Prices Baltic Wharf

jlseagull
jlseagull Forum Participant Posts: 39
First Comment
edited March 2017 in Club Membership #1

Shock Horror!   Have just discovered the cost of our annual  4 day trip to this popular site has gone up from £114.80 last year to £130.80 this year.  I know the site is in an excellent position and is very popular but the facilities are fairly basic and tired.   Can such an increase really be justified?

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #2

    You have hit on the justification in your OP. Position, that and the fact the product is vastly oversubscribed and has a limited shelf life, in that unfortunately it will be closing soon.

    The facilities, although not as modern as other sites are adequate for the sites size, in all but the summer school holidays, when more vans have four occupants. They are as normal, kept spotlessly clean by the wardens, which is all that matters to us.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited March 2017 #3

    The more people will pay the more every business will charge....and there are lots of people who can and will pay any price if they want it.

    The most expensive:- and the toilet is extra!

    At £9,600 for two for a four-night stay, Britain's most expensive campsite is believed to be Camp Kerala in Shepton Mallet, near Glastonbury. The cost includes interstage festival tickets and Winnebago access, food and concierge (it's £900 extra for an ensuite toilet, and visitors pay extra for drinks, spa treatment...and helicopter transport)

    PS. The Caravan Club only has a tiny selection of sites in the UK except sometimes they have a site where people want to visit. We tend to stay only 3 or 4 times on club sites during any year.

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #4

    It does seem a big price increase but if it suits I'm afraid it's pay up 😯. The alternative is to find another site in the area. But that will incur costs getting into and out of Bristol so has to be balanced. I'm impressed you manage a trip every year - there are those who would settle for one trip. We have used it once in our first year, got in on spec  phone call the day before coming back from West Country, had no idea how he lucky we were! It's in a great situation and like most things in life it will thus attract a premium. So long as facilities work and are clean they are acceptable to us, or we use our own. Never found a club site that didn't have clean functioning facilities 😉

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #5

    Even though it's a small site the club will be losing around £8000 (plus) per week when it closes. A big drop in income over the year! frown

  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Forum Participant Posts: 438
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    edited March 2017 #6

    Why is the site closing? If its so popular why close it

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2017 #7

    Long story - short. Lease is up and land being developed. 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #8

    I think there is now some uncertainty about the original plan for a school. So if the council don't want it for their use, perhaps the CAMC could buy it. Expensive, yes very. However, at least it will show a guaranteed return, and please a lot of people, which is more than can be said for the rebrand. 

    It would also be a valuable asset, as land in that area is unlikely to go down in value anytime soon.

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
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    edited March 2017 #9

    Have to agree with SteveL's post   "You have hit on the justification in your OP. Position, that and the fact the product is vastly oversubscribed"

    As said by others this price increase is possibly mostly due to the popular location combined with the probable closure as owners may redevelop site. 

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #10

    I'm inclined to agree. Why not post on the what's next thread? Rochelle has posted this morning she's enjoying reading why we joined and wants to hear our ideas. Put it forward, they can only say no. But it would show that they are forward looking and not just interested in closing sites 😉

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #11

    A good idea B2. I have done so.

  • Bertibush
    Bertibush Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited March 2017 #12

    If visiting Bristol may we suggest an alternative site....our cl Green Gables is situated on the north eastern fringe of the city about 20 minutes to theCity Centre.

    Details of our cl are on page 287 cl number 24.Peter and i look forward to meeting you!

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited March 2017 #13

    Walked past the site yesterday. Why anyone would want to park in an urban area  that just resembled a car park beats me. Much nicer Cls in the Bristol area.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,639
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    edited March 2017 #14

    Which one's would you recommend, Fisherman?

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited March 2017 #15

    There are a number. Stayed near Chew Valley Lake. Another down towards the Airport. and two adjacent  near Almondsbury. Not near the book now to find numbers.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #16

    Well although it is a fairly compact site, comparing it with car parks in central Bristol, is very much an exaggeration. In all the ones I have used, I am lucky if I can open our XTrail doors half way, they cram them in so tight.

    However, to answer your question the main reason is location. Not many will spend much time on site. The ability to take a pleasant walk into central Bristol in 20 mins. Or use the water taxi or bus right outside the gate. Yes you can stop outside but then you have to travel in. If this is by car some parking charges can be eye watering, making the cost of using BW much more reasonable.

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited March 2017 #17

    Due to circumstances with a poorly relative, we are planning to spend at least one weekend a month in and around Bristol for the foreseeable future.

    We have managed to get into Baltic Wharf twice over the winter and are booked in for August. On the first visit it enabled us to collect the in-laws and give them an afternoon out. The last visit we were able to pop up to see them and make them meals as they are becoming increasingly house bound.

    We have used the excellent CL's at Hortham Farm - Wood view and Field view, and Hayfields. If I had the handbook would put the numbers in, but I don't so I can't. This website doesn't list them by number either.

    Our relatives live to the north side of Bristol, so BW and those CL's work well for us.

    We may try other CC / camc / wotever sites at Cheddar and Longleat if the in laws are up to travelling in order to give them things to look forward to. The Chew Valley site is adult only, so no use to us as a family.

    All in all, there are sufficient locations in the area to give us more time with the family at a difficult time.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #18

    That's helpful KeefySher, we are in a similar situation so will need a few CLs when the site closes. We normally drive up for the day but staying near gives other relatives a rest from their routine. We need Bristol south to make it easier. There is also a CL out at Aust near Severn Bridge.

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited March 2017 #19

    No probs Brue. We have done the drive over and back in a day thing for the past 18 years. It's not as enjoyable a trip now with the constant roadworks in Bristol and increase in traffic generally, as we try to visit as many family members as we can, so staying over 2 nights works well. The CL's have been great even with late arrival on a Friday night.

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited March 2017 #20

    Thankyou keefysher for the CL information, good to know there are some good ones in the area.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,639
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    edited March 2017 #21

    Cheers Fisherman. I've not got our book yet, as we're away, so not been able to check them. I would rather have a recommendation from regulars posting on here than trying to decipher some of the reviews on the web site.

     

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited March 2017 #22

    It's simple, location,location,location.

    We have stayed at the site many times to enjoy Bristol without needing to drive/park and our Granchildren love being able to go out of the back gate and be by the water.

    Have used Hortham  a couple of times and would go back but would not return to Chew Valley as we found it decidedly odd.

    In regard to the car park comment I would say that if it is then it's the closest I will get to be a MH user! Smiley, smiley

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,639
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    edited March 2017 #23

    I'll second that. Really useful information. Thanks.