Can anyone tell me why some caravan parks have a checkin time of 2pm? Seems to me you are paying for ten hours on the first day!! The departure time or check out is ten a.m
I think that its a general across the board checkin time that is typically applied to cabins, motels and rooms. They give themselves a few hours to clean and tidy up after the vacating occupants, although the occupation time is identical for all travellers, I have never had a problem arriving with a caravan, anytime after 11am I have never been asked to come back later.
It appears that they always mow or tidy up the caravan sites within an hour of being vacated.
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Sunday 14th of October 2018 11:47:30 AM
This year, I am not towing the caravan and am staying in cabins, on a couple of occasions I have arrived an hour early and have not yet been asked to return later, they do their house keeping reasonably quicklly after the previous occupants have vacated, however, in peak periods I can understand why they may need the extra time to prepare.
I think its wrong I am paying for my stay from 10.00 am so simple fix I dont go there and I was just after a few views from members. Thanks for your reply
I think its wrong I am paying for my stay from 10.00 am so simple fix I don't go there and I was just after a few views from members. Thanks for your reply
Gday...
EXACTLY the right response, Robert.
It is YOUR choice what you accept and what you do not. It matters not a rodent's rear end what anyone else thinks is reasonable or not - it is YOUR choice.
Good to see you are exercising your right to choose.
cheers - stay well and travel safely - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
I do not go into caravan parks very often, and not at all, when travelling solo
Perhaps one day each month or so, for the wife to wash the sheets, etc
Regardless of the book in times, I always get there earlier, about 9 am, so that the wife has access to the laundry
I have never been asked to come back later, if I was, and it was the only caravan park in that small town
I would ask, could we pop the clothes into the washing machine, while waiting outside
If the rules were enforced and they said, sorry come back at 2 pm, and no, you can not use the washing machine
I am afraid that, I would not return, and the washing would be done, on another day, at another place
Do not quote me chapter and verse on this, but I can not recall any caravan park we stayed in, having a book in time, later than 10 am
Don't think I've ever struck a van park that doesn't allow van check-in till 2:00pm. Cabins yes, sites no. Struck one site that had at 11:00am check-in but they had a standby area until 11:00am. However when the standby area was filling up rapidly, reception called everyone in at about 10:40am (park maintenance had been completed). I often get booked in anytime after 9:30am. In fact most parks are happy to do so as if people are checking in that early there is a chance they will be spending money in the laundry. A couple of times I've had to wait until after 10:00am is when the only site available was not going to be vacated until 10:00am (the current camper has first choice up until about 9-30-10:00am about extending their stay).
If you've even been to Lake Argyle, Nomads are booking in anytime after about 7:30am. We left a spot in NT at about 8:00am, travelled for about an hour, then wound our clocks back 1.5 hours. In the queue at 7:30am. We'd been told to queue early but totally forgot about the time adjustment. Lake Argyle do not take bookings. Huge queue all day and I don't think anyone got turned away.
Your all getting your knickers in a knot for no reason its plain to me , often grey nomads along with others ask for a late checkout for one reason or another ? what if its a busy park like Mallacoota DD ! 600 odd sites and booked solid . One van goes out and one replaces it , I know a lot of folk move on earlier than 10am but a lot also drag their tails even without a late check out request . Common sense should prevail , when we are busy we don't usually allow early check in late checkouts in the parks we manage , but if its not busy by all means accommodate the masses .
Your all getting your knickers in a knot for no reason its plain to me , often grey nomads along with others ask for a late checkout for one reason or another ? what if its a busy park like Mallacoota DD ! 600 odd sites and booked solid . One van goes out and one replaces it , I know a lot of folk move on earlier than 10am but a lot also drag their tails even without a late check out request . Common sense should prevail , when we are busy we don't usually allow early check in late checkouts in the parks we manage , but if its not busy by all means accommodate the masses .
