Caravan Park costs
Submitted: Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 21:57
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Member - Nick (TAS)
We have been on the road just over two months and have another month to go, in total we have stayed in 5 parks including now at
Alice Springs.
We usually stay at
Heritage or Mac range parks here but nearly had heart failure when we enquired about prices.$51 and $58 per night (camper trailer) for two adults and two kids(inc power).Now I know they need to make a living but thats just a total rip-off.Ive never came across prices like that and will never pay that.Just think of paying those type of prices every night for a three month trip, over 5 grand just for
camping fee's.And then parks have the hide to try and ban
free camping....
BTW, we are staying at Gday Mate
park for $37/night.Our three weeks in
Kununurra at Kimberly Land
park was a very good $24/night and the other couple of parks were around $30/night.
Alice Springs is the only
park where we have had power but other parks only charged about $4/night extra for it.
Reply By: 12ian34 - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:14
Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:14
I am also interested to know why there is a difference in price between 2,4,6 berth cabins in caravan parks, but when hiring a 4 berth we were charged for additional aduts and linen when wanting more than 2 people in it?
AnswerID:
377881
Reply By: jezza68 - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:17
Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:17
I agree,
We have just completed a 6 week trip and found the Big 4 chain to be excessively expensive.
The Coconut grounds at
cairns and Mission charge $68-00 (2 xadults 2x kids)for a powered
campsite. We soon discovered we could have stayed in a motel room with similar facilities for less.
The
camp facilities were no better than the others. They were also in locations which required long drives to get to anywhere.
We have now decided to avoid Big 4 and will advise others to do the same.
I believe we campers and caravanners pay for the empty overpriced units they market as resort accomodation.
AnswerID:
377883
Follow Up By: Member - Timbo - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 12:06
Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 12:06
So true Jezza, I've avoided Big4's for years for the same reasons - they charge a premium and usually aren't any better than other
places, AND you might as
well book into a motel for a similar (sometimes cheaper) price.
FollowupID:
645322
Reply By: Member - Josh (VIC) - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:49
Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:49
We have been dumb founded at the difference in price between different parks with the same facilities. And how can they charge extra just for a long weekend or public holiday, isn't that price fixing. Petrol stations can't (supposedly) put their prices up just for the long weekend but caravan parks can.
Josh
AnswerID:
377891
Follow Up By: Tenpounder (SA) - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 10:03
Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 10:03
Hi. Putting up the price when demand exceeds supply is called good economics.
Putting up the price when you and your 'competitors' down the road agree over a round of golf is called better economics, or 'price fixing'.
Putting up your price when you and your only competitor don't need to play golf to reach a deal is called 'normal competition' in Australia (think food, fuel, etc.)
Does this make sense??
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Roughasguts - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 23:36
Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 23:36
Hell that's cheap.
Book your self and 2 kids in for a ensuite site at the Big 4 in Soldiers point.
Better hurry even at $111.00 a night she's nearly booked out!!!!
Been there before it's not a bad
park but not for that price.
AnswerID:
377899
Follow Up By: Tenpounder (SA) - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 09:54
Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 09:54
That's amazing! I just checked, and they want $80 per night for two adults, powered site; no ensuite, in their peak season. Some people must have a heck of a lot of money to spend!
We try to keep our average down to about $20 per night, by using
free camping when we can, and sensibly priced CPs when we can't, but it's getting harder.
Of course, we really need playgrounds, pools, free Foxtel and all the rest. Like fun.
FollowupID:
645293
Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 09:02
Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 09:02
Nick
Possibly a sad statement, but one of the highlights of my 3 kids recent 3 weeks trip to the centre was Mac Range CP, they loved the Jumping Pillow.
Suppsoe after many days in a vehicle and lots of kms, I could understand.
After paying cheaper tarrifs for some very ordinary Parks, they really appreciated Mac Range. It was absolutely packed in July.
Good facilities after a while of
bush camping and parks with lesser facilities.
They also had a lot of fun staying at billabongs and
water holes in the middle of nowhere and we stayed at some ordinary "name" caravan parks.
Suppose you have to evaluate what you require/ want.
Mark
AnswerID:
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Reply By: robertbruce - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 10:52
Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 10:52
with all the closureses lately, its got to the point where a good touring wagon and hotel stays would leave enough change to do a European road trip too...
AnswerID:
377956
Reply By: Member - Timbo - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 12:18
Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 12:18
You're right - it's getting quite expensive to find a patch of grass with a
toilet & shower nearby! I was most galled when I was travelling alone a few years back and having to pay for two people - I had a roof-top tent so I didn't even really need a grassy site (the
carpark would have been fine!).
However, consider the cost of the damage from just one drunken party or the equipment that gets knocked off, they do have to recover these costs somehow - as in most cases, it's the average man in the street that covers it.
I've previously tried to book into Caravan Parks with a few
young people and you get the impression they'd all rather have a cyclone come through than a group (even one car load) of
young people. Yes, I'm a victim of incorrect stereotyping! but I'm sure 9/10 times there's good reason for their phobia!
AnswerID:
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