The pandemic has increased the number of staycationers, with a raft of new campers, caravaners and motorhomers. It remains to be seen if many of them will want to repeat the experience in future times. What is clear to most experienced travellers is that there is a significant difference in satisfaction and camping enjoyment between campsites in the Uk when compared to those in Europe.
After ten years of taking our Motorhome to continental Europe for extended periods outside of the peak season, usually 10 or 12 weeks ar a time, we have just spent our first extended Motorhome break in Wales.
We found that there are so many opportunities for Uk campsites to improve which would increase the chances of retention of future holidaymakers.
Most campsites abroad have ample capacity out of the high season to allow us to turn up without pre booking, and accept payment at departure, rather than here where pre-booking and payment up front appears essential. We much prefer the flexibility to arrive without pre-booking and to stay according to how long we are enjoying the site instead of the advance booking.
Some of the campsites here suffered limited or no phone signal, so internet access has been restricted. Uk campsites often then offer WiFi at a cost. Many campsites abroad offer free WiFi
The condition of the washing and toilet facilities is another factor. Some campsites in France have traditional squatting toilets or have missing toilet seats. On arrival at a campsite we checkout the facilities...toilet seats, toilet paper, cleanliness, hot water, shower function. Our experiences here in the Uk is to check off all of these, although all too often the toilet blocks are often grey, cold, draughty and not particularly inviting places.
Dish wash up areas are usually outside, often covered to keep off any rain. Outside is ok in warm climates, but we appreciated those indoors here when the weather was inclement.
Campsites here usually assign a designated pitch, probably to help them plan for fair allocation of pre-bookings. We prefer driving around a site abroad and selecting a sunny or shady pitch, often far away from other occupied pitches.
We have learned to buy our bread at the supermarket before arriving at Uk campsites which rarely have a shop onsite or nearby, so how we enjoy wandering down to reception on continental campsites to buy fresh baguette and croissants, ordered the previous day.
Many campsites abroad have an on-site open air bar with really good coffee in the morning and a enjoyable meeting place with great atmosphere in the evenings. Admittedly the beers abroad are not to my taste, but in the warmer climates there I can enjoy some good wine. I understand that the weather here is rarely suitable for an outside bar except for a very short season in the high season.
Cost is certainly another issue. Using an ACSI card out of season on thousands of campsites abroad, enables a low cost vacation, where good size pitches and facilities are available with showers, pet dogs and WiFi for an inclusive cost often less than £20. Some sites abroad have other welcome features including swimming pools, and often are located conveniently close to villages / towns offering bars, restaurants and other entertaining nightlife
The cost of ferries and the longer distances involved can offset the lower campsite costs abroad on longer breaks, but then the weather there is so often worth the extra time and inconvenience in travelling.
We rarely use toll roads, enjoy the countryside and mostly empty roads which enable us to visit some interesting smaller towns each with their own charm. Sometimes we happen across a small market where we can buy local cheese, fish, fresh vegetables and other local provisions
So with all these points tipping the balance to make us want to take our holidays abroad, surely the Uk campsites would want to make holidays here more attractive. Yet so many appear to have few vacancies, and with the high fees charged are obviously surviving well.
There are lovely areas and places of interest in the Uk which are wonderful to visit. I wonder what those overseas travellers have thought of our campsites when they have ventured here, but I suspect the campsites here will have tarnished the experiences of many and deterred many from returning here to holiday. No doubt the word has spread around and others have shied away from coming here for a first time.
I fully recognise that we all have different ideas of what type of campsite suits our needs. Some like rustic rural farm sites, others prefer the somewhat regimented and heavily “rule bound” Caravan and Motorhome Club sites, while some want larger sites with bar / entertainment and fast food outlets.
Taking all my comments above, I hope there is a genuine opportunity for campsite owners and managers to find ways to make the necessary improvements that we would all appreciate.
I wrote this at the end of a three week break in Wales, and at last I have come onto a Campsite which has addressed pretty much all my concerns. Nicholaston Farm on the Gower, is located in a beautiful setting beside a wonderful beach and terrific dog walking tracks thru forest and dunes. Good size pitches are not pre allocated, so we chose a pitch in a quiet corner with the hedges creating a useful windbreak. Washrooms, toilets, showers, indoor wash up, laundry are all spotless, modern and bright. Free WiFi, and the on-site shop has fresh bread and croissants every morning, with coffee and snacks available through the day. The site is very popular, so advance booking may well be necessary, but I wish we had only booked/paid for one or two nights and then asked for an extension if we so wanted, and space was still available.
