What’s your opinion?
In November last year we booked a CL with serviced pitches etc for a seven nights stay. The description of the site stated that it was surrounded by trees and we accepted this. When we arrived we were allocated a pitch which was under very tall trees even though there were two other vacant pitches in the open and enjoying sunshine. Our allocated pitch turned out to be a nightmare. It was very dark, comparatively cold and when it rained we were subjected to hours of constant drips on the roof. The owner told me that the better pitches were kept for regular visitors and long term visitors. As the week went by we found that this wasn’t really the case. On the sunny pitch next to ours, in the space of the seven days there were four different outfits, only one of which was a returning visitor, for two nights only, and none of whom had booked very far in advance. It turned out that one of the outfits had told the owner that they wanted a sunny pitch because they had a solar panel on the roof. They were only staying three nights . To me this seemed very unfair when we were there for a week and had booked so far in advance. Unfortunately, Google Earth didn’t show the site layout very well when we looked before we booked. Are we being unreasonable expecting one of the better pitches?
Comments
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John
The owner of the CL certainly wasn't going to encourage you to become a regular with that attitude! The fact that you were there a week did show some commitment to the CL, hardly an overnight stop where that sort of allocation might have been justified? Unfortunately you can only put it down to experience. However I would make sure you review the CL and put your points over. No doubt in future you will be asking these questions on booking? I can perhaps understand if a CL has a couple of hardstandings and the rest on grass saying you have to book the hardstandings separately.
David
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I would have asked to move to a sunny pitch but, if that was refused, I'm afraid I'd have cut my losses and left and would then leave a review stating very clearly why I left.
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John, I would have done as Jill said - and told the site owner why before I left..
In 50 years touring I never found a site where the owner was as inflexible as that - but I was never deluded by members on here telling me that CLs were the “jewel in the crown” They always seemed amateurish to me. After a few hits and misses at CLs - with more misses than hits - I gave them up. I’m afraid you found a miss too.
So cheer up, think positive, and go to proper sites where the staff have some idea of customer service,
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Whilst I appreciate trees, in fact they're right up there with my favourite things, I do not want to spend any time pitched underneath one.
Too many problems. Raindrops, Sap, Bird Droppings, Conkers and other bits falling on us plus the possibility of larger items like branches.
So I read reviews, I look at Google Earth, I prefer photos of CLs when choosing to ones without and I specifically ask about them if I feel there is a need to.
I don't necessarily mind allocation of pitches but when there is such I'll definitely express an opinion or ask more specific questions about it to make sure I'm happy. Most CL owners are quite willing to be flexible but sometimes you're stuck. In those circumstances I've tried to pitch further out if there's room. However occasionally you have to accept it.
In your position John I wouldn't have, not for a week and feel the owner was most unreasonable. It would certainly have had a poor review from me.
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We, the Members, need to know the name of this site to be able to make our own decisions.
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Someone mentioned making your point loud and clear on a review. What about making that point with the owner while you were there. An email to the club wouldn't go amiss too so when the cl inspector next visits he'll be aware.
I've been on more cl's that I wouldn't return to than ever in the last 2 years, put it down to experience.
JK
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JK
It seems that John did try and discuss the issue with the owner but I assume detected that the owner had a set way of doing things and would not be moved. It's only a short distance from there to a confrontational situation which is not the best way of enjoying a holiday? Probably a good idea to flag it up to the Club directly as well as doing a review. Would it not be part of the brief for CL Inspectors to read the reviews for their sites as a matter of course?
David
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Most CL owners have been accommodating when I've approached them if concerned about the pitch.
We recently stayed at 2 CLs where the pitch was allocated button the first I was able to move to another as it wasn't full, with owners consent, and the other I was able to pitch sideways slightly off the perimeter to avoid a slight overhanging branch. On a recent booking I asked for one of 2 pitches as they are allocated and owner reserved one of them. It often pays to talk.
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I often wonder why when voicing a legitimate criticism of a Cl the member doesn't name it in the comment on here rather than just saying 'a CL'.
I always leave a review of the Cl I have just visited unless we have been there before but if I came on here to comment on it I would name it so others could be aware.
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My opening post on this thread was to ask for the opinion of others about the situation, not comments about the specific CL. I’m sure the situation could be found at other CLs, not just the one we were at. But for those that must know the name of the CL it is Fowey CL.
I must state that other aspects of the CL and the owners were very good. This thread relates only to the pitch that we were allocated.
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Removed by me😁
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Thank you for naming it. I wasn't actually specifically meaning you in my comment but all members who don't name the CL both good and bad that they are talking about.
I have to say that not being able to change my pitch if others were free would be the difference in whether I wanted to book there or not. There are too many really good ones out there for us not to be picky about where we want to stay.
We only use CLs, about ten a year, and in forty odd years have only been on about four or five that I would not go back to.
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