paying an extra night...
I arrived at Blackhorse Farm near Folkestone to stop over one night before boarding my ferry the next day. When I booked online and via the phone through the caravan club. I was informed that because my ferry was due at 10pm the next day I would have to pay for a second night.. I had no choice but to pay. !!!! I was not able to seek any reduction in cost.. But during my holidays I booked to stay at ostend in Belgium on my return through France to break up my journey and give myself a rest. Again when I arrived at the Kleinstrand in Jabbeke Belgium I pointed out my ferry was not until 9.30pm the next day I said I suppose I'm going to have to pay for a second night ? to my astonishment the receptionist said NO ! I only had to pay 2 euro's per hour I needed to stay over.. so I only paid till 6pm.. What a great idea.. she only charged us for 5 hours instead of 6 and cost us 12 euro's...Why wasn't this offered by the caravan club online booking service.. I firmly believed the Caravan Club was there not only to make life easier for us members but to offer savings..?
Moderator Comment - This is more suited to the discussion area so has been moved to UK Campsites
Comments
-
Would they not let you pull off the pitch and park say in visitors car park. I have done this a number of times in the UK, whilst fishing for the day and then moving off before nightfall No charge made, but a few fish for the warden.
2 -
Afraid its up to the individual to make a saving if needed.
Blackhorse farm is a ripoff anyway, I used it once but now know better. I use Little Rhode farm, a CL only 25 minutes away from the tunnel/Folkestone and at £13 for full facilities is far better with no limitation on time if asked for and not busy.
0 -
Sorry but I agree with KjellNN. You were blocking the pitch from being re-let and going to have the opportunity to use the facilties all day.
0 -
It would be nice if there was some flexibility especially if the site was not full. I was charged a nominal fee to stay on a C&CC site until 8 pm which seemed fair. Over there I have found more flexibility - for example I am Solo and have an ACSI card which allows for 2 people but I travel with 2 dogs. Most sites have allowed the 2nd dog (the ones that charge for extra dogs that is) to go in the human's place. Notable exception was a site run by Brits! Seems fair to me my dogs don't use as much water and electricity as a human!
0 -
I wouldn't have stayed at Black Horse Farm the first night, let alone hang around there for another day waiting for a 10 pm ferry. Getting to Dover and getting straight across the channel always seemed best to me - there are so many options once you are over the other side.
1 -
If you had paid 2 euro's an hour to extend your stay at Black Horse Farm then, how much would you have paid compared to what you actually paid....?
0 -
It's in the T&C's, Kilo. Wardens have discretion, if site occupancy allows it, to let you extend your stay foc until 4pm. Beyond that, you're pitch blocking and incur the extra night's fee. CAMC days run 1200 to 1200 so to beg an extra 9 hours or so is a big ask. I'd have expected to pay.
Nine hours at 2€ per hour would equate to how much, if that was the rate in force at BHF?
0 -
Same here. Booked a few nights at Rookesbury Park before catching the Portsmouth ferry. Wanted to leave site at 6pm so had to pay an extra night which is fair I think for reasons given above. Then on return from France a few weeks later had a ferry pitch as due to arrive back in Portsmouth about 8pm. Just one night and off home first thing in the morning. Yes, another full days fees. You pays your money and takes your choice.....
0 -
Yes, it's the way it is. If we don't like it, we need to look elsewhere.
1 -
My OH and daughter went back home yesterday evening at 7pm, even though I was staying on I still paid for their 'night' as they stayed past 4pm.
0 -
It doesn't matter to me either, WTG.
As far as I'm aware, the ferry pitches are positioned near the entrance and intended for people leaving very early in the morning so others aren't disturbed. That's a different scenario from very late departures. Who knows?
0 -
It amazes me when people spend hundreds of pounds getting across the channel, filling their car with fuel (getting less mph when towing a van), paying site fees throughout Europe and then quibble over a few extra pounds to use the facilities at a CMC site in the UK.
You stopped someone else use the pitch for that night so it is only right that you pay the whole fee.
2 -
I was informed that because my ferry was due at 10pm the next day I would have to pay for a second night.. I had no choice but to pay. !!!! I was not able to seek any reduction in cost
Of course you had a choice. You could have gone elsewhere and asked for charity.
1 -
Interesting discussion everyone - no real need for an official word from the CAMC but to reiterate that warden's discretion is used for late departures assuming a couple of hours or so and depending on pitch availability.
Utilising a pitch and site facilities into the next evening would certainly incur an additional 1 night fee. I'm unsure how we would manage our sites otherwise unless there was plenty of free pitches - which we try not to have!
Happy safe travels folks.
Helen
3 -
or use a ferry where you can stay on the port without even bothering with a site....anyones site.
of course, it depends where you are coming from and heading for (and possibly if you have dogs or dont sail wel, etc)...
however, the point is that there are many other options to paying two nights club fees just to await a crossing....
0
