booking campsites

[rainman]

I know summer is some way off yet but I've had camping on my brain since the snow melted. So I was wondering, how much planning do you guys put into your summer camping arrangements. how far in advance, if at all, would you book a spot in a campsite? I have only a vague idea that i might want to take a mosey around the south and west coasts of Wales but don't want to be too rigid in my plans. I've left it too late before and have found sites to be all booked up a couple of weeks in advance which seems a bit anal to me. Plan it all like a military campaign or just roll up and hope for the best?

[rainman]

oh and I'll be taking my 6yr old with me so going out of season isn't an option, if it was just me I wouldn't be that bothered if I had to drive around a bit before finding somewhere.

[thegamwellsmythes]

In our experience it depends on when you go.

If you go in the summer but not in school holidays most campsites will be OK unless you want a hook up.

Bank holiday weekends, school holiday periods and if you want a hook up, you may well have to book in advance.

It also depends on the type of campsite, if it is a posh one with lots of kids facilities it may well get booked up, especially at peak school holiday time, whereas a basic site with just a toilet/shower block might not.

We know a huge basic site in Anglesey that is so big they can always fit you on but they don't have many hook ups so these always get booked up in advance.

A bit of meandering information but it might be useful.

Just seen your second post so some of the above is useless, nevermind.

Have a great summer, we've ordered the weather so we'll all be fine.

[rainman]

thanks, yes having kids with you does limit it a bit and things suddenly get more expensive once the school holiday starts. I have heard this rumour about a heatwave this summer and I so want to believe it.

[kathyshack]

if you believe everything you read, then hardly anyone will be going abroad this year, and more people will possibly be camping. leading to sites being more full possibly. we'vedone it both ways tbh,booking and winging it. if its just you going its perhaps not bad, its when you're going with another family it can be difficult. To be honest, last year i booked a few sites in advance, only to be told nearer the time not to showup as they were water logged, so you can't really win really.

[Ian Hulley]

We booked our ferry in November and have been trying to book several sites in France, Germany and Switzerland ... most of whome seem to not take bookings "Just turn up there'll be room" kind of attitude.

If you were thinking of going camping to Cornwall in high season I'd be booking now if I were you.

Ian.

[dsa]

We have booked early as going to cornwall in july and have had problems in the past getting a pitch with hook up if we dont book in advance .we always book for bank holidays as we like LAKE DISTRICT and sites are always full

[Willoughby]

Looks like evetyone is staying at home. My fav site is getting full, Tried to get a spot for the May bank holiday and its Full. Nightmare.

http://www.invercaimbecaravansite.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Availability for 2009 . The Caravan Site Availability is as follows

Easter Still Plenty of Availability
May including Whit Now Full
June Good Availability
July until 18th Fully Booked now
July 18th until Aug 1st Fully Booked now
Aug 1st until Aug 8th Fully booked now .
Aug 8th until 22nd Aug Fully booked now
22nd Aug onwards Still fair availability

[rainman]

bugger, I'd better start planning - defeats the whole object of having the campervan though, i.e. freedom & spontaneity.

[Fritz]

We have found by listening to others who have left it late to pre-book a chosen site that it can be almost impossible to find any sites even close to where they want to be......

And for that reason we simply drive if 'Touring' till about 4ish then call at the first site we come across and so far it has worked every time......
Independants and farm sites never refuse cash and will find you a spec rather than turn you away......


Regards


Fritz,,,,,,,,
PS, also there are 5 times the number of sites out there, just keep your eyes peeled there is one round almost every corner.....

[kevtherev]

bugger, I'd better start planning - defeats the whole object of having the campervan though, i.e. freedom & spontaneity.

Not so... it depends on what you are prepared for.

I have my van prepared for wild camping and site camping.

May I suggest you join caravan club and obtain their CL campsite lists.
These sites are basic but cheap... and not generally frequented by wimpy city folks that need the national grid to relax.
Never had to book these ever.

[rainman]

May I suggest you join caravan club and obtain their CL campsite lists.
These sites are basic but cheap... and not generally frequented by wimpy city folks that need the national grid to relax.
Never had to book these ever.

That's interesting, I'd always assumed the opposite, i.e. that such a club would be full of people competing to be seen with the newest, biggest, shiniest etc. and I'd be completely out of place in my tatty old van. I'm all for basic facilities when camping so will check them out.

[T'Onion]

C&C club is £35 a year , their CL site are £6.50 a night iirc , you get a big book of sites included in the £30 , which imao is well worth it and has got us (and a few others) out of trouble a couple of times ,also get two club cards ,which in our case come with two different surnames so we can get friends into sites as well.
CL sites tend to be 4 or 5 pitches with basic stuff , ranging from a tap and elsan point to hook up ,toilet/shower blocks, and most of the site owners are very helpful and will go out of their way to offer advice on local amenities , some farmers will sell eggs,bacon,milk etc.
Family tend to get the membership for my birthday or Christmas prezzie .

[kathyshack]

The big sites book is ace. we often setoff on a long drive towards somewhere and if summer starts creating in the back or we have had enough we look up the area or next area off motorway and alex rings ahead to see if they have any spaces. Tends to work really well. and to be honest with the price of camping these days the actual price of the 'proper' c&c sites isn't too bad either really and facilities are always really good. Although that said we were let down a few times last year with C&C sites that were waterlogged, so this year i'm inclined to ask before we book on how often they were waterlogged and if a lot then to book a hard standing pitch.