We want to be able to help our guests plan things to do or at least have some ideas about what to do in the area - particularly things that maybe don't get the coverage that our larger attractions have.
So, we've come up with a new hashtag for twitter - simply search for #family2follow and it will give some details about what previous guests have been upto.
Robin Hood Caravan Park
Luxury Caravans for hire and sale
Wednesday, February 23
Tuesday, February 22
Its been a fun day!
Its school holiday time and despite opening in less than 7 days we have been spending some time with the kids before the site opens. We've been playing "guests" and have found loads of things to do that we can recommed to our guests in the summer.
The girls (aged 5 and 8) chose the one that they wanted to do first - Murder Mystery and off we went. We always advise our guests use the park and ride facility in York. It costs £2.30 per adult and upto two children travel free with each paying adult. Its much cheaper that the carparks in the city centre and saves the hassle of having to find a space.
The trails are suitable for all ages. We took our 5 year old and she only whined a couple of times - which is usual - if we'd had a younger child we could have used the pushchair/pram with no problems whatsover and the same could be said for wheelchair users - the Shambles is a cobbled street as are many of the old streets around the city so it could be a bumpy ride in a few areas but well worth it.
And the cost of this fab day out? £5 for the trail - not many places you can take a family of 4/5/6 (as many as you like) for only £5. We enjoyed it so much we are doing another one on Thursday!
Having attended a marketing course with Visit York a couple of weeks ago I met Chris and Tamsyn from Treasure Trails - York and Humber. They have created several trails around the region with three specific to York. I loved the sound of these trails and quickly ordered the three with a view to selling them on the site during the season.
We walked from the bus stop to the Minster picking up a hot chocolate and some treats along the way. I can't tell you much about the trail because I don't want to spoil it when you have a go but it took us all over - places that we have never been before.
The trail states that it will take 2 hours but I would advise that this is a minimum - we had a break for lunch but we could have had numerous other breaks at the various attractions that we passed along the way - some that we didn't know existed.
And, did we solve the murder? Yes we did - we found out who the murderer was and the weapon! The girls were very proud of themselves - when we came home we logged onto the treasure trails website to confirm our answer.
The trails are suitable for all ages. We took our 5 year old and she only whined a couple of times - which is usual - if we'd had a younger child we could have used the pushchair/pram with no problems whatsover and the same could be said for wheelchair users - the Shambles is a cobbled street as are many of the old streets around the city so it could be a bumpy ride in a few areas but well worth it.
And the cost of this fab day out? £5 for the trail - not many places you can take a family of 4/5/6 (as many as you like) for only £5. We enjoyed it so much we are doing another one on Thursday!
Friday, February 18
Its nearly here!!
Can't believe that we are so close to the start of another season with a very long list of things to do before March 1st - eeek!
A previous comment asked for funny customer stories and I have several but the one that comes to mind happened about 10-15 years ago (and yes - I still remember it). I was working on our other park which has a huge reception (imagine ours and times by 8) and it was packed with people. Someone was dealing with the guests whilst I was on the phone to a customer.
Sadly, this phone customer had felt the need to leave the park during the night and felt it necessary to complain. Obviously, I put my best "phone voice" on and explained I was sorry that he felt like that but if he could tell me what happened I would ensure the same thing didn't happen twice.
"It was the noise"
It was a Bank Holiday weekend so there was a possibility that this could be a genuine reason so I explained that we do have security staff on the park throughout the night and had the gentlemen mentioned the disturbance to the security staff they would have happily sorted the situation for him. Obviously we want the noisemakers to be the ones that have to leave not the quiet guests.
"It was the wind - it was too noisy" said the customer
Struggling to keep a serious face on I continued the conversation with the gentleman.
"The noise you are complaining about was coming from the wind, sir?" This caught the attention of the person I was working with and the first few guests that were checking in.
"Yes, the wind was far too noisy, kept us awake, we've had to leave so I want my money back!"