We had a very interesting experience at Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park earlier this year. We arrived a day early & spent the night in a motel in Mallacoota. We paid our 3 weeks of fees at the park office when it opened at 9am the next day. It was off peak time & our un-powered site was one of a row of about 20 unoccupied sites with mown grass. We had our 17ft boat & a large family sized tent to erect. No caravan. We were told that the sites have to be ''maintained'' so we couldn't start erecting our tent till 2pm. We sat looking at an empty sight for 5 hours still with 19 other empty sites around it. No-one came near them. At 2pm we jumped in the boat & started unloading our gear just as it started pouring with rain. We both got soaked to the skin. Later they had the cheek to ring & ask us to come to the office, apparently we owed them 80c. We went up there covered in mud & gave them a piece of our mind. DH's!!!!
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Sunday 14th of October 2018 02:13:03 PM
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Cheers Keith & Judy
Don't take life too seriously, it never ends well.
Trip Reports posted on feathersandphotos.com.au Go to Forums then Trip Reports.
Don't think I've ever struck a van park that doesn't allow van check-in till 2:00pm. Cabins yes, sites no. Struck one site that had at 11:00am check-in but they had a standby area until 11:00am. However when the standby area was filling up rapidly, reception called everyone in at about 10:40am (park maintenance had been completed). I often get booked in anytime after 9:30am. In fact most parks are happy to do so as if people are checking in that early there is a chance they will be spending money in the laundry. A couple of times I've had to wait until after 10:00am is when the only site available was not going to be vacated until 10:00am (the current camper has first choice up until about 9-30-10:00am about extending their stay).
If you've even been to Lake Argyle, Nomads are booking in anytime after about 7:30am. We left a spot in NT at about 8:00am, travelled for about an hour, then wound our clocks back 1.5 hours. In the queue at 7:30am. We'd been told to queue early but totally forgot about the time adjustment. Lake Argyle do not take bookings. Huge queue all day and I don't think anyone got turned away.
Lake Argyle, got there at about 2pm, to find that they only had unpowered sites, so decided to find my own Went down to the picnic area, (other side of the dam), and before they locked the gate, (to deter any free campers who had not seen the sign), headed back to town
Found a spot about 4 Ks out, of Lake Argyle, on the side of the road I was first in the queue, next morning, and as soon as the first caravan came out, I was escorted into that site
Went up in the helicopter, (around $1,000, for both of us, thank you very much Sir)
The helicopter pilot pointed to the free campers, at the creek/river where the bridge goes across the road "Look at all those free campers, they must have all run out of money." He said. I just had to laugh, this was my first caravan park since leaving Bunbury WA, and my next one was going to be Darwin NT
If Lake Argyle had a late book in time, there would have been a traffic jam, on the road outside
Desert Dweller wrote: We had a very interesting experience at Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park earlier this year. We arrived a day early & spent the night in a motel in Mallacoota. We paid our 3 weeks of fees at the park office when it opened at 9am the next day. It was off peak time & our un-powered site was one of a row of about 20 unoccupied sites with mown grass. We had our 17ft boat & a large family sized tent to erect. No caravan. We were told that the sites have to be ''maintained'' so we couldn't start erecting our tent till 2pm. We sat looking at an empty sight for 5 hours still with 19 other empty sites around it. No-one came near them. At 2pm we jumped in the boat & started unloading our gear just as it started pouring with rain. We both got soaked to the skin. Later they had the cheek to ring & ask us to come to the office, apparently we owed them 80c. We went up there covered in mud & gave them a piece of our mind. DH's!!!!
Maybe... they just didn't like you?
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
Desert Dweller wrote: We had a very interesting experience at Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park earlier this year. We arrived a day early & spent the night in a motel in Mallacoota. We paid our 3 weeks of fees at the park office when it opened at 9am the next day. It was off peak time & our un-powered site was one of a row of about 20 unoccupied sites with mown grass. We had our 17ft boat & a large family sized tent to erect. No caravan. We were told that the sites have to be ''maintained'' so we couldn't start erecting our tent till 2pm. We sat looking at an empty sight for 5 hours still with 19 other empty sites around it. No-one came near them. At 2pm we jumped in the boat & started unloading our gear just as it started pouring with rain. We both got soaked to the skin. Later they had the cheek to ring & ask us to come to the office, apparently we owed them 80c. We went up there covered in mud & gave them a piece of our mind. DH's!!!!
