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On holiday and found out we are in somebody's private accommodation!

161 replies

reallifeboogie · 16/05/2024 10:07

We are on holiday in the UK on a caravan park. Parkdean site. On arrival, went to the reception and was given our keys and told where our caravan is. All good. Caravan is much nicer than expected with some lovely personal touches that didn't expect such as pictures on the walls, blankets in a basket for sitting outside on the decking.
This was a cheap caravan booked through the Suns £9.50 offer.

There are dvds and children's games, cleaning products under the sink and other things that we presumed previous people had left behind.

Last night around 9pm a car pulled up (we are parked in the space for this caravan) and an irate couple got out and came to the door demanding to know why we were in their caravan. Assumed some mix up and they were guests in another caravan, and had got confused as the site is massive.

Long story short, turns out this is their own private caravan that they own and occasionally rent out to friends and family!

As it was late, reception was closed. Security guard intervened and the owners allowed us to stay the night and they would find a b&b.

At 8am they were back and we've packed up and left the caravan. Reception opened at 9 and all we are getting is "there has been a mix up"
We now have nowhere to stay until Saturday. We will go home but going cost us as we're on isle of wight so need sort ferry.

The caravan owners are trying to blame us and want us to pay for a deep clean and towards use of the gas etc we've used! They said surely we could see it was a private caravan.

OP posts:
NewspaperTaxis · 16/05/2024 21:01

TypingoftheDead · 16/05/2024 18:30

While I would have questioned things a bit on seeing the photos and things in the caravan, it’s still definitely not on you because you took the keys from reception in good faith.

I hope the owners redirect their justifiable anger towards the reception staff.

Edited

Not sure if this has been mentioned upthread but this does sound like a scene from A Fish Called Wanda, when the family arrive home to find John Cleese prancing about naked with his underpants on his face.

reallifeboogie · 16/05/2024 21:06

So the manager has said the caravan was moved from one plot to another plot earlier in the year and the caravan we were meant to have was put on the original plot. The owners had left a key with the reception in case of emergencies etc and somehow the keys had got mixed up.

Does make me wonder how many other people have stayed in that caravan since, and how it got cleaned etc. Something we will never know I guess.

Since bumped into the caravan owners and they are going to be getting some compensation from parkdean but didn't say what as none of our business.

The caravan we are now in is the best they had available so we are ok 👍

OP posts:
WearyAuldWumman · 16/05/2024 21:19

PuttingDownRoots · 16/05/2024 10:12

I think the holiday park is pulling a scam and has been caught out... (renting out private caravans hoping the owners don't find out)

It's possible.

The bloke who sold us our campervan offered to store it for us while my husband was undergoing a major operation.

When we tried to get it back, he kept putting off...

He eventually told us where we could pick it up - he'd left the keys in the ignition!

First thing I noticed: towels that weren't mine. ["Oh, they must be yours!"] Sand. (I'd left the van immaculate.)

Aerial snapped. All our crockery missing from kitchen. (He claimed the rear kitchen and all our stuff had 'fallen out' and he'd had to replace the kitchen.)

Then I noticed interior lights missing, plus a couple of screws.

Finally...spotted a sticker for a caravan park on the windscreen. One we'd never been to.

He tried to blame it all on an employee. Lying toad.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Bouliegirls · 16/05/2024 21:31

Name changed for this.

This happened in one of the Scottish parks last year. We often stay at a family members caravan. A caravan owner across from us had the exact same thing happen to them.

So. Sounds like Parkdean have form for this

fisherking1 · 16/05/2024 21:40

We booked a caravan once. We arrived late and it was double booked the guy on reception didn't know what to do but looking back I am sure he put us in a privately owned caravan. He mentioned about being very careful as it was a really nice one...it was lol.

Whatdoyouexpecthonestly · 16/05/2024 21:41

Blimey! Glad all ok now OP

Chloemaria76 · 16/05/2024 21:46

So sorry to read this post. Can I help? Please message me privately. @reallifeboogie I can link with the park. :)

6pence · 16/05/2024 21:52

Have they offered you compensation for the stress and upset involved, and having to move?

LimeOP · 16/05/2024 22:45

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

SavageTomato · 17/05/2024 00:55

You lost me when you said it's a Sun voucher thing. Anyone who buys or reads that propaganda and keeps a straight face can get to the far side of you know where and keep going. Ya ken? JFC.

