Sure is frustration milo .... But if your asked them sometime they will give you a single rate just depened of manager or owner on the day i think.....

Also, one person uses just as much power (microwave, fridge, aircon, stove, lights, TV, water, etc) so you can probably see their point. Some saving on the use of the toilet and shower though with only one.

Luckily some odd ones do only charge for one, but not many. Like some when you ask for pensioner or seniors discount, they say "most of our customers are seniors or pensioners, if we did that for everyone we would go broke"..........Luck of the draw and good will of the owners if they do only charge for one.

 

-- Edited by Vic on Wednesday 2nd of November 2011 01:23:24 PM

I agree, when travelling Oz I found 2 or 3 parks who gave a discount for a solo traveller.

MIND YOU they are right onto charging for an extra person when 2 people book in and have a couple of kids, all a bit one sided , I reckon, and hey!!!!!!! one person doesn't have twice as many showers as a solo.CCIA really ought to be addressing these isues. that's my two bob's worth

woody wrote:

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MIND YOU they are right onto charging for an extra person when 2 people book in and have a couple of kids, all a bit one sided , I reckon, and hey!!!!!!! one person doesn't have twice as many showers as a solo.CCIA really ought to be addressing these isues. that's my two bob's worth

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 Yep, but they don't often take the extra person rate off for one person.

Bit of a double standard, perhaps one should ask first why the extra for a third (or more) person and when they come up with the usual excuses then say "well if that's the case, how about reducing it by the same amount for a solo?"  I haven't tried it but I think I know the answer!

That said, I should point out that I have found when checking in that some parks do have a single rate and others sometimes will "unofficially" give a discount.  I have also found on a couple of occasions that I have been charged the unpowered rate for a powered site. This has been when the park's computer system has not been set up with a single rate.

In short.... It pays to ask.

PS: don't expect half price as you're still taking up a site (or cabin or hotel room or whatever)

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 2nd of November 2011 07:00:35 PM

There are membership discounts such as Top Tourist, Oz Parks, Family Parks, Big 4.
I found Top had the best base price of the member parks, before the discount applied.
I always asked about single rates and usually had a little taken off.
There is also Seniors Discount. Not pensioner rates directly.
I have the Seniors Membership for which I pay, but the discounts I've been granted have well and truly paid for the membership.
This is also available for so many other products and services.
The Govt Seniors Card will get you consideration at the same places as the membership card.
Just ask.
The reason you won't get half of the standard "double" rate has been explained here, but always ask politely. If you don't get satisfaction, move on as you would from any other business.
Caravan park business is a very slow turnover. At an average of $28 per site, bearing in mind some sites are only $12 and others are $50 (Broome) it's a slow income. While they grab the cream in the busy time, the rest of the year can be very slow.

I tend to agree with aussietraveller, if you forget about the tourist coastal parks and consider the parks in other places I don't think they would be earning a fortune, and the whole idea of a business is to make a profit, With the cost of power and land and water rates, maybe the solo traveller is the time they can make some profit. We are a couple and use them when it suits us, which is usually to wash, top up the batteries and have a really looong hot shower and was the hair, but we don't stay too long, that's why we got the solar panels, don't know what the answer is but we need them to stay in business...............

aussietraveller wrote:

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I recently read an article regarding the costs associated with ownership of a caravan park and although there are a few owners making decent money on the coast, there are a significant number on the coast but not in prime locations and majority of country parks who only just survive, I have considered a couple of times the purchase of a caravan park and quickly come to my senses especially when you look at total year income and outgoings and that's without considering the opportunity cost and the incredible hours they have to work. I have decided there are easier ways to make a quid but I still politely always ask for a discount which is often given and much appreciated.

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 Many park owners in prime locations are "hanging in" hoping a developer will take the park off their hands.  They wouldn't be doing that if park ownership were the "licence to print money" that some people think it is.

Business at many of the parks in prime tourist locations can be very seasonal, especially in places like Broome, Darwin and Nth Qld, and these operators have to cover their fixed costs in the off season by charging a premium in the peak season. Supply and Demand will determine the prices they charge in peak times. This applies to many other tourism related businesses too.

But that doesn't stop me from asking for the best rate either.

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 5th of November 2011 08:25:23 AM

Me either