Maybe... they just didn't like you?
Another exaggeration from DD,on the 26th of Feb at Mallacoota they had 6.8mm of rain,hardly enough to get,that covered in mud.Just post the truth and stop stirring.http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201802/html/IDCJDW3046.201802.shtml
Thats where common sense " SHOULD " prevail DD , as they weren't busy , I would have let you in earlier but made sure you knew that it wasn't the norm , so that next time you hopefully came you wouldn't assume that you would get in early again. When we got there last year we pulled in at 12.00pm and I asked if we could get onsite , they let us ? Go figure hey . Over a two week period I heard them mow around near us once . So much for up keeping the site , and when we backed on there were things left laying around from previous people that I picked up and chucked in the bin.
-- Edited by mezza56 on Sunday 14th of October 2018 03:41:27 PM
We are generally travelling until 4-5pm in the afternoon anyhow - I know others do not travel as far as we do in a day but that's their/our choices.
Also some parks might conduct staff training too (trainee managers, volunteers, etc). And it may give the grass a few hours to rejuvenate too before being covered again.
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Warren
----------------
If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
I think its wrong I am paying for my stay from 10.00 am so simple fix I dont go there and I was just after a few views from members. Thanks for your reply
Gee, I think that you are being a bit harsh there...maybe someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that all sites cabins and rooms are offered via the NIGHT, not the day, therefore you and everybody is actually paying for the NIGHTS stayed therefore the time of day in reality, is theirs not yours!
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Sunday 14th of October 2018 08:30:54 PM
As a CP regular for 20 years or so, I often arrive early, especially to the ones close to home at either the Sunshine or Gold Coasts.
I have never been denied entry though at around 10am at the Tallebudgera Creek CP, I had to wait while I watched the previous occupant vacate my allocated site.
Might be different these days at the popular CPs on the 'round the block route' in peak seasons.
The best organised CP was one at Hervey Bay where you handed in your keys at the office & they immediately called the mower guy on their CB, who went straight to the site & gave it a quick snip & mow, then put on the sprinkler.
BTW ... When we went to Mallacoota, and beautiful spot it is, it was practically empty & we wondered why they needed all those sites. Caught some great flatties out of my kayak there too. Definitely one of our favourite spots. Didn't rain when we were there, I think. LOL
Edit ... Oops can't spell Mallacoota.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 15th of October 2018 12:41:41 AM
Desert Dweller wrote: We had a very interesting experience at Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park earlier this year. We arrived a day early & spent the night in a motel in Mallacoota. We paid our 3 weeks of fees at the park office when it opened at 9am the next day. It was off peak time & our un-powered site was one of a row of about 20 unoccupied sites with mown grass. We had our 17ft boat & a large family sized tent to erect. No caravan. We were told that the sites have to be ''maintained'' so we couldn't start erecting our tent till 2pm. We sat looking at an empty sight for 5 hours still with 19 other empty sites around it. No-one came near them. At 2pm we jumped in the boat & started unloading our gear just as it started pouring with rain. We both got soaked to the skin. Later they had the cheek to ring & ask us to come to the office, apparently we owed them 80c. We went up there covered in mud & gave them a piece of our mind. DH's!!!!
Maybe... they just didn't like you?
Another exaggeration from DD,on the 26th of Feb at Mallacoota they had 6.8mm of rain,hardly enough to get,that covered in mud.Just post the truth and stop stirring.http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201802/html/IDCJDW3046.201802.shtml
That's enough to get soaked Sunshine. Try standing outside while it rains 6.8mm & see for yourself. That daily total fell all in the 2 HOURS we were erecting our tent. Erecting a big tent, banging in tons of large pegs can be a bit messy particularly on a sparsely grassed site, obviously you haven't tried it. We stayed at Mallacoota twice earlier this year for a total of 6 weeks.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Monday 15th of October 2018 07:12:37 AM
__________________
Cheers Keith & Judy
Don't take life too seriously, it never ends well.