Howbizarre22 · 17/05/2024 01:03

I hope you too are compensated for this! For the upset caused and the inconvenience. You should at least have some of the cost of the stay knocked off- what an awful experience for your holiday!

Howbizarre22 · 17/05/2024 01:04

SavageTomato · 17/05/2024 00:55

You lost me when you said it's a Sun voucher thing. Anyone who buys or reads that propaganda and keeps a straight face can get to the far side of you know where and keep going. Ya ken? JFC.

Talk about missing the point of the bloody thread. Stick to the theme fgs.

user1477391263 · 17/05/2024 02:31

I'm getting flashbacks of that Father Ted episode where they go on holiday....

SirChenjins · 17/05/2024 13:30

SavageTomato · 17/05/2024 00:55

You lost me when you said it's a Sun voucher thing. Anyone who buys or reads that propaganda and keeps a straight face can get to the far side of you know where and keep going. Ya ken? JFC.

What a dickish post. Ya ken. JFC, if can’t contribute anything better than that then haud yer wheesht ya rocket.

canyouseemyhousefromhere · 17/05/2024 18:57

PrincessHoneysuckle · 16/05/2024 10:18

How haa a holiday Park got keys from caravan that is hired out to family/friends?

They may have sold it to the owners and kept a set of keys. A family member had a caravan on this same site & I'm afraid PD can be tricky.

OldPerson · 17/05/2024 19:46

Who did you book through? Someone accepted your money and organised the booking to the extent you were given the keys to the caravan.

I don't know who you booked through or about The Sun offer - but they are responsible for your costs. More than £9.50.

Contact the Citizen's Advice Bureau. And have to hand the Sun offer and contact info for the caravan.

x2boys · 17/05/2024 20:41

SavageTomato · 17/05/2024 00:55

You lost me when you said it's a Sun voucher thing. Anyone who buys or reads that propaganda and keeps a straight face can get to the far side of you know where and keep going. Ya ken? JFC.

Get a grip ,many people can't afford expensive holidays or just want a cheap few days away ,you can collect the vouchers without reading the paper 🙄🙄🙄

Rottweilermummy · 18/05/2024 00:14

Parkdene generally good company think this is a serious mix up and manager had better sort as it's parkdenes fault definitely not yours.
I guess all sites have a spare set of keys to each caravan privately owned or not for emergencies and owners still have to pay site fees to caravan park

SkiingIsHeaven · 18/05/2024 00:33

I would be livid if some randos moved in to my private caravan. No wonder they were pissed off. Don't blame them. The caravan park is totally at fault.

reallifeboogie · 18/05/2024 14:25

We have now left the park and travelling home. The manager was there when we handed in the keys and he said he has spoken to someone higher up and they are refunding us what we paid for the accommodation as we only used theirs for 2 nights.

Spoken with the caravan owners as we've bumped into them a few times and they are getting 20% off site fees for the rest of the season.

OP posts:
HopefullyHopinglyHoping · 18/05/2024 14:36

Glad it worked out, and I would still hassle them for a free return trip as you were traumatised by the couple arriving on your first night. I’m glad you got to speak to the couple again, I would have reacted the same finding someone in my personal space as they did, but then realised it wasn’t your fault.
They have totally been renting out that poor persons caravan!

cannaecookrisotto · 18/05/2024 15:19

I want to buy a static but would have it on a non-commercial site to avoid this kind of thing. I'm sorry that happened to you OP, it must have been a proper WTF moment all round. You'll probably laugh about it in the future. I would be speaking to the site and saying you want some kind of compensation at least. The owners sound nice, it was thoughtful of them to let you stay and sort their own accommodation rather than turf you out at night. They were probably as much rabbit in the headlights as you.

My grandparents had one when I was growing up on a private site and I loved it. You'd know if you walked into that one, slippers next to the door, Nans "van" glasses on the side 😂. Heaven.

I've looked into it but site fees are astronomical!!

cannaecookrisotto · 18/05/2024 15:19

Just read your update, glad you're getting some comp op, and hope it didn't ruin your holiday.

TheStickySweethearts · 18/05/2024 15:21

PuttingDownRoots · 16/05/2024 10:12

I think the holiday park is pulling a scam and has been caught out... (renting out private caravans hoping the owners don't find out)

This! I used to work with apartments and my less scrupulous colleagues did this.

Boomer55 · 18/05/2024 16:36

Some owners allow their vans to be let out.