I’m afraid this site lost all chance of a glowing review within 30 seconds of my family of four arriving. After an eight-hour journey, starting at 4am in the morning, we arrived and checked in for our eight-night stay. I explained I had a one-night-free voucher from the Caravan Club, but it was packed somewhere in the car or caravan and we couldn’t locate it immediately. Given the long journey and the tiredness, and a queue behind us, I asked if I could pay for seven nights immediately, pitch up and return within one hour with the voucher to settle the final night (offering to pay cash for the eighth night within the hour if we couldn’t find the voucher).
The answer to this reasonable request? “No.” I was told I needed the voucher in my hand, or would have to change my booking online and risk losing our holiday altogether. Despite being paid seven nights in advance and my promise to return in an hour with the voucher or cash for the final night, the woman in charge point-blank refused. Where’s the common sense here, or basic level of hospitality and understanding? Yes, it was our mistake, but would it really have hurt to wait an hour for the final night’s payment in advance?
Seeing a lady queueing behind me raising her eyebrows, I realised I wasn’t the only one who found this response unwelcoming, but with two tired kids waiting to start their holiday I didn’t want to cause a fuss and paid in full without the voucher. (The voucher was then found 10 minutes later, but was by this time useless).
We were given a map (which having not been there before, made little sense), and received no help whatsoever when we asked for advice on a sunny pitch etc. After driving round the one-way system twice, and trying to find a suitable caravan pitch, we then had another van behind us (in a similar position), and simply took the first available pitch we could find - which turned out to be in more or less constant shade. Again, our mistake, possibly, but surely some advice on sunny pitches shouldn’t have been too difficult for the management?
The same lady later refused to lend me some step ladders at the end of our holiday to help put our bikes on the car roof - health and safety apparently.
So, the site loses points, in my view, for basic lack of advice and hospitality from the moment we arrived. That said, the other cleaners etc and wardens were, on the whole, friendly.
The site itself is nice, and would have scored higher if it weren’t for one person - who I’m assuming was the manager - being unhelpful.
It’s quiet (apart from the regular late-night train sirens), the guests seemed friendly, and the location is good for local spots like Weymouth, Dorchester etc. The deer are nice to see, at first, but do become a bit of a pain, especially if you’re trying to eat outside.
Would I go again? Yes, but in the hope some hospitality and common sense has prevailed.
