IOW Ferry Bookings
Surprised that trying to book the Southlands site on the Isle Wight that there are no links to be able to make ferry bookings.
It's been a couple of years since traveling there and at that time you were able to book certain sites with ferry included in the booking and the previous owners were one of those sites. Granted there are those sites that don't and it would appear the CMC are now one of them. As the Caravan Motorhome Club has discounted ferry deals it's a surprise that there is no link to the ferry companies to make even a separate booking.
Moved from the Story Section, title edited to be more meaningful
Comments
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I don't think there was ever a link. We had to ring the call centre to book a complete package of ferry and site. Have you tried that or looked at the ferry booking page to see what's on offer?
I'm puzzled by the previous owners comment.
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When you go to the booking page you have three choices across the top, UK, Europe, Crossings. The ferries to the IOW are listed in the crossing section. So you can book Southlands under the UK flag and then move to crossings for the ferry. I have not tried it it but I imagine once you have booked the site the Club knows where you are going and I imagine any discounts will be applied when both site and ferry are in your "Basket"? I don't know what happens if you book a non Club site or a CL with regards to ferry discounts with the Club, it would probably be best to ring the Club direct. Lots of the independent sites on the Island offer ferry and pitch packages but you would have to contact them individually.
David
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Hi another change from the last time we went was that the wardens were happy to allow you on site and pitch if available before 1pm this allowed you to take a ferry at a cheaper rate and right for your travelling plans. The site had a number of arrival bays you were directed to if pitches were not available, this was not the case on the 5 years we used this lovely site. The current situation is as with other sites only allowed through the gate at 1 pm I realise this is probably ok for your average motorhome but caravans are not as easy to park to wait for opening. I remember discussing this with the warden at the time and he said they appreciated the difference to driving to a site and driving to a ferry which either price wise or availability will be too early for site arrival time hence they were happy to allow entry at other times. Club inflexible rules made by people who probably don’t tour.
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I’ve booked recently via a holiday company and saved around £100 on the return ferry crossing for my 5.1m camper. It’s not the totally non-refundable booking either.👍🏻
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We visited IOW in 2021, thought it was very tired looking.
Surely that is the charm of the IOW? It doesn't reside in 2023, more like 1953!!!! It won't change until they build a bridge.
David
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My 'early years' were 50's & 60's DK & the simplicity of life, despite the hardships, have remained as happy memories....
I wish it was a charming experience but I found it run down, neglected, derelict, was sad to see.... even the staff at the Pointer Inn agreed & said the problem was the council won't spend the £'s to invest....
Sign of the times I guess!
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We go to the IOW regularly because my brother lives there. I don’t find it tired looking at all. Perhaps it depends where you live on the mainland where many places are looking exhausted, never mind tired!
incidentally, we have given up taking the caravan, you can stay at Nodes Point (run by Parkdean) a static and touring site, for far less by booking a Sun Newspaper holiday. They also arrange return ferry with car £58.Not everyone would want to go late in the year, but four nights in a comfortable chalet November 2023 works out at £10 a night including heating and electricity. So four nights on the IOW for under £100 including ferry! Last year we went in October at £19.50 per night and had super weather.
We used to go to Southland but like to walk from sites and found the road outside too dangerous for walking. Whereas at Nodes Point you are right on the coast path overlooking Bembridge Harbour.
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Southlands is a lovely site but agree walking from it to either the Pointer Inn or getting to the bus stops is rather hazardous....
We even walked up to the Garlic Farm, had a lovely lunch, however on our return a water mains was being repaired & we had to wade through the muddy waters flowing down the road..... fortunately we didn't have the added risk of cars as the road had been closed....
We then realized why we couldn't get a cab back instead of walking with our purchases
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The location of Southlands is a bit difficult if you don't have a car. Although the regular bus stop is only about half a mile away it is down a fairly narrow and at times busy road with no footpaths. The IOW has a pretty good bus service island wide. We have used Waverley Park at East Cowes which is a good site but it's a long uphill slog to the site, especially if you have been shopping. I have heard, although no personal experience, that there is a site in Lake which has easier access to buses, might need to explore that option if we get back there.
David
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The Orchards has a bus stop right outside the site, that is why we chose to stay there although many years ago when it was an affiliated site we also used it. As DK says the bus service is excellent and if you have a bus pass, it is and excellent and free way to get around the island. Nowhere is more than an hour's ride away.
peedee
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In 2021 the Lymington to Yarmouth crossing cost £155 return via the Club which I thought a bit expensive, previous trips via Southampton/East Cowes have been cheaper. Sometimes caravans get better deals than motorhomes as often the caravan goes free so you are only paying for the car.
David
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Those prices are unlikely to tempt us back. We went years ago with the kids and a tent and then for a day trip with car from Black Knowl in 2019, just to visit Osborne and Carisbrooke. We utilised Tesco vouchers, it cost £25 worth on a 3 for 1 offer, which is still available with Whitelink. I think you can use them on any sort of crossing.
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You can get a channel crossing for not a lot more and then Europe is your huítre.
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In 2020 we cancelled France and visited the IOW. I could not figure out how to get the ferry and site combo through the club then somehow mastered it. At the time the deal was only applicable to certain number of days for the stay, which did not match up with what we wanted.
I contacted the site directly and they had far more flexibility in the crossings. I booked through them for what turned out to be a very good price. Details here if it helps :-
https://www.whitefieldforest.co.uk/offers/
Brading Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1QJ 01983 617069 [Pat] pat&louise@whitefieldforest.co.uk
£145 site for 7 nights, 2 adults, car and van, electric sand hardstanding + £125 ferry
Sept 1st - Southampton - East Cowes 11:00 - 12:00
Sept 8th - East Cowes - Southampton 12:30 - 13:30
Colin
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Colin
That's seems a site worth considering as its even nearer to the buses than Southlands.
David
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