Trip Reports posted on feathersandphotos.com.au Go to Forums then Trip Reports.
Desert Dweller wrote: We had a very interesting experience at Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park earlier this year. We arrived a day early & spent the night in a motel in Mallacoota. We paid our 3 weeks of fees at the park office when it opened at 9am the next day. It was off peak time & our un-powered site was one of a row of about 20 unoccupied sites with mown grass. We had our 17ft boat & a large family sized tent to erect. No caravan. We were told that the sites have to be ''maintained'' so we couldn't start erecting our tent till 2pm. We sat looking at an empty sight for 5 hours still with 19 other empty sites around it. No-one came near them. At 2pm we jumped in the boat & started unloading our gear just as it started pouring with rain. We both got soaked to the skin. Later they had the cheek to ring & ask us to come to the office, apparently we owed them 80c. We went up there covered in mud & gave them a piece of our mind. DH's!!!!
Maybe... they just didn't like you?
We've spent around 3 years in total camped at Mallacoota over the past 40 years. We go there every year & we're very friendly with the management of the park. We don't have an exemption to the park rules though.
__________________
Cheers Keith & Judy
Don't take life too seriously, it never ends well.
Trip Reports posted on feathersandphotos.com.au Go to Forums then Trip Reports.
I believe it is to give them time to do some maintenance on the site eg: water, cut the grass (if any) etc if required.. If I notice they have a 2PM checkin I always call ahead and ask if it's ok to arrive early. I have never had a problem except when inconsiderate people departed late.
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Cheers
Col
(Picture of my beloved Molly (2003 - 2016) who loved the travels as much as I do. RIP old girl. Gone but never forgotten).
Desert Dweller wrote: That's enough to get soaked Sunshine. Try standing outside while it rains 6.8mm & see for yourself. That daily total fell all in the 2 HOURS we were erecting our tent.
Maybe God doesn't like you?
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
Desert Dweller wrote: That's enough to get soaked Sunshine. Try standing outside while it rains 6.8mm & see for yourself. That daily total fell all in the 2 HOURS we were erecting our tent.
Maybe God doesn't like you?
He loves everyone, even you.
__________________
Cheers Keith & Judy
Don't take life too seriously, it never ends well.
Trip Reports posted on feathersandphotos.com.au Go to Forums then Trip Reports.
I do not go into caravan parks very often, and not at all, when travelling solo
Perhaps one day each month or so, for the wife to wash the sheets, etc
Regardless of the book in times, I always get there earlier, about 9 am, so that the wife has access to the laundry
I have never been asked to come back later, if I was, and it was the only caravan park in that small town I would ask, could we pop the clothes into the washing machine, while waiting outside
If the rules were enforced and they said, sorry come back at 2 pm, and no, you can not use the washing machine I am afraid that, I would not return, and the washing would be done, on another day, at another place
Do not quote me chapter and verse on this, but I can not recall any caravan park we stayed in, having a book in time, later than 10 am
Sorry mate, couldn't help myself.
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It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have...
Mallacoota CP. book in at Midday,their rules.https://www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/Services/Council_Caravan_Parks/Mallacoota_Foreshore_Holiday_Park/Park_Map_amp_Rules
We just spent two nights at Apex CP on Ulverstone, Tas. Rang at 10am-ish and told we could checked any time, arrived at 11am, last school holiday guests were still departing at 3pm. Next 2 days people were arriving at 8 and 9am no dramas.The place was very tidy and all maintenance complete except a single shower on one amenities block. I guess it very much depends on park management's activities. On the flip side, about 6 months ago I read a whinge from someone complaining about lawn mowing next to their van as soon as neighbour's vacated. Can't please everyone.