I hope that my views are not just considered a long moan, but maybe other motorhomers have similar or divergent views, so I would love to see the response. It would be good to hear what campsite owners/managers make of these comments, and whether any decide to take positive actions
After ten years of taking our Motorhome to continental Europe for extended periods outside of the peak season, usually 10 or 12 weeks ar a time, we have just spent our first extended Motorhome break in Wales.
We found that there are so many opportunities for Uk campsites to improve which would increase the chances of retention of future holidaymakers.
Most campsites abroad have ample capacity out of the high season to allow us to turn up without pre booking, and accept payment at departure, rather than here where pre-booking and payment up front appears essential. We much prefer the flexibility to arrive without pre-booking and to stay according to how long we are enjoying the site instead of the advance booking.
Some of the campsites here suffered limited or no phone signal, so internet access has been restricted. Uk campsites often then offer WiFi at a cost. Many campsites abroad offer free WiFi
The condition of the washing and toilet facilities is another factor. Some campsites in France have traditional squatting toilets or have missing toilet seats. On arrival at a campsite we checkout the facilities...toilet seats, toilet paper, cleanliness, hot water, shower function. Our experiences here in the Uk is to check off all of these, although all too often the toilet blocks are often grey, cold, draughty and not particularly inviting places.
Dish wash up areas are usually outside, often covered to keep off any rain. Outside is ok in warm climates, but we appreciated those indoors here when the weather was inclement.
Campsites here usually assign a designated pitch, probably to help them plan for fair allocation of pre-bookings. We prefer driving around a site abroad and selecting a sunny or shady pitch, often far away from other occupied pitches.
We have learned to buy our bread at the supermarket before arriving at Uk campsites which rarely have a shop onsite or nearby, so how we enjoy wandering down to reception on continental campsites to buy fresh baguette and croissants, ordered the previous day.
Many campsites abroad have an on-site open air bar with really good coffee in the morning and a enjoyable meeting place with great atmosphere in the evenings. Admittedly the beers abroad are not to my taste, but in the warmer climates there I can enjoy some good wine. I understand that the weather here is rarely suitable for an outside bar except for a very short season in the high season.
Cost is certainly another issue. Using an ACSI card out of season on thousands of campsites abroad, enables a low cost vacation, where good size pitches and facilities are available with showers, pet dogs and WiFi for an inclusive cost often less than £20. Some sites abroad have other welcome features including swimming pools, and often are located conveniently close to villages / towns offering bars, restaurants and other entertaining nightlife
The cost of ferries and the longer distances involved can offset the lower campsite costs abroad on longer breaks, but then the weather there is so often worth the extra time and inconvenience in travelling.
We rarely use toll roads, enjoy the countryside and mostly empty roads which enable us to visit some interesting smaller towns each with their own charm. Sometimes we happen across a small market where we can buy local cheese, fish, fresh vegetables and other local provisions
So with all these points tipping the balance to make us want to take our holidays abroad, surely the Uk campsites would want to make holidays here more attractive. Yet so many appear to have few vacancies, and with the high fees charged are obviously surviving well.
There are lovely areas and places of interest in the Uk which are wonderful to visit. I wonder what those overseas travellers have thought of our campsites when they have ventured here, but I suspect the campsites here will have tarnished the experiences of many and deterred many from returning here to holiday. No doubt the word has spread around and others have shied away from coming here for a first time.
I fully recognise that we all have different ideas of what type of campsite suits our needs. Some like rustic rural farm sites, others prefer the somewhat regimented and heavily “rule bound” Caravan and Motorhome Club sites, while some want larger sites with bar / entertainment and fast food outlets.
Taking all my comments above, I hope there is a genuine opportunity for campsite owners and managers to find ways to make the necessary improvements that we would all appreciate.
I wrote this at the end of a three week break in Wales, and at last I have come onto a Campsite which has addressed pretty much all my concerns. Nicholaston Farm on the Gower, is located in a beautiful setting beside a wonderful beach and terrific dog walking tracks thru forest and dunes. Good size pitches are not pre allocated, so we chose a pitch in a quiet corner with the hedges creating a useful windbreak. Washrooms, toilets, showers, indoor wash up, laundry are all spotless, modern and bright. Free WiFi, and the on-site shop has fresh bread and croissants every morning, with coffee and snacks available through the day. The site is very popular, so advance booking may well be necessary, but I wish we had only booked/paid for one or two nights and then asked for an extension if we so wanted, and space was still available.
I hope that my views are not just considered a long moan, but maybe other motorhomers have similar or divergent views, so I would love to see the response. It would be good to hear what campsite owners/managers make of these comments, and whether any decide to take positive actions
Of course you can get cheaper sites elsewhere but we've been on some stinkers and some rubbish aires too.
