Reviewing CLs
I love reading reviews of CL sites. More than once we've decided to visit a particular area and stayed on some marvellous CLS as a result of reading a review on here. (In fact just read one for a CL in Essex which looks interesting.)
But why do so few members appear to feel it's worthwhile writing a review? Some have only a couple for last year; some date back even further than that!
I always write a review of CL sites after we use them and wonder why there are so few others. Come on folks, given the questionable commitment of the club to the network it's surely more important than ever that we members do our bit.
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I used to write reviews for every CL we visited on here M, much like Nellie does, but when the website was changed, many of the reviews I had created were lost. I was very annoyed, and decided still to write them, but over on another forum (you know where!). Two other aspects of writing reviews on here wound me up as well, the blasted time out feature, and it is not easy to post photographs without cropping them or using a photo hosting site. Hence I have given up on here, but still try and help CL owners by reviewing sites elsewhere.
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Agree. I always write a review, mentioning Access, facilities, What is local,(shops and attractions) and transport links .Always mention if prices are as advertised in booklet and web pages. Not interested in names, just facts that are wanted by other potential users.
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I know what you mean Moulesy, I find cl reviews really helpful, photos are good, but can be deceiving.
I always leave a review when we visit a CL, I know some members don't like to leave one in case they make the site too popular, but that doesn't help the owners unless they can fill the CL all year.
I would like to thank all members who leave useful reviews and would also like more members to leave them.
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Agree with everything you say Fisherman, with the exception of the pricing. The website and handbook usually only gives a " from £xx" advice, probably because of the need to charge more in Winter, and the handbook being published bi annually. However, some CLs could be better at updating their details on web pages, and their own websites. It's not uncommon to find old prices given. We always phone to get exact details, so it doesn't bother us, but I know it irritates others.
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I think it was one of your reviews Fisherman that helped us choose the one we have booked in Wales later this year, Thankyou.
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Same as TDA, I too, have given up writing reviews on this site, I have tried to post my reviews on here on numerous occasions and have either been timed out or the review was lost in Cyberspace
I'm afraid that my time is better served by reviewing on another website, these reviews are all available to view to none members.After the appalling way that the CL network was treated, and let down, by the CMC during the so called "upgrading" of the CT platform, its not surprising to me why members don't leave a review here.
I'll go as far as to say that if anyone would like to read lots of very honest and informative reviews, then tune in to "The Caravan & Motorhome Chat Forum" and look up the thread "Touring Sites and Pitches"
Other forums are available to peruse as well....
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It's all well and good writing reviews on other forums but as CL's can only be used by members its still worth a few lines here, after all it only takes a few minutes. Club Together has 400000 signed up members, obviously not all of them interested in CL's but a fair number will be. That is a big audience compared to a forum with 399 registered members if I am guessing the right one
I would also suggest adding them to UKCampsites which has one the the largest campsite databases around. You are clearly an enthusiastic ambassador for CL's so the more information out there is the more popular they will become?David
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I've cut down the number of reviews I've written recently for the reason given by others. What I can't understand is why certain reviewers write a one or two line review but give no indication of that the site is actually like, what is in the area in way of places of interest and for getting provisions etc.
We've just visited a Cl following a few good reviews but in our opinion it certainly didn't match them, or the picture of the site in it's present form.
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David, at least the reviews get posted on other forums!!!!
Members of CAMC can and do join other forums, so, in your infinite wisdom, how many of these members view other forums and retrieve lots of information not available on here due to the complexities of this Forum?
You don't need to guess the forum as I have named it, delete it if you like.
If you care to look, you will find lots of reviews posted on UK Campsites from CAMC members, does that not tell you anything?
Ok so your perceived knowledge of the small forum with 399 members holds true, but, do you know how many guests view this small forum?
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I do use UKcampsites and review sometimes on there as well. The other thing is that like a few other members, my touring isn't restricted solely to this Club and it's CL network. Some of the best sites we have found in recent years are solely independent.