"I'm very sorry sir, there is nothing I can do about the volume of the wind" I managed to say as by this time everyone in reception was starting to smile and giggle "If it was something I could control I would have turned the volume down for you but sadly I can't so it doesn't warrant a refund - maybe you could try your insurance company"
Well, luckily the gentlman put the phone down on me at this point because my sides were hurting with trying to stop myself laughing. How would you have handled that?
A previous comment asked for funny customer stories and I have several but the one that comes to mind happened about 10-15 years ago (and yes - I still remember it). I was working on our other park which has a huge reception (imagine ours and times by 8) and it was packed with people. Someone was dealing with the guests whilst I was on the phone to a customer.
Sadly, this phone customer had felt the need to leave the park during the night and felt it necessary to complain. Obviously, I put my best "phone voice" on and explained I was sorry that he felt like that but if he could tell me what happened I would ensure the same thing didn't happen twice.
"It was the noise"
It was a Bank Holiday weekend so there was a possibility that this could be a genuine reason so I explained that we do have security staff on the park throughout the night and had the gentlemen mentioned the disturbance to the security staff they would have happily sorted the situation for him. Obviously we want the noisemakers to be the ones that have to leave not the quiet guests.
"It was the wind - it was too noisy" said the customer
Struggling to keep a serious face on I continued the conversation with the gentleman.
"The noise you are complaining about was coming from the wind, sir?" This caught the attention of the person I was working with and the first few guests that were checking in.
"Yes, the wind was far too noisy, kept us awake, we've had to leave so I want my money back!"
"I'm very sorry sir, there is nothing I can do about the volume of the wind" I managed to say as by this time everyone in reception was starting to smile and giggle "If it was something I could control I would have turned the volume down for you but sadly I can't so it doesn't warrant a refund - maybe you could try your insurance company"
Well, luckily the gentlman put the phone down on me at this point because my sides were hurting with trying to stop myself laughing. How would you have handled that?
Friday, January 7
How has the first week back been?
It’s gone quite well actually! We have both restarted work again after a nice 8 week break in November and December. Had some fun times together as a family – saw Lion King in London, the real Father Christmas in Lapland and JLS in Manchester (guess which was Mummy’s fave) but now the girls are back in school after the Xmas hols it’s time to start focusing on 2011.
Beki recently completed a Welcome Host Gold course and got some great ideas for little extras we can put into the caravans to help our guests get the most out of their time with us – so she has spent time sourcing new products as well as bringing all the databases up to date, printing all the envelopes ready for a brochure drop and keeping our facebook/twitter pages up to date.
And Damian – well he has been stuffing those envelopes with the new prices – the tent/touring prices are exactly the same as they were in 2010 despite the rise in VAT – with a little help from the girls.
New Years “work” resolution is to keep this blog a little more up-to-date. Let’s see how long it lasts!
Wednesday, January 5
Out of the mouth of babes.........
I don't normally write about personal stuff on here - in fact its a while since I've written anything on here but I have just had one of those conversations with my 8 year old that I want to remember for ever! Where better place to log it.
I was happily driving along with her in the front next to me and her friend in the back when she suddenly said "There's a bar around here". Now anyone local will know that the back roads from Malton to Castle Howard through Easthorpe and Coneysthorpe do not have a bar on so I didn't have a clue where this information had come from:
Mummy: What makes you say that?
Child: There was a road sign back there like one of Daddy's birthday card and it is for a bar.
Mummy: There aren't any bars around here - I don't think you did
Child: It said it was a bar on Daddy's card. The sign with 2 hills on it means that there is a drunk woman on the road in front of us
At this point Mummy nearly crashes the car into the nearest ditch at the same time as thinking that I need to put a warning out to people not to send Daddy those cards!
Back to driving along the dark, country roads when another random thought is mentioned:
Child: When I have a baby I'm going to call it Stephanie or Bethany - anything with thanie on the end of it really
Mummy: Thats nice but not something you really need to be worried about just yet
Child: I've already found my husband. "Child C has asked me to be more than friends"
Mummy, nearly crashing the car, asked when this happened
Child: In my bedroom on Xmas Eve - he asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend and I said yes
Mummy: Aww thats nice but you should be a bit older.
