Best Friend Resort .. Yarram Victoria

This is one of the main reasons we camp up in the Bush, or the desert.
There are no expectations, and all conveniences have to be made or set up by us..
And no mongrels to try to "rip you off" !

The single most important things we expect is safety, and courteousy, and that is entirely in our hands anyway.

Cheers
Bucky

Sorry to hear of your spoilt holiday, has the place changed hands since you were there last? $500 for ten days sounds awfully high...thanks for the heads up on that one, will put it on the list of places NOT to go.

Cheers

D

G'Day John and Jean,

The website doesn't indicate they are members of any organisation. If they are, even the local tourist authority, I would make a call / write a letter to them sharing your experience.

Even a letter to the local paper may be worth the effort, not for the money lost, but some piece of mind knowing you did not let it go unnoticed.

You could even put in a report to the Badger website on caravan parks

Rolande

If you wish to go back to the Tarra Valley, try this one. It is part of the OzPark chain

TARRA VALLEY
Tarra Valley Caravan Park "Fernholme"
Tarra Valley Rd. Tarra Valley 3971 Via Yarram

Ph & Fax: (03) 5186-1283

Email: email@tarra-valley.com

FACILITIES:
River Frontage - Tea Rooms - Free BBQ - Entrance to Tarra Bulga National Park

If you have any problems in an OzPark join the Caravaners forum and post a few groups there - the OzParks manager is a regular contributor on that forum.

PeterD

TARIFFS: Price Range

Ensuite Cabins $75 - $100

Standard Cabins $65 - $75

On-Site Vans $45 - $55

Powered Sites $22 - $27

Un-powered Sites $18 - $22


Pet Friendly

More Info: www.tarra-valley.com

John & Jean's alleged non-grassed site !

Hi Happy Campers !

Well. it takes all sorts as they say.

It is most unpleasant to say the least to have to deal with this sort of mischief on a Christmas Day. But I cannot allow John and Jean to get away with such maliciousness.

The TRUTH .....
They paid $ 500 for 12 days, a rate of $ 41.67 per day and NOT $ 50 as they incorrectly claim. They also fail to mention that this rates includes a FREE full traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and a FREE gourmet New Years Eve spread (including a mountain of fresh Australian king prawns). This rate only applies between 23rd December and 12th January. The rest of the year the sites are $ 30 per day.

They claim the site was "bare earth" and "no grass on area at all". Totally UNTRUE. The site was a double site (ie would be two sites in any other caravan park) One half of the site is bare as is in total shade (which most people prefer in summer) but it does have a brick-paved area and the other half is totally grassed. Attached are photos of the site which clearly shows the site and views therefrom.

They claim that there were "many sites grassed and vacant" but failed to mention that these were all totally booked from Boxing Day onwards. We offered that they moved for a couple of nights if they wished.

They claim that they were in a "sea of mud" TOTALLY UNTRUE. I weigh 125 kg and when I walked on their site after they left I didn't even leave foot prints. There was NO mud whatsover. This FACT can be verified by the other 26 campers staying here at the moment.

They claim that they had "tatty on-site vans to look at" UNTRUE
They were next to a tatty on-site van (singular) but their outlook was over the grassed area of their site, then more neat lawns and then the forest as a backdrop.

They state that we "might relent to give a refund". NO refund was requested by John and Jean. So "relenting" does not come into it. However, we are fully booked and in accordance with our most fair refund policy if their site is re-booked they will get a full refund for those re-booked days.

We can accept criticism but we will not accept outright lies in an apparent attempt to slur our reputataion and character. We will be looking very seriously at suing John and Jean for libel, as libel is exactly what we believe it is and such libel has the ability to cost us a loss of many thousands of dollars.

There is NO SUBSTANCE to John and Jean's lies and we have the FULL support of the other 26 HAPPY CAMPERS that are here with us.

To all members of this forum we invite you to inspect our facilities and sites at any time. We have facilities second-to-none and are recognised as the world leader in dog-friendly caravan and camping, Our reputation for our hospitality is extremely high and of which we are justly proud.

Photos of our facilities are on our website www.bestfriend.net.au

Wishing you all the very best of festive seasons and for a bright, and prosperous New Year,

With kind regards,
Ralph Cooper
(Owner operator / Manager )

Atropos
i really really really find it hard to believe your side of the story.
i have no affiliation with Best friend however have been there twice and found the owners unbelievably friendly and helpul.

the place has to be seen to be believed-absolutely fantastic premises with every thing you could think of provided to cater for holidaying with dogs.

anyone reading my comments-disregard this one complaint and go and stay there for yourselves-you will not regret it.

fenced off leash areas are available,fenced caravan or camping sites-at least twice the size of normal caravan parks(im not big on caravan parks as im used to bush camping-however would stay at this place anytime. full camp kitchen facilities and on certain weekends full cooked breakfast provided. there is so much more to this place that you need to experience for yourself.

i for one advise others to see for themselves and experience a fantastic place to stay with many other fantastic travellers and the exceptional friendly owners.
cheers
fozzy

Without getting into a bun fight over who is right or wrong, I find the mud splattered Annex being consigned to the wheely bin a little perplexing.

Mud can be washed off, canvas can be cleaned and even re-waterproofed if neccessary.

Something doesn't gell here!

I don't think this is a fighting match of who is right and who is wrong, both parties have valid stories and should both be accpted as the truth.

There was a customer who wasn't happy whereby the manager of the park should of made every effort within REASON to keep them happy.

The customer who wasn't happy with the outcome should of taken it further off of the forum or were they asking for or expecting too much.

Both parties should of came to a happy out come.

I belive any accomidation that is prepaid is still entitled to a refund set at a percentage of the fee for the remainig nights.

So please get in contact with each other and sort it out of the forum and shake hands.

We see it both ways were as a consumer we arn't happy with a service provider and as a service provider we have to deal with customers who are wrong or are asking to much or being unreasonable.

We always bring in a third party to resolve the issue with customer.

Regards Richard

Before this thread became a very public slanging match (at least the balance of both viewpoints have been aired), the original posting was basically to warn

"always check the site before paying your money"

We don't go to CPs very often (or on holidays very often), and the usual procedure is to pay at office then be shown the site. John and Jean's advice on this point is wise.

Motherhen

I assume the picture of the site was taken in reply?
If so 2 years is enough time for grass to grow
............................................
Which brings me to my point
2 YEARS AGO?????
WTF??

some things ya just gota let go
2 years is an acceptable amount of time to still be hunting the sexual predator that interferred with your daughter
an aledgedly dodgey site is not