I am a solo traveller who has been living the dream for the past 4 years travelling Aus.
If I stay at a caravan park, I am charged the same price as for 2 people, yet if there is a 3rd person you have to pay and extra $10 on average
My question is, why dont solo travellers get a cheaper tariff, if a 3rd person is $10 dearer shouldn't a solo be $10 cheaper than a 2 person tariff
I would be interested to hear from park managers / owners
I believe that this is a form of discrimination against solo travellers
Regards
Wheels
aka Graham
travelyounger said
12:07 PM May 6, 2019
Good point some parks do a solo rate do you tell them at reception before you pay
Wheels said
01:40 PM May 6, 2019
Hi Travelyounger
At times I do ask for a solo rate, there answer is always that a single and "couple" rates are the same. If I am in the mood I then ask why do you then charge for a 3rd person, the answer is then "that's the rate take or leave it"
I am thinking of taking this matter higher, to the ACCC, fair trading or similar, if anyone can come up with ideas then please let me know by a post.
You cannot believe the arguments I have been in when emailing a caravan park, then when I say that don't worry I will go to the showgrounds where they all charge single rates. Wow do I get a argument going then, as you can probably imagine.
I have not and may not post this on the Solo forum, so if any "solo's" who read this please respond as I would love to hear your experiences
Regards and stay safe
Wheels
(Graham)
Whenarewethere said
02:51 PM May 6, 2019
We sleep in the car & basically need a toilet, we have our own water & power. So generally avoid them altogether.
Even use our own toilet paper as it is far better quality than this!
-- Edited by Whenarewethere on Monday 6th of May 2019 02:54:45 PM
Yes wheels they need a shakeup I only use them as a last resort or if I am working cheers
Olive Oil said
04:44 PM May 6, 2019
Your rig takes up exactly the same amount of space in a CP whether there are one, two or three people in it.
To my way of thinking there should be one rate only, a site rate either powered or unpowered.
A little bit of extra water usage in the amenities block shouldn't make much difference at all.
Peter_n_Margaret said
06:50 PM May 6, 2019
The fact is that they can charge whatever they wish. That is free enterprise at work. It is absolutely no different to the cost of a meal at a pub or restaurant or the local RSL. "I don't want the salad bar, but I have to pay for it. That's not fair". You, the customer, on the other hand, can choose to pay the asking price, or not. That is your right. It is fine in my view to tell the park why you don't want to use their facility, but don't bitch about it, there is no point in having an argument. Just move on. Cheers, Peter
Dougwe said
07:08 PM May 6, 2019
I tend to agree with you Graham but it doesn't happen MUCH.
That said it does happen sometimes. Me, I always ask when checking in to CVP, sometimes lucky sometimes not. I don't stay in many CVP though, instead, I frequent Showgrounds, Donation Camps or Free Camps. I have also been known to park in rest stops but out of the way of the big boys and girls if they need a spot.
SouthernComfort said
08:55 AM May 7, 2019
These days most (modern) hotels/motels do a standard room rate whether occupied by one or two people. Extra person supplements make sense for the extra bedding. CP's really ought to work on a flat rate though, they are not accommodation houses in the conventional sense. As a solo you will occupy the same space and consume the same amount of electricity to heat or cool your van as for two people, although your use of water and amenities will be slightly less. I don't think you should get a single concession, but I also don't agree with 3rd person supplements either. They're all in business trying to make a quid, but the market will decide what happens - folks will eventually vote with their feet if charges are really unfair. As should you IMO.
-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Tuesday 7th of May 2019 08:55:52 AM
shanem said
05:17 PM May 7, 2019
well that's an interesting thread. I guess the park owners are trying to offset the extra water&electricity costs of a third person, and set a basic rate for one or two folk. a single person of course does take up a site as much as two or three. I think that's the logic. better not rile them too much, or the basic rate might go up along with the third person, uh?
JayDee said
05:24 PM May 7, 2019
GRaham,
I am with you on that.
Keep up the fight, and remember the
"The Squeeky well will always get the attention>"
Best of luck with your endeavours
Jay&DEe
JayDee said
01:19 PM May 8, 2019
whoops!!!! Missed the H in Wheel.
But I guess that you worked that out.
Jay&Dee
Whenarewethere said
03:29 PM May 9, 2019
SouthernComfort wrote:
These days most (modern) hotels/motels do a standard room rate whether occupied by one or two people.
My Sister flew to Tassie on Sat, out on Sun, she could only book 2 nights minimum even though she stayed 1 night. I had the time & had a cabin on the way there, & first class on Spirit of Tasmania on the way home, 4 weeks in Tassie. Petrol was a bit extra, but I would have used similar at home, as well as food! Other than than that each of our travel expenses were similar.
1 day or 1 month of travel can cost similar amounts. If you're have time & can organise your holiday it can be a lot cheaper.
miroku12g said
07:32 AM May 10, 2019
Just back from a 8k Klm trip around, most C/parks we stayed in gave us a $5 discount after we asked if there is a difference for seniors [Showed our Concession card] Some park owners / managers even took a discounted payment for cash, no receipts !
