Where have site reviews gone?
Trying to use the website to find reviews for CLs. Before the “upgrade” to the site, it seemed easy to search by map and quickly check out a few different sites, read reviews, compare price and then contact the CL and book. Now the map moving is slow and clunky, the prices aren’t shown, I can’t see reviews anymore? Any tips?
Comments
-
1
-
All reviews still there on my I pad. What kit are you using?
1 -
I can't see the reviews either, or how to leave one. And a filter for serviced pitches would have been useful!!
0 -
Here’s the long winded sequence I found to get into individual CLs, and bring up reviews. It’s the best method at the moment
Easiest via website…. Avoid the book button at all times.
Find a UK Campsite
Scroll down to Countries, click on a Country
Choose a County
Choose a Town
Choose a CL
Try and avoid that book button at all times. It’s the only way to see the prices. There isn’t a price filter on the booking page, although I think the map might show them. But the map is 🤬🤬 doesn’t work properly.
SearchforSites is just so much better.
1 -
As someone who generally has a look through the days new reviews there doesn't seem to be any shortage of them so many members are finding their way to place a review?
David
0 -
How do you write a review about a CL, David. I can't immediately see a way to do it. I was wanting to write a review about a CL that we have recently visited to advise others that the description on line and in the club hand book is quite incorrect.
The CL is Ty Cerrig near Dolgellau. The first point to note is that there are 3 hard standings, the surfaces of which is made up of slate cobbles of up to 50mm dia. It makes using a motor mover with the jockey wheel on the ground quite difficult. The H/Ss are positioned at right angles to each other meaning that the corners of outfits are very close together on two of them. All the pitches, grass or H/S need levelling blocks although there is a supply provided.
The description of the site states that there is a water tap at each pitch. There is not, there is only three taps with only one that may be considered to be exclusive to that pitch. I think it ought to be pointed out that the water supply is a private one. After heavy rain one day the water was quite brown. When I mentioned this to the owner she claimed it was perfectly safe, it was filtered and UV treated but I think some people may like to know that it isn't mains water.
Television is claimed to be good. Wrong. There is no television signal via an aerial. The owners have provided a Freesat dish with connections at each EHU and a Freesat decoder box provided. The only problem is that there isn't enough equipment to go around especially when there are more than five outfits on site. Our first night, (without TV), there were seven outfits and the owner said quite openly that she always overbooks in case of no-shows. The club website and the handbook claim that there is WiFi. We didn't need it but a neighbour, who did need it, claimed they could find no signal at all.
The loo emptying point is quite the strangest I've come across. It is an adjacent paddock occupied by five sheep (rams). Bolted onto the top of a piece of pipe about 18" in diameter let into the ground is a top from a garden incinerator with the 4" diameter chimney pointing upwards. One has to try to direct the contents of the cassette into this 4" hole, hopefully without spilling anything. Not an easy job. There is a long hosepipe next to the point to allow a swill down but this is also needed for the cassette which, if of the wheeled variety, picks up sheep droppings on the way to the point.
It is also claimed there is a picnic area with a photo shown on the website. I don't know where the area is as it certainly isn't on the CL although there is a picnic table at the side of the main access drive but not the one shown.
Course and game fishing is claimed to be on site. Again I don't know where this is. There is only a small stream running at the side of the CL which I was told by the owner, John, that there used to be a few trout in it but he believed they were long since gone. He used to fish for them as a boy but he is now 75.
Just on a final note, I fully accept and quite enjoy normal farm noises when camped at a farm but each morning we were not only woken at about 5.30am by a cockerel in the next paddock but also a number of farm dogs that barked incessantly for hours on end. At the other end of the CL there is another farm that trains sheepdogs. They also do bark quite a lot but only at feeding time, about 7.00am and again about 5.30.
Had I known that the description was quite incorrect for what is quite an expensive CL I don't think I would have booked it. The question is, aren't CLs inspected by the CaMC and checked that descriptions match the realities.
0 -
I think it's best if people forget about the new booking system if they want to browse sites and Cls. Just go into UK sites, click on CLS, find a county etc find a nearby town and the CLs are still there with all the details and reviews. Later on I presume there will be better links on the new system but at present just use the old version, avoid the booking area until it's up to scratch.
Add reviews via the "old route."
2 -
Totally agree brue. It’s a bit long winded getting in now, but if you avoid that red Book Now button, it’s not too bad to get to the CLs, although you need a decent geographical knowledge of the UK. Once you get to a CL in a place you like, you can scroll down to the bottom of a CL page to see what else might be nearby, although it’s as the crow flies, not as the Motorhome meanders!
John, to add a review, get to the CL page as described in my earlier post, click on read more reviews, then use the “review this site” link. Here’s a link
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/wales/gwynedd/dolgellau/ty-cerrig/
Don’t forget, you only have so long to write a review, otherwise you are timed out.
