To think this is okay? Holiday Park related

[QuestionableMouse]

My parents are currently staying at a caravan park near Scarborough. I dropped them off on Monday and will be picking them up on Friday. We were initially told that check out was at 12 however when we got to the site it's actually 10am.

It's about 90 miles one way to pick them up and I'm worried that I won't get to the site on time. Mam has suggested I drive down on Thursday night and sleep in the van with them. I think this sounds like a good idea rather than risking traffic (I got stuck for ages on the a171 behind a lorry on the way back due to the road conditions meaning it was impossible to overtake!) it took me four and a half hours to get home. I really don't want to get caught in traffic because they need help to pack up (so couldn't check out by themselves then we meet later on the site.)

I mentioned this to my friend who normally house sits for me and she thinks I'm being unreasonable and that the van is just for my parents and I'm being unethical by staying for one night.

What do you think?

Thanks! I'd started to second guess myself over it!

She's house sitting for me while I go down so thinks that gives her a say? Like I said she's very anxious and never bends the rules!

”she's lovely but very anxious about rules and not doing everything by the book!”

Well that would explain concern if her parents had asked her to do this. It doesn’t explain why on earth she’s involving herself in your decision about what you do!

My sister and niece came and stayed in our van for a few days. It slept 8 and there are 5 in our family, so still only 7 when she visited. We paid for passes for her to use the pool, so I don't see any problem with it all.

@HotChocolateLover not really just worked in the industry and if there is a complaint from a neighbouring caravan which brings it to their attention they are within their right to remove all occupants off site immediately and in some cases they will ban all future bookings black listing you from the company.

I also take it you’ve never seen how quick a static caravan goes up in flames and the damage the heat does to those caravans around even when the legal distance apart. Including melting doors and windows surrounds shut.

There is a reason they want to know who’s stopping and where and for your safety. They should of just named you just in case when they booked the price wouldn’t of gone up.

Why do you need someone to house sit if you are only away for one night?

Also, she is batshit and it's none of her business.

I work part time at a similar sort of site. While it is usually fine to do this, we do need to know who is in each caravan at all times so common courtesy would be to let the reception know. As PP mentioned, if there is a fire we need to know who to look for and how many people are in each unit. Also for insurance purposes, if anything happened to you while you were in there, or you caused any damage to the caravan (unlikely I’m sure but just an example) you wouldn’t be covered and would also void your parents insurance.
They aren’t being purposely picky or annoying by having these rules in place, they are there for a reason and are usually to cover yourself as well as the park

Because I have a cat and a dog who I can't leave.

You sound lovely OP if your friend asks again then just explain it's fine as your parents have paid for the caravan and it isn't charged per person. She does sounds like she loves a worry over nothing so this should help assuage her concern

As someone who lives in Scarborough and knows all too well the problems with road access, I think arriving the day before and staying is the only viable option. We often have the only road into town closed for hours because of accidents, whichever way you're travelling. (A friend had a 9-hour journey from work, 20 miles away, because of 2 accidents that closed the roads from both Whitby and Pickering. Delays of 3-4 hours are fairly common on the A64)

Stay in the caravan overnight - nothing cf about it,, just good sense if you want to be there by checkout time.

As someone who lives in Scarborough and knows all too well the problems with road access, I think arriving the day before and staying is the only viable option. We often have the only road into town closed for hours because of accidents, whichever way you're travelling. (A friend had a 9-hour journey from work, 20 miles away, because of 2 accidents that closed the roads from both Whitby and Pickering. Delays of 3-4 hours are fairly common on the A64)

Stay in the caravan overnight - nothing cf about it,, just good sense if you want to be there by checkout time.

As Madfrogs says, they need to know for insurance/safety reasons. So tell the site, they won't mind because the caravan will not be overfilled. Then don't worry!

It's fine. If you want to use the clubhouse, you can buy a pass on the day. We've done similar with my parents before.

Another saying explain it to the site manager. I think they're legally bound by H&S to know who is on the site.

They might say - come at 12, we won't do the caravan till then, or of course you can stay over because it's not overloading the caravan numbers. Or even that they might help your parents with bags and baggage at 10am and they can use the facilities until you arrive.

The site admin should be told (or if you take it to extremes how many extra are allowed... book a big 8 bed van off season for 2, have a stag party?)

Totally fine it's not like a hotel.

Wow, your friend has lived a very sheltered life!

I would just tel your friend you rang them and it was ok, that will shut her up

Its per caravan that's why they usually say 3 beds, sleeps 8. We've done it a few times with family they just sold us a one day pass to get into pools club etc.

What @crosstalk said. Just call the holiday park. They b may well be happy to help. They may offer a late check - out option. They can't physically clean all the caravans at 10am - some will get done first, some later. I've been late clearing out of places like this a few times and the cleaners generally just say "Oh OK, we'll do another one first".

I have a sleeping bag and will sleep in the lounge. Its a four berth so a double and two single beds.

Why sleep in the front room if there is a second bedroom?

I've hired any number of holiday caravans and never once been asked how many of us are staying, or for their names. Of course you pay per caravan and not per person.

I suspect the only places that want to know that, are places that have clubhouses and fancy pools and issue wrist bands so that randoms can't use them.

Just ask if they can check out later! I have asked at loads of hotels and they almost always say yes. Maybe this will be the same.

We were in a holiday park a few months ago, check out was 10 but you can use the facilities, they had a swimming pool/cafe/bar that we used until we wanted to leave.

They can tell haven you're there and they won't charge any extra. If they don't tell them you won't have a pass to access the main centre if that bothers you.

It's fine, but do let the site know in case of fire. They won't mind at all, you're not over occupying.