The highest we paid was $38 per couple, but yes I agree that a solo person should only pay for him / herself.
Dave & Maz
Ron-D said
09:13 AM May 10, 2019
For a lot of nomads these days caravan parks cost practically nothing ,with the modern van most people freecamp alongside rivers ,nice bushcamps ,nice country towns,Showgrounds ect ,then use caravan parks to charge your batteries right up,fill all your water tanks ,stand under a shower for half an hour .best thirty five dollars you can spend in my opinion...
mixo said
10:35 AM May 10, 2019
I feel for solo travelers. We are a family of 5, two adults and 3 young kids and caravan park love us , you can see the dollar signs rolling in their eyes. You get the normal its 35 bucks or so for 2 adults and how many kids do you have sir, 3, ah yes that will be 10 dollars each so I fork out 60+ dollars a night..Still, haven't figured out how my kids use 10 dollars each for the use of their park.I'm sure there is a good reason, I haven't heard it yet.( I am talking about parks that might have a simple playground or a jumping pillow)
Hello
I am a solo traveller who has been living the dream for the past 4 years travelling Aus.
If I stay at a caravan park, I am charged the same price as for 2 people, yet if there is a 3rd person you have to pay and extra $10 on average
My question is, why dont solo travellers get a cheaper tariff, if a 3rd person is $10 dearer shouldn't a solo be $10 cheaper than a 2 person tariff
I would be interested to hear from park managers / owners
I believe that this is a form of discrimination against solo travellers
Regards
Wheels
aka Graham
Hi Travelyounger
At times I do ask for a solo rate, there answer is always that a single and "couple" rates are the same. If I am in the mood I then ask why do you then charge for a 3rd person, the answer is then "that's the rate take or leave it"
I am thinking of taking this matter higher, to the ACCC, fair trading or similar, if anyone can come up with ideas then please let me know by a post.
You cannot believe the arguments I have been in when emailing a caravan park, then when I say that don't worry I will go to the showgrounds where they all charge single rates. Wow do I get a argument going then, as you can probably imagine.
I have not and may not post this on the Solo forum, so if any "solo's" who read this please respond as I would love to hear your experiences
Regards and stay safe
Wheels
(Graham)
We sleep in the car & basically need a toilet, we have our own water & power. So generally avoid them altogether.
Even use our own toilet paper as it is far better quality than this!
-- Edited by Whenarewethere on Monday 6th of May 2019 02:54:45 PM
To my way of thinking there should be one rate only, a site rate either powered or unpowered.
A little bit of extra water usage in the amenities block shouldn't make much difference at all.
The fact is that they can charge whatever they wish. That is free enterprise at work.
It is absolutely no different to the cost of a meal at a pub or restaurant or the local RSL. "I don't want the salad bar, but I have to pay for it. That's not fair".
You, the customer, on the other hand, can choose to pay the asking price, or not. That is your right.
It is fine in my view to tell the park why you don't want to use their facility, but don't bitch about it, there is no point in having an argument. Just move on.
Cheers,
Peter
That said it does happen sometimes. Me, I always ask when checking in to CVP, sometimes lucky sometimes not. I don't stay in many CVP though, instead, I frequent Showgrounds, Donation Camps or Free Camps. I have also been known to park in rest stops but out of the way of the big boys and girls if they need a spot.
These days most (modern) hotels/motels do a standard room rate whether occupied by one or two people. Extra person supplements make sense for the extra bedding. CP's really ought to work on a flat rate though, they are not accommodation houses in the conventional sense. As a solo you will occupy the same space and consume the same amount of electricity to heat or cool your van as for two people, although your use of water and amenities will be slightly less. I don't think you should get a single concession, but I also don't agree with 3rd person supplements either. They're all in business trying to make a quid, but the market will decide what happens - folks will eventually vote with their feet if charges are really unfair. As should you IMO.
-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Tuesday 7th of May 2019 08:55:52 AM
GRaham,
I am with you on that.
Keep up the fight, and remember the
"The Squeeky well will always get the attention>"
Best of luck with your endeavours
Jay&DEe
whoops!!!! Missed the H in Wheel.
But I guess that you worked that out.
Jay&Dee
My Sister flew to Tassie on Sat, out on Sun, she could only book 2 nights minimum even though she stayed 1 night. I had the time & had a cabin on the way there, & first class on Spirit of Tasmania on the way home, 4 weeks in Tassie. Petrol was a bit extra, but I would have used similar at home, as well as food! Other than than that each of our travel expenses were similar.
1 day or 1 month of travel can cost similar amounts. If you're have time & can organise your holiday it can be a lot cheaper.
The highest we paid was $38 per couple, but yes I agree that a solo person should only pay for him / herself.
Dave & Maz
For a lot of nomads these days caravan parks cost practically nothing ,with the modern van most people freecamp alongside rivers ,nice bushcamps ,nice country towns,Showgrounds ect ,then use caravan parks to charge your batteries right up,fill all your water tanks ,stand under a shower for half an hour
.best thirty five dollars you can spend in my opinion...
mixo