Arrival times

My pockets were not really that deep David when the kids were young 

Nobody deprived of a pitch either. We would book Friday and Saturday and, if the weather was kind, make the decision to book the Sunday night on that Sunday morning. 

Often we would have been able to stay as late a 4pm any way but preferred to make a day of it. 

As for added cost we considered paying for the Sunday night and leaving after 8pm better value than arriving at say 7pm on the paid for Friday 

Yes I can see how an extra £20 - £30 compared to petrol spent getting there, pitch fees, eating out, and of course the biggest cost of all - your outfit (either MH or car & caravan) is really for those with deep pockets 

Do a little exercise, compare the cost of an extra night's stay with the cost of your (one's) outfit?

And do I care if I pay for an extra night and deny someone a pitch? Not a bit. They should have booked earlier. But then again I would think the same when I get the last loaf of bread at the shops and don't eat all of it, or even pay for a late checkout on holiday, or don't eat all my greens

Sorry ...to busy getting on with my holiday to notice what's going on , perhaps I should pay may attention next time and report back

Weekend with caravan? You cannot arrive and set up before 12 noon, cannot do that much until you are unhitched. You have to be off pitch by 12 noon (perhaps earlier?) on departure day, again hitched up limited to what you can do. Or pay for another night.

Weekend with motorhome? Set off, do whatever you want for most of day, arrive on site before 8pm. Departure? Set off before 12 noon, do whatever you want for rest of day, arrive home when you feel like it.

We have both outfits. Caravans are great for long stays. Motorhome are great for both long stays and short breaks.

Life away from Club Sites is easier with a caravan as you can usually negotiate on arrival/ departure times, if a site isn't too busy.

We love both types of touring, but short breaks are are just so easy with a motorhome. Especially if working within Club Site guidelines, which are on the whole sensible given how busy and popular they are.

Weekend with caravan? You cannot arrive and set up before 12 noon, cannot do that much until you are unhitched. You have to be off pitch by 12 noon (perhaps earlier?) on departure day, again hitched up limited to what you can do. Or pay for another night.

Weekend with motorhome? Set off, do whatever you want for most of day, arrive on site before 8pm. Departure? Set off before 12 noon, do whatever you want for rest of day, arrive home when you feel like it.

I never weekend now. Most of weekend trips were when I had children at home and arrival was dictated by getting home from work etc and not much chance of arriving before mid day. For the last 15 years of work I rarely did trips less than 9 days as I had plenty of leave available. 

"....depriving someone else of a pitch."

Mmmmmm. ..it's a long time since I read that expression! Wonder what a certain Yorkshireman is up to these days? 

(And  actually, if they've paid for the pitch how can they possibly be depriving someone else of it - it doesn't matter if they leave at 8 pm or 8 am the following morning I'd have thought?)

Pedalling furiously, I expect 

"....depriving someone else of a pitch."

Yeah right, I think the same when on site and down to the last few sheets of toilet roll in the block, I always leave one for the next person whoever they might be.

We see lots of folks weekending in caravans......mainly on private sites, their van is pitched up for them, they arrive, enjoy, and then depart, van is then taken back onto site storage, until next weekend. Or they enjoy a seasonal pitch, arriving and departing when they want. It's how a lot of private sites operate on East Coast. Another option for those who like to holiday this way.

What sort of puzzles us, is why those who are no longer tied to work doing the same? Friends of ours who retired were still doing the Saturday to Saturday thing, and at school holiday times. They were moaning about how busy sites were nowadays and we just laughed, pointing out they needed to try mid weeks and avoid school holidays altogether! They tried it, now do it all the time. Cheaper of course as well, win, win.

pitch blocking I think he called it.