At the risk of upsetting some, I take a lot of the reviews written on here with a huge dose of reality. There are some very good reviews done, and I have come to rely upon the reviews of a few other members who I feel give an honest, thoughtful, well composed review, much as Fish stated with lots of details important to visitors, such as layout, spacing, noise, local transport, etc....... These are excellent and very useful, and there are quite a few whose needs and expectations aren't that far from our own.
However, some are not so useful. Some are just over high expectations not met and frustrations vented, some border on almost revenge if visitors don't get the red carpet they seem to think their visit deserves, and some are a complete farce where the reviewer hasn't stayed (usually reported if I happen to come across one). I found a lovely example of the site owner giving themselves a 5 star review a couple of weeks ago! Not sure if there is any merit to a review of these sorts at all. I have nothing but respect and thanks for CL owners who give up time, energy and expense to provide somewhere nice to stay, and find it difficult to be as harsh as some people can be. I think of it more as my research not being good enough in some way, and prefer to move on to somewhere that meets my expectations more, than trashing someone's small business. My needs may not be those of someone else's.
I know some of my reviews on here, now gone goodness knows where, took a lot of thought, some careful wording, and that takes time. I was less than happy at losing some of them. Plus, as I say, most folks like to see photos, not easy on this website. I will give tips to anyone looking for something, somewhere if I can, but it won't always be a Club Site or CL.
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Just for information, website isn't currently working properly for me at moment, can't seem to post, it hovers in the ether somewhere for a while! I did add an edit to the above, but it hasn't appeared?
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I think of it more as my research not being good enough in some way, and prefer to move on to somewhere that meets my expectations more, than trashing someone's small business. My needs may not be those of someone else's.
My thought as well, although I do think at times I should just state that a site is not up to the standard I have been led to expect from the reviews and see what, if any, response I get to my comments.
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Agree Nellie. It's hard sometimes because a lot can change on a site in a few months. Sometimes the photos don't flatter a really lovely place, other times they don't show what might be a problem. We look on OS maps, google earth, and other review sites if possible before we book, especially if it's a long break.
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Brian
It's all well and good taking your frustrations out on the forum, but there has not been a timeout problem with this forum for some time, in fact I remain logged in all day unless I turn my PC off, is that not the case for others? It has long been suggested that reviews are composed in a word processor and then pasted into the forum. At least using that method you get a spell checker and it makes it easier if you wish to post to multi forums.
Those of you that advocate not posting reviews on here are surely flying in the face of what you hope to achieve, ie the survival and encouragement of the use and development of the CL network. I am puzzled how that is achieved by not posting reviews on here. I am not saying not to post them elsewhere, I would go so far as to encourage people to do that as well. I am probably one of the most prolific review posters on UKCampsite with approaching 200 reviews. I keep a watching brief on most of the free to use forums on our hobby and anyone that does the same will see that this forum has as many if not more posts on a daily basis than others.
As to the content of reviews I just wonder how you police that? I am sure most on here have developed a sixth sense into knowing when a review is useful. If reviews are a bit below par on detail then surely even more reason for the people that have the future of CL's at heart to submit reviews as a counter balance?
At the end of the day where do people start their search for CL's? Am I wrong in thinking that it is more likely to be the CL review section on this forum? No doubt they then might look elsewhere but I suspect it all starts here.
David
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If a site is well reviewed then it is very difficult to say something more refreshing so I don't bother. I have made reviews and have made them in the form of being inviting to a would be visitor. Some reports are so unimaginative I think they should be removed.
On the other side of the coin. Do cl owners make a good job of promoting their actual site?
There are some excellent owner previews but lots that don't even bother putting the bare minimum into their page and that includes the lack of even a simple site image, which for them to put on seems a lot easier. This is lack lustre it gives a sense of being not very inviting. However, if an owner writes a report that is full of interest then it draws you and goes a long way to get you booking. So with that, do those sites with poor ‘Home Pages’ really deserve a members report if they themselves can’t be bothered.
