If I were the owners........

Love reading that comment in the reviews people leave about the park on various websites. To be fair, we do learn alot from reading them but the latest one states “ If I were the owners I would also offer vacant electrical pitches whether for one or two nights, not just the minimum three” presumably referring to the three night minimum stay we have over the Bank Holidays. However, we have been fully booked for all three nights of all Bank Holidays since we implemented the restrictions into our terms and conditions so I’m not really sure that we will be putting this reviewer’s ideas into practise.

We do have some guests that will book, and pay, for all three nights yet only stay for 2 - so as the owner of the park we will be keeping our 3 night minimum booking policy for Bank Holidays. Oooooh and just a little reminder we’ve only got one pitch available for the Summer Bank Holiday in 2010 and have already taken bookings for Spring Bank Holiday in 2011.

The only other minimum stay restriction we have for tents with electric is for the Castle Howard Proms weekend – its 2 nights then and we have already filled those 2 nights. We don’t have restrictions on tents using electric hook-ups at any other times.

Friday, 4th June - Quick Update - Introducing Question of the Week

Up with birds this morning – well not quite – up with whoever wanted to book a tent pitch at 6.30am and managed to wake the whole house up by doing so. Someone was obviously keen to book their pitch (we’re full – oops)
I haven’t kept up with this blog as often as I’d hoped because things have been busy. The phone hasn’t stopped, internet bookings are coming in thick and fast and we have been ensuring we keep the park looking as fab as always but now I know people actually read it I’ll try a bit harder to keep you up to date.

In recent weeks we have had 2 fantastic Bank Holiday weekends – so the weather wasn’t fantastic but everyone seemed to have a great time while they were here. We got some really good comments in reception and people seemed really keen to tell us what they would do with the park if they ran it – some of them absolutely ludicrous but others were really constructive and we will definitely take some of them on board – keep those comments coming in.

We have also received our grading from Visit England – proud to announce we are still 5 stars. As soon as that car pulls up and I recognise the inspector my stomach does a back flip. I know that we are worth everyone of our stars but every year is the same – I find it so stressful. Our guests reassure us of what a great job we do but it’s only the inspector that can confirm it for me.

I don’t want to be the only one that writes this blog and currently have one guest writing an article for it and my little girl wants a turn but we want feedback from you as well so, here is my:

Question of the Week

My one question to you would be, if you have a really bad time somewhere – feel as though you need to complain you would probably put it in writing? Yes? Well I would. But, if you have had a really enjoyable time somewhere – are you as quick to put it in writing? I’m not. Every year, when looking at the awards we can be nominated for we are always asked for customer letters/emails. Don’t get me wrong – I have loved receiving bouquets of flowers, boxes of chocolates, bottles of wine and even a Dutch fruit loaf from some Dutch customers we helped but we need emails, letters and cards and I’m not sure how we can do that. Any ideas?

Its time for the awards

Chauffer driven cars were pulling up, the band was serenading the guests, we were walking the red carpet and the champagne was flowing – you would have thought we were at the Oscars. Well we were, just not the Oscars you were thinking of – we were at the Visit York Award ceremony.


As a finalist in the Self-Catering/Caravan Park of the Year Award nerves were high but there was also a sense of excitement as we entered the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum. Men wearing tuxedos and ladies in their gorgeous dresses and highest heels were looking around the trains. Helping ourselves to champagne we wandered around the turntable with huge steam trains all around us mingling with 400 guests from across the tourism and hospitality industry.

We were then called to “follow the band” through to the station hall where the awards ceremony was to take place. I’d only ever taken that walk in trainers – never imagined to be doing it in three inch heels! Note to guests – easier to do it in trainers.

 

Trains from the bygone era were all around us – very surreal to be enjoying the occasion surrounded by trains. The tables were set out over the platform with giant screens at the front. Its not a good sign to be seated at the back of an awards ceremony – do you ever see the Academy Award winners walking from the back of the theatre?

 

Its time to settle down, get the wine open, browse through the menu and grab the freebie pens. The evening was hosted by Gervase Phinn, writer and poet, and he soon put everyone at their ease.

We didn’t have to wait long – we were the third award to be given. The Dovecote Barns and Jollydays Luxury Camping Ltd were our competition. I couldn’t tell you what was said about the category, I couldn’t even tell you which of our pictures was used in the film reel – could be the amount of wine consumed but probably the nerves – I can say that thanks to the guys at York Marriott I did hear a huge cheer when our name was read out as one of the nominees. Nick was opposite me ready with the camera to take a picture of the “look of joy/disappointment” as the winner was announced. I haven’t seen that picture but I’m sure I kept smiling as The Dovecote Barns’ had their name read out. To be fair, we didn’t expect to win in our first year of entering – we were just proud to be in the top three out of eighty other candidates.

Once the other awards were out of the way we tucked into a lovely meal. Warm tart of asparagus and Shepherds Purse Yorkshire Blue Cheese followed by Roast Rump of Dales lamb – yummy - all washed down with equally lovely wine.

After the meal we hit the casino – all for charity with no real money changing hands – shame really we would have come home with a fortune. We didn’t go home completely empty handed – Dad won the magnum of champagne in the prize draw in aid of Marie Currie York and I was allowed to take some balloons home to our daughters. A good night was had by all and we'll try again next year

Click here for photos

Its been an up and down week!

Its been one of those weeks where neither of us have stopped yet don't seem to have anything to show for it. I console myself with the knowledge that had we not done this weeks jobs the guests would have been able to tell - thats the most important thing. It can be quite frustrating when a seasonal or owner tells us we don't seem to have done much while they have been away but if the grass hadn't been cut, the weeds not dealt with, the facilities not been clean, lighting not maintained - they would have been the first to complain.

The freezing temperatures meant bursts this week - can't be helped - we've had to put the water onto some of our pitches for our guests but temperatures of -5 at night have lead to frozen pipes. I don't know how people cope on parks that are open during the winter months. The bursts have been on outside pipes so luckily haven't led to any damage - just frustration! Lets hope the night time temperatures are going to start climbing.

The "up" of the week happened on Wednesday when we received a letter from Visit York to say we had been shortlisted for the Self Catering/Caravan Park of the Year award. So exciting - we still have a mystery phone call and site inspection to go through but to get onto the shortlist is an honour in itself. We have been to a number of award dinners to celebrate the success of our sister site Jasmine Park so we are thrilled that its our turn now.

Do we or don't we?

Do we or don’t we? That is THE question. Beki has been on a couple of search engine optimisation courses lately and one of the suggestions was blogging. She is no good at creative writing – never has been and was told by a friend not to try it! Maybe he knows her too well – she’ll witter on about absolutely anything and probably do more harm than good – so this blog is being written by everyone connected with Robin Hood Caravan Park – managers of the park and of our sister sites Crows Nest Caravan Park and Jasmine Caravan Park, suppliers, fellow accommodation supplier, reps and most importantly the guests – we’ll give it a whirl – if it works then woohoo and if not – that friend would be right!