I've messed up BIG time regarding our holiday....

[GhostPrincess]

Family are going away on a UK break. Our caravan on a park. (Vardent leisure...never used them before)

I've majorly fucked up. I was sure we had booked to go on Monday (tomorrow!!!) DH asked me to check what time we can arrive on site and I've noticed we were meant to arrive today!!

I have tried calling... reception closed at 5pm.
I've emailed and said we would be arriving tomorrow and asked them to call me.
I plan on calling them when phone lines open at 8:30am.

The terms and conditions state: that if they don't hear from you then any accommodation or pitches not claimed by 8am the day after holiday was due to start will be given away.

I am hoping that the email will count as me claiming the pitch and informing them.
The only other thing we can do is try get there for 8am...but that would mean leaving at 3am!!!

I can't call them before 8am as the phone lines don't open until 8:30.

I am ready to cry that I've ruined everyone's holiday.

Please don't drive stressed and sleep deprived at 3am! You'll be absolutely fine as you've emailed.

All these sites usually have an out of hours security numbers, can you find it to put your mind at ease?

No need to panic, that won't help. There's nothing more you can do now. Just pack up, get some sleep and set off first thing tomorrow. Give them another call in the morning and explain.

I’m with those who’ve said the chances of them giving your pitch away between 8am and 8.30am tomorrow morning (when their phone lines are not even open during that time period) are very slim to none. I think you’ll be fine.

I'd be leaving at 3am but I am a night owl and love driving at night. I remember going on holidays at night time as a child (being bungled into the car) and being so excited on waking up.
So I would arrange to arrive at 8am and then get settled, delegate breakfast and kids to the non-driver, if you have one, then sleep til noon.

True, only there's no key to collect at reception, only the one to the OP's own touring caravan.

Btw stopping in laybys on A roads for a wee in the van is terrifying! Lorries bombing past rocking the van while you're sat on the loo...

If we can't do the journey in one day we overnight at Motorway service areas. I know some people book into a site, but we can't be arsed going off route and detaching from the car. It's just easier to drop steadies and bed down for the night at the services.

I'm sure you'll be okay, OP; enjoy your holiday, just maybe mark your start date on a wall calendar next time. 😉

this.
By their own rules they have to hold your pitch for you until 8am.

If you can't get hold of them until 8.30 when they open, nobody else can either, so no way of anybody else taking your pitch before you ring up and explain.

Can you check if the site will let you make a new booking for tomorrow? (obviously don't actually get to the point where you pay for it). If they have plenty of spare places they won't need to give yours away.

I'd be leaving to arrive by 8am if that's an option.

You are panicking for no reason OP. You have notified them in the timeframe they say you need to so everything will be fine.

Technically, I would say they could give your pitch away to someone who turned up and asked for a pitch before you ring them at 8.30 when the phone lines open. Practically, no-one will get through on the phone lines before the phone lines open, and the chance that someone will turn up early in the morning wanting a pitch for that night, having not booked, is very, very small.

I would be going and arriving before the deadline - and packing a LOT of wine.
Good luck OP.

I’m sure it will be fine. Try not to panic. I know how easy this is to do though as I booked a long weekend away for the end of August - only when I checked my email a few weeks later it seems I’d actually booked it for 3 weeks earlier!! And my husband was working!!!

If it was me I would be setting off at 3am to get there for 8am.

That way, you are taking action rather than lying awake worrying, and once you get there your holiday can begin at 8.10am.

That said, your email should be enough as you would expect them to check their emails before starting to call people on the waitlist.

You'll be fine OP. Most site wardens are lovely and helpful. Phone up when the lines open in the morning and apologise that you got the date confused and let them know you'll be arriving tomorrow during their usual arrival times. Don't turn up at 8am like some people are suggesting. Wardens are usually busy with other jobs at that time and then you will get a grumpy reception.

I'm sure all will be fine OP!

Everyone makes mistakes, you’re human.

Which park is it? We use Verdant regularly.

Its to late now
But if you had left when you realised, it would of been fine.
Secruity normally have the keys for people checking in after reception close

Look on the bright side. They can’t really give it away if nobody can get through to them.

It will be grand.

You aren’t a no show, you emailed them! Who in their right mind is going to show up to claim your pitch without a booking at 8am anyway?!

You have notified them - someone will see the email in the morning and all will be fine!

Tbh I'm a bit surprised they didn't reach out to you before they closed to confirm if / when you were arriving when you didn't show up yesterday.

Have a great holiday!

We are just back from a verdant site the reception doesnt open until 9 on the one we were on so I wouldn't worry too much. Am sure it will all be fine

One of you go and start the holiday!

Good luck this morning op. I’m sure it’ll be ok. These thing always seem worse at night.

Oh dear