Leaving early and paying for the extra day

Things have changed in terms of Club Sites in the last 15 years or so, they have to manage a lot more coming and goings than they did. If the site you are on isn’t very busy, you could ask staff on Sunday morning if you can stay a bit later, no harm in this but don’t expect to do it all the time. This year appears to be a bit of a transition one for Club, there might be a few sites that aren’t as busy even at weekends.

As mentioned, there are other sites to try, CLs, small private sites, that might give you a bit longer on your last day. All depends what you want. We have arrived early on CLs, and left late, but only after consulting with owners. They are much more relaxed generally than Club Sites, but then don’t have to manage the same sort of numbers.

If they are there then yes and I've always even if leaving 'on or before time' have popped in and said thanks to the wardens when handing back the pitch/barrier key fob. I just explain we're booked in till tomorrow but leaving early and all they do is say thanks.

Usually now most sites have a post box at the office, or just a box by the exit barrier, to drop off any pitch/barrier fobs or keys so it's not really necessary to tell the wardens at all either leaving early or not.

There are, or were, some sites (Edinburgh?) where arrival was from 9am but most of the sites have a 1pm arrival.

One possible reason for the arrival time is that on popular sites it is not certain that there will be a pitch available if early arrivals were allowed. I've been on sites where it's a steady steam leaving from early morning and others when it's all in the last half hour.

The arrival times have been discussed many times on here but it's now after 1pm and from previous threads and current reviews it's rigorously enforced. I was reading one review this week where people were turned away being 10 minutes early. Now right or wrong (and there are many opinions) this is what the club does so again there is a choice.

And yes I've seen sites where pitch and around it maintenance is done in that hour.    

Yes one can certainly ask but there are two problems, one is that there is no certain way of knowing that in advance and secondly even if it isn't busy it's totally up to the wardens to say yes or no. We've been on sites when it's fairly empty in winter and asked and been told no and no problems with that we knew before asking it's not a given which is why we starting booking an extra night.

There only certain way to ensure a late departure is by booking an extra night.

Post edit. it's only to 4pm anyway.

b. If guests would like to remain later on site, not necessarily on the same pitch, please speak with the site staff. Be aware that charges may apply if staying beyond 4pm 

As EuroT and Ttda have already alluded to, the possibility of extending your stay for a more modest fee, sometimes even free, would be to use CLs or Independent sites. Most of these that I have either used or looked at in the last couple of years actually state a price for a later departure, and may even waive any charge in non busy times. Best to check beforehand though.

The club used to have a more laissez-faire attitude when we were working and we would often leave later on a Sunday or BH Monday. If not we used to do what you are considering and pay for an extra night.

I very often pay for the extra night and then leave about 6.30pm after the traffic has died down. Depends where I am staying in relation to home but even 2 or 3 hundred miles can be covered by midnight to 1am. Park the van on the drive, quick glass of wine and into bed......!

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With summertime prices at very high levels I wouldn't be paying those sort of rates (£35 - £60+ for Hillhead) for a few hours extra stay...

if you can't get a late departure (for whatever reason) then plan one of the weekend's 'activities' (like a NT visit) for that last afternoon, then have a cuppa in their car park afterwards and then go home early evening. Amounts to the same timing but with several tenners still in your pocket...

 

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We used Buxton and Leek sites quite regularly and there used to be a blackboard put out there on Saturday afternoon asking for "volunteers" to leave before 12 on Sunday so they could manage numbers of incomers with late leavers. Used to work well, even allowing for later than 4 pm leaving. 

I think your point about authoritarian probably on the mark.