I'd say. But then it does seem to be a general rule for most sites other than CLs which are usually more flexible. I'm sympathetic to wardens who have to put up with folk sticking two fingers up to the rules they signed up for when joining the club. The question is, would they have any backing if they simply refused to let early arrivals on site?
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We generally plan our journey to arrive at our next site between mid to late afternoon. Never have any problems with access to the site.
The CC have a "No Arrivals Before" rule which is perfectly sensible.
A previous poster said Quote :-
." I'm sympathetic to wardens who have to put up with folk sticking two fingers up to the rules they signed up for when joining the club. The question is, would they have any backing if they simply refused to let early arrivals on site?" -- End Quote
Good point -------This is where head office should support their warden staff by backing them to the hilt against rule breakers. Even to cancelling the offerder's membership-- If there are those who think the CC rules don't apply to them, they can always go and camp elsewhere.---- OR -- Write to head office suggesting a rule change.
Cheers....................K
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Thx for your replies. The CC state earliest arrival is 1.00pm now. Any Member arriving before will be asked to return after 1.00 pm. This is to allow Wardens to prepare pitches after 12.00 departures. If this is incorrect will the Club respond to me with their interpretation.
I have decided in future to arrive when I want as it appears rules are down to individual Members interpretation. OK Grandkids get the Football and play near next doors van! I will be with you as soon as I wash the toilet cassette in the washing up sink!
No wonder after 35 years membership we use CC sites less and less.
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The arrival time of 1200,was standerdised so that the majority of members could relate to it when planning their journey to sites,on all but a few sites there has been some flexibility ,but as noted on the booking pages,there is normally a note to advise of any attention needed to the standard times,
How often does anyone get allowed into their accomodation "early" in the UK with other leisure industies
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I'm yawning again.
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I also missed the recent discussion on this subject, but has the club changed from 12.00 to 13.00 in line with the C&CL? Have recently made several bookings and all of them still state 12.00 as the earliest arrival time.
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No, they have not followed the other club. Standard arrival is still 1200 - with exceptions.
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Thanks, the OP was talking about 13.00 being the arrival time and confusion reigned 😂
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That'll be on one of the 'exception' sites.
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We have stopped using Caravan Club sites with narrow lane access less, because of this problem with early arrivals, I for one don't want our caravan damaged trying to scrape past another van in a narrow lane, OK there is always the chance you meet a delivery van or a bus, but most can back up and let you through better than some caravan drivers. Were it's good access the club could be more flexible, and the early birds could take what was going at the time.
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The sites page for Whitewater states earliest arrival 12:00. As others have stated this is the norm. Although several sites with restricted access are 1pm. Rarely sites have times earlier than 12:00.
I would advise against arriving when you want at Chatsworth. You might meet me leaving 😡and I would not be the one doing the reversing.😀
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The handbook and website should have individual arrival advice for each site. On large sites getting early arrivals pitches does make sense to avoid queues later on so I see no problem. Some sites have restricted access and it should be made absolutely clear on those that early arrivals are not permitted and those arriving early will be turned back. On other sites a fixed rule should be applied although what you think it should be depends on your own opinion but a rule should be applied so that we all know where we stand.
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is it like half time on the football, with wardens putting back divots?
come on, what does a warden have to do to a pitch, especially a HS one prior to a new member arriving...bit like turning down the bed?
i can (just about) go with making access easier for new arrivals (not meeting those departing) but preparing a pitch.....no...
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I've always been a fan of the staggered access/relaxed attitude that pays dividends in Europe, it should be a relaxed time, one for Manana mindsets not a boot camp with strict times backed up by machine gun nests. If folk arrive too early there'll be less choice, arrive all together there'll be mayhem & potential danger. Staggered will enable a relaxed sign in & enjoyable/relaxed start to your break
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Well there is the grass. They tend not to cut very close to the hardstandings if vans / awnings are on them to avoid potential damage from flung stones. Also the aqua roll / waste master might be right against it, on some pitches. When we leave after our normal week stay, it is often in need of cutting.
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Wether it is wardens discretion or not makes no difference. The CC allows them that discretion. I have not seen it written anywhere that they have discretion to let you on site early, or you can ask for an earlier arrival, although they most certainly use it anyway. Wrongly in my opinion.
As to it causing inconvenience that is surely a matter of opinion. We have never stayed beyond 12, or asked to do so. However, I have no problem with others so doing, whilst it is permitted.
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If there is a rule, allowing Wardens to choose who can stay on site after 12.00 noon, we cannot blame customers for taking advantage of the situation. It does however make a mockery of the "No arrivals before" rule. The two are diametrically opposed.
So if the Wardens discretion is allowed regarding the "No arrivals before" rule then their discretion should be allowed regarding "Departures" . ----- Can't have it both ways
Tightening up Warden's discretion on one, means tightening up on both. -- The preferred option.
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So hanging about the site office and trying to make friends with the warden might work to some people's advantage.
Cheers........................K
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I'm a little curious about that distinction Ian. Given that your argument in the past has been that late departures could deprive one of the pitch they want, surely early arrivals are just as likely to do that? So both equally "inconvenient" and "selfish" (your words, not mine.)
The only way you're going to get your desired full choice of pitches is if you arrive on the dot of 12 o'clock, are first in the queue, no-one is departing late and no-one has arrived early - all equally unlikely in my experience.
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The main difference K, is that with discretion on leaving the customer is on site and the warden can say yes or no, depending on circumstances. Whilst early arrivals come unannounced, putting the warden in a difficult position. There is often no turning space, or much waiting room at reception. Therefore if the earlier arrival is refused, they still have to be let on site to turn round and although the entrance barrier can be raised from reception, I am not sure about the exit. All of which can cause problems on sites where reception cannot be continually staffed.
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