Child: We are going to be boyfriend and girlfriend, then husband and wife, then mummy and daddy, then Grandma and Grandad, then we'll die
Mummy is now rapidly trying to change the subject!
We safely drop her friend off and I quickly go through what my child has said just in case her child mentions any of it.
Of course on the way home she starts again:
Child: I'll have to think of some other names Mummy
Mummy: Why?
Child: Well if I call her Bethany someone at school might call her Better Knees and I don't want her to be teased
Mummy: Very thoughtful of you and you will have lots of time to think about it.
Child: You know "Child X" from school - you told me I have to be nice to him/her so he/she will be nice back
Mummy: Yes (now wondering if i'm having to chat to the head in the morning)
Child: Well, i don't like him/her and don't think I'll ever like him/her so i'm not going to bother.
Moral of the Tale: Daddy can do the Brownie run next week!
I was happily driving along with her in the front next to me and her friend in the back when she suddenly said "There's a bar around here". Now anyone local will know that the back roads from Malton to Castle Howard through Easthorpe and Coneysthorpe do not have a bar on so I didn't have a clue where this information had come from:
Mummy: What makes you say that?
Child: There was a road sign back there like one of Daddy's birthday card and it is for a bar.
Mummy: There aren't any bars around here - I don't think you did
Child: It said it was a bar on Daddy's card. The sign with 2 hills on it means that there is a drunk woman on the road in front of us
At this point Mummy nearly crashes the car into the nearest ditch at the same time as thinking that I need to put a warning out to people not to send Daddy those cards!
Back to driving along the dark, country roads when another random thought is mentioned:
Child: When I have a baby I'm going to call it Stephanie or Bethany - anything with thanie on the end of it really
Mummy: Thats nice but not something you really need to be worried about just yet
Child: I've already found my husband. "Child C has asked me to be more than friends"
Mummy, nearly crashing the car, asked when this happened
Child: In my bedroom on Xmas Eve - he asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend and I said yes
Mummy: Aww thats nice but you should be a bit older.
Child: We are going to be boyfriend and girlfriend, then husband and wife, then mummy and daddy, then Grandma and Grandad, then we'll die
Mummy is now rapidly trying to change the subject!
We safely drop her friend off and I quickly go through what my child has said just in case her child mentions any of it.
Of course on the way home she starts again:
Child: I'll have to think of some other names Mummy
Mummy: Why?
Child: Well if I call her Bethany someone at school might call her Better Knees and I don't want her to be teased
Mummy: Very thoughtful of you and you will have lots of time to think about it.
Child: You know "Child X" from school - you told me I have to be nice to him/her so he/she will be nice back
Mummy: Yes (now wondering if i'm having to chat to the head in the morning)
Child: Well, i don't like him/her and don't think I'll ever like him/her so i'm not going to bother.
Moral of the Tale: Daddy can do the Brownie run next week!
Tuesday, November 2
Is it any quieter now?
YES!!!
Finally, although we haven’t quite got to the official end of the season, things are definitely a lot quieter. The phone has quietened down and it doesn’t take more than half an hour to do the mail/emails on a morning.
So what are we doing?
Damian’s job is still as busy as ever – it just includes different things now – leaves mainly! They are all over!!
Damian has also got the mammoth job of making sure that all the caravans are drained down properly over the winter. We were snowed in for almost 5 weeks last year so you can imagine just how cold it got and that can mean lots of burst pipes once the spring arrives (although just one in 2010). He can also start working on the list of “house” jobs that have built up over the summer.
What will I be doing?
Over the last couple of weeks I have been sorting the end of year paperwork, making sure that price lists are printed for next year and updating our website so it is ready to take bookings for 2011. I’ve started relaxing as well – the adrenelin has slowed down now and i’ve been catching up on the “Mum” jobs – helping organise the PTA Halloween party, typing up the PTA recipe book, sorting xmas plans and with two little girls having birthdays between now and January I have birthday parties to plan :-) We also have a dance show to prepare for so things are all go!