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".....I remain logged in all day unless I turn my PC off, is that not the case for others?"
No, it’s not the case for me, David. It seems to be device specific at times but, at others, logging out occurs at random. Then we have the issue of hitting the button to post and nothing happens and eventually the words are lost. And, no, it’s not my broadband.
I, too, think CL owners have been treated shabbily by the club and I wouldn't blame them if they obtained their exemption elsewhere. If anybody is flying in the face of promoting the use and continuation of CLs, it’s the club itself.
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I remain logged on all day on my I pad, desktop and smart phone. I try to leave reviews wherever we stay. As others have said there are a lot of reviews that give little away. We always try to give as much info as possible regarding not only the site but POI
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It's not the time out function that's the bee in my bonnet at the moment, there seems to be a long delay in getting any of my posts to send at the moment. Little "reply" button turns grey, but screen just doesn't change. Only on this website!
To a certain extent I don't disagree David, and perhaps it is me being a tad petty taking my bat and ball home. But reviews on here are not my first look when choosing a site. I will actually PM a few chums, see if they have been, know anything about it, then take a look on UKcampsites, reviews are more impartial on there. We are finding more and more independent sites to use in truth.
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I use mainly use CLs and have written quite a few reviews in the past but not so many since a lot of them were lost in the upgrade.
It would have to be a really scathing review to put me off going to a site that was in my perfect chosen location. We all have different ideas of our perfect site so a combination of Google Earth and reviews from various sources can tip the balance for me.
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Just out of interest, I have just read some reviews on a CL we know well, in terms of location and by sight, although we haven't stayed. Most of the reviews are very similar, giving it 5 out of 5. Three however, marked it down to only 3 out of 5. One of those because it had no wifi. One because they couldn't level van up. Another because there were cows nearby.
It's a dairy farm, the clue is in the name! It says slightly sloping. No mention of it having wifi. My question is, why choose this, and then mark it down for something like the above? Doesn't make sense to me.
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That'll be due to the intelligent British public, TDA. They're in all walks of life.
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There seems to be a lot more the Cl owners and the club can do to keep this part of the club going, but apathy seems to reign. Unfortunately the trend of closures will continue until they are no longer viable. Such a shame if future generations cant avail themselves of these often excellent informal locations.
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Well, this morning I decided to do a half way house in terms of reviews on this website. I tried to copy and paste a review for a CL I did on Caravanchat. It has photos included, so decided just to add a link. Link has come up, but isn't live, so I am obviously doing something wrong. I have asked for help on the "How to...." section.
Many of the CLs we still use predate computers and the WWW. The owners possibly don't even use a computer, yet they run lovely CLs. If you set up a website, then you have to monitor it, or it just becomes another stick for members to beat you with on occasion. We don't have issues because we still prefer to phone and discuss our needs and check up to date prices, if you can't get an answer we move onto next CL on our list.
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So how do I leave a review on this site? There is no obvious link or invitation to do so or at least not one that I have found.
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You have to go to the CL page in question. If you click on reviews on the banner there is another link to review that CL.
I think we have to accept that one man's meat is another man's poison and this applies equally to writing reviews. Personally I wouldn't expect WiFi on a CL. If it was there it would be a bonus. However so many people seem to be dependent on the internet these days that without it you would down grade your rating of the CL.
David
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I've visited a CL page and there isn't an invitation to leave a review although there is to read reviews.
Given the difficulty of leaving a review I'm surprised there are any at all.
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I had to look hard, must admit! It is there, in tiny red letters at top of first review. As you say, not easy to find at first glance. You have to open up the reviews to leave one.
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That's the problem with some reviews, you sometimes have to take a chance based on the positive reviews, especially if the negative ones are nit picking.
This is where the good reviews need to be based on facts and not just "how friendly the owner is and how they always make me tea and scones", I would rather know if the facilities are kept clean.
My bugbear with reviews is when they are left by a season pitch holder who is staying in an adjoining field.
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