Motorway services parking - Premier Park
Hi all,
First post on here but as a fairly new family to caravanning I wanted to warn people, with the same amount of experience as me, to be aware at some of these motorway caravan parking areas. We pulled into Gloucester Services (South Bound) on the way down to Cornwall (Chacewater park, lovely site).
It was late (11pm, wanted to travel when there wasn't too much traffic) we were knackered and decided to pull in for a few hours rest. Unbeknown to us there was a charge for this site and even though I checked around when we were there I could see nothing advising that. I went over to the services but it was shut (thought most were open all night) and so we assumed (naively and obviously wrongly) that this was simply a pull in and make use of the services parking area.
Great holiday but arrived but to an extremely aggressive parking charge from Premier Park, which I have now paid. I did consider challenging it but in essence I guess I didn't pay for my parking and should have. Having done some research now I can see that most the motorway parking areas charge for a stopover, so my warning to newbies like me is be aware of that. Premier Park are simply carrying out the wishes of the owners, who it seems to me, have no interest in having caravaners stop for the enjoyment of their services.
Rant over, have a great day.
By the way, we love the caravan life but will be much more careful in the future.
Paul
Moderator Edit:
I've amended your title to give a clearer idea of the topic.
Comments
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CLs tend to be pleasanter and safer places too and in that area near the M5 there are dozens of them.👍
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But not at 11 pm.
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A good little warning for newbies. Service Stations, even the much lauded Gloucester Services, are seldom wholly pleasant experiences one way or another, and some are “never again” (Gordano) as far as we are concerned. Venture slightly away from main routes and there are much nicer, more welcoming experiences. Like Brue, and many others, we now use CLs, and some are indeed very accommodating in terms of arrival times if you have a conversation.
We loathe motorways. Dirty, dangerous, expensive. Needs must at times though, but we enjoy the A roads more. Much more time consuming, mainly because there are adventures and detours to explore😁
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Gloucester services are the only ones we'd consider overnight, they are well equipped and have access to clean showers and washrooms etc. Nice dog walks. They don't offer the usual open all hours fast food chains and burgers. I seem to recall they open for their in house food and bakery etc around 6am.
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