Ps, that actually looks a nice CL, a possible for us certainly👍😁
1 -
I was struggling on the app to find cl sites in a region. I then went on my tablet on the main page and clicked search button and put in West Sussex cl. It then brought the old pages up with all the cl sites including reviews. Hope this helps other people browsing for sites.
1 -
TDA
That is exactly the link I found by just putting the name of the CL into the search box, top right of webpage.
I am not sure the the time out is still in place? John could of course just cut and paste what he has written in this thread which would only take a few seconds?
David
0 -
But why do we have to use these elaborate ways to find CLs in a specific area when it was simple with the old system, and being able to use filters to reconsider search. They have made a right pig's ear of the new system! How are all those who do not read the methods posted on here going to cope? A lot of CL owners will be pulling their hair out because members can't access the CL section as they once could, and will be loosing bookings.
4 -
Yes that’s what I tried, search. Have to admit I was astonished when it worked. Probably because it’s such an unusual name. Had it been “The (something)” search would have come up with thousands of options to search through no doubt. Not sure about time out, but thought I saw it mentioned on how to post a review page🤷♀️
0 -
Agree totally with all you say Nellie. But I doubt the Club will care to be honest, either in terms of Members, or the CL owners. I shall be asking owners what they think next time we use a CL.
Hopefully, there might be a few at the AGM to give their thoughts on the changes.
1 -
I wonder how many CL owners will swap allegency to the C&CC, knowing full well that member of the CC with the site directory will still be able to contact them?
0 -
I use the app to browse and book my sites, 200+ nights a year, up and down the country.
The app is now impossible to use. The maps don't load, when they do the graphics struggle to keep up. After tapping on a CL or Club site, nothing happens for 20secs. The screen freezes. It's woeful.
I've been asked to uninstall and reinstall - three times. I'm using 200mbps broadband - it's not my connection.
Why rollout something that isn't fit for purpose? The user experience is frustrating, annoying and incomprehensible.
The Club needs to get a grip and do better. This is completely unacceptable.
1 -
John, just type “Ty Cerrig CL” as an ordinary internet search - I mean an internet search, not a search on here.
Site details and 73 reviews are there for you to read - and if you are logged in as a Club member you can add review number 74 in your own words.
0 -
Here’s the long winded sequence I found to get into individual CLs, and bring up reviews. It’s the best method at the moment
Its 27.9.2022 now and this seems to be the only solution to getting an sense of CL information, prices and reviews as the website is broken.
Its Takethedog along reply of 20/9/22
Easiest via website…. Avoid the book button at all times.
Find a UK Campsite
Scroll down to Countries, click on a Country
Choose a County
Choose a Town
Choose a CL
Try and avoid that book button at all times. It’s the only way to see the prices. There isn’t a price filter on the booking page, although I think the map might show them. But the map is 🤬🤬 doesn’t work properly.
SearchforSites is just so much better.
1 -
Long winded is one thing to call it, what is the Club thinking. What a mess one word I am afraid to say about the new web layout and it's rubbish.
The map view was very easy to use and navigate, where better to start thinking of where to have a trip, I know lets look at a map and on that map have links that display all of the site information required, what's wrong with that ?
The latest Club web page set up is a step backwards, maybe not backwards seems like a lack of logical thought come on Club keep things simple.
Web design is not cheap in the future stop wasting money and keep things as is unless of corse there is a good case to change.
0 -
Taking to a CL owners today and she said that she thinks that she is losing visitors because of the problems that people are with the new web layout. They are used to being able to search using filters and view reviews easily, and now if they can find a site they have difficulty finding directions and reviews, and so go somewhere else.
Perhaps that's the club's cunning plan hoping that those who can't easily find a CL to suit them will revert to booking a club site.
0 -
Found another way around to locate a CL although not ideal still not as easy as it once was.
Basically use the off grid CL map see link below, select an area / site more or less where you are planning to visit, then this takes you to the Caravan / Motorhome CL web pages including directions to the site. Once there it's possible to see nearby sites in the location also.
Maybe a little better to use ? maybe not ? at least it's possible to search using a map.
0 -
Well done, however one only gets 4 other sites maximum to view initially, and there is still no filters available, one just has to work each site separately. However it is still better than the "proper" system.
0 -
Can anyone advise what happened to the favourites that I had save on the app for certified locations? I can use the app ok but I don’t seem to have any saved sites or be able to save? Thanks
0 -
I assume you are using the new App. Data such as you mention would normally be stored within the App and would therefore have been Deleted User when you removed the old version. Generally when a new version of an App is released it is offered as an update and in those cases saved data is kept. However, the CC have opted to release a completely new and separate App.
1