For the first time in many years we won’t be heading for the sun this winter – my little brother is getting married this winter and as Damian is a Groomsman and the girls are Bridesmaids it hasn’t been possible. We can make up for it another time.
There are courses that I will be going on in marketing and customer care etc - just making sure that we don't get complacent in what we do.
We have no huge plans for anything new on the park eg. buildings, roads and parks as has been the norm for the last few years so I'll be looking at other "new" things that we can implement.
Our #family2follow on Twitter was launched quietly over the half term holidays and we will continue to work on that - helping to create itinerary ideas for our guests and I have a special surprise up my sleeve for the kids that come to stay - more details to follow.
More importantly, I will have more time to spend on this blog - making sure it works and making sure I prove my friend wrong!
Finally, although we haven’t quite got to the official end of the season, things are definitely a lot quieter. The phone has quietened down and it doesn’t take more than half an hour to do the mail/emails on a morning.
So what are we doing?
Damian’s job is still as busy as ever – it just includes different things now – leaves mainly! They are all over!!
Damian has also got the mammoth job of making sure that all the caravans are drained down properly over the winter. We were snowed in for almost 5 weeks last year so you can imagine just how cold it got and that can mean lots of burst pipes once the spring arrives (although just one in 2010). He can also start working on the list of “house” jobs that have built up over the summer.
What will I be doing?
For the first time in many years we won’t be heading for the sun this winter – my little brother is getting married this winter and as Damian is a Groomsman and the girls are Bridesmaids it hasn’t been possible. We can make up for it another time.
There are courses that I will be going on in marketing and customer care etc - just making sure that we don't get complacent in what we do.
We have no huge plans for anything new on the park eg. buildings, roads and parks as has been the norm for the last few years so I'll be looking at other "new" things that we can implement.
Our #family2follow on Twitter was launched quietly over the half term holidays and we will continue to work on that - helping to create itinerary ideas for our guests and I have a special surprise up my sleeve for the kids that come to stay - more details to follow.
More importantly, I will have more time to spend on this blog - making sure it works and making sure I prove my friend wrong!
Monday, September 13
Things must be quieter now.......
No!
I have lost count of the amount of people saying things must be quieter now the kids have gone back to school. The park itself is quieter – we don’t have the same amount of campers but all the static caravans are still full and will be until the beginning of October.
However, my little office (about the third of the size of reception) feels very, very busy. Electric bills have to be prepared for our static caravan owners, seasonal invoices need calculating and sending out and Xmas cards have to be chosen!
Ooooh – 2011 prices to sort out, get to the printers and uploaded onto our webpage. I may as well be writing a list than a blog – things keep coming to me. We also send out a brochure and updated price list to everyone that has booked with us in 2010 – that’s alot of stamps to stick onto envelopes!
I’ve also got some blog posts to catch up on. The girls and I were tourists for the last week of the holidays and we are sharing our days out with our guests so they know some of the great attractions we have in the area.
Enough procrastinating – I really must start on the list of things to do – boil the kettle was first on the list, right?
I have lost count of the amount of people saying things must be quieter now the kids have gone back to school. The park itself is quieter – we don’t have the same amount of campers but all the static caravans are still full and will be until the beginning of October.
However, my little office (about the third of the size of reception) feels very, very busy. Electric bills have to be prepared for our static caravan owners, seasonal invoices need calculating and sending out and Xmas cards have to be chosen!
Ooooh – 2011 prices to sort out, get to the printers and uploaded onto our webpage. I may as well be writing a list than a blog – things keep coming to me. We also send out a brochure and updated price list to everyone that has booked with us in 2010 – that’s alot of stamps to stick onto envelopes!
I’ve also got some blog posts to catch up on. The girls and I were tourists for the last week of the holidays and we are sharing our days out with our guests so they know some of the great attractions we have in the area.
Enough procrastinating – I really must start on the list of things to do – boil the kettle was first on the list, right?
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