Riva Bella update
Decided to stay at Riva Bella, Ouistreham, for 2 nights last weekend mainly because of its proximity to the ferry terminal, its access to visiting D-Day landing beaches and wanting to use 2 of my C&MC site vouchers even though my ACSI card would have proved cheaper. I was aware of the poor reviews mainly because of the problems with migrants hanging around nearby. Saw groups of them as we approached site but that was about it. The site manager said the bad publicity on the C&MC website was unfair. There had never been any problems with them entering the site, she said, adding that they were quite friendly. I never had the chance to determine whether that was true!
As for the site itself, did not think it was particularly special and, if leaving from the same port in the future, would stay at a different coastal site. Nice indoor pool and clean facilities but some of the showers in our block appeared to be locked off and, as others have stated, no toilet seats or paper. Wifi charges were horrendous.
Comments
-
We too had club vouchers but last weekend coming back and on arriving earlier in the month stayed at Camping des Capucines at Ranville just off the Caen road over Pegasus Bridge. Only 10 / 15 minutes to the ferry. it's an ACSI site and stayed open for the late ferry. Pleasant lady greeted us, spoke English and was most helpful.
While not disputing the positive comments re Riva Bella I felt much happier at Ranville and would recommend it.
0 -
Whilst I don't dispute anyones opinions the thing I would like to say in support of Riva Bella is that the number of British caravanners using this site must surely speak for itself. There are many staying to await the morning ferry these are then overlapped by those arriving off the 9,30pm ferry. This number far outweighs the negative reports which appear to be in the minority.
0 -
This used to be a municipal site, providing 'Open all hours' pitches for those arriving on ferries, or leaving for a ferry. We stayed there eighteen years ago, when my 32 year old son was fourteen, and found it very convenient, unbooked, and accepting of late arrivals and early departures (although even then facilities needed updating).
It seems to me that the rules have changed. I can't imagine that anyone staying for a long period would think 'Let's go to Riva Bella for a fortnight' so I can't help but think they've shot themselves in the foot by these changes in opening hours, and booking arrangements. Surely they depend on overnight stays for the bulk of their business, and to make it more difficult seems a very odd 'business' decision.0 -
I was told this way back in June and posted the same news.
I can see the benefits of doing this. They are quite simple. We hadn't pre-booked and had to wait in line with several others waiting to book in. In the mean time at the other side of the entrance road a member of staff was checking in those that had pre-booked. You pay on line, are given a booking number, you roll up at the gate show your number, you are then ushered straight through the gate, some of these outfits barely stopped. In the meantime the others, like me, we still queuing up. Arriving at other times of the day reverts back to the normal booking in process.
What is difficult about that?
The difficulty I can see is how do they get the word out to those on this side of the channel.
0 -
This is no hardship to pre book, just the same as booking a ferry pitch at Blackhorse farm, you book and pay up front if staying for 1 night.
St Claire at Neufchatel are taking more and more bookings as well, we waited in a queue (4th) the 3 in front of us had pre-booked and the 2 behind us had also pre-booked but there it makes no difference you wait in line, no quick line as the owner escorts you to your pitch.
0
