Rip offs. Tired of it.

aussietraveller · Guru

RE: Rip offs. Tired of it.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

I go away on my bike, I get charged $55-00 a night with every thing thrown in, Some include Breaky for that amount, even a lock up garage for the bikes, At Motels and Pubs,

I dont need it with the Coach, But they would give me a free carpark out the back for it, overnight or a couple of days, If I was staying in their Pub or Motel,

Caravan Parks are providing a Shower, Toilets, Power and a bit of grass to park on, You supply your own house to sleep in, So where do they get their exorbitant charges from,

OutbackPhantom · Member

Thanks everyone. Great topic and some good feedback.
I don't mind paying for service and location, e.g. en suite and beach view or riverfront, but this place has gone beyond reasonable.
As stated several times, they run a business and can charge what they like or appropriate.
The biggest thing is choice, which I have already done and chose to stay somewhere else.
Can't wait to get my van's 12v system fully and independently operational and a small 'quiet' generator to use if desperate.

Catch ya later and stay safe.
Paul & Pam

the rocket · Guru

OutbackPhantom wrote:
Clare valley caravan park.
I am sick and tired of Caravan Parks trying to rip us off. I went to book online into the Clare Caravan Park (Discovery Holiday Parks) for a trip on the way to Yorke Peninsula. I could not believe the price hike so I rang the caravan park and was told it was correct as they were going into their peak season.
I found it offensive that they raised their powered site prices from $35 per night to a huge $48 per night. That's a massive 37% increase overnight. We have decided that we will never stay there, even during off season @ $35 per night on principle. There is no need to be greedy to that extent!!! If the park was something special, maybe I could accept it, but to have that tariff on a 3 star caravan park is ridiculous.
Who else out there is sick and tired of these greedy caravan parks ripping us off? Is there a list somewhere of places/parks we can avoid. Plenty of other places to stay nearby. No wonder free camping is going crazy.
Paul & Pam

hello and welcome to the playground. yes, it gets on my nerves. some caravan parks in Gladstone do not have prices on their web site. I rang and asked why and was told prices are "subject to change". unbelievable. it is not a tourist destination and the miners are leaving but they are still two hundred dollars plus per week . We are sticking it to them now and staying in a friends property using a genie and solar. their greed lost us forever. and they were right saying subject to change because I "changed my mind.'

-- Edited by the rocket on Friday 27th of June 2014 05:44:55 PM

pambaz · Senior Member

Welcome Paul and Pam.

It is a pretty common happening all around. On the Central Coast NSW the prices skyrocket too and it's one of the reasons we don't travel in school holidays. If we are on a long trip and we run into the holidays we head inland to a small town and give them our money or free camp for a few days too.

We feel it is just money grabbing and how can they justify a hike of 37%. We don't mind going into Caravan parks as I like to do the laundry and we enjoy a swim in the pool in the summer but we refuse to pay big prices. Same with us don't like being ripped off.

Pam

pambaz · Senior Member

I will say we have paid the high prices in Broome and Darwin but we didn't have much choice and their prices are expensive all through the dry season which is the only time you would want to be there.

Pam

the rocket · Guru

Legendts wrote:
Re farm type options I think the CMCA are kicking off something like that. My wife and I considered it, but these days you have to be extremely careful legally as you may leave yourself open if someone were to get hurt or had an issue with their van whilst within your boundaries.
easy to get over that. stayed on a farm recently and just signed a waver. if I fell or injured myself the farmer is not responsible. - simple really

Santa · Guru

the rocket wrote:
Legendts wrote:
Re farm type options I think the CMCA are kicking off something like that. My wife and I considered it, but these days you have to be extremely careful legally as you may leave yourself open if someone were to get hurt or had an issue with their van whilst within your boundaries.
easy to get over that. stayed on a farm recently and just signed a waver. if I fell or injured myself the farmer is not responsible. - simple really

Don't hold your breath waiting for the CMCA to act Rocket, particularly where legal matters are concerned, seems the main activites over there is holding elections and arguing, never ends.

Andrea · Senior Member

Moonraker wrote:
I have been thinking that we can continue to complain about how much CP's charge. But is there a way we can do something about it.
Such as consider Farm and Stations. There must be hundreds of farmers out there for one reason or another are finding it tough to exist. If there could be some way of making contact on mass or through some form of organisation web site etc. such as this to offer our custom at reasonable rates to stay at there farms. This would not only give them a small supplementary income but it could also provide a source of possible helping hand in times of need or a harvesting time etc. The Farms and Stations could offer just water and site only or more elaborate facilities if they liked. I wonder if there are any laws that prevent this or if so dispensation could be achieved for rural sector with perhaps a limit on the number sites or nights. I know there are some web sites that offer a very limited similar thing but there seems an opportunity for this to go big time.
There must be a few Grey Nomads on this forum with a background and knowledge to be able establish something like this.
Just a thought.
Cheers
Nigel

Take a look at this web site, which offers a range of options, from something similar to what you're suggesting, Nigel, to more elaborate (and more costly!) alternatives:

https://www.youcamp.com/

Andrea

Cupie · Guru

Santa wrote:
the rocket wrote:
Legendts wrote:
Re farm type options I think the CMCA are kicking off something like that. My wife and I considered it, but these days you have to be extremely careful legally as you may leave yourself open if someone were to get hurt or had an issue with their van whilst within your boundaries.
easy to get over that. stayed on a farm recently and just signed a waver. if I fell or injured myself the farmer is not responsible. - simple really

Don't hold your breath waiting for the CMCA to act Rocket, particularly where legal matters are concerned, seems the main activites over there is holding elections and arguing, never ends.

I am under the impression that they have senior members with serious involvement with Caravan Parks in Sydney & places like Ballina.

Deetric · Veteran Member

have been thinking that we can continue to complain about how much CP's charge. But is there a way we can do something about it.
Such as consider Farm and Stations. There must be hundreds of farmers out there for one reason or another are finding it tough to exist. If there could be some way of making contact on mass or through some form of organisation web site etc. such as this to offer our custom at reasonable rates to stay at there farms. This would not only give them a small supplementary income but it could also provide a source of possible helping hand in times of need or a harvesting time etc. The Farms and Stations could offer just water and site only or more elaborate facilities if they liked. I wonder if there are any laws that prevent this or if so dispensation could be achieved for rural sector with perhaps a limit on the number sites or nights. I know there are some web sites that offer a very limited similar thing but there seems an opportunity for this to go big time.
There must be a few Grey Nomads on this forum with a background and knowledge to be able establish something like this.
Just a thought.
Cheers
Nigel
Good idea,

We have stayed at quite a few station stays and found them to be a lot more relaxed and better priced than C/p's

C/P's seem to be going for a different market share than grey nomads. Things like bouncy castles are a warning not to stay.

And then some are installing more cabins, so less room for vans. If it is only legalese preventing most farmers and station owners holding back then a retired lawyer may be able to spend some time on wording an easy contract to solve the issues. maybe Not easy but could be done.

We are currently caretakers at the Murchison Museum in WA and having a great time. Wildflowers just starting to come out and it should be a good season.

Vic41 · Guru

Deetric, is that the museum at the Murchison Settlement? I was at the settlement last month but didn't go over to see the museum (but should have). Great people Deb & Geoff running the Roadhouse and CP there, say hello for me if the same place.

http://www.murchison.wa.gov.au/places-of-interest.aspx

-- Edited by Vic41 on Saturday 28th of June 2014 09:41:23 PM